Today I want to introduce you to Tiler, your new favorite crochet helper.
Tiler is a super fancy calculator that you can use to work out exactly how many crochet tiles you’ll need for making any size crochet blanket where the tiles are staggered like bricks and you need to factor in half-tiles, like this one for example:
As you can see, this design is made from a tessellating ogee shape, with fractions of the same shape used to fill in the gaps around the perimeter and square off the panel. There are quarters in each corner, half-length tiles along the top and bottom, and half-width tiles down the sides.
Tiler will tell you exactly how many of each type of tile you will need to make any sized panel of your choice, so you can use it to help make blankets, afghans, scarves, throws, cushion covers, bags – basically, anything that’s a square or rectangular panel.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Measuring tape/ ruler
- An appropriate crochet pattern
- One complete crocheted tile
- Know what size blanket (or whatever) you want to make
MEASURING
Crochet one full tile, then measure the length and width of it.
If you are using a simple shape like a square, or something with a sharp point at the top and bottom, you can simply measure across the tile at the widest part to get the with (Tile Max Width). Measure from top to bottom to get the length.
When using a shape like this particular ogee, you must account for the extra width of the point at the top and bottom of the tile . In this case, measure across the tile at the widest part, and at the narrowest part (Tile Point Width).
Here’s a tile from the Moroccan Garden pattern, showing where to measure:
USING THE CALCULATOR
- TILE DIMENSIONS: Enter the Tile Max Width, the Tile Length, and the Tile Point Width into the green fields. (Make the Tile Point Width value zero if you’re using a rectangular shape, or one with sharp points at the top and bottom.)
- BLANKET DIMENSIONS: Enter the intended Width and Length of your blanket into the blue fields.
- RESULTS: See the results at the bottom of the spreadsheet, telling you how many of each piece you’ll need.
Note: Press Enter (or return) after you’ve input all your numbers, to make sure the calculation updates!
TILE SHAPES ILLUSTRATED:
WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE CROCHET PATTERN?
Well, any pattern using crochet blocks, squares or tiles that can be tessellated and assembled in a staggered layout like bricks. You will also need to be able to make quarters and halves of the blocks used in your design, if you want to fill in the gaps along the sides, top and bottom.
If you aren’t able to make half- and quarter-tiles, you can still use the calculator in the same way, omitting those pieces when making the blanket (in which case, your blanket wont be squared off).
Here are some really cool examples of tessellating crochet shapes:
Left to right: Retro Ornament Throw by Red Heart, Painted Hexagons Blanket by Baby Love Brand Kids, Vasarely Blanket by Le Blog Purple.
Tiler was originally invented for use with my free Moroccan Garden pattern which has a tessellating ogee design (thanks to the coolest Dad ever, who programmed the spreadsheet for me <3), but there are so many other shapes that can also work. Please experiment with different ones and let me know how it works out! You can use any square, rectangular or hexagonal crochet block, and you can also try unusual shapes, as long as they tessellate.
Thanks for visiting and remember to share this fancy tool with everyone at your crochet addicts’ gatherings.
Tag @Projectarian on Instagram with your #TilerTheCalculator pictures so I can see your awesome work!
PIN IT!
