What’s the Best Way to Change Colors in Crochet? Expert Tips and Advice

Changing colors in crochet can transform a simple project into a vibrant and visually appealing piece. Incorporating different colors into your work can add depth, contrast, and personality to crocheted items, whether it’s through subtle color shifts or bold, graphic designs. However, with more than one method to choose from, you may find yourself wondering what is the best way to change colors in your crochet project.

Three Basic Techniques for Changing Colors

Mastering the art of changing colors in crochet can elevate the visual appeal of any project. The following techniques focus on three main ways for introducing new colors into your work.

1. Changing Color at the End of the Previous Stitch

One of the most popular ways to change color, which can be used in virtually any project with multiple colors, is to change color at the end of the previous stitch. What this means that the final “pull through” of the previous stitch is performed with the new color yarn so that it is ready on your hook to make the next stitch.

This technique can be used mid-row or round, or at the end of a row or round. This is also the way color changes are performed in tapestry crochet, where the unused yarn is not left behind, but it carried along and crocheted over until it is next needed.

A main advantage of this technique is that it creates a smooth transition from one stitch to the next, without any interruption to the stitch pattern, knots or fastening off in your work.

Let’s look at how this is done for some specific stitch examples.

Changing Color with Single Crochet

To change color from yarn A to B when working with single crochet (sc) stitches, perform the last stitch with yarn A as follows:

1. Insert hook into work, yarn over with yarn A and pull up a loop (two loops of yarn A on hook).
2. Drop yarn A and yarn over with yarn B.
3. Pull yarn B through the two loops on your hook leaving one loop of yarn B on your hook.

You are now ready to make the next stitch with yarn B.

Depending on which technique you are using in your project, you may:

• Cut yarn A leaving an end to crochet over and/or weave in;
• Crochet over or float yarn A along your work until it is next needed in your project (e.g. if you are using the tapestry crochet technique);
• If the color change is at the end of a row or round, and there is only a short distance until it is next needed, carry or float yarn A up the side or inside of your work until it is next needed.

Changing Color with Half Double Crochet

For half double crochet (hdc) stitches, color changes are similar.

To change color from yarn A to B when working with half double crochet (hdc) stitches, perform the last stitch with yarn A as follows:

1. Yarn over with yarn A, insert hook into work, yarn over with yarn A and pull up a loop (three loops of yarn A on hook).
2. Drop yarn A and yarn over with yarn B.
3. Pull yarn B through all the loops on your hook leaving one loop of yarn B on your hook.

You are now ready to make the next stitch with yarn B.

As with single crochet, your options for handling yarn A at this point are:

• Cut yarn A leaving an end to crochet over and/or weave in;
• Crochet over or float yarn A along your work until it is next needed in your project (e.g. if you are using the tapestry crochet technique);
• If the color change is at the end of a row or round, and there is only a short distance until it is next needed, carry or float yarn A up the side or inside of your work until it is next needed.

Changing Color with Double Crochet

You can probably guess by now the technique for changing colors with double crochet (dc) stitches. However, for completeness, here it is in full.

To change color from yarn A to B when working with double crochet (dc) stitches, perform the last stitch with yarn A as follows:

1. Yarn over with yarn A, insert hook into work, yarn over with yarn A and pull up a loop (three loops of yarn A on hook).
2. Yarn over with yarn A and pull through two loops on hook (two loops of yarn A on hook).
3. Drop yarn A and yarn over with yarn B.
4. Pull yarn B through both the remaining loops on your hook leaving one loop of yarn B on your hook.

You are now ready to make the next stitch with yarn B.

Yarn A can then be handled as discussed above in relation to sc and hdc stitches.

2. Fastening Off and Changing Color

Another method of changing color is simply to fasten off and then join the next color. This method is best suited for use when changing color at the end of a row or round. It is not recommended for use mid-row or round.

When you have finished a row or round with one color and wish to start the next row or round with a new color, you can simply fasten off the old color at the end of the row or round, and then join the new color at the start of the next row or round.

Follow these steps to fasten off the first color yarn:

• Complete the final stitch (which may be a joining slip stitch at the end of a round) with the first yarn.
• Cut the first yarn leaving a tail of a few cm.
• Remove your hook from your work and pass the tail through the loop from your hook, pulling it tightly to secure it.

To join the next color yarn:

• Make a slip knot in the end of the new yarn and place it over your hook, tightening it around your hook (but making sure it is not too tight).
• Insert your hook into the top of the designated stitch, usually the last stitch you have just made.
• Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull it through both your work and the slip knot on your hook.
• Pull on the end of your yarn to tighten the slip knot.
• You are now ready to start crocheting (usually one or more chain stitches) with the new yarn.

To deal with the yarn ends, you can either leave them and weave them in later, or crochet over them to cover them up.

This method of changing color is useful if you are crocheting relatively large blocks of color in your project (known as “color blocking”) and will not be using the first color again, or for some distance in your work.

3. Tying in a New Color with a Magic Knot

A further method for changing color is with the magic knot. This is a way of tying two yarns together with a secure knot that leaves to ends to be woven in or crocheted over.

Follow these steps to join two yarns with a magic knot:

1. Align your yarns as shown:

2. Loop the end of the first (red) yarn under the second (blue) yarn and back over the first yarn as shown here:

3. Pass the end of the first yarn through the loop you have just made:

4. Pull on the first yarn on either side of the loop to tighten the knot around the second yarn:

5. Now loop the end of the second (blue) yarn under the first (red) yarn and back over the blue yarn in the same way as before:

6. Pass the end of the second yarn through the loop you have just made:

7. Pull on the second yarn on either side of the loop to tighten the knot around the first yarn:

8. Pull on the working ends of the first and second yarns (not the tail ends) to pull the two knots towards each other until they are touching:

9. Pull tightly on both knots again to make sure they are secure and then cut the tail ends:

This method is great for scrap yarn projects where you are not too bothered about exactly where in a stitch the color change occurs. It has the big advantage that there are no ends to weave in and is a really fun way to use up scraps of yarn.

Comparing the Three Methods

Here is a comparison table of the uses, pros and cons of the three color-changing methods discussed above:

Color-changing Method	Pros	Cons	Uses
In the final yarn-over of the previous stitch	– No interruption in stitches – Can be performed at any point in your work	– Leaves a tail that requires crocheting over or weaving in	– Can be used in any situation where you need to change color, and at any point in your work – Useful when the first yarn will be reused later in the project, as it can be floated or crocheted over until it is next needed
Fastening off and changing color	– Easy for beginners – Secure	– The knot and new join can be visible or create a slight disruption in your work – Need to weave in or crochet over ends – Not suitable mid-row or mid-round	– Useful when you won’t be changing back-and-forth between colors – Good to use when the color change is at the end of a row/round, where the fastening off and joining of new yarn is less noticeable
Tying in a new color with a magic knot	– No ends to weave in or crochet over – No interruption in stitches	– Can be tricky to locate the color change precisely in your work – The magic knot can create a small bump in your work although this is usually not noticeable	– Good for scrappy, stash-busting projects where the exact location of the color change is not crucial

Troubleshooting Common Color Changing Issues

When changing colors in crochet, it’s crucial to maintain consistent tension and prevent the colors from bleeding into each other. This section will guide you through solving some frequent issues that arise when switching hues.

Avoiding Color Bleeding

To prevent different colors from bleeding into one another use colorfast yarn to minimize bleeding during washing. Putting a color catcher into your wash can also help.

Avoiding Yarn Tangles

When working with multiple yarns, especially with the tapestry crochet technique, it can be a challenge to prevent your yarn from getting tangled. However, there is a simple trick to avoiding this issue.

Follow these two simple rules to keep your yarns from getting in a tangle when you’re doing tapestry crochet:

1. Keep your balls of yarn in the same relative positions with respect to your work at all times. For example, if you’re using two balls, have one positioned to the front of your work and the other to the back. If you’re using three balls, then have “front”, “middle” and “back” balls.
2. When you pick up a yarn to start crocheting with it, pick it up in the same position as the ball of yarn from which it is coming. For example, if you’re picking up the yarn from the front ball, pick it up in front of all of the other yarns. If you’re picking up the yarn from the back ball, pick it up behind all of the other yarns. If you’re picking up yarn from a “middle” ball of yarn, pick it up between the yarns from the other balls of yarn.

By following those rules your yarns will remain tangle-free!

For more details a video showing this in action, see this post.

For more tips about using multiple colors in tapestry crochet projects, read this post.

Crochet Colorwork Techniques

There are various ways to involve multiple colors in your crochet projects, including simple stripes and color-blocking. However, for some slightly more involved techniques, see these posts:

• Tapestry Crochet
• Mosaic Crochet
• Brioche Crochet

Frequently Asked Questions

In crochet, color changes can enhance patterns and designs. Mastering color transitions helps create a professional and polished finish.

How can you change colors in crochet without creating tails?

Opt for the magic knot to securely knot two yarns together with no tails. A step-by-step photo guide showing you how to do this is provided above.

What is the method for seamless color changes in crochet amigurumi?

Perform the final pull-through of the stitch before the color change with the new color, so that it is ready on your hook for the next stitch. This makes the transition appear smooth with no interruption in stitches.

What are the steps for changing colors in the middle of a crochet row?

When you reach the last pull-through the stitch before the color change, pull through with the new color. Then continue crocheting with the new shade.

Is there a technique to change colors in crochet without cutting the yarn?

Carrying the yarn along the work is possible. This involves floating or crocheting over the old color until it’s needed again.

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