Interlocking Mosaic Crochet Stitch Tutorial
Crochet a small sample using this tutorial before you begin the Woodland Path Afghan featured on page 42 to familiarize yourself with this easy-to-learn mosaic crochet technique.
Setup Mesh Rows
With MC, make a ch an even number of sts long. Dc in 6th ch from hook (sk 5 chs count as dc, ch 1, sk 1), [ch 1, sk next ch, dc in next ch] across. Ch 4 for the tab. Place the live lp of yarn onto a stitch marker. Set piece aside.
With CC, make a ch that is 2 sts shorter than the MC ch. Dc in 6th ch from hook (sk 5 chs count as dc, ch 1, sk 1), [ch 1, sk next ch, dc in next ch] across. Ch 4 for the tab. Place the live lp of yarn onto a stitch marker. Set piece aside. Position mesh rows on work surface so the ch-4 tabs are at the top right (see Photo A).
Place MC mesh on top of CC mesh and align dc sts of CC mesh with ch sps of MC mesh. There should be an MC dc on each outer edge of work (see Photo B).
Main Repeat Rows
Row 1: With CC ch-4 tab positioned in front of MC ch-4 tab, remove marker from MC lp and replace on hook
(see Photo C). Hold the 2 mesh pieces tog. In order to work into the MC dc without working over the CC chs, yo (dc started) and insert hook from back to front under the first CC ch sp, pull the MC dc back through the ch sp. Insert the hook as normal into the MC dc and finish working a dc st (see Photo D). Continuing in this manner,
[ch 1, dc in next MC dc] across, working last dc in 4th ch of beg MC ch-5, ch 4, place marker in lp, do not turn (see Photo E).
Row 2: Remove marker from CC lp and replace on hook (see Photo F).
Being careful not to work over the MC sts, dc in next CC dc, [ch 1, dc in next CC dc] across, working last dc in 4th ch of beg CC ch-5, ch 4, place marker in lp (see Photo G).
Turn work so both ch-4 tabs are at top right (see Photo H).
Row 3: With CC ch-4 tab positioned in front of MC ch-4 tab, remove marker from MC lp and replace on hook. Just like Row 1, hold 2 mesh pieces tog, yo (dc started) and insert hook from back to front under the first CC ch sp, pull the MC dc back through the ch sp. Insert the hook as normal into the MC dc and finish working a dc st (see Photo I). Continuing in this manner, [ch 1, dc in next MC dc] across, working last dc in 3rd ch of beg MC ch-4, ch 4, place marker in lp, do not turn (see Photo J).
Row 4: Remove marker from CC lp and replace on hook; work as for Row 2, working last dc in 3rd ch of beg CC ch-4, ch 4, place marker in lp (see Photo K).
Turn work so both ch-4 tabs are at top right (see Photo L). Rep rows 3 and 4 as indicated in pattern. As work progresses, fabric should look like Photo M.