Hello, lovelies!

I am celebrating summer and crocheting my little heart out.

When I first learned how to crochet, I was taught the basics, and then the rest came from a lot of failure and YouTube.

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In a couple of upcoming patterns, I am utilizing color change throughout the patterns. Here’s a quick preview of each!

These patterns really got me thinking about my early days of crochet, and how a tutorial like this was really needed by me.

When I design a crochet pattern, I want my customers to spend time with their project enjoying the art of crochet, and appreciating the time and talent it takes. I never want my customers scratching their heads like I used to do. Crochet should be a time of peace, not frustration.

Thus, here is a tutorial I may link to in these patterns.

Reflecting back, it was in my pattern, Crochet Cactus Wall Hanging, I knew I had to master changing colors, otherwise, this pattern would work up choppy.

I honestly don’t remember how I was changing colors before I picked up this technique, I just remember that it wasn’t pretty.

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It crazy how long it took for me to learn something that I now find so basic! Changing colors in crochet was one of them.

If you’re intimidated by changing colors in crochet listen to me: DON’T BE AFRAID! It’s so easy! In today’s blog post I’m going to be showing you how to change colors when using single crochet (SC), half double crochet (HDC), and double crochet (DC).

Click here to jump to SC Tutorial

Click here to jump to HDC Tutorial

Click here to jump to DC Tutorial

Changing Colors SC

First, let’s review the basics: how to complete a single crochet (SC).

SC Review

1. You start the SC by inserting your hook into the next stitch or chain.
2. With your hook, yarn over and pull through the stitch (there should be two loops on your hook).
3. To complete the stitch, yarn over and pull through both loops.

Here’s a heads up, the color change is going to be happening in the #3 part of the stitch.

When you are changing colors, you have to anticipate the specific stitch you want to be a different color. You actually add the secondary color on the stitch before.

Changing Colors SC

Mentally or physically mark the stitch you would like to be the secondary color. In the stitch before with your primary color yarn:

1. Insert your hook into the stitch or chain.
2. With your hook, yarn over and pull through the stitch (there should be two loops on your hook).
3. Yarn over the secondary color (basically I think of ignoring the primary color yarn at this point) and pull through both loops. At this point, you should have the secondary color yarn on your hook and you can crochet with that color until your heart’s content!

Changing Colors SC Photo-Tutorial

It’s important to note if you anticipate needing to change back to the primary color soon in the project, to “carry” the primary color by stitching over the yarn.

Changing Colors HDC

Let’s review the basics of a HDC.

HDC Review

1. With your hook yarn over. Insert your hook into the stitch or chain.
2. Yarn over and pull through stitch (there should be three loops on your hook).
3. To complete the stitch, yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Here’s a heads up, the color change is going to be happening in the #3 part of the stitch.

Changing Colors HDC

Mentally or physically mark the stitch you would like to be the secondary color. In the stitch before with your primary color yarn:

1. Yarn over. Insert your hook into the stitch or chain.
2. With your hook, yarn over and pull through the stitch (there should be three loops on your hook).
3. Yarn over the secondary color (basically I think of ignoring the primary color yarn at this point) and pull through all three loops. At this point, you should have the secondary color yarn on your hook and you can crochet with that color until your heart’s content!

Changing Colors HDC Photo-Tutorial

Changing Colors DC

Let’s review the basics of a double crochet.

DC Review

1. With your hook, yarn over. Insert your hook into the stitch or chain.
2. Yarn over and pull through stitch (there should be three loops on your hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through two of the loops on your hook. (there should be two loops on your hook now)
4. Yarn over and pull through the last two loops on your hook to complete the stitch.

Changing Colors DC

Mentally or physically mark the stitch you would like to be the secondary color. In the stitch before with your primary color yarn:

1. Yarn over. Insert your hook into the stitch or chain.
2. With your hook, yarn over and pull through the stitch (there should be three loops on your hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through two of the loops on your hook. (there should be two loops on your hook now)
4. Yarn over the secondary color (basically I think of ignoring the primary color yarn at this point) and pull through the last two loops on your hook to complete the stitch. At this point, you should have the secondary color yarn on your hook and you can crochet with that color until your heart’s content!

Changing Colors DC Photo-Tutorial

Don’t forget to pop over to my YouTube channel to subscribe for more crochet tutorials!

BRANDI

AMANDA