20+ Memphis Design Inspired Crochet Patterns
Have you ever seen this playful and colorful style that is associated with the 1980s and wondered what it is? I know a few years ago I discovered the movie “Ruthless People” with Danny Devito and Bette Midler and wondered what is that really fun style that the house is in? Then I did a bit of research and learned that the design style is called Memphis.
This wild, colorful aesthetic first burst onto the scene in 1981, when Italian designer Ettore Sottsass gathered a group of designers and architects in Milan, Italy who rejected the minimalist and modernist design trends of the 1960s and 70s and called themselves the Memphis Group, not after the city in Tennessee, but after the Bob Dylan song “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again,” which happened to be playing during their first meeting. (source: V&A Museum)
Emerging from the foundations of the Radical Design movement of the 1960s, Memphis Design represented a deliberate departure from the prevailing earth-toned aesthetics of the early 1980s. Instead, it introduced a new visual language characterized by vibrant neon and pastel colors, bold geometric forms, and playful patterns. This aesthetic aimed to move beyond mere functionality, imbuing objects with symbolic, poetic, and emotional resonance that reflected the complexities of contemporary society. It combines elements of art deco and pop art, which I think is so fun.
The design approach uniquely blended elements of pop culture, high art, and ironic classicism, resulting in a flamboyant and disruptive style that existed between kitsch and elegance.
It was kind of like the '80s had a love child with a Lego set. Their first show at the Milan Furniture Fair in 1981 caused a complete stir — people either loved it or hated it. But it made a statement. (source: Architectural Digest)
And while the movement officially disbanded in the late ‘80s and its mainstream popularity peaked, the aesthetic never really left. It’s popped back up in fashion, home decor, graphic design, and in this post, we’re putting a crochet spin on it.
In order to embrace the memphis design aesthetic, you can play with high contrast color combos, zigzag patterns, abstract shapes, and playful texture in your creations. So, I have found over 20 memphis inspired designs to create and there is a mix of free and paid, as well as clothes, accessories and home decor. As always, you can find all of the links to each of the patterns on my blog, which is linked in the description box below. Alright let's get into it!
Carnaby Cal by Katie Jones Knit, see the pattern here. First is the Carnaby Cal by Katie Jones Knit. This is a paid pattern on their Ravelry, and is more intermediate level to create. This blanket is basically the Memphis Design style in crochet form. It has bold blocks, zigzags and bright contrast that really captures that chaotic-fun energy that the Memphis Group was known for. The project is released as a CAL (crochet-along), and was designed with Stylecraft Special DK, it's lightweight but impactful and is ideal for making a statement throw or wall hanging. If you love loud color and fearless pattern mixing, then this one could be fun to create!
Matilde Skirt by Knit Gang, see the pattern here.
Another great pattern is the Matilde Skirt by Knit Gang. This one is free on their website, and features a clean checkered color blocking and chunky stripes give off a modern retro feel that is very 1980s fashion editorial. It’s made with friends cotton 8/6 so it’s created to have a breathable feel that Is great for layering. And I thought this one looks like wearable art, and the skirt is worked top down. Because of the many color changes it is worked in the round but back and forth every time you have made a new round. This way you don’t have to cut the yarn every time you make a color change.
Heart on Crop Sweater by Laura Hjetefryd, see the pattern here.
You could also make the Heart on Crop Sweater by Laura Hjetefryd. This one has sizes Small, Medium and Large. I love that the bold heart motif in the center has that playful Memphis charm. The sweater has cropped fit with a high neck and voluminous puff sleeves. To create it you work the back then front panel, then the sleeves and neckline and finish it off with assembling the neckline and rib edge for the waist. And I really loved the way they used bubble stitches to give some texture to the piece with this design and it’s free on the hobbii website.
Ziggy Scarf by Kelly Groves, see the pattern here.
I also love the Ziggy Scarf by Kelly Groves. This one is beginner friendly to make and measures 7.5 inches by 50.5 inches and it’s designed in a ways to make the colors pop. This one is a paid pattern on the Hobbii website and the thing that I loved about this pattern is that it has no ends to sew in because the ends become tassels which is great if you don’t love sewing in ends. And I loved the zig zag nature of this design and it would be even more memphis if you create the zig zags in contrasting colors such as white and black.
Rainbow Baby Blanket by Tine Sommer Hansen, see the pattern here.
The Rainbow Baby Blanket by Tine Sommer Hansen is also a great make. This one is more intermediate to create and free on the Hobbii website. The finished design measures 80 cm by 70 cm and if you want to create it to be wider you can elongate it by creating a foundation chain by a number of chains divisible by ten. This one is pretty repetitive and easy to customize, and if you made this one with neon or pastel colors it would really embrace the memphis style.
Make the Estelle Bag by The story of a Mulberry. It’s more intermediate to create and is created with the tapestry method. It’s worked in the round, and it also has a really helpful chart to create it, so it’s great if you’re comfortable with working with charts and it also has written instructions. And to finish this one off, you attach the zipper and attach magnetic buttons. And this one is free on the hobbii website, and I love how the zipper and buttons really give it that polished look.
Happy Squares Scarf by Little Golden Nook, see the pattern here.
I also like the happy squares scarf by Little Golden Nook. It’s a paid pattern on their website, It measures 32 cm by 172 cm and is made of colorful square motifs that let you mix and match shades for a custom look. This one is perfect for beginners and it would be really fun to play with the memphis color palette for this one.
Lattice Blanket by Yarncrafted, see the pattern here.
You can also make the Lattice Blanket by Yarncrafted. It’s a paid pattern on the Hobbii website, and the lattice design that a modular, tile-like vibe that shows up in so much Memphis artwork and interior decor. It measures 52 inches by 66 inches and is a paid pattern on the hobbii website, and it’s made of 32 granny squares that are joined diagonally to create the lattice design. And the bold pattern with this one and playing with that memphis palette would really be fun with this pattern.
Granny's on the Block by Emkatcrochet, see the pattern here.
You can also make the Granny’s on the Block by Emkatcrochet. It measures 95 cm by 126 cm, and is worked up using the granny stitch. With bold blocks of color and a graphic layout, this pattern gives the classic color blocking style that is featured in memphis design, and it’s a paid pattern on the hobbii website. It’s beginner friendly to create and looks like something that you’d find in a modern art exhibit.
Check Please Panel Blanket by Yarnpsirations, see the pattern here.
The check please panel blanket by Yarnpsirations is a really great blanket pattern. This blanket is made of three unique panels using three different techniques ranging from easy to advanced. For it you use the moss stitch, waterfall stitch and double crochet mesh stitch, with surface chain embroidery for a cool plaid effect. It’s made with three panels, a stripe pattern, checkered panel, and another striped pattern. And the checkerboard pattern is an iconic part of the memphis design style especially in black and white.
Monochrome Polo by The Missing Yarn, see the pattern here.
The monochrome crochet polo by The Missing Yarn is a great pattern. This polo top puts a minimalist twist to the memphis aesthetic, with its bold shape and paired down color palette. I love the clean lines and there are nine different sizes with this one having bust size 96 cm to 128 cm. The graphic nature of this one with the pop of color at the collar and bottom of the top really gave me that memphis vibe, and this one is a paid pattern on the love crafts website.
Fact Check Bucket Hat by Yarnpsirations, see the pattern here.
I also like this checkerboard hat by Yarnspirations. If you love that checkerboard pattern then this one could be perfect to make. This one is worked in the round and does require some colorwork, and if you are new to color work this could be a great first pattern to introduce you to it because it’s beginner friendly. If fits a size 20 inch or 51 circumference adult head, and has written instructions so you don’t have to worry about following a chart.
Zig Zag Sweter by The Missing Yarn, see the pattern here.
The zig zag sweater is also a fun one. It uses the intarsia method to create and is worked from the top down in raglan style. It’s intermediate level to make as the special stitches required to make it are the double crochet front post and half double crochet two together and it has sizes XS to 5XL. It also has charts that you can follow to create it, and is free on the website. And I thought that the bold zig zag along with the stripes really celebrates a Memphis-esque look.
Checkerboard Rug by Yarnspirations, see the pattern here.
Or make the checkerboard rug by yarnspirations. It’s free on their website and beginner friendly to make. Once complete it makes a rug that is 24 inches by 31 inches, and there is a bit of colorwork to make it.
It does use the tapestry method, but the instructions are also written out. And this one gave me that memphis vibe with the checkerboard and would be perfect to make with some neon or pastel colors or both really.
Checkerboard Blanket by Yarnspirations, see the pattern here.
Continuing on with that checkerboard design here is a checkerboard blanket. It uses the C2C technique and is made with bulky yarn so it’d work up quite quickly. This one is beginner friendly as well and measures 45 inches by 50 inches or 114.5 cm by 127 cm, so it’s the perfect size for a throw and it also has written instructions as well.
Checkerboard Sweater by Yarnspirations, see the pattern here.
Or make this checkerboard mood sweater by Yarnspirations. It’s intermediate to make and has sizes XS to 5XL. It does use the intarsia method so there is a bit of colorwork and changes colors to make as well as a bit of embroidery to finish it off and create those faces with the satin stitch. And I thought that the faces really have a whimsical and magical touch.
Memphis Blanket by Mid Knits, see the pattern here.
This memphis style blanket by mid knits is also really epic. It measures 50 inches by 60 inches and is more intermediate level to make. This one is a paid pattern on their Etsy and was inspired by the memphis style, and it also has a colorwork chart and I just loved the graphic nature of this one as well as the color palette they used.
Zig Zag Zipper Bag by Loops & Love Crochet, see the pattern here.
Another great piece is the zig zag zipper bag by Loops and Love Crochet. They made one that was 6 inches by 3.5 inches and the other is 7 inches by 5 inches, so it’s great for carrying small staple items. There is some colorwork using the tapestry method, so I would say it’s more intermediate level to make but it does have written instructions and a chart. And that bold chevron as well as their use of color here just really had the memphis-vibe for me.
Mosaic Blanket by Green Gully Designs, see the pattern here.
You could also make the mosaic blanket by Green Gully Designs. This blanket really leans into the structured side of memphis with its bold symmetry and color blocked shapes. It uses the mosaic technique to make it and measures 130 cm by 90 cm, and definitely would be an impressive make and it is a paid pattern in their Etsy.
Wiggly Scarf by Em's Wardrobe, see the pattern here.
The Wiggly Crochet Scarf by Em’s Wardrobe is also fun. It’s beginner friendly and would be perfect to create and use up yarns from other projects. It’s also a very easy pattern repeat to make this one, and easy adjust as you like, and it’s a paid pattern in their Ribblr.
Mosaic Coaster & Placemat by Crafty Maz Designs, see the pattern here.
Or make the mosaic coaster and placemat by Crafty Maz Designs. I love the shape, pattern and colors of these and how it has a tile-like look with a square zig zag design. It uses the overlay mosaic technique to make and is perfect if you like a more functional make and it’s a free pattern over on their website.
Well what did you think of these memphis-inspired patterns? Let me know in the comments below! Have you ever heard of this style, or is this first time? I would also love to know.
If you enjoyed this style, you might also like the 20 Bauhaus Crochet Patterns next. Thanks for joining me, and I hope to see you along in the next one!