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Crochet Color Changes – Everything You Need to Know

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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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Learn about crochet color changes - intarsia, tapestry, fair isle, stripes, and changing color in the middle and end of the row. | TLYCBlog.com

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 stitches 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.

Learn about crochet color changes - intarsia, tapestry, fair isle, stripes, and changing color in the middle and end of the row. | TLYCBlog.com

Explore these patterns:

  1. Bright Side Blanket – FREE PATTERN
  2. Patchwork Cardi – BUY HERE
  3. Bronwyn Shawl – FREE PATTERN
  4. LoFi Cowl – BUY HERE
  5. Saltwater Afghan – FREE PATTERN
  6. Lemonade Top – BUY HERE

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Comments

  1. AvatarMargot 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

  2. AvatarAnnKate says

    Thank you for these videos! I love how clean your crochet looks. Hopefully I’ll get there one day.

  3. AvatarMorgan 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!

  4. AvatarLisa 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!!!

  5. AvatarDawn 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.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.

  6. AvatarFrances 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!!!

  7. AvatarWendy 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!

  8. AvatarGeorgina says

    Thanks for telling us about CROCHET EVERY WAY STITCH DICTIONARY. My copy just arrived and it looks WONDERFUL!
    Georgina

  9. AvatarYjuania 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!

  10. AvatarJessica 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.

  11. AvatarDana 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.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).

  12. AvatarJennifer 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?

  13. AvatarGloria 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!!

  14. AvatarMary 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.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.

  15. AvatarCaroline says

    Thank you so much Toni.
    I started crocheting when I was 10. My 5th-grade teacher (who looked a lot like you) taught me and in turn, I taught my mother. By the end of the school year, I had graduated to making granny square afghans, ponchos, and scarves. Unfortunately, I was never consistent with crocheting. My last big project was a blanket for a wedding gift when I was 29. I’ll be 60 on Friday. So for 31 years, my hands have been idle.

    When I found your tutorials you sparked the crocheting flame for me. I bought some yarn and a hook and started practicing all the stitches I could remember. I crocheted so much that day my hands cramped up. But I didn’t care I was having a blast. You are teaching me things I haven’t tried before and showing me things that I can improve on. My biggest blessing is you have inspired my 22-year-old daughter to start crocheting. It’s another thing we can bond over. Again thank you, you are an angel.

    Oh, and thank you for replying to a comment I posted a couple of days ago.

  16. AvatarJulie B says

    This is so cool!! I am learning a ton and truly appreciate the time you have devoted to teaching all of us.

  17. AvatarGeriAnn says

    As usual, so much great info! I’ve used most of these color change methods before. I had no idea they had different names, though 😅
    Looking forward to the next lesson!

  18. AvatarAlexandra C says

    Hi Toni!

    Thank you for this amazing thing you are doing with Crochet Academy. I will like to ask which method do you recommend for C2C? I started a C2C blanket and I am at the point where I need to start adding the color to my work (: I am freaking out a little bit though.

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi! There are some great resources online for C2C color changes. Check out Make and Do Crew and Meghan Makes Do for tutorials.

  19. AvatarYvetteG says

    This is so great!!!!! I am so excited to have this. I have a coworker and we were just talking about color changes and our ineptness at this; and here it is made simple. I shared with her (I hope that is okay because she missed signing up for this academy)!

  20. AvatarULA says

    Hi Toni,
    You just blew me away with all these methods of joining yarns. I am amazed at all this knowledge that you are sharing and just want you to know I truly appreciate your time and effort that you are taking to do this for free.
    I am so happy that I decided to be a part of this journey and look forward to learning more. It’s absolutely fun!
    Thank you! Thank you!

  21. AvatarMartie says

    I practiced each color change example and I ended up with a bunch of strands everywhere. Should you only change colors when working on the front?

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi! You can change color at any point when working your project. Just try to keep tails to the backside of your work.

  22. AvatarMary Ann says

    I have a question about changing colors in amigurumi or a hat. Is changing colors in the middle of a project worked in the round different from working a project that’s flat? I can’t get the color change to look nice and smooth. Thanks in advance!

  23. AvatarAudri Nieuwland says

    I definitely prefer the intarsia method of color changes especially with C2C patterns because intarsia incorporates the bobbin method I have done with graphs. Right now, I’m working on a Llama Mama and Llama baby for a baby blanket.

  24. AvatarJudy Mattson says

    Thanks for all your great tips. I like the tapestry color change best, seems neater even tho using more yarn. I also love the standing stitch for adding new yarn. I have never heard of it but plan to start using it forward!

  25. AvatarMaria says

    Thank you Toni Another great lesson My WIP is a blanket with color changes using the intarsia method I never knew there was a name for it

  26. AvatarClara T says

    Just wondering if it is necessary to catch floats in the case of fair isle crochet, by twisting the two yarns to lock the one that is being carried. In knitting, it is called catching floats in stranded knitting, and it is recommended to be done every 3-4 stitches of carrying a yarn. Else the floats could get too long and keys, nails etc. could get caught easily in the back of the work. Is it also a practice in crochet?

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Clara – great question. Yes, it is common practice to lock floats for long color changes. Every 3-4 stitches will work for crochet as well 🙂

  27. AvatarNicole says

    Thank you for this video!
    I’ve done some color changes in projects, but I had no idea there were different styles for it, and just how easy this could be!

    Looking forward to trying them in my next project

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