How to Do Overlay Crocheting

Overlay crocheting takes inspiration from patterns of Mexican tiles, Buddhist sand mandalas, and stained glass artistry. The technique was developed in the 1990s by crochet author and designer Melody MacDuffee, who has since published several patterns and books on the subject. Overlay crochet combines the use of cables and back loop and front post stitches with a change of yarn color on every row to create a motif that resembles embroidery on the right side, and traditional crochet on the reverse.

Step 1

Create a slipknot and slide it onto your crochet hook. Chain three and join with a slip stitch. Single crochet 10 times in the center of the ring, and join with a slip stitch.

Step 2

Create a slipknot in a new color of yarn, and join it to your work with a slip stitch. Chain two, and single crochet in only the back loop of the next stitch. Single crochet once in the next stitch, and twice in the next, repeating around and stitching in only the back loops.

Step 3

Continue to change colors and stitch in the back loops only of each round, increasing so that your motif lays flat. Beginning in the third or fourth row, use front post double and triple crochet across the front of your work, attaching stitches where desired in previous rows to create a pattern overlay. Carry unused colors across the back of your work if they will be repeated in subsequent rows.