learn all about
Mosaic Crochet
learn all about
Mosaic Crochet
If you look around the internet, you will find MANY techniques for mosaic crochet. It seems everyone does it a bit differently. At a basic level, mosaic crochet creates interesting color patterns by working different colors of yarn down into previous rows to create a color pattern. This is often preferred over tapestry crochet because you only work one color per row, and don’t have to deal with the complications of switching colors mid-row.
The simplest but most visually impactful way to create mosaic crochet involves a minimum of two colors, 2 rows per color, and working double crochet stitches 2 rows below. We’ll show you how it’s done.
How do you work mosaic crochet?
The basic stitches for mosaic crochet include single crochet, chains, and double crochet stitches worked into stitches 2 rows below. You determine whether to work a single crochet, chain, or double crochet 2 rows below based on a color chart. Here are the main points to consider when working a color chart:
- Read the colorwork chart from the bottom to the top and from right to left.
- Each row in the colorwork chart consists of 2 rows, a right side (RS) and a wrong side (WS).
- The first color in the chart row when read right to left is the color you work the RS and WS rows. This color should alternate (Row 1 in the chart is a RS and WS row in the main color, and then Row 2 in the chart is a RS and WS row in the complementary color, then Row 3 of the chart is back to RS and WS in main color, and so on).
- The RS row is where you will determine whether to work a SC, DC 2 rows below, or chain, based on the chart.
- The WS row is determined by what was worked in the RS row (working SC into all SC and DC of RS row, and working chains where there were chains in the RS row).
- When reading the chart, if the box is the same color as the starting color, work a SC.
- When reading the chart, if the box is the same color as the starting color, and the row below is the same color as well, work a DC 2 rows below.
- When reading the chart, if the box is a different color from the starting color, work chains and skip the stitches (these stitches will be worked into later in the following rows).
- Because chains take up less space than stitches, always work one more chain than the number of stitches being skipped (ex: ch 2 and skip 1 SC, ch 3 and skip 2 SC, ch 4 and skip 3 SC, etc).
Here is an example of a small chart
Here is a small chart to use to help you learn mosaic crochet. We’ll break down how to read this chart stitch by stitch and row by row.
The first row of the chart shows 7 gray boxes, 1 white box, then 7 gray boxes. Because the first box of this row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, work 7 SC, ch 2 and skip 1 st (to make room for white later), 7 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, work 7 SC ch 2 and skip ch-2 sp, 7 SC, turn.
The second row of the chart shows all white boxes. Because the first box of this row is white, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in white.
RS Row: Ch 1, work 7 SC, work 1 DC 2 rows below in front of the gray ch, 7 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, SC across, turn.
The third row of the chart shows 5 gray boxes, 5 white boxes, then 5 gray boxes. Because the first box of this row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, work 5 SC, ch 6 and skip 5 sts, 5 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, 5 SC, ch 6 and skip ch-6 sp, 5 SC, turn.
The fourth row of the chart shows all white boxes. Because the first box of this row is white, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in white.
RS Row: Ch 1, work 5 SC, work 5 DC 2 rows below into the skipped sts in front of the ch, 5 SC.
WS Row: Ch 1, SC across, turn.
The fifth row of the chart shows 3 gray boxes, 3 white boxes, 3 gray boxes, 3 white boxes, 3 gray boxes. Because the first box of this row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 3 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 3 SC, turn.
The sixth row of the chart shows all white boxes. Because the first box of the row is white, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in white.
RS Row: Ch 1, 3 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 3 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 3 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, SC across, turn.
The seventh row of the chart shows 1 gray box, 3 white boxes, 7 gray boxes, 3 white boxes, 1 gray box. Because the first box of the row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, 1 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 7 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 1 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, 1 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 7 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 1 SC, turn.
The eighth row of the chart shows all white boxes. Because the first box of the row is white, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in white.
RS Row: Ch 1, 1 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 7 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 1 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, SC across, turn.
Rows 9-15 of the chart are the same as Rows 1-7 but worked in reverse.
The ninth row of the chart shows 1 gray box, 3 white boxes, 7 gray boxes, 3 white boxes, 1 gray box. Because the first box of the row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, 1 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 7 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 1 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, 1 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 7 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 1 SC, turn.
The tenth row of the chart shows all white boxes. Because the first box of the row is white, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in white.
RS Row: Ch 1, 1 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 7 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 1 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, SC across, turn.
The eleventh row of the chart shows 3 gray boxes, 3 white boxes, 3 gray boxes, 3 white boxes, 3 gray boxes. Because the first box of this row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk next 3 sts, 3 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 3 SC, ch 4 and sk ch-4 sp, 3 SC, turn.
The twelfth row of the chart shows all white boxes. Because the first box of the row is white, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in white.
RS Row: Ch 1, 3 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 3 SC, 3 DC 2 rows below in sk sts, 3 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, SC across, turn.
The thirteenth row of the chart shows 5 gray boxes, 5 white boxes, then 5 gray boxes. Because the first box of this row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, work 5 SC, ch 6 and skip 5 sts, 5 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, 5 SC, ch 6 and skip ch-6 sp, 5 SC, turn.
The fourteenth row of the chart shows all white boxes. Because the first box of this row is white, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in white.
RS Row: Ch 1, work 5 SC, work 5 DC 2 rows below into the skipped sts in front of the ch, 5 SC.
WS Row: Ch 1, SC across, turn.
The fifteenth row of the chart shows 7 gray boxes, 1 white box, then 7 gray boxes. Because the first box of this row is gray, work the next 2 rows (RS and WS) in gray.
RS Row: Ch 1, work 7 SC, ch 2 and skip 1 st (to make room for white later), 7 SC, turn.
WS Row: Ch 1, work 7 SC ch 2 and skip ch-2 sp, 7 SC, turn.
To create that white box in the center of the fifteenth row, work one more row in white as follows:
RS Row: Ch 1, 7 SC, DC 2 rows below in sk st, 7 SC, turn.
And the pattern is complete!
Mosaic Crochet Tote Bag
Make with the kit for $25.52!
Made in Shine Worsted Yarn
60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal
Use brightly colored yarn to create colorful geometric patterns using the mosaic crochet technique. You’ll love the visual impact of this fun mosaic crochet tote bag and will want to take it everywhere.
If you are new to mosaic crochet, this is the perfect chance to practice reading a mosaic crochet chart and implementing the mosaic technique into a fun and playful tote bag. Use basic single crochet stitches for the body of the bag and then work the mosaic technique to create the patterning at the top. Mix it up with fun colors if you’re feeling playful.
Mosaic Crochet Blanket
A universal symbol recognized for its singular beauty, the diamond denotes a combination of cultural meanings: immortality, purity, and enlightenment, to name a few.
Capture the diamond's timeless beauty in this mosaic design, while working your way through colors like light through a prism. This rectangular blanket's prism scheme is worked flat from the foundation chain. The mosaic pattern repeats every 17 rows throughout the body with optional tassels comprising the border on either end.
