Hi there,
It’s Michelle here and I’m back again with another crochet tutorial. This time I thought it would be fun to play with Tapestry Crochet.
It really is quite easy to do and brings a whole new world of design possibilities. It works up into a nice firm fabric making it ideal for pouches, bags, bowls or even hats.
To whet your appetite we’ll make a quick little coin purse. Make one or many, they make great little gifts and Christmas is just around the corner. Really! So lets get started…
You will need:
3.5mm crochet hook
8 ply cotton in 2 colours
Stitch marker
Zip
Sewing thread & needle
US crochet terms used
Abbreviations:
ch chain
sc single crochet
sl st slip stitch
How to:
Base
o Row 1: Ch 18, sc into 2nd chain from hook, sc to end, ch 1 turn
o Row 2: Sc 17,ch 1,turn
o Row 3: Sc 17 stop (don’t ch 1 or turn, proceed to next step)
Now we are going to stitch around all sides of the base to prepare forming the sides of the purse….
o Without turning, sc back into same space as last stitch worked
o Working along the left side of the base, 2sc into next space
o 17 sc along bottom of foundation chain
o and then back up along the right hand side of the base, sc 1 into last st worked, sc into next 2 spaces (40 sts)
Next we are going to form the sides of the purse and begin working in the round …
o Sc into next st and place a stitch marker into this first stitch, sc to end.
Tapestry Sides
And now the fun Tapestry Crochet part begins. To make the design you simply carry the contrast colour behind your work and crochet over it with the working colour until you are ready to change colours. Here’s how …
o Join in contrast colour at the start of the row by placing the end over the main colour and then crochet over the top of it to trap it in.
o Continue stitching, carrying the non-working colour behind your work, catching it in as you crochet over the top of it.
To change colour, leave the last 2 loops of the working colour of the stitch before you want to change, yarn over with new colour and pull loop of new colour through.
o Continue stitching with the new colour as before until the next colour change.
Handy Hint #1 To make a nice clean line when changing colour, flip the old working colour to the front of your work as you make the colour change then back again once the change has been made.
Handy Hint #2 Give the non working yarn a little tug at each colour change to stop it showing through as much.
Handy Hint # 3 Use a smaller hook than you normally would. This also helps to hide the carried colour from showing through.
And that’s all there is to it! You are now an expert at tapestry crochet.
o Work the next 8 rows following the chart below reading from right to left and from bottom to top
(click pattern image to enlarge)
o Once you’ve finished the chart design, tie off the contrast colour and work another 6 rounds of sc in main colour
o Join with a sl st
o Break off yarn and weave in ends
Finishing
o Hand stitch a zip into top of pouch and you’re done.
Tip: Don’t worry if your zip is too long. To make zip smaller, make a few stitches over the top of the zipper teeth at the length required then trim off excess.
I hope you’ve enjoyed making this little purse and go on to enjoy some more design possibilities. If you have any questions or would like to share your work, pop into my Ravelry group. I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time
Michelle x
About Michelle Robinson
Michelle is the face behind Poppy & Bliss. Her passion is crochet and her style is modern, vibrant and fun.
She teaches workshops in various styles of crochet, designs modern crochet patterns, occasionally remembers she has a blog at Poppy & Bliss but shares most of her work on Instagram
MICHELLE, WHAT A COOL TUTORIAL & I LOVE THESE BRIGHT COLORS– turquoise & hot pink– for your tapestry crochet coin purse. Practical & unique idea for your new tutorial. I crochet, but do not know how to do “tapestry” crochet. The ZIG ZAG hot pink highlights the small purse. Thanks for sharing. Maybe I’ll try to crochet one of these soon. Sarah Helene in Minneapolis
What pretty coin purses!! Thank you very much. 🙂
Such neat coin purses! I appreciate your tutorial and explanation of tapestry crochet. I’d been curious how it works. Thank you. Alexine in Maryland, US
Thanks Alexine, it’s sort of like a magic trick, once you know how it’s so simple
I love this project.
I love the technique!! ??
Let me begin from saying:what a cute thing you made! I have a small question about first row..so I have to chain 18 and sc in second from the hook..and than again sc to end? and that everything is a first row..? I have to say I don’t understand that..Can I just chain 18 and turn my work?
Kamila, NL
Yes it is basically ch 18 then turn your work. You are building up 3 rows of sc to create a base then after that start working in the round.
Hope that clarifies things.
Thank you a lot! It works indeed:) I just have no experience with tapestry so it takes more time than it should;) hopefully I have it done before xMass:)
Marry Christmas!
Kamila Joosse, Netherlands
I saw in the picture of the finished coin purse you have the same problem I had with working with more than one colour. As I finish each row (if large project) or side I use a blunt daring needle to nudge the yarn over the hold over yarn held in back read for change, this way I don’t have any bleed through also I as I am working I give held back yarn a little extra firm tuck to help stop bleed through. hope my comment is of help
Thanks so much for that tip.
I enjoyed making this and even added a lining. I was confused at the beginning about which was the right or wrong side until I realised you turn it inside out when you’ve finished – well that worked for me anyway ? Great instructions on carrying the colour – thank you!
Las instrucciones son muy claras y me gusta el diseño es facil de hacerlo
Great tapestry crochet tutorial. Thank you for sharing. I’m working on it now.
I have a niece and nephew and want to make a purse for both what would recommend for a boy? I’m still new to crochet.
Maybe just make the colours more masculine – like a denim blue or dark green. Omit the pattern or design your own like a star or maybe stripes?
I cannot seem to make this pattern work. I am an “advanced beginner” and am either reading the pattern wrong or there is an error. I seem to have extra stitches at the end of the row.
I’ll take a close look at the pattern and get back to you.
Which part of the pattern specifically are you having problems with?
I have made several of these and it works out well – it can take a bit of practice to get used to working into the right places as you go around the ends. If you count the stitches that you have worked/will work along each side, you can the deduce how many you should be working into the ends/corners.
JUST DISCOVERED THIS OF YOURS VERY NICE GOING TO MAKE ONE OR 2 FOR MY DAUGHTER AND SISTER I KNOW NHOW TO DO THE TAPESTRY CROCHET AS
JUST TAUGHT MYSELF LAT WEEK BUT ON YOUR CHART DO YOU READ EACH ROW FROM RIGHT TO LEFT OR ONLY THE FIRST AS ALOT OF THEM REAAD CHARTS FIRST ROW LEFT TO RIGHT THEN 2ND ROW LEFT TO RIGHT ALSO IM LEFT HANDED SO WOULD I READ ALL ROWS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP BUT READ FROM LEFT THANKS AND WHAT SIZE IPPER DID YA USE DO YOU HAVE ANY PATTERNS YOU CAN BUY OR PATTERN WITH A CHART FOR CROCHET TAPESTRY IN THE ROUND AS WAS TRYING TO MAKE A MINI BACKPACK TAPESTRY
This particular chart is read Right to left. As it’s worked in a spiral it will always go back to the start on the right for the next row. So keep reading right to left for every row and bottom up.
If you crochet left handed and work your spiral in the opposite direction the pattern would read from left to right from the bottom up.
I don’t have any other tapestry crochet patterns available on My Poppet but you can try Michelle’s site (who designed this pattern)
https://poppyandbliss.com/
Do you think this would work with a metal frame instead of a zip? I have a fear of zips and lots of metal frames to find use for!!!!
Thanks xx
Sure would. You just need to either sew a little sleeve in or crochet some extra flaps to fold over the frame.
thank just nsoticed you replied to me on april 24 thanks thing ill make your purse
instead of a backpack as love it giving up on the backpack love this purse
as like i said wna to make for daughter and grandaughter thanks again patricia
Hi, love your purse, have a question with this row Sc into next st and place a stitch marker into this first stitch, sc to end, do you mean to stitch marker or to the end of 17 stitches. Can’t say what row because there is no row number.
Cathy
Hi, when it says ‘to end’ it means to the end of the round till you get back to the stitch marker. You are working in the round so the marker will indicate the start/finish of each round.