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Home » Free Crochet Patterns » How to Change Colors in Crochet

How to Change Colors in Crochet

Updated December 9, 2020 by Krista Cagle 47 Comments Advertiser Disclosure
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Read on down to find the full tutorial on how to change yarn colors in crochet patterns!

Learn how to change yarn colors in crochet seamlessly with this simple step-by-step crochet tutorial! The next time that you need to change yarn colors in a crochet pattern, it will be easy! Promise.

Are you looking for more crochet tips and tutorials? Try your hand at the spike stitch or the reader’s favorite primrose stitch.

I am excited for you to learn this simple technique that will change the way you look at changing yarn in crochet! Happy Crocheting!

Are You Ready to Learn About Changing Yarn Colors in Crochet?

If you ever have wondered how to go about changing yarn colors in crochet, then you have come to the right place! The method for changing colors is the same no matter what stitch you’re using; single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet or the triple crochet stitch! I am going to use the single crochet stitch below to demonstrate how to use this easy technique.

Follow the simple step by step color-changing tutorial below and will have you no trouble changing any color in crochet in the future. I promise learning how to go from one yarn color to the next in crochet is super easy.

Read down the best way to change colors while crocheting! Includes a crochet tutorial, YouTube video link and details about the yarn I used for this project.

I used Red Heart Soft for this Tutorial!

How Do I Change Colors in Crochet?

I decided to write this tutorial because I realized when I am writing my patterns, I am always telling everyone to change colors during crochet patterns and have never shown you how!

I am constantly the one to change yarn when crocheting and was still afraid of stripes because let’s face it changing yarn colors is not that fun. Well, until now. The wait is over. YEAH. 🙂

I’ve put together a step-by-step picture tutorial on what I think is the best way to learn how to switch colors in crochet! It is straightforward, and you will be left wondering why you never tried this before!

Change Colors in the Middle of The Row Too! 

You can also use tutorial this if you ever wondered how to yarn in crochet in the middle of a row! It works just the same way!

Ready to get started? Just scroll on down to learn how to switch yarn in crochet projects with our free tutorial.

Happy Color Changing Friends!

How to change yarn colors at the end of a row

How to Change Colors When Crocheting

Skill Level: Basic

Materials

  • Red Heart Soft Yarn
  • 5.5 mm crochet hook
  • scissors

Notes

  • Written in standard US terms

The Tutorial

Step 1

When you are working a crochet project and are ready to change colors simply continue the last stitch, but before you yarn over for the last time stop using the current color you are working with and drop it. It was orange for me (see picture)

Learn How to Change Colors in Crochet From Rescued Paw

Step 2

Grab your new color (blue for me) you are changing to and lay it on top of your crochet hook. Leave the previous color alone! 🙂

Learn How to Change Colors in Crochet From Rescued Paw

Step 3

Pull the blue through the two orange loops, turn your project, chain 1 (since I am using single crochets) you would chain two if working with double crochets or 3 if working with triple crochets

Learn How to Change Colors in Crochet From Rescued Paw

Step 4

Continue working your pattern as stated.

Learn How to Change Colors in Crochet From Rescued Paw

You have officially learned how to change colors in crochet!

Now you are ready to start the Easy Color Blocked Blanket with your new color changing skills!

Psstt: It’s a free pattern!

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How to easily change yarn colors in crochet patterns

Changing Yarn Colors in Crochet Easy Video Lesson

Video Tutorial

Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you never miss out on a new video! I upload weekly! Thank you for watching the Easy Crochet channel. 🙂

Update:  I’ve had some questions about what color yarns I used for this tutorial.

Here are some affiliate links if you would like to use the yarn colors seen in this tutorial in any future projects.

  • Red Heart Soft Yarn, Teal 
  • Red Heart Soft Yarn, Tangerine
  • Red Heart Soft Yarn, Turquoise
How to add yarn to crochet

Go ahead for fun and change those colors again!! I bet you can do it now! 🙂

How to change colors in crochet the easy way! F
how to change yarn color when crocheting
changing yarn colors in crochet
Change colors in crochet tutorial

I hope you enjoyed learning about changing yarn colors in crochet!

Try These Free Crochet Patterns Too

  • How to Half Double Crochet Two Stitches Together
  • Josie Chunky Crochet Scarf Pattern
  • Four Leaf Clover Crochet Pattern
  • Ombre Classic Crochet Blanket Pattern
  • Different Types of Yarn: Explained

Filed Under: Crochet Tutorials, Free Crochet Patterns Tagged With: 1. Basic, Red Heart, Red Heart Soft, Weight 4 - Medium

I hope you stop back again soon!

Krista

You can follow along with me and Easy Crochet on Pinterest (I pin daily), Facebook and Instagram. We are always posting about our lastest creations. Thanks for stopping by!

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Previous Post: « Free Dishcloth Crochet Patterns and Printable Tags
Next Post: Crochet Mini Bag Pattern »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LouLou

    June 24, 2019 at 11:03 pm

    Can you add to the tutorial how to weave in the ends. That is the part that always confuses me. What do you do with all the loose ends? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Krista

      June 24, 2019 at 11:33 pm

      That is a great idea! I will add that to my to-do list.

      Krista

      Reply
  2. Terry Lynn

    May 7, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Thank you for an excellent, fool-proof way to change colors! My only question is what do you do with the “tails”? Do you tie them off, cut them, weave them back into the garment?

    Reply
    • Krista

      May 8, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      Hi Terry!

      I weave them in and then tie them off 🙂

      I am so glad you like this tutorial!

      Krista

      Reply
  3. Chelane

    December 9, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    Thanks for a very simple way to change colors. Easiest one that I’ve seen.

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 10, 2018 at 11:07 am

      Thanks Chelane!Glad you liked it! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Masyn

    September 14, 2018 at 12:48 pm

    Hi!! I have a question that has been driving me nuts lol.

    Is there another way to switch colours back and forth instead of using the end tie method and cutting and retying? I hope that makes sense.

    Thanks,
    Masyn

    Reply
  5. Reba

    April 23, 2018 at 10:52 pm

    I can’t make an edging!! The corners curl.Do you have a tutorial on edging?

    Reply
  6. Robyn

    December 27, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Can you change colors continuously without having to cut and start over?

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 27, 2017 at 5:32 pm

      Hi Robyn,
      You could but you would need to carry the yarn with you throughout the entire project. So working over the yarn color you aren’t using throughout. Happy Crocheting!

      Reply
  7. Nañcy

    October 23, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    When you pick up your old color does this not make a long yarn line on the back of your proiect. I am fairly new to crocheting and can’t figure what this would look like. Do you have a picture or video that would show what this should look like.

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 11:58 am

      Hi Nancy,
      I recently uploaded a video tutorial to this post so hopefully that helps. Happy Crocheting!

      Krista

      Reply
  8. Jessica Powers

    August 29, 2017 at 9:35 am

    Can you explain how your weaving the ends in? Is it into the boarder or into your single crochets?

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      Hi Jessica,
      I recently uploaded a video to this post that may help you out. Happy Crocheting! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Sandy

    August 8, 2017 at 9:07 pm

    Do you cut the old color when you start the new color? How do you continue a previous color used 3 rows ago (like orange you started with) just connect as you directed?

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 11:34 am

      Hi Sandy,
      I just finished a YouTube tutorial on this that may clarify. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abaPDuclxdw

      Reply
  10. Nadine

    July 5, 2017 at 11:48 am

    Please explain how to tie the ends after they are worked in…Dumb E Me

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 11:46 am

      Hi Nadine,
      I recently did a YouTube Video on this that may be helpful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abaPDuclxdw&t

      Reply
  11. Cyndi Campbell

    June 27, 2017 at 11:55 pm

    Does this work for working in the round as well?

    Reply
    • Krista

      June 29, 2017 at 8:58 am

      Hi Cyndi,
      It does! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Anonymous

    June 27, 2017 at 11:54 pm

    Does this work for working in the round as well?

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 11:47 am

      Yes! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Pat Arnold

    June 12, 2017 at 7:57 am

    How do you make your rows so clean? By that I mean how the rows themselves have none of the other color in them. I don’t mean at the end of the row where you change colors? I read a trick somewhere, what is it?

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 11:52 am

      HI Pat,
      I recently uploaded a YouTube tutorial on this over at my channel. Hope it helps! 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abaPDuclxdw&t

      Reply
  14. Joan

    March 27, 2017 at 11:04 am

    What do you do to change colors in a middle of a row and need to pick it up in the next row or further down the same row? I’m making a pattern of a hand in my project.

    Reply
    • Krista

      March 27, 2017 at 2:18 pm

      HI Joan,

      Before you finish a stitch just add in the new color (drop the old color) and finish the stitch with the new color. Hope this helps! 🙂

      Krista

      Reply
    • Krista

      March 27, 2017 at 2:20 pm

      Hi Joan,
      You will need to drop the old color right before you are about to finish a stitch, then pick up the new color to finish the stitch. Hope I explained that right 🙂

      Krista

      Reply
  15. Krista

    March 14, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    Hello! Thanks for the tutorial. I’m making a striped DC blanket, but the pattern says to chain 3 after you switch colors. Yours says to chain 2 with a double crochet. Just wondering what I should do? Thanks! -fellow Krista 😉

    Reply
    • Krista

      March 20, 2017 at 11:19 am

      Hi Krista!

      I like to chain 2 after DCing but some designers like to chain 3. I would just follow the pattern if it was me. 🙂 Have a great day!

      – Krista 🙂

      Reply
  16. Trudy

    March 11, 2017 at 9:42 am

    How do you change colors when crocheting in a row?

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 11:49 am

      I recently uploaded a YouTube Tutorial on this that may help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abaPDuclxdw&t

      Reply
  17. Susie

    February 19, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    I’m not sure how you tie your knots after you weave them in.

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 17, 2017 at 11:56 am

      Hi Susie,
      I’ve updated the post with a video tutorial which explains this. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  18. Dorothy Edwards

    February 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    that is the part I am not sure how to do. I weave my ends in but not sure how to tie them in afterwards.

    Reply
    • Krista

      February 13, 2017 at 10:18 am

      Hi Dorothy,

      I just use a yarn needle to weave in the ends. 🙂

      Krista

      Reply
  19. Gena Weeks

    January 4, 2017 at 11:09 pm

    Hi Krista. When you go back and weave in the loose ends of the yarn, do you ever notice them coming loose eventually? Or do you tie the ends in a knot and then weave them in?

    Reply
    • Krista

      January 5, 2017 at 9:45 am

      Hi Gena,

      I like to tie the ends after I weave them in to make sure they are really secure! 🙂
      Hope this helps!

      Krista

      Reply
  20. JoAnne Strength

    December 29, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    What do you do to end the first color?

    Reply
  21. michelle

    December 28, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    I’m new to crocheting and the changing colors idea is interesting, but how do you get back to the original color?

    Reply
  22. Sue

    December 23, 2016 at 12:16 am

    What do you do with all the strings of yarn.

    Reply
    • Krista

      December 29, 2016 at 9:51 am

      Hi Sue,

      You would weave in the ends throughout your project with a yarn needle when you are done. 🙂

      Krista

      Reply
  23. Becki

    December 19, 2016 at 9:33 pm

    I found this very helpful but was wondering if you could show how to pick up one of the colors that you already used to do another row?

    Reply
  24. Kristy

    April 15, 2016 at 1:10 pm

    Very helpful I tried different ways but yours seems easier.

    Reply

Trackbacks

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  2. How To Crochet - Midwestern Moms says:
    October 21, 2016 at 7:31 am

    […] Learn How to Change Colors in Crochet – Rescued Paw Designs As you start crocheting more often, you’ll hit a stage where you are ready to begin changing colors. Perhaps you want a striped design, or some type of geometric pattern, changing colors isn’t as hard as it looks. […]

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  • Skill Level: 1. Basic
  • Yarn Brand: Red Heart
  • Yarn Name: Red Heart Soft
  • Yarn Weight: Weight 4 - Medium
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