Every crocheter should know how to do a colour change. A colour change is a fundamental skill that makes your project look seamless and professional. You might think that you just swap over your colour in your next stitch, but you would be incorrect. This causes a very visible change and colour mixing where you don't want colour to mix. It creates a messy colour line that disrupts your pattern. But there's something we can do about that!
Today, we are putting down the scissors and stepping away from the knots. We'll dive deep into the mechanics of a stitch to make sure that you know how to do the best colour change you can do. This is applicable for all projects, if you're a fan of amigurumi like we are, blankets or clothing. Let's get into it.
The Golden Rule: It’s All About the "Last Yarn Over"
Before we look at specific project types (flat vs. round), we need to understand the anatomy of a crochet stitch.
Most beginners change colors by finishing a stitch with Colour A, then starting the next stitch with Colour B. This is what causes the colour to "bleed" and not be a clean transition from one colour to the next. The most important knowledge here is that the loop that is on your hook after finishing a stitch becomes the top of the next stitch. So, that means if you finish a stitch with Colour A, in your next stitch the top will be colour A but the bottom will be Colour B. This creates that messy, colour-bleed into the next stitch. Knowing that, we can fix it. Pretty easily too!
It's very simple: swap to your new colour before the final yarn over of the previous stitch. That means that when you start your stitch with Colour A by inserting and pulling the yarn through, instead of grabbing Color A again and pulling the yarn through the two loops on your hook, you instead pull through the two loops on your hook with Colour B.
In simpler terms: Switch to your new colour on the final yarn over of your previous stitch.
This rule applies to every type of stitch. If you are doing a Double Crochet, you work the stitch until the very last step (when you have 2 loops left on the hook), and then pull the new color through. Remember: it's always the LAST pull through!
Working in the round in amigurumi
The "Golden Rule" above works perfectly for flat items like scarves. But if you are making amigurumi—like the watermelon slice in our Fruit Set—you are working in a spiral.
Spirals are tricky. Because you aren't joining rounds, you are essentially creating a continuous spring. When you change colors in a spiral, the new round starts "on top" of the old round, creating a visible "step" or "jog" where the stripes don't match up.
To achieve that seamless look on our amigurumi, we use a technique called the Invisible Slip Stitch Join.
How to Minimize the "Step"
Step 1: Perform the Color Change Use the "Golden Rule" method described above on the very last stitch of your round. You now have the new color on your hook.
Step 2: The Slip Stitch Instead of making a normal single crochet into the first stitch of the new round, make a Slip Stitch into that first stitch using the new color.
Why? A slip stitch is shorter than a single crochet. This forces the new color to sit lower down, aligning it better with the previous round.
Step 3: The New Round Chain 1 (just to secure it), and then continue single crocheting as normal. When you come back around to this point, be careful not to crochet into the slip stitch (it can look like a stitch, but it's a decoy!).
Alternative: The "Needle Join" (For Perfectionists) For the absolute smoothest finish (often used on the stripes of our bees or zebras):
Finish the round with the old color. Cut the yarn.
Thread the tail onto a needle.
Skip the first stitch of the round and sew under the "V" of the second stitch.
Sew back down into the center of the last stitch you made.
This creates a "fake stitch" that bridges the gap. You can then attach your new color anywhere on the round with a standing stitch.
How to Carry the Yarn
Sometimes, you aren't doing big stripes; you are doing frequent color changes, like spots on a mushroom or complex eyes on a character. Cutting the yarn every three stitches would leave you with a nightmare of ends to weave in.
In this case, we use a technique called Carrying Yarn (or Tapestry Crochet).
This involves crocheting over the strand of the color you aren't currently using so there's no loose ends and
The Set-Up: When you switch from White to Red, do not cut the White yarn.
The Carry: Lay the White yarn flat along the top of your previous row.
The Stitch: As you crochet with the Red yarn, insert your hook into the stitch AND under the White yarn strand.
The Result: The White yarn is trapped inside the Red stitches, hidden away but traveling with you. When you need White again in 3 stitches, it’s right there waiting for you!
Pros: No ends to weave in! It also makes the fabric thicker and stiffer, which is actually a bonus for amigurumi as it prevents stuffing from showing through. Cons: If you carry a dark color (like black) inside a light color (like white), it might show through slightly.
To Knot or Not to Knot?
We need to address the elephant in the room: Knots.
In the Cozy Stitches Guild, we generally follow a "No Knots" philosophy for joining yarn, unless it is for the inside of a stuffed toy.
Why Avoid Knots?
They are uncomfortable: In a garment or a sponge jacket, a hard knot can be felt against the skin.
They are untrustworthy: When yarn stretches, knots can loosen and slip.
They are ugly: A knot at the edge of a scarf creates a bumpy, uneven border.
The Amigurumi Exception
If you are making a 3D object like our Amigurumi Fruit Sets, the inside of the project will never be seen. In this specific case, tying the two tail ends (the old color and the new color) together in a simple square knot on the inside of the work is acceptable for extra security. Just make sure the knot is tight enough that it won't work its way out through a stitch hole!
Dealing with the Ends: The "Weave as You Go" Method
The biggest deterrent to color work is the fear of having 50 ends to weave in when the project is done. To avoid "Weaving Paralysis," try weaving them in as you work.
Method 1: Crocheting Over Ends When you attach your new color, lay the tail end of the new yarn and the tail end of the old yarn along the top of your stitches (just like carrying yarn). Crochet over them for about 5-6 stitches. Then, you can simply snip the excess. The friction of the stitches holds them in place.
Method 2: The Back-and-Forth Lock For slippery yarns (like cotton or bamboo blends), simply crocheting over the end might not be enough.
Leave a 6-inch tail when changing colors.
Finish your project.
Thread the tail onto a yarn needle.
Weave the yarn horizontally through the base of 3-4 stitches.
Turn around and weave it back in the opposite direction, skipping one strand of yarn to "lock" it.
Go back a third time. This "three-pass" method ensures the yarn will never wiggle loose, even in the wash.
Troubleshooting Your Stripes
Problem: My color change is really tight and pinching the fabric. Solution: This usually happens when you carry yarn. You might be pulling the hidden strand too tightly. Every 5-10 stitches, stop and gently tug your fabric width-wise to stretch out the hidden yarn.
Problem: I can see the old color poking through the new color. Solution: This is the "bleed" we talked about! Remember the Golden Rule: Make sure you complete the final step of the previous stitch with the new color. If you are already doing that and it still looks messy, check your tension. If you crochet very loosely, the "legs" of the stitch below might be gaping open. Try going down a hook size.
Practice Makes Perfect
Mastering color changes takes muscle memory. Don't be discouraged if your first attempt at a striped coaster looks a little wobbly.
A great way to practice is to try a simple "scrappy" project. Gather all your leftover balls of yarn and make a simple single crochet scarf, changing colors every time you run out of yarn. By the time you finish the scarf, you will have performed the "Last Yarn Over" switch dozens of times, and your hands will learn the rhythm.
Ready to see seamless stripes in action? Check out the detail on our Watermelon slices in the shop, or join us on our Discord server to share photos of your latest colorwork attempts!
Happy Stitching! The Cozy Stitches Guild