How to Crochet an African Overlay

Vibrant colors are a hallmark of African overlay crocheting.

Crochet overlay is a recent entry into the crochet techniques field. Created by Melody MacDuffee, it takes its inspiration from Aran and cable crochet, although the techniques are adaptable to a variety of cultural art forms. The basic idea is to create a base of simple stitches and then overlay those stitches with longer stitches in different colors. Different stitches and yarn types can create texture. For elegance and sparkle, you can add beads to the stitching.

Things You'll Need

• Crochet hook
• Yarn in various colors
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Decide what kind of design you are interested in making. Sketching it out would be helpful.

2. Taking the first color in your design and chain about 10 stitches, joining them with a slip stitch to create a circle. The size of your circle can be made bigger or smaller by adding or subtracting from the number of chain stitches.

3. Chain one and turn the circle. Work a row of single crochet stitches around the circle. This is the base of your project.

4. Change yarn colors and continue to work single crochet around the circle. Periodically, as per your initial vision, create a longer stitch. A good example would be a double or treble crochet. Work in the back loop only, in case later you wish to add another stitch to the front loop.

5. Change colors again at the end of the row and, using a base of single crochet, emphasize certain aspects of the circle with your longer stitches. Other patterns which might work for the long stitch are a shell stitch or a popcorn stitch.

6. Bind off and finish the circle when you have reached the end of your design.

Tips & Warnings

• Sketching out the pattern in advance is tremendously helpful in this kind of project.

References

• Crochetbug; An Excellent Adventure; June 2011
• Melody's Art: Overlay Crochet