How to use Tapestry Crochet in patterns: Intermediate techniques
Welcome to the second part of our deep dive into working with Tapestry crochet in blanket pattern design. In case you missed Part 1, we have Catherine from Catherine Crochets sharing her expert advice on how she approaches designing her incredible tapestry crochet blanket patterns.
In this part, we dig deeper into some of the more intermediate and advanced techniques as she shares more techniques worth experimenting with.
Going Further In Tapestry Crochet Design: Three Techniques Worth Exploring
Once you’re comfortable with the tapestry crochet basics, there are a few approaches that open up new creative possibilities. These are worth understanding if you want to explore what else this technique can offer.
1. Using Increases and Decreases to Shape Colourwork
Standard tapestry crochet is worked with a consistent stitch count across every row. Each row is the same width, the chart is a regular grid, and the colours change within that grid to create the design. That’s entirely sufficient for most geometric or abstract colourwork.
However, where this becomes limiting is when you want to create curves or diagonal lines. A hexagon shape on a regular chart has stepped, jagged edges rather than smooth ones, as the nature of a grid means that curves and diagonals are always approximated in “stair-step” form.
For abstract designs, this might not matter. But for botanical shapes or realistic figurative work, it can look awkward.
Working double crochet 2 together (dc2tog) in one colour, followed by two double crochet stitches worked into the next stitch in a second colour, can change the shape of the colourwork and create much smoother outlines to areas of different colours.
I use this technique in my Cera Blanket, where it gives the hexagonal motifs noticeably straighter edges than you’d get from a regular chart – they look like proper hexagons rather than stepped approximations.
In my Hestia Blanket, the same approach is used for botanical shapes. The gentle curves of petals benefit significantly from this shaping technique, producing outlines that feel soft rather than pixelated.
This technique does make the pattern a little bit more complex to work, but it’s the kind of complexity that pays off visibly in the finished piece.
2. Using Post Stitches for Texture
Typical tapestry crochet creates colourwork that’s flat, as everything sits at the same surface level. Adding front post stitches changes that.
A front post double crochet (or Raised Treble Front in UK terms) wraps around the post of the stitch below and pulls it forward, raising that stitch slightly proud of the fabric surface. Do that consistently in the right places and you get raised lines, outlines, or shapes that catch the light and give the blanket extra texture.
In my Waltz of the Flowers Blanket, each hexagon uses tapestry crochet for the colourwork as well as front post stitches to emphasise the petals of each flower. As a result, the design is both present in colour and physically as texture, giving the blanket a real richness and depth.
3. Working in the Back Loop Only (BLO)
In standard tapestry crochet, as in standard crochet, you work into both loops on the top of each stitch.
Working into the back loop only instead (or front loop, if you’re working on the wrong side) creates straighter, more defined boundaries between colour areas. It also introduces a slight horizontal ridge into the fabric, which can be used deliberately as a design feature.
I’ve used BLO stitches for specific sections of designs, including some colourwork outlining in my Santa’s Workshop blanket, and for tile designs in the book 100 Crochet Tiles (such as the starburst tile below).
It’s a technique I’ve been exploring more in blanket designs this year. I have a commissioned piece being published later in 2026 that uses it extensively, and another tile-based blanket design in progress where using BLO is central to the colourwork, so expect to see more of this from me soon.
Combining Tapestry Crochet with Other Techniques
There’s no rule that says a blanket has to use tapestry crochet throughout. Combining it with other stitches or techniques can produce some interesting and effective results, and sometimes a small amount of tapestry crochet is exactly the right amount.
My Morven Blanket uses tapestry crochet only at each end, where three rows of triangles create a graphic border.
The central section is worked in moss stitch in a single colour, which gives the blanket a lovely drape and a relaxed, rhythmic quality to work. The tapestry crochet provides the visual focal point without dominating the whole piece – and the contrast between the two sections is part of what makes it work.
In the Winter Love Blanket, the construction is mainly tapestry crochet worked in the round, but bobble stitches are used to create raised white snowballs within some rounds. The texture of the bobbles sits alongside the flat colourwork in a way that adds dimension without competing with it.
The Santa’s Workshop Blanket is probably the most varied of my designs in this respect, using a whole range of crochet techniques alongside tapestry crochet to build up the overall design. It’s a good example of how much is possible when you treat tapestry crochet as one tool among several rather than the only approach.
Borders on Tapestry Crochet Blankets
With tapestry crochet blankets, the focus is generally on the colourwork in the main body of the piece. As a result, I tend to keep borders relatively simple, usually a single colour that frames the blanket without competing with it. A plain border lets the design breathe.
That said, there can still be room for a little texture if you’d like it. I like using crab stitch (also known as reverse single crochet) around the edge. It adds a neat, rope-like finish with a satisfying weight.
Alternating front and back post stitches can create a cosy ribbed border, which works particularly well on a blanket you want to feel substantial and warm. The Gunther Blanket uses this approach.
Neither of these suggestions are complicated, but both add just enough interest to make the edge feel considered rather than simply done.
A new love for Tapestry Crochet
Dora back here… with a huge thanks to Catherine for sharing her expertise and insights. Finishing with talk of borders seems like a suitable place to close.
I hope you enjoyed learning about all these possibilities for tapestry crochet as much as I did. Although I have used it in some of my patterns, it’s been a while, and I’ve never created anything like Catherine’s incredible patterns!
The truth is that I always found it a bit fiddly as a colourwork technique, but learning these ways to navigate the common objections – especially stitch selection (a bit like with filet crochet) suddenly opens the possibilities as to what can be achieved! If you’ve been here a while then you know I love to work with extended single crochet so it made my heart beat a bit faster when I realised how useful that could be!
If there’s anything you’ve found especially useful, I’d love it if you could share it in the comments (which are all held for moderation so may not appear immediately after posting, so please be patient!) I will also pass on any questions to Catherine if I can’t answer them directly!
In the meantime, here’s a little more about how to find more of Catherine’s work:
More from Catherine
All of the blankets mentioned in Part 1 and 2 of this post can be found on Catherine’s blanket patterns page. If you’re not sure where to begin, she slso has a post on tapestry crochet blankets for beginners that recommends some good first projects.
And if you’d like to try the technique in a smaller project before committing to a full blanket, Catherine has two free tapestry crochet patterns – a scarf and a single square (with a complete step-by-step video tutorial) – available when you join my email list. They’re both great ways to learn the tapestry technique.
About Catherine Crochets
Catherine is a crochet designer and teacher specialising in crochet blankets, with a particular love of tapestry crochet and colourwork. Her designs have been published in crochet magazines and she is a contributor to the book 100 Crochet Tiles. She has designed for Sirdar and WeCrochet. You can find her patterns, tutorials and guides on her website.
Thanks again to Catherine for her generosity in sharing her knowledge!
Happy Hooking
Dx
