It doesn’t matter if you are changing to a new colour mid row, at the beginning of a row or in the round. There is just one easy rule to remember when you want to seamlessly add new colours in crochet.
It always happens on the final yarn around hook of the stitch before the new colour is required.
This is because the final yarn around hook and pull through is actually the beginning of the next stitch, not the end of the previous stitch. <<< This will be news to some people, and when you try changing colours in crochet for the first time, this becomes very obvious.
This colour changing technique is a great beginner crocheter tip for an invisible colour switch.
Read on for :
Changing Yarn Colours At The Beginning of a Crochet Row
The example shown in the below photos and instructions are for rows of double crochet (US single crochet), but the same principle applies for changing yarn colours at the beginning of half treble crochet (US half double crochet), a treble crochet (US double crochet) and all other stitches.
Step 1 – Work as usual up to the final stitch of the row.
Step 2 – Yarn around hook and pull up a loop in the current yarn (two loops on your hook). Get ready to use the new yarn colour by just looping it over the hook, ready to pull it through.
Don’t use a slip knot to put it on your hook, just leave a loose end of around 10cm/ 4″.
Step 3 – Pull up a loop in the new colour. The new yarn colour is invisibly added, ready for the first stitch of the next row. The front loop and back loop of the last stitch of the row are in the old yarn colour.
If you are using starting chains, these would all be in the new colour. I use starting stitches rather than chains, to give and even neater round join.
If you want to learn starting stitches, I have tutorials for Starting Double Crochet (US starting single crochet), Starting Half Treble Crochet (US starting half double crochet) and Starting Treble Crochet (US starting double crochet).
Step 4 – Continue in the new colour as directed in your pattern. Give a little tug on the two yarn tails at the colour change over point when you are weaving in the ends. That will help to neaten up the yarn colour switch over, leading to a clean colour change.
I also have a video tutorial for ‘How to Change Yarn Colours at the Beginning of a Crochet Row‘.
Changing Yarn Colours Mid Row in Crochet
The example shown in the below photos and instructions are for rows of treble crochet (US double crochet), but the same principle applies for changing yarn colours at the beginning of double crochet (US single crochet), half treble crochet (US half double crochet) and all other stitches.
Step 1 – Work your treble (or whichever stitch you are crocheting) up to the final yarn around hook. Get ready to use the new yarn colour by just looping it over the hook, ready to pull it through.
Don’t use a slip knot to put it on your hook, just leave a loose end of around 10cm/ 4″.
Step 2 – Pull up a loop in the new colour. The new yarn colour is invisibly added, ready for the first stitch in the new yarn colour. The front loop and back loop of the last stitch of the row are in the old yarn colour.
Step 3 – Continue in the new colour as directed in your pattern. Give a little tug on the two yarn tails at the colour change over point when you are weaving in the ends. That will help to neaten up the yarn colour switch over, leading to a clean colour change.
I also have a video tutorial for ‘How to Change Yarn Colours in Crochet Mid-Row‘.
Crochet By Numbers Blanket (above) uses lots of colour changes in the round to create an ombre effect.
Changing Yarn Colours In Crochet In The Round
Step 1 – Work whichever stitch you are crocheting up to the final yarn around hook. In this example I am doing rounds of double crochet (US single crochet).
Get ready to use the new yarn colour by just looping it over the hook, ready to pull it through.
Don’t use a slip knot to put it on your hook, just leave a loose end of around 10cm/ 4″.
Step 2 – Pull up a loop in the new colour. The new yarn colour is invisibly added, ready for the first stitch in the new yarn colour. The front loop and back loop of the last stitch of the row are in the old yarn colour.
If you are using starting chains, these would all be in the new colour. I use starting stitches rather than chains, to give and even neater round join.
If you want to learn starting stitches, I have tutorials for Starting Double Crochet (US starting single crochet), Starting Half Treble Crochet (US starting half double crochet) and Starting Treble Crochet (US starting double crochet).
Step 3 – Continue in the new colour as directed in your pattern. Give a little tug on the two yarn tails at the colour change over point when you are weaving in the ends. That will help to neaten up the yarn colour switch over, leading to a clean colour change.
Your pattern may require you to change colour mid-round. The same rule applies – every single colour change starts on the stitch before with the last yarn around hook being made with the new colour.
I also have a video tutorial on ‘How to Change Yarn Colour in a Crochet Round‘.
Prefer a Video Tutorial?
If you would prefer a quick video tutorial, I have one here for you.
