tapestry crochet
Tapestry Crochet
So before you have a snigger at my skills (or lack thereof), this blog post is not an expert guide to tapestry crochet, but a newbies guide to hopefully help other newbies. My fox wall hanging is my first attempt at tapestry crochet, and despite the obvious flaws, I love it…and I think I might even make another one!
Important issues with tapestry crochet
1. You need to keep consistent tension…and tighter is best.I found that the top and bottom of my finished work were wider than the central portion. This is why I have blocked the hanger, although it is a good practice anyway.
2. It is a good idea to keep track of what row you are on by covering each one you have completed with a piece of paper or similar. You will notice the error on the chest and body of the fox. It’s easy to get confused and do a row in the same direction as the row before. When you are working row by row, each row starts on the same side as the corresponding number on the chart.
3. It is a good idea to separate your different colours of yarn and put them in order after each row. It seems like a pain to do, but its more of a pain to untangle the mess after several rows. I put each ball in a small bowl and then moved them around.
4. When crocheting on the wrong side, make sure you pull your resting yarn around towards the front rather than hanging at the back like standard crochet. I believe this helps in the process of concealing the yarn. A border will nicely cover these little waves of yarn at the side.
5. A google search tells me I should not see the yarn I have crocheted over even at the back. The resting yarn should be laid across the top of the stitches you are working into to help conceal the yarn. I did not do this, so as you can see in the below picture, you can see the yarn quite easily at the back. I will test this tip out next time.
6. When you change colour, work your last stitch to 2 loops on the hook, then yarn over with your new colour and pull through.
7. I think you are supposed to yarn over all the colours as you progress through your project. This helps your work have an even density throughout.
Having said that, in the bottom section of my tapestry crochet, I crocheted over 2 colours and when I got up to the top of the fox’s head I crocheted over the white for a while then cut it off and was only crocheting over one colour. I didn’t find it to be too great of a difference. At the very last section I was not crocheting over any yarn, so this part had less structure than the rest. I’m not sure if I will change this or not on my next project. I think it will depend on how big it is and how much weight is in it.
Specific info for this project
- This pattern was from the book ‘Anyone Can 3D Crochet’ by Kristi Simpson
- I used Ice Yarns 8ply ‘Alara’ cotton acrylic blend yarn. You need less than a ball of each colour with lots left over for another project!! You can buy it here.
- I used a 3.5mm hook. I love KnitPro Waves hooks. You can buy one here.
- The end size was 20cm x 28.5 not including the fringe or hanger.
My takeaways
- I really loved this whole process and I’m looking forward to making another hanger like this one. I’d like to make something with a bit more intricate design sometime in the future also.
- You need a bit more patience for tapestry crochet, but I think it’s definitely worth it. As long as you’re not in a great hurry…go for it!!
If you have any tips or tricks for tapestry crochet, I would love to know them. Please comment below…I’m sure it will be a great help!!
That turned out so cute! You could even add like a quilted binding border for a change of texture, it looks really nice hung up 🙂
Thanks Stella!! Good idea with the border…although the idea of sewing doesn’t thrill me too much 😬
Great job Wendy, he looks really cute.
I had never even heard of Tapestry crochet before. Appreciate your honesty in highlighting the ‘beginner flaws’, so I know what to watch for when I attempt one.
Will add this to my list of crochet projects, you know the list, the one that keeps getting bigger no matter how many projects that get finished 🤣
Haha…thanks Caz😊 I try so hard not to start new projects when I have some going…but I still have at least 4 WIP’s. I will be doing another hanging though…they’re so cute, and I want to see if I can improve on my fox!!