Mosaic crochet with Red Sparrow Crochet

Keep being inspired throughout 2022!

Our favourite mosaic crochet Instagram account is Red Sparrow Crochet. Esme is the owner of this inspiring craft account and is a mother, a teacher, a crochet designer, and a loyal servant of cat Hank Deluxe. Esme’s social media are plastered with mosaic crochet designs in popping neons and bright colours. One of Esme’s recent designs is the 2022 crochet panel design, which is a follow-up of a previous design for the year 2020. Esme has been kind enough to share her free pattern with us along with her tips and tricks for Mosaic crochet. In this blog you will read all about it!

Esme’s background and personal inspiration

All these influences lead to Red Sparrow’s signature design style, with surprising and experimental colour combinations.

Red Sparrow tips for starting mosaic crochet

1. Mosaic crochet is not difficult!

If you can work a chain, a double crochet (US single crochet) and a treble crochet (US double crochet), then you can mosaic (aka inset) crochet. The technique looks elaborate but is surprisingly simple. It is very straightforward: 2 rows are crocheted in one colour, then you switch to the next colour for 2 rows. You leave the colour not in use hanging at the side of the work, ready to pick up in 2 rows’ time.

2. Start small and enjoy minimal sew-ins.

Compared to techniques like Intarsia crochet, this version of mosaic crochet leaves minimal ends to sew in, while looking extremely gorgeous and clever! Esme suggests to start with a small piece, like a dishcloth. This allows you to understand the concept of inset crochet before starting a bigger project like a large throw or bed size blanket.

3. Do not get confused!

There is another version of mosaic crochet (called overlay crochet). This is a different technique which fastens off the yarn every row and works with different principles. Do not confuse these 2 kinds of mosaic crochet! 

4. Be brave with your colour choices!

Red Sparrow Crochet is all about encouraging people to get a bit brave with their colour choices. Esme advises to just throw some yarn around and see what happens. You might be pleasantly surprised and come up with a new colour combo you love!

Want to learn more about Mosaic crochet?

Esme’s book about this subject comes highly recommended. This pattern book teaches you how to create sensational crochet throws and accessories. One crochet hook and two balls of yarn are all you need to get started, along with some practice of the basic crochet stitches! English information: Mosaic Crochet Workshop – 2021 – ISBN: 9781446308424

Pattern info:

Below is the free colour chart Esme made, with some important instructions. For more detailed info head over to Red Sparrows Blog for a written out in full (row by row) English pattern.

Read the chart from bottom to top. Read the chart from right to left for the first row of a colour, then from left to right for the second row of the same colour. Note that this design is not symmetrical.

Each row of the chart represents two rows of crochet in the same colour. The first row ‘makes’ the pattern, the second row ‘copies’ it.

You will need:

Yarn:

Hoooked Eco Barbante (85% recycled cotton, 15% other recycled fibres). Please note: I crocheted the mat quite tightly to give a dense fabric. You may find you need slightly different quantities of yarn, but I used the following shades and quantities for my mat:

Yarn A Punch 350g

Yarn B Lagoon 500g

Yarn C Biscuit 300g

Hook:

5.5 mm crochet hook

Other tools:

A darning needle or a thin crochet hook to weave in the ends.

Measurements:

My finished bath mat measures approx. 55 x 79cm.

Abbreviations (UK Crochet Terms)

[ ] number of sts on a given row

approx: approximately

ch(s): chains(s) or chain stitch(es)

ch-sp(s): chain space(s)

ch-1 sp(s): chain 1 space(s): number denotes number of chains in chain space

sl.st: slip stitch

dc: double crochet (US sc single crochet)

lp(s): loop(s)

rep: repeat

RS: right side

sp(s): space(s)

st(s): stitch(es)

tr: treble crochet (US dc double crochet)

WS: wrong side

yoh: yarn over hook

Repeats

*......; rep from * to Work the instructions after * and then repeat that section to the point indicated.

(........) once/twice/3 times Work the instructions between the brackets the total number of times stated.

Special stitches

cc (change colour): To change colour, work the last st of the row in the old colour up to the final 2 lps on the hook, yoh with the new colour and draw the new colour through the lps on hook to finish. Continue with the new colour. Do not fasten off the old colour. Leave the yarn not in use hanging at the side of the work, ready to pick up again 2 rows later.

mtr (mosaic treble crochet): work a tr as normal but work it in the skipped st of the same colour 3 rows below, working the st in front of the intervening 2 rows of chains in contrast colour.

All mtr are worked on RS of work.

Notes

• This pattern uses inset/2-row mosaic crochet techniques:
• Change colour (cc) every 2 rows.
• The first row of a colour creates the pattern, the second row copies it. Where a dc or an mtr is made in the first row, a dc is made in this st in the second row (make sure to work into all mtr sts from the first row as they can easily be missed). Where a ch-sp is made in the first row, the same ch-sp is made in the second row.
• Work all tr sts into ‘skipped’ sts of the same colour 3 rows below (referred to as mtr, see Special Stitches).
• To skip one stitch, chain 2. To skip two stitches, chain 3. To skip three stitches, chain 4, and so on. This ‘extra chain’ just stops the work pulling in too much.
• Always work into the full stitch as normal, not into the back loop or front loop only. There is another style of mosaic crochet which uses back and front loops only, but not this one!

Instructions:

With 2 strands of Yarn A held together, ch 85.

Row 1: 1dc in the second chain from hook and in each ch to end, turn. [84 sts]

Rows 2-10: Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), 1dc in each st to end. Change colour (cc) to Yarn B in final st of Row 10. Fasten off Yarn A.

Rows 11-14: Ch1, 1dc in each st to end, turn. Cc to Yarn C at end of Row 14.

Row 15: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 17dc, ch3, skip 2 sts, 17dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 11dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 17dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 16: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 17dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 11dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 17dc, ch3, skip ch-3 sp, 17dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 17: Ch1, 1dc, 4mtr, 17dc, 2mtr, 17dc, 5mtr, 11dc, 5mtr, 17dc, 4mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 18: Ch1, 1dc in each st to end, cc to Yarn C, turn.

Row 19: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 17dc, ch3, skip 2 sts, 17dc, ch4, skip 3 sts, 15dc, ch4, skip 3 sts, 17dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 20: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 17dc, ch4, skip ch-4 sp, 15dc, ch4, skip ch-4 sp, 17dc, ch3, skip ch-3 sp, 17dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 21: Ch1, 1dc, 4mtr, 17dc, 2mtr, 17dc, 3mtr, 15dc, 3mtr, 17dc, 4mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 22: Rep Row 18.

Row 23: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 17dc, (ch3, skip 2 sts, 17dc) 3 times, ch5, skip 4 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 24: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 17dc, (ch3, skip ch-3 sp, 17dc) 3 times, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 25: Ch1, 1dc, 4mtr, 17dc, (2mtr, 17dc) 3 times, 4mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 26: Rep Row 18.

Row 27: Ch1, 1dc, ch13, skip 12 sts, 8dc, ch12, skip 11 sts, 8dc, ch4, skip 3 sts, 6dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 6dc, ch11, skip 10 sts, 8dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 28: Ch1, 1dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 8dc, ch11, skip ch-11 sp, 6dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 6dc, ch4, skip ch-4 sp, 8dc, ch12, skip ch-12 sp, 8dc, ch13, skip ch-13 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 29: Ch1, 1dc, 12mtr, 8dc, 11mtr, 8dc, 3mtr, 6dc, 5mtr, 6dc, 10mtr, 8dc, 5mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 30: Rep Row 18.

Row 31: Ch1, 1dc, ch11, skip 10 sts, 8dc, ch12, skip 11 sts, 8dc, (ch6, skip 5 sts, 6dc) twice, ch9, skip 8 sts, 8dc, ch8, skip 7 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 32: Ch1, 1dc, ch8, skip ch-8 sp, 8dc, ch9, skip ch-9 sp, (6dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp) twice, 8dc, ch12, skip ch-12 sp, 8dc, ch11, skip ch-11 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 33: Ch1, 1dc, 10mtr, 8dc, 11mtr, 8dc, (5mtr, 6dc) twice, 8mtr, 8dc, 7mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 34: Rep Row 18.

Row 35: Ch1, 1dc, ch9, skip 8 sts, 8dc, ch12, skip 11 sts, 8dc, ch8, skip 7 sts, 6dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 6dc, ch7, skip 6 sts, 8dc, ch10, skip 9 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 36: Ch1, 1dc, ch10, skip ch-10 sp, 8dc, ch7, skip ch-7 sp, 6dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 6dc, ch8, skip ch-8 sp, 8dc, ch12, skip ch-12 sp, 8dc, ch9, skip ch-9 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 37: Ch1, 1dc, 8mtr, 8dc, 11mtr, 8dc, 7mtr, 6dc, 5mtr, 6dc, 6mtr, 8dc, 9mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 38: Rep Row 18.

Row 39: Ch1, 1dc, ch7, skip 6 sts, 8dc, ch12, skip 11 sts, 8dc, ch10, skip 9 sts, 6dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 6dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 8dc, ch12, skip 11 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 40: Ch1, 1dc, ch12, skip ch-12 sp, 8dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 6dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 6dc, ch10, skip ch-10 sp, 8dc, ch12, skip ch-12 sp, 8dc, ch7, skip ch-7 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 41: Ch1, 1dc, 6mtr, 8dc, 11mtr, 8dc, 9mtr, 6dc, 5mtr, 6dc, 4mtr, 8dc, 11mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 42: Rep Row 18.

Row 43: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, (8dc, ch4, skip 3 sts, 6dc, ch3, skip 2 sts) twice, 6dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 6dc, ch3, skip 2 sts, 8dc, ch4, skip 3 sts, 6dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 44: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 6dc, ch4, skip ch-4 sp, 8dc, ch3, skip ch-3 sp, 6dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 6dc, (ch3, skip ch-3 sp, 6dc, ch4, skip ch-4 sp, 8dc) twice, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 45: Ch1, 1dc, 4mtr, (8dc, 3mtr, 6dc, 2mtr) twice, 6dc, 5mtr, 6dc, 2mtr, 8dc, 3mtr, 6dc, 4mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 46: Rep Row 18.

Row 47: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, (6dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 6dc, ch3, skip 2 sts) 3 times, 6dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 6dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 48: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 6dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 6dc, (ch3, skip ch-3 sp, 6dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 6dc) 3 times, ch5, skip ch-5, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 49: Ch1, 1dc, 4mtr, (6dc, 5mtr, 6dc, 2mtr) 3 times, 6dc, 5mtr, 6dc, 4mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 50: Rep Row 18.

Row 51: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip 4 sts, 17dc, (ch3, skip 2 sts, 17dc) 3 times, ch5, skip 4 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 52: Ch1, 1dc, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 17dc, (ch3, skip ch-3 sp, 17dc) 3 times, ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 53: Ch1, 1dc, 4mtr, 17dc, (2mtr, 17dc) 3 times, 4mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 54: Rep Row 18.

Row 55: Ch1, 1dc, ch6, skip 5 sts, 15dc, (ch5, skip 4 sts, 15dc) 3 times, ch6, skip 5 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 56: Ch1, 1dc, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 15dc, (ch5, skip ch-5 sp, 15dc) 3 times, ch6, skip ch-6 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 57: Ch1, 1dc, 5mtr, 15dc, (4mtr, 15dc) 3 times, 5mtr, 1dc, turn.

Row 58: Rep Row 18.

Row 59: Ch1, 1dc, ch8, skip 7 sts, 11dc, (ch9, skip 8 sts, 11dc) 3 times, ch8, skip 7 sts, 1dc, turn.

Row 60: Ch1, 1dc, ch8, skip ch-8 sp, 11dc, (ch9, skip ch-9 sp, 11dc) 3 times, ch8, skip ch-8 sp, 1dc, cc to Yarn B, turn.

Row 61: Ch1, 1dc, 7mtr, 11dc, (8mtr, 11dc) 3 times, 7mtr, 1dc, turn.

Rows 62-64: Ch1, 1dc in each st to end, turn. Cc to Yarn A at end of Row 64. Fasten off Yarns B and C.

Rows 65-74: Ch1, 1dc in each st to end, turn. Fasten off Yarn A. Weave in all ends.

To Edge the 2 Short Sides:

Edging is worked along the 2 short 'raw' sides only. Working your edging dc stitches over any visible loops where the yarn has been carried up the side of the work will help to conceal them.

First Side

With RS facing, join 2 strands of Yarn A held together with a sl.st in the first row-end on one side.

Row 1 (RS): Ch1, 1dc in the same row-end as join, 1dc in each of next 3 row-ends, *skip next row-end, 1dc in each of next 4 row-ends; rep from * to end, turn.

Row 2 (WS): Ch1, 1dc in each st to end. Fasten off.

Work Second Side as for First Side.

Weave in all ends.