Tapestry Crochet: Managing Carried Colours Neatly

In tapestry crochet, one or more inactive colours travel inside the working stitches. The method creates dense colourwork, but the carried strands can alter thickness and tension.

Carry the yarn through the stitch

Lay the inactive strand along the top of the row or round and work the active stitches around it. Keep the strand parallel to the edge so it does not loop out on the back.

Change colour before the stitch ends

Complete the final pull-through of the preceding stitch with the new colour. This places the new loop on the hook ready for the next stitch. Keep a consistent method so the motif edges do not alternate between blurry and sharp.

Relax the carried strand

Spread the most recent stitches along the fabric before tightening the carried yarn. If it is pulled too firmly, the piece narrows or cups. Swatch the full colour repeat and view both sides; high-contrast carried yarn may show through a light active colour.

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