Free Intarsia Crochet Pattern to Make a Small Tapestry

Practice basic intarsia crochet techniques with this free graph pattern to create a decorative tapestry wall hanging

Flor Samoilenco is an Argentinian textile artist who crafts tapestries using the intarsia crochet technique from her workshop in Buenos Aires. She pays special attention to the composition of shapes and the balance of the colors in her tapestries, with designs inspired by geometry, architecture, and nature.

In this download (featured in our Crochet eBook for Beginners), Flor shares a diagram pattern to weave a small, patterned tapestry using the intarsia crochet technique. Your final piece will be around 15 x 15cm.

What to know before you start

After clicking on the download box below, you'll find the free PDF graph pattern in the Downloads folder on your computer. But first, read on to learn the basic instructions before you get started.

You'll need...

- DK thickness yarn
- A 3.0mm crochet hook
- Scissors

Method

- This design is worked entirely in half double crochet stitch (HDC; known as a half treble crochet stitch in the UK), except for your foundation chain. You should work the graph from the bottom to the top.

- Start your crochet from the bottom foundation chain with 31 pink stitches + 1 extra turning chain to set you up ready to crochet the first line of the pattern diagram. This foundation chain doesn't count toward the first line of your pattern.

- At the end of each row, add a turning chain before flipping your fabric over to the other side and continuing to crochet the next row. No stitches should be worked on the turning chain.

- When you've finished crocheting your tapestry, we leave 1.5 meters of excess thread, and secure it by passing it through the last loop. This extra thread can be used to attach the tapestry to the rod.

Reading the graph

- Each square of the diagram is equivalent to one HDC in the indicated color.

- When working the odd-numbered rows, the front (F) of the fabric should be facing you, and you read the graph from right to left. When working the even-numbered rows, the back/reverse side (R) will be facing you and you should read the graph from left to right.

Changing colors

- Starting a new color section: when you add a new ball of yarn in the indicated color, the threads should always hang from the back/reverse side.

- Finishing a new color section: when you reach the end of one color section as indicated on the graph, cut the thread leaving a stub of approximately 10cm to be able to knot and secure the threads later. You can then remove the ball of yarn.

To learn more about Flor Samoilenco's process, watch her Domestika Live (available in Spanish audio only).