Verde Mosaic Crochet Intermediate Instruction Manual
- June 17, 2024
- VERDE
Table of Contents
Verde Mosaic Crochet Intermediate
INTRODUCTION
Mosaic crochet is a colourwork technique that uses 2 or more colours to create
striking geometric patterns. Only one colour is used at a time to crochet in
stripes (usually using dc’s), and longer stitches are added to create the
characteristic patterns.
This guide contains information on 2 forms of mosaic crochet – overlay and
inset. Overlay crochet creates a thicker and more textural fabric as the
stitches lay on the top. Inset crochet is flatter and more flexible, and the
finished patterns are more elongated. Both are very different to work but
create equally beautiful designs.
OVERLAY CROCHET – OVERVIEW
- Pattern rows consist of 1 row / round per colour.
- Performed only with the right side facing.
- As yarn colours are alternated each row, this method is best worked in the round. When worked flat, yarn is cut at the end of each row leaving many tails. This could be used as a fringe or a crochet border added at the end to enclose these.
- In most cases, only 2 stitch types are used – double and trebles.
- Doubles are crocheted in the back loop – abbreviation dcbl.
- Trebles will be performed in either the front loop (trfl1b) or around the front post (fptr1b) of stitches 1 row below.
OVERLAY CROCHET – TECHNIQUES
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Dcbl – Looking at the top of a stitch, you will see what looks like a ‘V’.
Insert your hook through the middle of the V and under the back loop. Yarn over and pull loop through (2 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through both loops. -
Trfl1b – Yarn over hook, insert into the front loop of the stitch one row below, going under and up into the loop. Yarn over and pull a loop through up to the level of the piece (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops. When working in 2 colours, this will always be performed in the stitch of the same colour one row below.
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Fptr1b – Yarn over hook, insert to the right of the post one row below, behind it then back out to the left . Yarn over and pull a loop through up to the level of the piece (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops.
When using 2 colours, these tr’s will use the post of the stitch in the same colour one row below. -
Yarn colour will be changed on the last stitch of each round.
Whether this is a dc or tr, on the final yarn over which finishes the stitch, drop the current colour and pick up the new yarn. Yarn over and pull through. The stitch will look no different but the yarn on the hook will be the new colour. -
When changing colour, bring the new yarn up to the level of the piece to a natural tension, rather than pulling this tight.
OVERLAY CROCHET – CHARTS
An example of a mosaic overlay crochet chart is shown below.
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The boxes at the right show which yarn should be used, e.g. A or B.
Note that just because the colour in the chart is darker, doesn’t mean that this has to be performed in the darker shade -
Each row of the chart represents 1 row or round of crochet.
-
Follow the chart from right to left for every row or round.
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Always check the key. In some cases, front loop trebles will be used. In others, these will be crocheted in the front post. Where squares are blank, back loop double crochets should be used.
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Shaded squares are a visualisation of the finished pattern, not the colour of yarn that should be used for that stitch. Work the entire row with only the colour shown on the right and use the symbols to determine what stitch is performed.
INSET CROCHET – OVERVIEW
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Colour is changed every 2 rows.
-
Rows are worked back and forth when working flat, i.e. on right and wrong side rows.
-
Only 3 stitch types are used – chains, doubles and trebles.
- Chain spaces are worked and the corresponding stitch is skipped. This is where the treble stitches will be placed. 1 extra chain is added per stitch – e.g. when skipping 1 stitch, ch2; for 2 stitches, ch3, 3 stitches ch4 etc.
- Double crochets are completed through the stitch – i.e. not in the back loop.
- Mosaic treble crochets – MTR – are worked in the stitches 2 rows below, going through the stitch (not front loop or post).
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The first row of each colour creates the pattern, using all 3 stitch types. The second row is very slightly different:
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Double crochets and chains are performed in exactly the
same positions as the first row. -
Double crochets are worked in each mosaic treble crochet.
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INSET CROCHET – TECHNIQUES
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Ch – yarn over and pull through loop. Perform as many times as the number of skipped stitches, plus 1 extra. (This extra chain may already be included in the instruction or chart.) Skip the number of stitches as instructed before performing the next stitch.
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Dc – Insert your hook from front to back into the stitch. Yarn over and pull a loop through (2 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through both loops.
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Mtr – Mosaic treble crochet – Yarn over hook, insert into the dc two rows below, sliding this into the stitch then up through the chsp so that you are working in front of the piece. Yarn over and pull a loop through (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops.
-
Yarn colour will be changed on the last stitch of the second row.
Whether this is a dc or tr, on the final yarn over which finishes the stitch, drop the current colour and pick up the new yarn. Yarn over and pull through. The stitch will look no different but the yarn on the hook will be the new colour. -
When changing colour, bring the new yarn up to the level of the piece to a natural tension, rather than pulling this tight.
INSET CROCHET – CHARTS
An example of a mosaic inset crochet chart is shown below.
-
The boxes at the right show which yarn should be used, e.g. A or B.
Note that just because the colour in the chart is darker, doesn’t mean that this has to be performed in the darker shade -
Each row of the chart represents 2 rows of crochet.
-
Follow the chart from right to left for the first row of each colour, then back from left to right for the wrong side row.
-
Always check the key.
-
Shaded squares are a visualisation of the finished pattern, not the colour of yarn that should be used for that stitch. Work the entire row with only the colour shown on the right and use the symbols to determine what stitch is performed. Where squares are blank, double crochets should be used.
-
The extra chain is already included in the chart by means of a O.
