Free tool · mosaic crochet

Mosaic crochet letter & name chart.

Type a name and get an overlay mosaic chart: every square in the colour it will show, every X marked, all the rows written out stitch by stitch. For a pillow, a bag or a baby blanket. No sign-up.

Illustration of a cream mosaic crochet name panel with dark letters and side borders
Illustration based on the chart, not a photo of a stitched sample.

Try an initial square or name band · Compare three overlay chart mistakes and fixes

  • Letters that can be crocheted. In overlay mosaic a square changes colour only when the row above drops a stitch onto it. The tool builds every letter from that rule, so no X ever lands on another X and the first rows and edges stay plain.
  • Every row written out. EMMA is 29 stitches by 19 rows: row by row it lists the back-loop single crochets and the X stitches, right to left as you work them.
  • Checked twice. The chart is rebuilt from the X marks alone, and again from the written rows alone, and both must give back the same letters. It also passes the mosaic rules of our chart checker.
  • A name and a date. Add a second line in smaller letters, set the width and height of your blanket and the name is centred.

Purlgrid · mosaic crochet chart · purlgrid.com/tools/mosaic-crochet-letter-chart/

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Uppercase and lowercase Latin letters, extended Latin accents, the Russian alphabet (including Ё), digits, spaces, hyphen, full stop and apostrophe. Arabic and Korean are not supported; use Latin transliteration or draw a chart manually. The second line uses the smaller font.

  • Piece29 sts × 19 rows · “EMMA” in tall letters
  • RowsOdd rows in background, even rows in letters; join and fasten off every row (38 ends).
  • Stitches213 mosaic dcs (X) and 338 sc in all · background 290 sts, letters 261 sts
  • Checked4 checks passed: the X marks rebuild the letters, the written rows rebuild the chart, and the mosaic rules hold.
Letters

Each square of a letter

Every letter square is 2 rows tall. A single crochet row is a little shorter than a stitch is wide, so 1-stitch letters look tall and narrow; 2 stitches make them wider.

Size of the piece (optional)

Empty: just big enough for the text. A total number of rows is rounded up to an odd number, so the first and last rows are both background.

Your gauge (optional)

Crochet a small mosaic swatch and measure it to see the finished size. We don't guess a gauge for you.

Colours

The chart

15101520101

Read every row from right to left, starting at row 1 at the bottom. Each square shows the colour you'll see; × marks a mosaic double crochet. The small square on the right is the colour of that row.

Every row written out (19 rows)

Work every row from right to left with the right side facing you; don't turn. Join the row's colour in the first stitch and fasten off at the end. sc = single crochet through both loops (first and last stitch) · blo = single crochet in the back loop only · X = mosaic dc: double crochet in the front loop of the stitch 2 rows below.

  1. Row 1 MC ch 30, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across — 29 sc
  2. Row 2 CC 1 sc, 27 blo, 1 sc
  3. Row 3 MC 1 sc, 27 X, 1 sc
  4. Row 4 CC 1 sc, 27 blo, 1 sc
  5. Row 5 MC 1 sc, 2 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 2 X, 1 sc
  6. Row 6 CC 1 sc, 2 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 sc
  7. Row 7 MC 1 sc, 2 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 5 X, 1 blo, 2 X, 1 sc
  8. Row 8 CC 1 sc, 2 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 sc
  9. Row 9 MC 1 sc, 2 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 5 X, 1 blo, 2 X, 1 sc
  10. Row 10 CC 1 sc, 2 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 sc
  11. Row 11 MC 1 sc, 2 X, 5 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 2 X, 4 blo, 2 X, 1 sc
  12. Row 12 CC 1 sc, 2 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 sc
  13. Row 13 MC 1 sc, 2 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 5 X, 1 blo, 2 X, 1 sc
  14. Row 14 CC 1 sc, 2 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 sc
  15. Row 15 MC 1 sc, 2 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 5 X, 1 blo, 2 X, 1 sc
  16. Row 16 CC 1 sc, 8 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 3 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 1 X, 2 blo, 1 sc
  17. Row 17 MC 1 sc, 3 X, 3 blo, 2 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 1 blo, 3 X, 1 blo, 1 X, 5 blo, 2 X, 1 sc
  18. Row 18 CC 1 sc, 27 blo, 1 sc
  19. Row 19 MC 1 sc, 27 X, 1 sc

Checked

  • The text fits: 23 sts wide in a 29-st piece, 13 rows tall in 19 rows.
  • Rebuilt from the X marks with the overlay rule: every cell shows the colour you designed.
  • All 19 written rows rebuilt from the text alone: every count adds up to 29 sts and every X is where the chart puts it.
  • Mosaic rules (chart checker): rows 1 and 2 plain, no X on the edge stitches, no X on top of another X, the top row keeps its colour.

Ready to try

Letters with written rows.

Open an example to load its text, size and letter settings into the tool above. The chart and written rows update together. These are engine-drawn chart previews, not photographs of crochet.

Initial square

A centred H in a square chart. Replace the sample initial with your own; measure a swatch before choosing a finished size.

23 stitches × 23 rows · 221 X stitches · 4 checks passed.

Open initial square

Name band

A lettering band using HILL as a sample word. Replace it with your name and check that it still fits the width.

50 stitches × 19 rows · 392 X stitches · 4 checks passed.

Open name band

Overlay chart examples

Find the clash, then compare the fix.

These examples use only Purlgrid’s basic two-colour overlay method: one colour per working row, plain edge stitches and no X in the first two working rows. Other mosaic methods need their own instructions.

The squares show the intended picture; an X belongs to the working row above the square it changes. The checker opens that same picture as editable colour cells. Its warnings mark the picture cells, so their row numbers can be one below the X marks shown here.

Stacked X stitches

The X marks in rows 4 and 5 share a column. In this basic overlay method, consecutive drops conflict with the stitch needed below.

Return the changed cell in picture row 4 to its row colour. The X in working row 5 disappears; the other drops remain.

Before: overlay warning
151

8 stitches × 7 rows · 0 errors · 1 warnings.

Check the problem
After: checks passed
151

8 stitches × 7 rows · 0 errors · 0 warnings.

Check the corrected chart

An X on the edge

The changed cell at the left edge of picture row 3 asks for an X in working row 4, where this method uses a plain edge stitch.

Move that changed cell one stitch inward. Both side stitches can now stay plain without changing the chart width.

Before: overlay warning
151

8 stitches × 7 rows · 0 errors · 1 warnings.

Check the problem
After: checks passed
151

8 stitches × 7 rows · 0 errors · 0 warnings.

Check the corrected chart

A change in the foundation row

A changed cell in picture row 1 asks for an X in working row 2. That drop would reach into the foundation before this method has established its two plain rows.

Move the changed cell from picture row 1 to row 3. Its X moves to working row 4, leaving the first two working rows plain.

Before: overlay warning
151

8 stitches × 7 rows · 0 errors · 1 warnings.

Check the problem
After: checks passed
151

8 stitches × 7 rows · 0 errors · 0 warnings.

Check the corrected chart

A passing check confirms this chart model. Swatch to check your yarn, tension and finishing. Use the checker’s Print or save as PDF button for a paper copy.

How overlay mosaic works

One colour a row, and a stitch that drops.

In overlay mosaic crochet the right side always faces you. You work every row from right to left in a single colour, fasten off, and join the other colour for the next row, so the rows go background, letters, background, letters.

Most stitches are single crochets in the back loop. Where the chart shows an ×, you make a double crochet into the front loop of the stitch two rows below, which is the same colour as the yarn on your hook. That tall stitch covers the row in between, and the square below it shows your colour instead of its own. That's the whole trick.

So a square shows the other colour only where the row above drops a stitch onto it. This tool’s basic overlay method avoids consecutive × in the same column and keeps the first two working rows free of ×. Every letter is built to follow those rules, with two working rows per letter square.

Sources for the method: Hanjan Crochet, how to read a mosaic crochet chart · The Loopy Lamb, overlay mosaic step by step.

Sizes

How big a mosaic name is.

TextLettersStitchesRowsX stitches
EMMATall2919213
EMMASmall2515141
NOAH / 2026Tall + small2931355
EMMATall, in a 100 × 121 blanket1001215850

The uppercase A–Z bodies are 7 squares high (13 mosaic rows) or 5 squares (9 mosaic rows). Accents and descenders can add squares; every square adds 2 mosaic rows. A solid background takes an × on every other row, so about half the stitches of a name blanket are mosaic double crochets.

Questions

Before you start.

What does X mean in an overlay mosaic crochet chart?

In this tool, X means a US double crochet into the front loop of the stitch two rows below. It covers the stitch in between. The unmarked inside stitches are back-loop single crochets; the first and last stitches use both loops.

Can I print an overlay mosaic letter chart?

Yes. Open an initial square or name band below, or enter your own text. The tool supplies the chart and every written row. Choose Print or save as PDF to print them or use your browser’s PDF option.

Is this overlay or inset mosaic?

Overlay: every row is worked on the right side and the × stitches lie on top. Inset mosaic is worked on both sides with a different chart; this tool doesn't make inset charts.

What do I do with all the ends?

Each row starts and ends with a tail (38 for EMMA). Leave about 10 cm and either knot them into a fringe or hide them under a border worked around the edge.

Why are the edges striped?

The first and last stitch of every row are plain single crochets, so the side edges show both colours. A border covers them.

Can I check a mosaic chart I already have?

Yes: draw or paste it into the chart checker and choose mosaic (overlay). Or open a problem and its correction in the overlay examples above. These checks apply to the basic overlay method supported here.

What about a C2C or tapestry name blanket?

The crochet name blanket pattern makes a C2C blanket with a written pattern and bobbin plan, and the crochet letter graph charts names for tapestry crochet.

Is it free?

Yes. There is no account and nothing is sent to a server; the chart is made in your browser.

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