Brotzell Tiger King
This tiger blanket pattern was originally published in April 2021. Go back to the original blog entry for more details on Brotzell Tiger King or continue reading here for a discussion on how to add colorful eyes to your tiger blanket!
One of the things that drew me to interlocking and mosaic crochet was the ability to create an image without making any fancy color changes.
So I was a bit reluctant at first to dive into this topic. But I do love those blankets showing the cool eyes so you’ve all convinced me it’s a topic worthy of attention!
Colorful Tiger Eyes
This pattern, like all my patterns, was designed to be crocheted with a dark Main Color (MC / first color used) and a lighter Accent Color / Contrasting Color (AC in interlocking patterns / CC in mosaic patterns / second color used).
After a few people crocheted this blanket and included some fancy colorful eyes there were a LOT of requests for help on adding that feature.
It seems more people are familiar with how to do a tapestry style color change when using overlay mosaic crochet but there are more challenges when using the interlocking crochet option.
I do plan on creating a more in-depth tutorial at a later date, but for now, this is what we’ve got.
Changing Colors with Mosaic Crochet
It is relatively simple to do with the overlay mosaic crochet version. You can find more info on the mosaic details in this thread: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ashleebrotzelldesigns/posts/845912889801610/.
Changing Colors with Interlocking Crochet
For interlocking crochet, it gets more complicated.
Some of it stems from the fact that there appears to be less people using this technique and thus less tutorials and help available.
It also seems to be that a lot of people using the interlocking crochet technique are solely using the written patterns and have no idea how to use the charts.
My patterns are really well-written (I’m not just saying that, I have received a lot of positive feedback from customers) and reading interlocking crochet charts can be complicated! So I can definitely see why people need help here.
Step One: Understand the Interlocking Crochet Technique
I think it’s important to realize that before we attempt a complicated adjustment it’s necessary to have some basic foundational skills.
If you’re new to interlocking crochet, try a simpler, small square first.
I have a full video walk-thru for my Small Blossom Square on YouTube you might try!
Also, please note that interlocking crochet goes by a few different names! You’ll see some of my patterns use the term Locked Filet Mesh / LFM but there are quick a few titles for this technique out there.
Step Two: Understand the Interlocking Crochet Charts
If you want to add a color change that has not been written into the pattern, like changing the colors of the eyes in Brotzell Tiger King, you’ll need to use the chart as a reference for when.
Thus, it’s important that you undestand how to use an interlocking crochet chart!
Try this old video tutorial or take a peek at my interlocking crochet chart key.
Step Three: Adding Color
Part One
Part one of this step is knowing how to actually change your yarn and part two is knowing when to add the color pop into your project.
Take a quick peek at my video showing how I change yarn without adding knots. This technique applies to both interlocking and mosaic projects.
Part Two
Knowing when to change colors requires that we look at the chart.
Most people use a printed chart for this process and simply grab some markers or colored pencils.
There was a lot of discussion in my Facebook group about where on the chart the color pop should be for Brotzell Tiger King.
Read on for more discussion!
Applying it to the Tiger Eyes
The complicated bit of changing colors when using interlocking crochet is that our double crochet stitch covers 3 squares on the chart (the top half of the bottom square, the square above that, and then the bottom half of the square above that) and we are only ever reading the middle square (but using the opposite color yarn and deciding whether to hide or show that bit).
I don’t have time to create a complete course on adding color changes in your interlocking crochet projects at this time.
The steps and suggestions I gave above, plus the random collection of video tutorials is all I can offer for now.
Changing Color in “Moonlight on the City” Shawl
I created this very quick video a long time ago when I was forced into changing colors for my Moonlight on the City shawl because I ran out of the scrap yarn I was using.
Poor photo editing, trying to show the chart on top of the stitch
Brotzell Tiger King Chart
I can’t create a color-changing course, but I can offer you an updated chart for Brotzell Tiger King (hopefully it’s a bit easier to see the row/column numbers, plus the page numbers print visibly now) and a new chart-reading explanation.
**PLEASE NOTE** The single-page chart in the interlocking crochet file is formatted as A3 paper (which is a weird size here in Canada). The purpose is for viewing on a screen, not necessarily printing – use the multi-page layout for printing.
The eyes use the Accent Color yarn. Your Main Color yarn, which is black on this chart, won’t be changing.
On this new 15-page chart, the eyes are on pages 4 and 5.
The right eye is on page 5 and gets colored from row 194-202, columns 84-94.
The left eye is on pages 4 and 5. It gets colored from row 192-200, columns 150-160.
Facebook Discussion
Most of this information comes from Gail Hornsby who was so generous with explaining how she added colors to her Brotzell Tiger King blanket.
You can find that thread at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ashleebrotzelldesigns/posts/784955719230661?comment_id=801243164268583&reply_comment_id=801244074268492.
Normally, showing charts is not allowed. But this is MY chart so I’m allowed to. Plus, I highly doubt anyone is going to use this blurry mini-chart excerpt to cheat me. I just want to show you the highlighted eyes.
You’ll have to highlight your own eyes on your own chart.
In Summary
I know this isn’t a lot of help.
I hope it’s at least a little help.
