Changing colors

The basic change

This works identically for stripes at the end of a row, blocks of color within a row, and color changes in the round. It works for every stitch height. If you remember nothing else, remember that the change happens on the last pull-through.

Stripes: carry or cut?

For two-row stripes in a piece worked in rows, carry the unused color up the edge: at the end of the row, catch it under the turning chain so it travels up the side, and it will be waiting when you need it. The edge will be hidden by a border. For stripes wider than four rows, or in a piece with no border, cut and weave in; the carried strand would be long enough to snag and would pull the edge in. In the round, carry the second color up the inside of the join if the stripes are narrow.

Color within a row: tapestry crochet

When colors change in the middle of a row for a chart or a motif, the unused color is either carried along the top of the previous row and crocheted over, so it is hidden inside the stitches, or left hanging at the back in a float. Crocheting over is neater and reversible but the carried color can show faintly through light stitches. Floats are invisible from the front but leave loose strands on the back that catch. Toys and bags use crocheting over; blankets that will be seen from both sides use short floats or intarsia with a separate ball for each area.

The jog in the round

In continuous rounds, a new color begins one stitch after the old one ended, so stripes show a stair step at the round change. Amigurumi patterns hide it in one of two ways. Either the change is placed at the back of the piece where the seam of the spiral already runs, or a jogless join is used: change color on the last yarn over as usual, then for the first stitch of the new color work a slip stitch instead of a single crochet, then continue in single crochet. The slip stitch is shorter and blends the step. On the next round, work a normal stitch into that slip stitch.

For joined rounds, a cleaner method: after the slip stitch that closes the round, change to the new color in that slip stitch, then chain up. The join is always at the same place and the color change sits in the seam.

Managing the ends

• Change on the right side row for stripes so the little loop of the change sits on the back.
• Crochet over the tails for four or five stitches as you go, then weave the rest in the other direction later. It halves the finishing.
• Knots are not needed at a color change and they show; the tug plus weaving holds.
• Work the first stitch of a new color slightly tighter than usual; it tends to come out loose.

Reading color instructions

Patterns give colors letters: A, B, C, or names like MC (main color) and CC (contrast color). A stripe sequence is written as a list, for example 4 rows A, 2 rows B, 4 rows A, 6 rows C, and is repeated from the start. The Meadow Stripe Blanket puts its changes on the plain row so the texture row is always a single color; when a pattern tells you which row to change on, it is usually for a reason like that. Finish with weaving in ends, which is the other half of a clean color change.