Ever wondered how to add a new ball of yarn when crocheting? Or how to change color in the middle of a row? Or what the heck is the difference between Fair Isle, tapestry, and intarsia crochet? Look no further than this post! Learn everything you need to know about crochet color changes right here.
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Crochet gets really fun when you dip your toes into color. Whether you’re going for stripes, color blocking, or adding fun words and pictures to your projects, you need to know the right technique to make your colors really pop. This post shares 8 different techniques to add color to your crochet projects.
What You Will Learn
Adding color in crochet doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, color takes crochet to the next level and it’s not hard to learn at all. I share my techniques in bright colors with clear video and quality sounds so nothing will separate you from understanding these concepts.
Here’s a breakdown of the crochet techniques we’ll learn today:
- Changing color at the end of the row, for single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet
- How to work two color stripes
- How to work three color stripes WITHOUT cutting yarn
- Adding a new ball of yarn & dealing with knots
- Standing stitched and changing color in the round
- Tapestry crochet
- Fair Isle crochet
- Intarsia crochet
Master Crochet Color Change Techniques
Click play on the video below to learn everything you need to know about crochet color changes!
Colorful Crochet Projects
Now that you know everything about crochet color changes, put that knowledge to the test! Try these cool and colorful crochet projects.
Explore these patterns:
- Bright Side Blanket – FREE PATTERN
- Patchwork Cardi – BUY HERE
- Bronwyn Shawl – FREE PATTERN
- LoFi Cowl – BUY HERE
- Saltwater Afghan – FREE PATTERN
- Lemonade Top – BUY HERE
Margot says
Hi wonderful Toni! The YouTube video is showing up as unavailable and it’s not showing up directly through YouTube either… Just wanted to let you know! Thank you so much for the hours you’re putting into this amazing Academy 🙂
Margot
Mayra says
Change colors and having textile build character.
Susan says
I like the tapestry method for changing colours. Less threads to weave in at the end!
AnnKate says
Thank you for these videos! I love how clean your crochet looks. Hopefully I’ll get there one day.
Morgan says
I’ve always struggled with color changes but this clarified what I was doing wrong and confirmed what I was doing right! Thanks for such a concise and understandable video!
Lisa says
I love this tutorial! And all of the info that you share. I def like to carry my work so I don’t have ends but you may have changed my mind a bit with this tutorial. I AGREE that carrying the yarn adds bulk and to be ho est if you are making a tapestry blanket you really only pay attention to the front so the back can be whatever you like. Thank you as always for your AMAZING talent and for being so kind to share with us!!!
Gehad says
Can standing stitches be used in rows?
Dawn Lindley says
Thanks for the great video tutorial. I have a question about the ends. In the video you don’t cut them and weave them in — which I’m assuming you do when you are done. But some of the color changes are so quick that it doesn’t leave you much of a tail to weave in. So what do you do with all the short strings that are on one side of your project?
Toni L. says
Hi! You can leave the tails as long as you need them to be to weave them in. If you’re talking about the floats I have coming up the side of my work on the 2- and 3- rows stripes, they can just be there OR you can work a border around the project to hide them.
Frances A says
Hi Toni, I learned something new today. The last 3 ways was new to me. Keep up the great work. Loving your tutorial and thanks for the free pattern!!!
Wendy B says
Hi Toni,
Love your videos! Keep ’em coming! I’ve been crocheting for years and I’m still learning new things all the time thanks to amazing people like you who share their knowledge. Your crochet academy is a fantastic idea. Looking forward to what’s next!
Georgina says
Thanks for telling us about CROCHET EVERY WAY STITCH DICTIONARY. My copy just arrived and it looks WONDERFUL!
Georgina
Yjuania says
I find myself clearing my afternoon calendar to get my crochet Academy reading, viewing, and/or practice done. You’re posts and videos are very helpful and not too long!
Thank you for the lessons. Looking forward to more!
Jessica says
The video was so helpful! I stayed away from Granny stripes after a disaster with color change, but I want to try it again with the carry up the side method.
Dana says
I am wondering why you don’t cut the yarn from the first color, add the second, then go back at the end of the project and weave in the ends? Wouldn’t this give a cleaner a look – no obvious strands where you have pulled colors across? Thank you! I’m loving this academy and am learning so much!
Toni L. says
That’s definitely an option. For a bigger project, floats up the side of the work would be less obvious. But, yes, cutting the yarn each time would lead to a cleaner look (albeit with way more ends to weave in).
Jennifer says
Thanks for sharing your expertise, Toni! I have never heard the term intarsia before. Is that similar to making bobbins like you would for a graphgan? Or is it something totally different?
Toni L. says
Hi! Yes, that’s exactly the method used in graphghans to give them their clean color changes.
Gloria McClain says
Toni, wish I had seen this video while making a ear warmer with lettering. I only had three letters to add, but it was a challenge. I definitely pinned this post, and I’m a subscriber of your YouTube under xlena60. Thank you so much!!
Mary Anne says
Toni!
Thank you!
I have struggled with color changes before and this fixed the issue I was having.
Question!
When crocheting in the round, how do you fasten off at the end of the round? Do you weave end in right away? Or at the end?
Is there a way, when working in the round, to float the second color up so there are less ends to weave in? Is it the same process?
Thank you for another marvelous lesson, with each tutorial, I become more excited and more proficient!
Toni L. says
Hi! Yes, you absolutely can float the yarn up when working in the round – flat rounds or a spiral 🙂 Just keep both yarns attached, and use the color change method when it’s time. I showed how to do it on an edge stitch, but you can use that same method when working in the round.