Crocheting

How I change yarn colors

Often, I am asked how I change yarn colors without tying a knot or having it be very obvious where you joined in the new color because the stitches don't flow smoothly.

Well, here is how I do it. I created these photos and instructions to guide you through the process.

Step 1

Steps 1 - 4:
On the last stitch {dc in this example} of a color {Steps 1 & 2}, yarn over and pull through the new color
to finish the stitch {Steps 3 & 4}. This will complete the last stitch of that row.

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Steps 5-8:
Yarn over, grabbing both the skein yarn and the tail, and pull through the loop {Steps 5 & 6}. Pull the tail of the new color through the loop you just made and lay it over the chain surface of the previous row {Steps 7 & 8}. This will help to work in the tail of the new color as you work the next row.

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8 {Close-Up of Step 7}

Steps 9-11:
Finish making your turning chain {Step 9}, turn your piece as normal and continue crocheting over both tails, keeping the previous colors tail against the chain surface and the new color on top {see Steps 9 & 10}. This will create a visual consistency in color so the tails will blend nicely {see Steps 10 & 11}.

Step 9

Step 10

Step 11

I hope this helps.

Happy Crocheting~

My Rick Rack Afghan

In addition to sewing and many other hand-crafts, I have a passion for crocheting. Sewing and Crocheting are the two things I have been doing the longest; both for over 36 years.

My Rick Rack Afghan
design created by Tina Johanning

Here is one of my many current projects. This is an old and very simple sequence of stitches. In my busyness, I needed something simple and repetitive. And I have to say, of all the things I have created, I did this one just for me. This is a rarity.

I let my choice of colors control their placement. I had five colors I wanted to work with: light blue, grass green, yellow, white & red. The only things I knew for sure when I started this, was that the light blue, yellow, & white would be my "carrier" colors {as I call them}, with the green thrown in sporadically; the red would be distributed throughout in single rows, probably five {had to be an odd number} since it was such a strong color; and the red would never be placed next to the green.

When I began crocheting, I had no idea of what order the colors would fall or how many rows of each I would crochet. I decided all of that as I crocheted my way through the afghan. It was a nice change from reading and following a pattern.

So here is the finished project.

Needless to say, I am so incredibly pleased with how it turned out that I am in the process of writing the pattern. When I have it completed, I will let you know where you can find it if you are interested.

Thanks so much for popping in and Happy Creating.