Mosaic Coral Strip
My Mosaic Coral Strip is the start of our ocean-themed blanket in the Friends Around the World 6th Anniversary (FATW6) Crochet-A-Long!
Overlay Mosaic Crochet
As this design is part of a multi-designer Crochet-A-Long (CAL), my section is written up for overlay mosaic crochet only.
Usually I have an interlocking crochet option as well with all my designs, but not with this little Coral Strip.
Free PDF & YouTube Video
You can follow along with the written pattern here on my website or grab a PDF off Ravelry.
I also have a complete step-by-step walk-thru available on YouTube!
Background ocean photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_ocean_wave.jpg, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick reminder (probably telling the people that don’t need to know): copyright status applies to free patterns as well.
You can see my copyright statement here: https://ashleeslint.com/2021/03/23/copyright/
Quick Links
- Introduction
- Pattern Options (Online, PDF, Video)
- Quick Bio
- Coral Information
- Start Crocheting
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Introduction
This is a pattern for an overlay mosaic crochet strip that belongs in the Friends Around the World 6th Anniversary CAL (FATW6) “Adventures in Mosaic Crochet” hosted by CAL – Crochet A Long. Links to all past and future patterns can be found on their blog: https://calcrochetalong.com and you can join their facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/668646249929007/
First Section of the CAL
When I first designed this piece I didn’t know I would be the first section in the blanket.
That’s why my Coral video mentions that you will be joining to a project you already have. But I have created a video on crocheting the foundation rows now!
Pattern Options
My section (this Mosaic Coral Strip) can be found here on the blog (scroll down) or downloaded on Ravelry.
You can also crochet with my YouTube video to guide you!
Please note: the video does not show the foundation rows. You can add sections onto each other, but if this is your first section you must start with a foundation row; see my other YouTube tutorial on creating a Mosaic Crochet foundation.
Quick Bio
I published my first pattern less than a year ago (April 1, 2020) and, honestly, that was a dream come true! My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was about 8 years old, and it has been a favorite hobby of mine in an on-again-off-again kind of way. I finished my first blanket in high school and created a few projects over the years to fit my needs (how about a bag that fits this book exactly and nothing else).
Three years ago, I picked up my hooks in earnest again as a coping method after the traumatic delivery of my son. Crocheting – and now, pattern designing, too – are therapy for me. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me and made it a little easier to stay at home with my 3 beautiful children.
I was also able to achieve another dream of mine in April 2021: I got published in a magazine! My Eiffel Tower Wall Hanging can be found in Crochet Now! Magazine, issue 68. I feel a little famous now!
The Coral Strip
I love how wiggly and intricate coral can look. It is almost abstract enough that if you didn’t know it was called “Coral” you might just think it was random lines.
My single repeat used 30 g of yarn (Medium 4 – worsted weight, acrylic). I used Caron Kindness in Tomato and Robin’s Egg Blue because it was what I had on hand. Unfortunately, this is a discontinued yarn. You can use any yarn medium (4) weight yarn. If you’d like some suggestions, try Yarnsub.com for a list of similar yarns.
Like the other patterns in this CAL, each repeat is 48 stitches wide. An extra stitch is added at the beginning of each row, and two extra stitches are added to the end. Each designer may have different ways of explaining things but all the pieces in this CAL are designed to work together!
X-Marked Chart
My chart does not show those extra 3 stitches (the joining stitch, balancing stitch, and end stitch), it only shows the repeated section.
For more information on how to read a chart: https://ashleeslint.com/2021/09/24/how-to-use-an-x-marked-chart-for-overlay-mosaic-crochet/
Chart is also included in the ravelry download and may be easier to see.
If you share your works on Instagram, I would love for you to tag me: @AshleesLint
Important Details
- US crochet terminology
- Chart is 48 x 19, add 1 extra stitch at the beginning of each row and 2 extra stitches at the end of each row. Repeat is 48 + 3 stitches wide.
- 5 mm hook (H-8)
- 18 g / 21 yards of Main Color (MC) = coral
- 12 g / 30 yards of Contrasting Color (CC) = light blue
- One repeat finishes at 10” x 4” / 26 x 10 cm
- Gauge: 18 stitches x 18 rows = 4” / 10 cm
Key (US terminology)
MC = Main Color: coral in chart
CC = Contrasting Color: light blue in chart
ch = chain
SC = single crochet: insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook
sc = SC into Back Loop only
DC = double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, *yarn over, pull through two loops* twice
dc = dropped double crochet: skip next single crochet, and instead double crochet into Front Loop of stitch in the row below
JS = Joining Stitch: create slip knot, insert hook under both loops, complete a normal single crochet
ES = End Stitch: single crochet under both loops, chain 1, cut yarn and pull through tightly
Mosaic Technique
Please see my YouTube tutorial for a quick view of these stitches.
I use a single-row mosaic technique, also called ‘overlay’ mosaic crochet.
Each square on the chart corresponds to one stitch. There is an additional stitch (not visible on the chart) on each side of the chart for joining and ending (for this pattern only, add an extra balancing stitch at the end of each row before doing the “ES = end stitch”).
You start at the bottom-right corner of the chart.
Some Notes
The front of your work is always facing you (this is the right side, the side showing the design).
You are always working from the right to the left (opposite for left-handed crocheters).
You tie on a new yarn at the beginning of each row and cut it at the end.
Tails don’t need to be longer than an inch and a half (unless you want to use them as fringe, like on scarf).
Yarn colors can be anything you like. They need to contrast well (try a black and white photo to see if they are too similar). They need to be the same weight (size/thickness).
Odd-numbered rows use MC (coral), even-numbered rows use CC (light blue).
Optional “Locked Double Crochet”
To prevent the small flaps on the back of your work, consider locking-in your stitch.
Begin like a dropped double crochet: skip the next stitch, and work into the Front Loop of the stitch in the row below; yarn over, insert hook into front loop below, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, insert hook into back loop of skipped stitch, yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook.
See my tutorial with photos for more information on this optional technique.
Time to start crocheting!
Since this is the first section in the FATW6 CAL you will likely need a foundation row before you can create the coral strip.
The Key is found above. You’ll also find yardage information and tips for the overlay mosaic crochet technique.
You can also view the chart here online but I recommend getting the free PDF for that as well.
Foundation Row
If you’re starting a new project, you need to start with a foundation row. I’ve written it as row 1 in this design but many of my other designs count the foundation row as row 0.
Repeat between *’s as many times as required for your project.
Foundation Row:
Row 1 MC – Can use a chainless single crochet foundation or you can chain the desired number of stitches, plus one for turning chain. Turn, skip turning chain, single crochet into each chain.
Repeats of 48 +3 = desired number of stitches
For example, if you want to repeat the design twice: (48 x 2) + 3 = 99 sc needed (chain 99 + 1 = 100, skip 1 stitch, sc into the rest of the 99)
Or, if you want to repeat the design three times: (48 x 3) + 3 = 147 sc needed (chain 147 + 1 = 148, skip 1 stitch, sc into the rest of the 147)
OR when added to another project
Skip the foundation row above if you’ve already got a project and you’re just adding this section to it.
Repeat between *’s as many times as required for your project.
1 MC – JS, *sc48*, sc1, ES
2 CC – JS, *sc48,* sc1, ES
3 MC – JS, *sc5, dc3, sc3, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc3, sc3, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc3, sc3, dc1, sc3, dc3, sc3, dc1,* sc1, ES
4 CC – JS, *dc3, sc5, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc5) x2, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1, dc1, sc5) x2, dc3, sc1,* sc1, ES
5 MC – JS, *sc3, dc1, sc1, dc3, sc1, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc3, sc1, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc3, sc1, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc3, sc3, dc1,* sc1, ES
6 CC – JS, *(dc1, sc3) x2, (dc1, sc1) x3, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc5, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc5, dc1, sc1,* sc1, ES
7 MC – JS, *sc1, (dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc5, dc1, sc1, (dc1, sc3) x2, (dc1, sc1) x2, (dc1, sc3) x2, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc2,* sc1, ES
8 CC – JS, *dc1, sc1, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc1, sc1, (dc1, sc3) x3, (dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3) x4,* sc1, ES
9 MC – JS, *sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc5, (dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3) x2, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc5, dc1,* sc1, ES
10 CC – JS, *(dc1, sc3) x2, dc1, sc5, (dc1, sc1) x2, (dc1, sc3) x2, (dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3) x3, dc1, sc3,* sc1, ES
11 MC – JS, *(sc1, dc1) x2, sc3, (dc1, sc1) x2, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc1, sc5, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3) x2, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc2,* sc1, ES
12 CC – JS, *sc2, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc5, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc1, sc1, (dc1, sc3) x2, (dc1, sc1) x4,* sc1, ES
13 MC – JS, *sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1) x6, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc5, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc1,* sc1, ES
14 CC – JS, *dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc3, (dc1, sc1) x5, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc5, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3, dc3, sc1,* sc1, ES
15 MC – JS, *sc1, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, (dc1, sc3) x5, (dc1, sc1) x2, dc1, sc5, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc8,* sc1, ES
16 CC – JS, *(dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3) x2, dc3, sc1, dc3, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc3, sc1, dc1, sc1, (dc1, sc3) x2, dc1, sc1, dc8,* sc1, ES
17 MC – JS, *sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc11, dc1, sc7, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc12,* sc1, ES
18 CC – JS, *dc3, sc1, dc1, sc1, dc3, sc1, dc11, sc1, dc7, sc1, dc1, sc3, dc1, sc1, dc12,* sc1, ES
19 MC – JS, *sc31, dc1, sc16,* sc1, ES
20 CC – JS, *dc31, sc1, dc16,* sc1, ES
Trim the fringe, if needed.
Continue with the next FATW6 ocean-themed section!
