With the Mandala Pullover CAL in full swing, and the second part of the pattern going live tomorrow, I knew it was time to publish this tutorial! You can’t make the sweater without knowing color work.

Before you freak out on me and change your mind about making the sweater…just breathe. Take a deep breath. Crochet color work may be different than you’re used to, but I promise it’s not all that difficult to learn. You’ll be rocking it in no time!

So, before we get into the nitty gritty, I want to start by answering some questions.

What are the types of crochet color work?

There are 3 main types of crochet color work: tapestry crochet, intarsia crochet, and fair isle crochet. They all are slightly different methods of doing color work, but the main goal is the same: to change colors as seamlessly as possible.

What will you show me in this tutorial?

In this tutorial, I will be showing you the very basics of crochet color work that you’ll need to know, regardless of which method you choose to use (tapestry, intarsia, etc.) I will also show you some of the differences between the methods of color work, and finally, give you some helpful tips along the way.

What method does the Mandala Pullover Use?

Let me be honest. Sometimes you can’t just follow ONE of the color work methods. When I do crochet color work, I usually combine the methods and use them interchangeably! The bottom line is, some of the methods work better for different parts of the Mandala Pullover. Once you get started on your project, (whether it’s this pullover or not) you’ll be able to get a feel for which method to use!

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OKAY. Now that we’ve covered that, let’s get into the details of crochet color work! We will start by learning how to change colors. You will need to know how to do this regardless of which “method” of color work you’re using.

Changing Colors

Step 1:

First, we need to know the most basic step in color changing: yarning over with a new color! In the photo below, you’ll see that I am working with the color purple. When I am ready to change colors, I will start the process 1 stitch before the new color begins. I will begin this stitch as usual: insert hook in next st, pull up a loop. 

Step 2:

Next, YO with the NEW color (in my case, light blue). Pull through the 2 purple loops with the new color. 

 Now, simply continue with the new color! Note that on the RS, you will leave the unworked strand to the back of work, whereas on the WS, you’ll need to bring it to the front (shown in second photo below).

Carrying/Floating Colors

Once you actually change colors, there are several different methods of carrying the unworked colors across your work. You may need to use different methods at different times in an image (it can be different, for example, if you’re using only 2 colors versus 4).

As a general rule, however, here is what I do with spare yarn. On any RS row, I crochet over the unworked strands, “carrying” them through my stitches until I need them again. This usually hides them well so that they’re not visible on the RS. On the WS, however, carrying colors throughout will be very visible on the RS, which we definitely don’t want. So instead, I use the “floating” technique. With this method, you will simply drop the unworked color until you need it again; then, pick it up. Simply use it to YO to change colors, while letting the unused part “float” across the back of the work.

Carrying Unused Colors          

Floating Unused Colors

There is also a technique called Fair Isle. With this method, you do the “floats” but you do them over only a few stitches, and you do them on both the right and wrong side. This can reduce bulk in the color work; see photo below.

Fair Isle Crochet 

For the Mandala Pullover pattern, I did a mixture of the tapestry method and fair isle method. When you get to the rows with all 4 colors, you will probably want to do small floats as in fair isle, because carrying all the colors throughout will get way too bulky. However, on rows with 2 or 3 colors, carrying them across works fine. You will get a feel for it when you start your color work, don’t worry!

Other Helpful Tips

There may also be times when you need to separate the same color into 2 balls of yarn. This is because you may not want to carry the color all the way across a long row for just a few stitches. This is illustrated by the photo above—because the 2 teal sections are so far apart, I used two separate balls that I just had to pick up when I got to those colors. This also reduced bulk because I didn’t have to carry teal all the way across the row.

I hope this tutorial has taught you everything you need to know to get started with crochet color work! Be sure to view Part 2 of the Mandala Pullover so you can now put your knowledge into practice.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

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Happy Crocheting!

The post Learn Crochet Color Work: A Beginner’s Guide appeared first on .

So, let’s say you know the basics of tapestry crochet. You can change colors, carry non-working colors, etc. But there may be a couple things you still don’t know.

Is sure didn’t know these things when I first did tapestry crochet. In fact, I even started designing a project unaware of these important details! The result was that I had to rip out a ton of work and start over.

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• To view the first tutorial in this series, Beginner’s Guide to Tapestry Crochet, click HERE

If you’ve done any amount of tapestry crochet, you’ve probably noticed something: whether working in rows or rounds, the stitches don’t sit right on top of each other. Because of the nature of a single crochet stitch, the color changes slant to one side. (P.S. If you’re NEW to tapestry crochet, check out the first post I did in this series—Beginner’s Guide to Tapestry Crochet!)

Now, when you’re making a pretty “picture” in the tapestry crochet, it is inconvenient that the colors don’t line up in each row.

BUT…did you know there is a method that gets rid of this annoying slant?! THAT is what I want to share with you today!!

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Getting rid of the Slant

There are 3 things you have to do to get rid of the slanting colors in tapestry crochet.

#1. Work in the Round

Yes, this method only works with projects in the round. That is why it is perfect for baskets, purses, etc. If your project must be worked in rows, then unfortunately this method won’t work.

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1. NIAGARA CARDIGAN / 2. NEW YORK SIGN / 3. WAVE SHAWL

2. Work in the Back Loop

The second part to this method is working in the back loop of stitches. In other words, normally you would go through the 2 top loops of the stitch. However, now you will skip the front loop and insert your hook only in the back loop.

3. Change Your Yarn Over

Hang on…I know this sounds weird. But trust me, it’s not too hard. Basically, you’re just going to Yarn Over from the opposite direction.

Normally you would put the yarn over your hook from the left. Instead, put the yarn over your hook from the right. See picture below.

Modified Single Crochet

SO…by working in the BL and changing your Yarn Over, we get a slightly different version of the regular sc. In tapestry crochet, this stitch is called the modified single crochet. 

Basically, this stitch just allows for all your color changes to sit right on top of each other. No more slant! I don’t know about you, but I was so happy to learn this method!

So…do you think you’re ready to try an ACTUAL pattern using this method? I hope you are! Because I am just about to publish a new FREE tapestry crochet pattern using these exact methods. See the picture below!

As you can see, the Little Pumpkin Basket is made in the round, and clearly uses the modified single crochet stitch. It is a perfect Fall pattern—and you can view the free pattern here!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to help!

To view all of my tutorials, click HERE. 

Happy Crocheting!

— Rachel 

The post Tapestry Crochet Secrets You Need to Know appeared first on .

Awhile back I finally jumped into colorwork and started learning about it. Recently I’ve gotten into Tapestry Crochet, which is a beautiful method for changing colors! (I mostly love it because you’re left with very few ends to weave in!)

And Tapestry Crochet is not too hard. It is really very simple to learn, so in this post I want to give you a beginner’s guide to tapestry crochet!

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• To view the 2nd Post in this series, Secrets of Tapestry Crochet, click HERE

Before we get started, let me show you a few examples of Tapestry crochet.

Below is a tapestry crochet design I am currently working on! Can you tell what it is?

As you can see, color is EVERYTHING in Tapestry crochet! The possibilities are endless!

So, there’s a couple things you need to know before we get into the basics of this technique.

First, Tapestry crochet can be worked both in rows and in rounds. Personally, I prefer to work it in rounds (like the cactus basket above) because the overall result is much cleaner. However, rows are also possible.

Also, this post does not cover every single detail of tapestry crochet. We will be going over the basic things you need to know in order to start your first project. We will go over how carry colors and how to change colors.

And, I will be doing some follow-up posts! In the coming days I’ll go over other details, such as how to read a tapestry crochet chart, and other details you’ll want to know! Be sure to subscribe to my email list to see these posts when they’re published.

All right, lets begin!

How to Carry Colors

Okay, this is one of the most important elements of tapestry crochet. Because of this technique, you will only have a few ends to weave in when your project is done!

Basically, whenever you aren’t using a color, you will crochet over it with your working color. Follow the picture tutorial below:

As you can see, the orange yarn is hidden within the tan stitches!

Basically, whenever you’re not using a color, you will hide it in this way. Then you’ll pick it up again when you’re ready to switch colors. Learn how to do the color switch by reading on below!

How to Change Colors

This is probably the most important step in Tapestry crochet.

First, begin a regular single crochet stitch with your working color (in the pictures, the working color is tan.) Insert hook into next stitch, YO, draw up a loop with working color.

Now, drop the working yarn and pick up the new color. Finish the stitch you started with this new color—YO, draw through 2 loops.

As you can see in the picture below, we have a tan stitch, with an orange top loop. Now you will be continuing with the orange, and hiding, or “carrying” the tan within the orange stitches.

Below, I have changed colors and continued with the orange. As you can see, the color change is completely seamless.

These are the 2 most basic principles in Tapestry crochet! Now that you know how to carry colors and change colors, you have a great foundation to start this technique. As I said before, however, there are some more “ins and outs” that everyone should know about tapestry crochet.

Now you know some basics of tapestry crochet…but there’s still more to learn! I have a follow up post about tapestry crochet that talks about some other secrets you need to know. Find that post here!

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I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to help!

To view all of my tutorials, click HERE. 

Happy Crocheting!

— Rachel

The post Beginner’s Guide to Tapestry Crochet appeared first on .