Tapestry Crochet Pattern Maker
Design a two-color tapestry crochet chart from a photo. Preview the color runs for each flat row and print the pattern with carrying instructions.
Tapestry Crochet Pattern · 20 × 20
Light = yarn A. Dark = yarn B. Each square is one US single crochet.
Before row 1
Chain 21 with the first color of row 1. Start in the second chain. Carry the resting yarn inside your stitches.
Read from the bottom up. Start on the right, then alternate direction after each turn. Chain one to turn; it does not count as a stitch. Crochet over the unused strand. On the last stitch before a change, use the next yarn for the final yarn-over. Keep the carried yarn loose enough for the row to lie flat.
Written rows
- ← A × 20.
- → A × 20.
- ← A × 20.
- → A × 9, B × 2, A × 9.
- ← A × 8, B × 4, A × 8.
- → A × 6, B × 8, A × 6.
- ← A × 5, B × 10, A × 5.
- → A × 4, B × 12, A × 4.
- ← A × 4, B × 12, A × 4.
- → A × 3, B × 14, A × 3.
- ← A × 2, B × 16, A × 2.
- → A × 2, B × 16, A × 2.
- ← A × 2, B × 16, A × 2.
- → A × 1, B × 18, A × 1.
- ← A × 1, B × 18, A × 1.
- → A × 1, B × 18, A × 1.
- ← A × 2, B × 16, A × 2.
- → A × 2, B × 16, A × 2.
- ← A × 3, B × 6, A × 2, B × 6, A × 3.
- → A × 5, B × 1, A × 8, B × 1, A × 5.
Choosing your motif
Compare the two yarns in daylight. If the resting strand shows, adjust your hook and tension on a small swatch. Check a row with several short color runs before committing to the panel.
How to read the chart
The tapestry crochet pattern maker reads two tones as two yarns. One square is one US single crochet. The yarn that is resting travels along the top of the preceding row and is enclosed by the stitches you make with the working color. That strand adds thickness to the fabric. Include it from the start of a practice row so the gauge you measure resembles the part of the picture where both colors are in use.
Try reading a row with four light squares followed by three dark ones. Work the first three stitches in the light yarn. Start the fourth in light yarn and draw the dark yarn through the last two loops. The fourth stitch belongs to the light group; the loop now on the hook prepares the first dark stitch. The tapestry crochet pattern maker reverses the reading order on alternate rows for right-handed flat crochet. An off-center motif helps you check the direction at a glance.
Measure your gauge and plan the finished size
Measure a two-color swatch after letting it relax. Count across a section where the resting strand is enclosed and check the height over several turned rows. As an example, twenty stitches and eighteen rows per 10 cm would give a twenty-by-twenty panel a width of about 10 cm and a height of about 11 cm before edging. Count the stitches at both ends of the swatch; an accidentally skipped edge stitch changes the measurement as well as the shape.
If you need a pouch face 15 cm wide at that gauge, allow thirty stitches across for the design alone. Leave additional room for any seams. Set that width in the tapestry crochet pattern maker, then inspect the printed row runs. A small motif with five changes of color per row can be easier to follow than a finely shaded picture with twenty. Test the busiest part before buying yarn for a pair of matching panels.
Common mistakes to check on your swatch
- Pulling the carried strand taut shortens the row. Spread the last few stitches to their natural width on the hook side before drawing more yarn through. A swatch that folds inward can show this problem early.
- Changing colors after completing the last stitch leaves a visible jog. Mark the final stitch of each color run on the printed row and finish its last yarn-over with the yarn for the next run.
- Reading the second row from the same edge shifts lettering and diagonals. Start from the bottom right for row one, turn, and read row two from the opposite side. Tick the arrow when you finish a row.
- Choosing yarns by their names alone can hide the motif. Photograph two strands side by side in daylight and view the picture in grayscale. If they merge into a single tone, try a lighter or darker partner.
Questions before you start crocheting
Can I use thin yarn for this chart?
Yes. Pair yarns of similar weight and test the carried strand inside a few light stitches. A much thicker dark strand can show through fine light yarn and alter the width even if you use the same hook throughout.
How many balls do I need for 20 × 20 stitches?
The tapestry crochet pattern maker cannot infer yardage from colored squares. Both yarns travel through much of the fabric. Weigh each ball before and after a representative sample and scale each yarn separately by area. Include enough for turning, tails and edging.
Can I use more than two colors here?
This maker produces a two-yarn design. Choose an image whose outline survives in two tones. For a photograph with highlights and shadows you want to keep, open the home studio and compare its four-color and six-color grids.
Why does the resting color peek through?
Spread the fabric gently and examine a few stitches. An open gauge or a high contrast between yarns may reveal a little of the enclosed strand. Try a short sample with another hook before changing every dark square in the picture.
Can I work the written rows in the round?
They were written for a flat panel that turns at the end of each row. For a tubular project you would need to plan the join and read the chart in the direction of your rounds instead.
How can I keep track of a long row?
Cover the next row on paper with a ruler. Count the runs in small groups, marking the last completed one. If you stop in the middle, note the row number and remaining stitches in that run before setting down the hook.