Apache Tears Crochet Stitch: Pattern Ideas and Guide

When you need a showstopper stitch, go for Apache Tears! This amazing technique is one of the easiest and yet one of the most effective available. Colorful blankets, home decor, or accessories will add a playful energy to your home and everyday life. Beginners, this article is for you, because these playful ripples are easier to pull off than you think 🙂

With these free resources and inspiration, you will be well equipped to start your journey, so don’t wait and try this stitch! As usual, I try to show you new crochet stitches and beautiful crochet ideas to inspire you.

How to Crochet Apache Tears

This easy stitch can be made with any kind of yarn, but remember that the thicker the yarn, the bigger your work will be. It’s perfect for blankets, especially those made with scraps of yarn, so go for it! Works well for cushions and winter accessories, too!

Materials

Crochet Lovers chose colorful yarn in seven different colors, as well as a 4.00 mm crochet hook. The yarn is not specified, but it looks like cotton to me 🙂 You will need scissors as well, and a yarn needle if you wish to weave in ends instead of leaving them as fringe.

You can make the ripple in any module you want, so that the ‘tear’ can be made after 4, 5, or 6 stitches. The density you choose will affect the final pattern, so ensure it’s right for your liking.

You start by making a slip knot and a foundation chain of the chosen multiple, in the case of this tutorial, it was a multiple of 6 + 1. Three rows of single crochet stitches (sc) create a base for the first ripple row. The next one is the start of our ripples – you add 1 treble crochet every 6 stitches, by working it through the loop three rows down.

This pattern is always worked from right to left in the stitches of the previous row. Both your first stitch and your last stitch are on the right side. To introduce a new colour, cut the yarn at the end of the row and start on the right side again. 

Remember that the instructions in US terms and UK terms differ.

Sounds difficult? It’s easy-peasy! You can learn to crochet the Apache Tears pattern in no time.

Check out the full video tutorial for Apache Tears crochet stitch on Crochet Lovers’ YouTube channel, and see for yourself 🙂

Talking about stitches…

Our growing website and library of free crochet patterns have some projects that might interest you, too. Learn how to make Little Shells Stitch with this free crochet tutorial today!

→ Yes! Take me to this tutorial! ←

or…

Make an adorable Valentine’s Day gift with a free crochet pattern for Rose Bunny Amigurumi!

→ Yes! Take me to this free pattern! ←

Crochet Roundup

Today’s theme is Apache Tears, an overlay mosaic crochet stitch. I chose a selection of the best inspiration on the topic. Crocheters are extremely inventive, and there are as many color combinations as there are creative minds. Find projects that speak to you, get inspired, and try out free crochet patterns, which I included in the descriptions 🙂

Apache Tears by Vivian Chen

Vivian’s piece is a work in progress, but you can already see the soft pastel vibe she was going for. Delicate hues of pink, blue, and white create gentle horizontal waves. If you’re concerned that the texture would be too much for your subtle project, this example shows it doesn’t have to be the case.

photos by @a23544 on Instagram: source

You can learn this stitch from Lucy Croft in her tutorial called Hook ‘n’ Learn Part 9 – Apache Tears, ready to download for free from ravelry.com.

Chunky Apache Tears Lapghan by Johanna Lindahl

It’s not easy to assess the size of Johanna’s project at first. Is it a coaster, a placemat, or a blanket? Well, the size of the yarn can answer this question. Nine beautiful colors from Phildar Express super chunky yarn paired with a 15 mm crochet hook resulted in a textured graphic lapghan.

photos by @mijocrochet on Instagram: top, bottom

Apache Tears Pillows by Handmade by Marit

Although we mostly encounter the Apache Tears motif in very contrasting color palettes, Marit’s project proves that one-color options are great, too. The front of her pillow features the motif in an x-shaped pattern, which creates interesting mosaic effects. The back, made with blue yarn, lets us admire the natural texture of this technique.

photos by @handmade_by_marit on Instagram: source

Apache Tears Baby Blanket by Lisa M Hesketh

Lisa called this blanket a true ‘labor of love’ and I get what she means. The sheer amount of yarn ends produced by this technique can give one a headache. However, the result is totally worth it – just take a look at this mesmerizing pattern!

photos by @lisacraftfully on Instagram: source

Lisa used a classic free Apache Tears tutorial by Sarah London, available on sarahlondon.wordpress.com.

Apache Tears Mug Rug by Olga Vogel

I’m a big fan of small projects. Why? Because you can quickly try out new stitches and techniques without a great time and money commitment. The faster it is to make, the faster you’ll notice and correct your mistakes. Wrong color palette? No worries, just make another one. These mug rugs from Olga are a fantastic entry point to learning this amazing mosaic technique.

photos by @my_crochet_space on Instagram: top, bottom

Find this free crochet pattern on mycrochetspace.com, or read more about it on ravelry.com.

Apache Tears Bag by Anni Ignatius

Sometimes the texture and colors are too much for a big project, but we feel very drawn to it. If you’re not ready to make a big blanket, grab leftover yarns and make something small, like a zipper pouch. Anni’s project has so many details I love – starting with the elegant slow ‘introduction’ of mosaic stitches in the bottom part, to the back loop only single crochets at the top.

photos by @sormustin on Instagram: source

You can learn this stitch from Lucy Croft in her tutorial called Hook ‘n’ Learn Part 9 – Apache Tears, ready to download for free from ravelry.com.

Apache Tears Blanket with Pom-Pom Edging by fickle_tickle

The crocheter behind the account fickle_tickle made so many colorful Apache Tears blankets, I had a hard time choosing one to show you. I finally went for the version with a super cheerful color palette and a pom-pom border. Isn’t it fun?

photos by @fickle_tickle on Instagram: source

You can learn this stitch using a free crochet pattern called Apache Tears Dishcloth from Elena Hunt. It is available on her website, beatriceryandesigns.com, and on ravelry.com.

Apache Tears Blanket by fickle_tickle

Another mosaic blanket from fickle_tickle’s collection features rich shades of red, orange, and pink. It’s easy to lose details with such similar colors, but an occasional white and dark pop breaks the pattern nicely and offers more contrast.

photos by @fickle_tickle on Instagram: source

Apache Tears Cowl by Make Create Do

Do you have a lot of assorted yarn ends that you don’t know what to do with? Densely packed Apache Tears stitch is a lovely idea for a standout winter accessory, so get creative now to be ready for the cold season! Katie chose lovely, juicy colors that will keep the summertime close all year long.

photos by @makecreatedolondon on Instagram: top, bottom

If you want to make a stunning winter accessory using this stitch, take a look at free patterns by Nicole Riley – Apache Tears Scarf, Apache Tears Hat, and Apache Tears Mittens.

The Trippy Blanket by Little Grey Hook

Take a look at the photos and tell me – do you feel like looking through a kaleidoscope? It must be the rainbow version of Apache Tears stitch! Berni from Little Grey Hook decided to combine colorful panels with plain white, so that the ‘trippy-ness’ of the pattern doesn’t hurt the eyes 😉

photos by @littlegreyhook on Instagram: top, bottom

You may also like this article: How to Crochet Easy Puff Stitch

Rainbow Apache Tears Blanket by Poppyseed and Pom

Caroline decided to divide patterned panels with classic grey, because rainbows can be a bit much! Introducing a dark tone in between made the colorful stripes look even more dramatic. Just take a look at the photos and see for yourself! Such a combination of colors will be suitable both for kids and adults, so keep it in mind.

photos by @poppyseedandpom on Instagram: top, bottom

You may also like this article: Hugs and Kisses Blanket – The Most Beautiful Versions

Apache Tears by Dreams Of Anne

Although blankets and bedspreads are a fantastic way to use this stitch, a clever crocheter behind Dreams of Anne decided to make a cushion! It’s not yet visible in the pictures, but you should go see the author’s Instagram page to find out how it came out.

photos by @dreamsofanne on Instagram: top, bottom

This free video tutorial by Claudetta Crochet will be a great starting point, so check it out on youtube.com.

Apache Tears by Fernanda Detoni

Is it just me, or is this project a perfect watermelon-inspired piece? 😉 Fernanda combined two tasty colors: pinkish-coral and minty turquoise! What will it be? I don’t know, but make sure you take a look at the pictures below and imagine what YOU would do with it.

photos by @fernandadetoni on Instagram: source

You may also like this article: 6 Day Kid Blanket Ideas

Apache Tears Blanket by Pippa’s Liv

The stunning color flow of this blanket made me gasp! The coolest thing about this technique is that it looks as neat on the wrong side as it looks on the right side. This blanket will be a crown jewel of every home.

photos by @pippasliv on Instagram: source

Check out the tutorial for Apache Tears by Sarah London, because it’s available for free on her blog!

2020 Temperature Blanket Apache Tears by Kountingsheeps

It’s still the beginning of the year, and many crocheters undertake big projects – crocheter behind kountingsheeps decided to give it a go, too! One of the most popular is temperature blankets, in which each day or week is illustrated with a colored row. Why do I talk about it here? Because Apache Tears Stitch is perfect for this.

photos by kountingsheeps on ravelry.com

This project was based on a classic free crochet pattern by Marinke Slump called Groovy-ghan. Be sure to check out this project’s Ravelry library for tons of inspiration!

Apache Tears Temperature Blanket by Nanna’s Apprentice

Living in areas where temperatures change throughout the year is a great opportunity to make a blanket in celebration of your thermometer’s work. Assign different colors to number ranges and work one row a week, or a day if you like! It’s a fun project, so take a look at Nanna’s Apprentice’s version in the photos below.

photos by @nannasapprentice on Instagram: top, bottom

Apache Tears by Tina Nielsen

Now let’s take a breath and check out more toned down projects, shall we? I am in love with this colorway by Tina, who decided to combine deep greys and greens with lighter hues, like brown, dove grey, and cream. As you can see, such a palette will fit perfectly into any interior, so go for it when making blankets for parents, or grandparents.

photos by @claestina on Instagram: source

You may also like this article: Block Stitch Ideas – Colorways, Resources and Inspiration!

Apache Tears Blanket by Rachel Michael

Even when you choose just two leading colors, you can introduce some variety in your design. For example, this lovely blanket by Rachel focuses on shades of blue, but the pattern is interrupted by a fantastic shade of yellow. To see how great it looks, just take a peek below!

photos by @michaelmademe on Instagram: top, bottom

If you prefer a written pattern to a video tutorial, try this free pattern by Lucy Croft – Hook ‘n’ Learn Part 9 – Apache Tears.

Apache Tears Blanket by MariaLaLarga

Introducing white yarn every other row and using it with contrasting blacks and browns is a great idea, because it creates a fantastic, bold pattern. As you can see below, it looks interesting and is perfect for modern blankets. See more photos on Maria’s Instagram feed!

photos by @maria.la.larga on Instagram: top, bottom

You may also like this article: Easy V-Stitch Ideas

Apache Tears Blanket by Ollie and Bella

If classic color combinations of Apache tears are too busy for you, try making more than one row in the same color. This way, you will create more of a geometric pattern that pleases the eye. Crocheter behind Ollie and Bella know how to choose the right palette – check it out in the pictures!

photos by @ollie.and.bella on Instagram (currently inactive)

Be sure to check out Ollie and Bella’s YouTube channel on youtube.com.

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