How to Change Colors in Crochet
By Rachel – 41 CommentsIf you are new to crochet, here are some tips on how to change colors in your crochet work. The basic idea is to simply let go of the yarn you are currently using and pick up the new yarn that you want to use. Sounds easy enough, right? Let’s explore some examples!
This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you.
Changing Colors In a Chain
Suppose you want to change the color in the middle of a chain. Just let go of the color your are using and pick up the new yarn and hold it against your work and start chaining with it.
Changing Colors in Crochet Stitches
Sometimes you may want to change colors after a certain crochet stitch. You change colors the same way, but you do it during the last step of a stitch. Here is an example using single crochet.
Insert your hook into the next stitch (as you normally would)
Yarn over (as you normally would)
Pull the yarn through one loop on your hook (as you normally would)
Now let go of the yarn and hold the new strand of yarn against your work.
Yarn over with the new color of yarn.
Pull the yarn though both loops on your hook.
You can now use the new strand of yarn to continue your work.
To change colors during different crochet stitches, the rule of thumb is to change the color during the last yarn over in the stitch.
Carrying Yarn
Sometimes you will find it useful to “carry” your yarn in your work. This is helpful if you plan to switch your color back to the previous color later. To carry your yarn in your work you change colors using the same method as above. After you change colors, hold the old strand of yarn against the loops of your work.
Now continue crocheting as you normally would with your new color. The old color will be carried in the work since it is being held against the loops you are crocheting in. When you are ready to change colors again the old color will be right there for you to use.
If you need help changing colors in crochet, just leave a comment and I would be glad to help!
You read my mind with the color changing info! I am currently learning how to add pictures to my bags and stuff i crochet. Right now i am working on a bag with a skull and crossbones on the front. Its just sc, so should be easy enough. Thanks again, your pics and info really helped!
I know I’ve been coming here for awhile now but it never fails to amaze me that you show this for both rights and lefts. You’re amazing! I’ll be linking.
Thank you so much for this info! I am currently making a hat for my son and was wondering how to do this without tying the colors together.
Great pictures, very easy to understand tutorial! =)
Thank you, Rachel.
Are we to crochet over the dropped yarn? I always feel like it will unravel, so I sometimes tie the two yarns. Yes, I know it’s a big no no, but as I said, I just feel insecure about dropping and picking up yarn without a slip knot or pulling (dropped yarn) through.
Hey Paulette!
Sometimes it’s good to crochet over the dropped yarn, as some like to call it “carrying” the yarn in the work. If you choose not to, you can always weave the end of the yarn into the back of your work when you are done or you can tie the two pieces together. Do what seems right for you. I don’t think there is any wrong or right way of doing it.
Thanks for your quick reply, Rachel.
I will play around with my practice yarn.
Miss Rachel I Love all your Crochet Stich . THANKS!!!!!!!!! Ramona.
oh that makes sense to me now. I have a crochet book but your instructins are so much better.
Thanks
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Thanks for this. I looked right over it the first time!
Happy Stitching!
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I am trying to crochet a horizontally striped scarf and I was wondering how would you do that?? Like would I switch colors at the end of the chain and cut the yarn and repeat the process? Sorry… I am REALLY new at crocheting.. ^_^’ ehehehehe…… Oh and.. THE YARN YOUR USING ARE LIKE THE EXACT SAME COLORS AS WHAT I’M USING FOR MY SCARF!! haha
You should switch colors in the last stitch of your row. You can either cut your yarn or carry it in your work, your choice.
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I’m still a bit confused about carrying yarn as you change colors. I am trying to crochet the piano key scarf and every time I attempt to crochet the black into the white and carry the white with me, the keys end up looking black and white instead of just black. Am I doing this wrong or what? Is this a tip that is used only in special cases, and is so, what would those cases be? And if I do not carry the white yarn with me as I crochet the keys, do you have another way to switch back and forth between white and black? Do I need to just cut the yarn and reincorporate the colors back into the scarf? I am really wanting to figure this out and any help would be great.
Hi Sarah, the piano key scarf pattern will tell you when to carry each color and when to not carry it. This will prevent your blank keys from looking write. Please read the pattern carefully.
So, after changing the colors, do I just weave in the loose ends after that row? Also, which is better, to carry the yarn or not?
Hi Sherrie, yes you just weave in the loose ends after you change your colors. You can carry your yarn, but it would depend on your project/pattern. Sometimes when you carry it will make your work too bulky and the different colors will show though. But other times it’ll work fine and is very convenient. The more you crochet, you’ll find out what works for you. When in doubt just weave them in when you’re done.
Thanks for this. Am pretty experienced but never could quite figure out how to do this. (Should have asked mom and grandmas how before they passed on but didn’t.)
1st question- when carrying yarn, doesn’t it make the sts bulkier?
2ns question- doesn’t the carried color show through the new color?
Thanks again!
Hi Kamama, when you carry yarn it does make your work bulkier. For your second question, it depends on the yarn colors, some will show through and some won’t. Try it out!
I di not know how to change colors when crocheting. And when I try I do not know what to do with the old color that I started with Could some one please explain this to me . This would be very much appericated. For a am a new beginner in crocheting. Thank you
Fay, after you change your colors, simply weave your old color into your work. Or you can carry the old color in your work as shown at the bottom of this tutorial.
Thank you so much, I am a beginner and this was very helpful.
This is such a helpful place! I make hats and have been pretty limited to one color. My aunt tried to explain changing colors but I couldn’t quite grasp it. I’ll have to give it another shot after this. I love your site, Rachel! ^_^
Hi, when you change colors, what do you do with your old color, do you tie it off, or what.
Or do weave the end into your item your working on.
Please let me know. Thank you.
LInda Jo Cameron
Yes, you weave the yarn into your work or you can carry it in the work. You can tie your yarn if you think it will make it more secure, but you don’t necessarily have to. It’s totally up to you
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hi rachel, hope you can help. i’m in the process of crocheting a baby afghan with the name in it. i’m having trouble with picking up colors. sometimes i have to pick up the different color after 2 rows, depending on the graph, but the back side looks terrible because now my yarn is going over the main color before being picked up again in the next row. how can i make this look better?
thanks, dawn
Hi Dawn, if your unused color shows through, I wouldn’t carry it in your work. Carrying yarn is great when your stitches are tight and hides the unused yarn. Instead, you can cut the yarn and start it again where you need it. Or you can use multiple balls of the same color, depending on your graph.
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