How to Join Different Color Yarn in Crochet: Expert Techniques Explained

Crocheting with different colored yarns can elevate your projects to a new level, creating beautiful, fun and eye-catching designs. Learning how to join different color yarns in crochet might seem intimidating, but with just a few tips and techniques, you’ll master the art of color-changing in no time.

It’s important to understand the different methods for joining yarn, as the technique you choose to change color will depend on:

• where in your project you are changing color; and
• which crochet stitch or technique you are using.

So, let’s dive into the world of color-changing in crochet and explore the various techniques that will help take your creations to the next level.

Choosing the Right Technique

When working on a crochet project, joining different color yarns can be a crucial step to achieve the desired pattern and design. Choosing the right technique for your crochet project will make your work look more professional and ensure that it lasts for a long time. Below, we explain the main methods for changing color and what kinds of projects they are most suitable for.

Yarn Knots

This method of changing color simply means securely tying the end of your old yarn to the start of your new yarn.

The best kind of knot for joining two yarns together is the magic knot, which is secure, discrete and, with a little practice, very easy to do.

To make a magic knot, follow these steps:

1. Align your yarns as shown:

2. Loop the end of the first (red) yarn around the second (blue) yarn, taking care to make sure it is exactly 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 around the first (red) 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 long (working) ends of the first and second yarns (not the tail ends) to pull the two knots towards each other until they abut each other:

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

A big advantage of this technique is that there are no ends to weave in.

This method of joining yarns is especially useful for scrappy projects where you don’t mind exactly where the color change occurs and want to use up (nearly!) every inch of your yarn. The color change could occur in the middle of a row or round, at the start of a row or round, and even mid-stitch.

However, if desired, this technique can still be used in projects where the location of the color change is important. You just have to take a bit more care about where exactly on the first yarn you locate the knot, so that the color change occurs in the correct place in your work.

Knots of any kind do require you to pull tightly on the yarn to ensure the knots are secure. That means that this method would not be suitable for delicate yarns that might easily break or stretch. This method is also not recommended for projects where the presence of a small knot might be undesirable. For example, if you are making an item with open, lacy stitches, a knot might be seen more easily and therefore not be a good option. Socks are another type of project where you might not want a knot, especially if it would be located under the sole of the foot, as it could be uncomfortable.

Yarn Over

The yarn over technique is another way to join different color yarns in crochet projects. This method creates a cleaner, more seamless finish compared to yarn knots. To execute the yarn over method, follow these steps:

1. Make the last stitch in the first color right up to the final pull through.
2. Instead of pulling through with the first color yarn, pull through with the second color yarn to complete the stitch, leaving a tail of a few cm. You will now have the second color yarn on your hook ready to make the next stitch.
3. Make the next stitch as usual with the second color yarn.
4. Continue crocheting with the new yarn color. You can crochet over the tails of one or both yarns to secure them or just leave them to weave in later.

The yarn over method is suitable for most projects where you wish to change color but it is ideal for projects where a smooth transition between colors is desirable, such as in intricate patterns or colorwork designs.

Here is a step-by-step photo guide illustrating how to use the yarn over method with double crochet stitches:

1. With yarn A, yoh (yarn over hook), insert hook into work, yoh and pull through work (3 loops of yarn A on hook).

2. Still with yarn A, yoh and pull through two loops on hook (2 loops of yarn A on hook).

3. Drop yarn A, pick up yarn B.  Yoh and pull through two loops on hook (1 loop of yarn B on hook).

You’re then ready to make the next stitch with yarn B.

Fastening Off

This method is best suited for times when a color change comes at the end of a row or round. In such cases, you can simply fasten off with the first color and then join the new color to the top of the last stitch with a slip stitch or slip knot.

You could also use this method mid-row or round and pull the new yarn through the top of the final stitch with the first yarn before making the next stitch. However, this is a bit awkward and bulky and the Yarn Over method above would be a much better option.

Russian Join

Like the knotting method described above, the Russian Join technique is a way of joining two yarns together. As such, and as with knots, great for projects where the precise location of the color change is not too important.

It is a little fiddly to do, but there are no knots so it gives a slightly smoother finish than with the knotting method.

Follow these steps to form a Russian Join:

1. Thread the end of your first yarn onto a needle and then insert the needle back through the fibres of of the first yarn along its length for a few cm, creating a small loop at the end. Remove the needle from the first yarn.
2. Thread the end of your second yarn onto the needle, pass it through the loop you created in step 1, and then insert the needle back through the fibres of of the first yarn along its length for a few cm until there is no loop of the second yarn remaining.
3. Unthread the yarn from the needle and pull of the ends of both yarns to smooth out the join.
4. Trim any remaining ends.

Creating Colorful Crochet Patterns

Now you know some methods of changing color in your crochet projects, let’s have a look and some of the kinds of patterns you can create with different colored yarns.

Granny Squares

Granny squares are a classic way to create vibrant and colorful crochet patterns. They involve working in rounds, joining separate pieces with various hues, and establishing a lively design.

When making your granny squares, experiment with changing color at different points. For example, after every one or two rounds. For these kinds of projects, the best methods for changing color are either fastening off or the yarn over method.

A blanket made of a single giant granny square is a great project for using up scraps of different colored yarns. You can join your yarns together as you go, or make a ball of them before you start, using the magic knot method. This way, you won’t have any ends to weave in and can use up as much of your yarn as possible.

You can also create attractive two-tone solid granny squares changing color at the end of each half round.

Stripes

Stripes are of course a classic way of using different colors in crochet projects. You can create straight stripes all in the same stitch, or vary the stitch from stripe to stripe. You can also form beautiful stripy ripple and wave effects very easily with crochet. From blankets and scarves to bags and garments, stripes add fun and interest to any project.

When changing color in a stripy project, this is always done at the end of a row. As such, you can either:

• Fasten off the first yarn and then join the new yarn with a slip stitch or slip knot at the top of the last stitch before making the next row; or
• Use the yarn over method to join the new yarn in the final step of the last stitch of the row in the previous color.

Tapestry Crochet

Tapestry crochet is a colorwork technique that involves changing color using the Yarn Over technique described above. Once a second yarn is introduced, the first yarn is crocheted over until required again, at which point is re-introduced using the yarn over technique.

For more details of how to do tapestry crochet see this step-by-step guide.

Tapestry crochet is great for creating pattered designs and images with contrasting colors.

Conclusion: How to Join Different Color Yarn in Crochet

In summary, there are various ways to join different color yarns in your crochet projects and the method you choose will depend on the type of project you are making as well as your own preferences.

Adding multiple colors to your crochet projects can add interest and visual appeal so have a go at some of the methods described above to explore how they work and see which you prefer.

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