Technique · Surface and colourwork
Mosaic Crochet
Geometric two-colour patterns made by working one colour at a time and dropping stitches down into the row below, with no yarn carried across.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Category
- Techniques
- Common fibres
- Cotton, Acrylic, Wool blends
Definition
Mosaic crochet produces colourwork charts using single-colour rows, where longer stitches reach down into earlier rows to place the second colour.
Overview
There are two main families. Inset mosaic works over a mesh and drops long stitches into the row below; overlay mosaic works in the back loops and adds surface stitches on top. Both avoid carrying floats, which keeps the reverse tidy and the fabric stable.
Charts read like pixel grids, so geometric, tribal and op-art designs are natural fits. Only one colour is handled per row, which makes it far less fiddly than it looks.
Characteristics
- One colour per row or round
- No carried floats on the reverse
- Crisp, graphic, geometric results
Typical uses
- Blankets and throws
- Cushion covers
- Bags
- Wall hangings
Questions
Do I need to carry the second colour?
No. Each row uses a single colour, and the contrast comes from stitches that reach down into earlier rows.
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