Beautifully textured, captivating and fascinating!

I’m referring to the strikingly mesmerizing Apache Tears crochet pattern.

I’ve had quite a few enquiries in regards to this pattern, so today I thought I’d share my tips and technique with you. It’s not a complicated pattern so let’s get started!

The following are the ‘basic’ rules when working this pattern:

Each row is worked from the right side.

Each row is worked from right to left.

Ensure to leave a 6 inch tail of yarn when beginning and ending a row.

To begin each row, form a slip knot on your hook and commence row.

Work all dc in the back loop of stitches.

Work all dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, whilst missing the dc behind on current row.

The pattern may also be customized to your own preferences, producing a dense fabric!

When it comes to customizing it all boils down to . . . the spacing . . . you can choose to customize your blanket by working 8 dc, 6 dc or 4 dc etc.

To explain let’s have a look at a few samples I’ve hooked.

Sample 1: Spacing of 8 dc

With Red, ch 37.

1st Row: Work 1 dc into second ch from hook, work 1 dc into each stitch across. Fasten off.

2nd Row: Work 1 dc into each stitch across. Fasten off.

3rd Row: Work 1 dc into each stitch across. Fasten off.

4th Row: Work 1 dc into each stitch across. Fasten off.

5th Row: Work 1 dc into each stitch across. Fasten off.

6th Row: Work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc. Fasten off.

7th Row: With blue, work 1 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 7 dc. Fasten off.

8th Row: With violet, work 2 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 6 dc. Fasten off.

9th Row: With aqua, work 3 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 5 dc. Fasten off.

10th Row: With pink, work 4 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 4 dc. Fasten off.

11th Row: With yellow, work 5 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 3 dc. Fasten off.

12th Row: With green, work 6 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 2 dc. Fasten off.

13th Row: With hot pink, work 7 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 1 dc. Fasten off.

14th Row: With orange, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below, work 8 dc, work 1 dtr in the front loop of stitch 3 rows below. Fasten off.

Repeat rows 6 – 14.

Finish with 6 rows of dc in red.

Fasten off.

Sample 2: Spacing of 6 dc

Sample 3: Spacing of 4 dc

Notice how compacted the texture of the fabric becomes as you decrease the number of dc worked between each dtr.

Once you have decided your ‘spacing’ preference you’ll need to calculate your foundation chain. Below you’ll find my formulas for easy reference!

Spacing of 8 dc + 1 = 9

Chain a multiple of 9 + 1

Select 9 colours and repeat.

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Spacing of 6 dc + 1 = 7

Chain a multiple of 7 + 1

Select 7 colours and repeat.

*****

Spacing of 4 dc + 1 = 5

Chain a multiple of 5 + 1

Select 5 colours and repeat.

The basic pattern that I’ve written for you at the beginning of this post can be easily tweaked to work a blanket with spacing of 6 or 4 dc.

Any questions, or if anything needs a little more clarification just leave a comment below.

Raid your yarn stash and get hooking! I’m looking forward to seeing some beautiful, textured, colourful blankets!