How to Change Colors in Crochet
By Rachel – 94 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!
I am using two VERY contrasting colors and when I am carrying the yarn to change colors it is clearly visible inside the stiches….. Is there a different way to change the colors without cutting and knotting? If not then is there an easier and more permanent way to weave in the ends?
Hi Nicole, cutting and weaving in is probably the only other option if your yarn shows through when you carry it in your work. Here’s a post about weaving in ends if you’re interested: Finish Off and Weave in Ends in Crochet (feel free to read the comments section as well to see how others like to weave in their ends, there’s no right or wrong way to do it)
I just started learning to crochet and I am working on making some placemats to start with. When I get about 5 rows into my work the get shorter. What am I doing wrong? I do each row the same way but I am confused as to why it gets shorter? Please tell me what I am doing wrong.
Hi Melissa, it can be due to any number of reasons. Try checking out this post: 7 Tips to Establish Consistency in Crochet
I think #1 – #3 in that post are your best bet.
Hi Rachel im working on a pattern that needs me to change colors a lot somtimes just for a couple of stitches when i add and cut and weave tail are they secure and wont come un done even after washing ? and one more thing is it true your not to dry item after washing ?
Hi Donna! Yes, once you weave the ends in and secure them they shouldn’t come undone in the wash. For peace of mind you can try doing it on a small crochet piece first and tossing it in the wash to see if it holds up. Some materials you can put in the dryer and others you shouldn’t, if you still have the packaging label for your yarn it should tell you on it.
Hi Rachel! I was lucky to find your site and read about carrying yarn across the back of a piece. I didn’t know that you crocheted over it because nothing has ever said to do that. I love that idea because then you don’t have loose lengths of yarn to catch on things. Now, here’s my problem. I have run across patterns that say roll your yarn in to 3 balls, for example, because you are going to use a ball of a diff. color and leave it hanging during a color change. How do you keep those balls from rolling all over the place AND how do you know when you are 1/3 of the way through a skein? Is it just a best guess estimate? There must be a better way. I see in books that you should roll your yarn into balls all the time bit I just pull from the skein. Any help you can offer? I’m an intermediate crocheter but apparently my skill in this area is out to lunch. I also see this “small ball” use in knitting and you could have 5 or 6 colors dangling from the back of your work!
Thanks!!
Hi Leandra, try putting your balls of yarn in a box while you crochet, that way they won’t roll off the table and will at least stay in the box. A shoe box would probably be good, and you can also make a yarn container if you’d like.
I think guestimating is good enough for when you need to split your skein, but if you really want to be exact you can weight your ball of yarn. If it’s a 1/3 of the weight of the total skein then you know you have what you’re looking for when splitting into thirds. You’ll need a scale that can do light weights though. You can also try measuring your yarn as you pull it out, but that might be more trouble than it’s worth. I hope that helps!
Hi Rachel, so glad I came across your site. I would like to make the ALL FREECROCHET 4th of July afghan, for next year, I’m a little late for 2011. How would you change colors with the white star and blue background? I have used blue and white together before and found I can’t carry them because the colors show thru. But, looking at all the color changes on this chart, you would have lots and lots of ends to weave on every square. What do you think?
Hi Connie, If you’re colors are showing through when you carry the yarn in your work, I would just cut the yarn each time you change the color instead. Yes, it will leave a lot of ends to weave in, but you’ll have a lovely afghan that I will hopefully be worth it!
thx alot i’ve been trying alot of differnt ways but this one works out the best!!!
thx rachel
-ashley
I am making a two-color afghan which is many small squares sewn together for form a large block. The colors are cut across in the diagonal for the small squares and then the squares are used on both front and back side to form the pattern. I do not know how to carry the yarn up a row to switch to the 2nd color and keep it the same on both sides. Can you help me?
Thanks
Joyce, I think it’s suppose to look differnt on each side. There is a front and back side of the each stitch your make. You’re probably already doing it correctly. What I do is drop the yarn or carry it to where I’ll need it next, then pick it up on the next row.
Hi, I would like some advice on changing colors when using a graph. I bought this really pretty afghan kit that has a snowman decked out for Christmas. They say not to carry the yarn more than 3-4 stitches but the colors change all over the place across the pattern because of shading. I’ve never used bobbins before or done this kind of work so I’m more than intimidated by having balls of yarn hanging from the back of my work as I go. Any advice that might make it easier? I sure don’t want to run out of yarn. It is hard enough to keep track of the rows I’ve done because the chart squares are so small.
Love your site and await your response!
Leandra
Leandra,
If you are working from a kit, it is best to follow the advice given in the instructions from the kit. The kit most likely contains just enough yarn to complete the project and not much more if there is any extra yarn. Using yarn bobbins is not a bad idea if you have to change colors often and the kit comes with the bobbins. I have never crocheted anything using a kit. However one of my published designs (crocheted Noel wall hanging) was turned into a kit by the publisher because there were so many color changes often.
When I crocheted the item I used a combination of whole skeins, yarn bobbins and small balls of yarn, depending on the area to be covered and how much of the same color or different color was needed for a particular section. If you don’t like using yarn bobbins, you may want to put each strand of yarn through a straw to prevent tangling.
If you have enough yarn to work with and don’t like a lot of different colors of yarn attached to your work at the same time, you can work with one or a few colors at a time and simply cut the yarn not in use. However this can leave the back of your work (wrong side) very messy, unless you leave enough yarn to weave in all the loose ends, which can be very time consuming and may still look messy. You can also use a regular needle and thread to sew all the loose ends into place.
Good luck and I hope I was able to help in some way.
Does anyone have a crochet pattern with popcorn stitch. I am looking for a new design to do for
Christmas gift.
Thank you,
Joni
Oh my gosh Rachel im so glad i found you. im going to learn from you because I have been looking for the differnet stiches and you give them on your page.Im a new learner and you going to teach me Thank you so much.
i want to know how to end the stitch after your done.
Hi Prishita, here’s a post that shows you how to end the stitch: Perfecting Your Craft: Finishing the Project
Great tutorial! I’ve never changed colors like this before, but will definately give it a shot
Thank you for sharing this technique with others.
Any ideas how to change carry a second color through a Fsc? I’m having the toughest time. Thanks, Michelle
I have a hat pattern from the Caron site and it has small diagonal stripes. The chart to stitch it is 3 stitches wide by 4 rows high. The “stripe” is surrounded on all sides by the main color and is only 1 stitch wide. For example mc is x, cc is o. The pattern is oox
xoo
oxo
oox
and repeats around the hat, with a slip stitch to complete the row, then ch1 and continue the pattern.
The photograph shows the stripe as rather thick, but I can’t get my stripe to line up, let alone be thick! Can you help me?!?! I can even show you the pattern page if you like, but I’m not sure what your rules are here for your site. Thanks in advance!
Hi Jennifer, are you changing colors like in this tutorial? Take a look at the “changing colors in crochet stitches” section, if you haven’t already. Also, in the pattern you are working on double check it to make sure there aren’t specific instructions as to how they want you to change colors. Some patterns may use a non conventional way to change colors to get the desired look.
Yes, Rachel, I have learned so much on your site and the changing colors lesson was perfect (for other projects). In this particular pattern though, the 1 stitch doesn’t seem to hold up to making a diagonal stripe like it appears to in the photo. I just realized I could look at others’ attempts at the same project on ravelry, and I think I am just going to have to make what I have done be enough. It’s just been a learning curve for me, this pattern, and until I finish it, I will still be a little frustrated. It will look how it looks and I will be happy with that.
That’s a good idea to look on Ravelry. I hope you are able to figure it out. Good luck with it!
Okay, Rachel. I found the culprit. In very small print (ie, I didn’t read everything), it says to do the color changing in “Fair Isle Method”. What is that?! Do you have a tutorial for that? Are you even familiar with it? I had no idea there were different “methods” of crocheting. I was just following the pattern as it was written and didn’t see in the explanation at the beginning to do the color changes a different way. Seems I got in over my head a bit. I went ahead and finished my hat with just regular stitches and it looks okay, but I’m ready to make another one because this one is too small.
Any help will be appreciated!!!
Hi Jennifer, I’m glad you found the culprit! I’m not a Fair Isle pro, but Linda Cee wrote a couple guest posts on Crochet Spot about tapestry crochet (same things as Fair Isle, just different name). Here are the links:
Tapestry Crochet (some general information)
Crochet Pattern: Tapestry Crochet Hot Pad (a pattern that demonstrates how the yarn is being worked and carried throughout a tapestry crochet pattern – may have to read through the whole pattern to understand the technique)
Hi, Rachel. I recently did some projects that start out a crocheting in a round. When I change colors, it’s not a seamless transition between colors. Is there a different technique for changing colors when working in the round? Forgive me if this is mentioned elsewhere here… I didn’t happen to see anything that addresses this issue. Thanks so much… I really enjoy your website.
Hi Debbie, most of the time when you’re crocheting in the round like a spiral the color changes won’t be seamless. It’s natural for this to happen. Other patterns, when you’re crocheting in the round and making the turning chain will have a more seamless color change. The different methods of crocheting use the same technique to change colors, but the method you crochet is what mostly determines if the color change will be seamless or not. If you are crocheting in the round like a spiral, but want a smoother color change, you can try any slip stitch into the last stitch with the old color, and then change to the new color. Then change in stitch height helps to even out the color change.
I’ve crocheted for years, just simple stuff, I must not have learned the correct way to change colors because I always looped the hook with the new color, as if I was starting a project, well, that caused problems, so I never tried to change colors often. Thank you so much, your website is great, even for people who have crocheted for a long time.