Aztec intarsia crochet container

Aztec Intarsia Crochet Container

Project Overview

This downloadable crochet pattern from Taylor-Made Crafts NI guides makers through creating a decorative fabric cover for a recycled storage tin. The project transforms an ordinary container into a personalized storage solution by wrapping it with a crocheted fabric featuring an Aztec intarsia design. The finished piece combines functional storage with artistic textile work, making it suitable for organizing small items while adding handmade décor to any space.

What Is Being Made

The project produces a crochet fabric covering designed to wrap around a recycled tin container. The tin can be either round or square with rounded corners, measuring approximately 18 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall, though the pattern notes that it can be adapted to fit taller containers as needed. The crocheted fabric is affixed to the tin using double-sided tape to create a finished storage container.

Crochet Techniques Used

• Magic Circle (MC): Used to begin the project with a closed center loop
• Intarsia Crochet: The primary technique for this project, allowing the Aztec pattern to be created by changing yarn colors within rows to form the geometric design
• Back Loop Only (BLO): Stitching through only the back loop of stitches to create texture variation
• Back Post Single Crochet (Bpsc): Worked by inserting the hook from the back of the work and going from right to left around the post of the indicated stitch, adding dimensional detail
• Color Changes: Seamlessly transitioning between the four yarn colors to build the Aztec pattern

Stitches Used

• Chain (Ch): Foundation stitch for building the fabric structure
• Single Crochet (Sc): Primary stitch for creating dense, structured fabric
• Double Crochet (Dc): Used to create varied stitch heights and texture
• Triple Crochet (Tr): Taller stitch for additional textural elements
• Slip Stitch (Sl st): Used for joining and finishing
• Increase (Inc): Shaping technique to expand the fabric dimensions

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: The pattern calls for #4 weight yarn (also known as worsted weight or medium weight), with one 100-gram ball required in each of four colors: deep red, light grey, navy, and white. This yarn weight is ideal for creating a fabric with good structure and drape suitable for wrapping a container.

Hook: A size 3 mm crochet hook is recommended, or whatever size is necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Gauge is critical for this project to ensure the finished fabric fits the container properly.

Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 10 stitches by 10 rows equals 2 inches in the stitch pattern used. Achieving this gauge ensures the crocheted fabric will have the correct dimensions to wrap the tin container.

Additional Supplies: The pattern requires stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a tape measure for measuring progress, and double-sided tape for adhering the finished crochet fabric to the recycled tin. The tin itself is a recycled container that serves as the base structure.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner level, making it accessible to newer crocheters while still offering the opportunity to learn intarsia color-work techniques. The combination of basic stitches with color changes provides a gentle introduction to more advanced crochet methods.

Design Credit

This pattern was designed by Taylor-Made Crafts NI, an independent designer. The copyright is held by Taylor-Made Crafts, 2021, with all rights reserved.