What is the difference between C2C, tapestry and filet crochet?

Tapestry crochet carries several colors through rows of single crochet. C2C builds diagonally in small blocks, one color per block. Filet crochet uses one yarn and makes the picture from open and filled mesh squares.

Which crochet technique is easiest for pictures?

Filet crochet is the simplest, since it uses one yarn and two kinds of square. For pictures in several colors, C2C is the friendliest, because you change color block by block and the work grows quickly.

Which crochet technique is best for a photo blanket?

C2C is popular for photo blankets because each block acts as one large pixel, so a big piece grows quickly. Tapestry crochet shows more detail at the same size but takes much longer.

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C2C vs Tapestry vs Filet Crochet: Which Should You Use?

Nov 4, 2026MotifSmith

Tapestry carries colors through rows, C2C builds diagonal blocks, and filet makes pictures from mesh with one yarn. How to pick the right technique for your chart.

Tapestry crochet carries several colors through rows of tight stitches, C2C builds diagonally in small blocks with one color per block, and filet crochet uses one yarn to draw with open and filled mesh squares. Choose filet for names and simple motifs, C2C for big colorful blankets, and tapestry for fine detail and sturdy fabric.

At a glance

	Tapestry	C2C	Filet
Colors	Several	Several	One
One chart cell is	1 stitch	1 block	1 mesh square
Worked	In rows or rounds	Diagonally	In rows
Fabric	Dense, sturdy	Thick, drapey	Light, lacy
Speed	Slow	Fast	Medium
Good for	Bags, baskets, fine detail	Blankets, photo pieces	Names, curtains, doilies

Tapestry crochet

You work single crochet and carry the unused yarn inside the stitches, so the back stays neat and the fabric is firm. It is great for bags and detailed motifs, and the carried yarn adds weight and uses more yardage.

C2C (corner to corner)

You start at one corner and increase along a diagonal, then decrease back to the opposite corner. Each block is a small group of stitches, so one chart cell covers more area, and a large blanket comes together fast. Reading a chart diagonally takes some practice, so many people keep a written row list.

Filet crochet

With a single yarn, you get a picture from solid blocks against mesh. There are no color changes, so it is the easiest way to start with charts, and text reads especially well. See how to read a filet chart.

Which charts work for which technique

MotifSmith's crochet graph setting gives a color chart for tapestry and single crochet colorwork. You can also use it as a C2C chart, treating each cell as one block, but check your own block proportions with a swatch, since C2C blocks are close to square. Its filet setting produces open and filled squares.

Crochet pattern generator for color charts
Filet crochet pattern generator for mesh charts