Mosaic crochet in the round: basic principles – Newsletter April 2019

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Mosaic crochet in the round: basic principles

We’ve already discussed “flat” mosaic crochet, in January and March.

This time, I want to look into a slightly different way of doing mosaic crochet. Let’s simplify it by calling it mosaic crochet in the round.

In “flat” mosaic crochet, the pattern is formed over two rows. The technique is well suited for working back and forth.

In mosaic crochet “in the round”, the pattern is formed on a single row or round. The colour changes are made at the start of every row. This means that when you use this technique working flat (as I will do in this newsletter), you will need to cut the yarn after each row. The right side of the work is always facing you.

I am going to show you how this works using a classic stitch pattern, “Apache tears”.

Ch 20 + 1 = 21, 1 sc in second ch from the hook and in each ch to end of row. There are 20 sc. Fasten off.

Do not turn, but start again at the beginning of the row. Insert your hook in the first sc and pull up a loop. Ch 1, 1 sc in first st, 1 sc blo (in back loop only) in each st to last st, 1 sc (under both loops) in last st.

The stitches are made in the back loop only, except for the first and last stitches, which are worked under both loops to stabilize the selvedges.

(If needed, please refer to the newsletter for January 2011 for more information on how to work in one loop only).

Repeat the last row once more. The front loops, not used for the stitches in the row above, appear as horizontal lines on the fabric.

Using another colour, start again at the beginning of the row with a sc in both loops of the first stitch.

The next stitch is a double crochet worked under the front loop of the corresponding stitch two rows below. Insert the hook in the loop from bottom to top and finish the dc as usual.

Skip the sc behind the dc just made, 1 sc blo in each of next 5 sts. Repeat *1 dc in loop two rows below, 1 sc blo in each of next 5 sts* to last st, 1 sc in last st. Fasten off.

Using another colour, start again at the beginning of the row with 1 sc in first st, 1 sc blo in next st, 1 dc in the loop two rows below.

The dc is offset by one stitch compared to the previous row.

Repeat *5 sc blo, 1 dc in the loop two rows below* to last st – the last repeat will be incomplete. Finish with 1 sc in last st. Fasten off.

Start again at the beginning of the row with another colour: 1 sc in first st, 1 sc blo in each of next 2 sts, 1 dc in loop two rows below.

At the beginning of each new row, a sc blo is added at the start of the row until there are 6 sts “available” at the beginning of the row to start a new repeat with a dc.

Continue as long as you like and use up all your yarn scraps!

There are lots of variations of this basic stitch pattern. A common version is to use trebles instead of dc’s. The trebles are worked in the loop 3 rows below.

You can, of course, also vary the number of sc blo between the “plunging” dc’s – here there are only three.

A few ideas around mosaic crochet “in the round”:

The base fabric for this kind of mosaic crochet is made from sc in the back loop only. This is, of course, needed to “attach” the dc’s or trebles that will create the pattern.

This also means that the fabric has more drape, compared to classic sc’s. To make a firm fabric, you will need to use a smaller hook. But the softness and drape are interesting, for example, if you want to work accessories such as cowls, hats or mittens in mosaic crochet.

Another consequence of the use of sc in the back loop only is that the columns of stitches stay vertical, even when worked in the round, without skewing to the right.

Compared to “flat” mosaic crochet, where the pattern is created over two rows, it seems possible to create a more finely dimensioned stitch pattern, with the possibility to change colours on every row.

We are definitely going to explore this technique further!

See you soon!