How to Change Yarn in Crochet

Your pattern just called for a color change, and you've frozen mid-stitch. We've been there. Knowing how to change yarn in crochet unlocks a whole world of creative possibilities, from striped blankets to intricate colorwork.

The mechanics are simpler than they look: no matter which stitch you're working, the color change always happens on the last yarn over before the new color should appear. That one rule applies across the board.

Here, we'll walk you through color changes for single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet, plus end-of-row changes and what to do with yarn tails.

What this article covers:

• What You'll Need
• How to Change Yarn Color With Single Crochet
• How to Change Yarn Color With Half Double Crochet
• How to Change Yarn Color With Double Crochet
• How to Change Yarn Color at the End of a Row
• What Should You Do With the Yarn Tails

What You'll Need

Before you get started, gather these supplies alongside your crochet yarn:

• Your current crochet project (or a practice swatch, which we highly recommend)
• The new yarn color you'd like to switch to
• A crochet hook sized appropriately for your yarn weight
• A yarn needle for weaving in ends
• Scissors

That's really it. No special tools required. If you're practicing, we recommend worsted weight as a crochet yarn for beginners, and a 5 or 5.5mm hook. It's a good combination to work with because the stitches are easy to see.

How to Change Yarn Color With Single Crochet

Once you know how to hold crochet yarn, single crochet is the simplest stitch and the easiest place to learn a color change. Here is how to do it:

1. Work your single crochet stitches as normal up to the point where the color change should happen.
2. Begin your last single crochet in the old color: insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over with the old color, and pull up a loop. You should now have two loops on your hook.
3. Drop the old color yarn. Pick up the new color, leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
4. Yarn over with the new color and pull it through both loops on your hook to complete the stitch.
5. Give both yarn ends a gentle tug to secure the join, then continue single crocheting with the new color.

One important note: the stitch where you made the color change will still look like the old color. The new color doesn't fully appear until you work your first complete stitch in it. This is totally normal and is not a mistake.

How to Change Yarn Color With Half Double Crochet

The half double crochet stitch has an extra yarn over compared to the single crochet, which means you'll have three loops on your hook before making the final pull-through. The color change happens at that final step.

1. Work your half double crochet stitches as normal until you reach the stitch where the color change should occur.
2. Begin the stitch in the old color: yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over again, and pull up a loop. You now have three loops on your hook.
3. Drop the old color yarn and pick up the new color, leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
4. Yarn over with the new color and pull it through all three loops on your hook to complete the stitch.
5. Tug both ends gently to secure, and continue in the new color.

The same rule applies here as with single crochet: the stitch in which you switch will still read as the old color visually. The new color takes over starting with the very next stitch.

How to Change Yarn Color With Double Crochet

The double crochet is a taller stitch with a few more steps, but the color change logic stays the same. You introduce the new color on the very last yarn over of the stitch.

1. Work your double crochet stitches as normal until you reach the stitch where the color change should happen.
2. Begin the stitch in the old color: yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop. You now have three loops on your hook.
3. Yarn over with the old color and pull through the first two loops. You now have two loops remaining on your hook.
4. Drop the old color. Pick up the new color, leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
5. Yarn over with the new color and pull it through the last two loops on your hook to complete the stitch.
6. Tug both ends to secure, and continue double crocheting in the new color.

With double crochet, the color change happens even later in the stitch than with single or half double, but the principle is the same: the old color starts the stitch, and the new color finishes it.

How to Change Yarn Color at the End of a Row

Changing colors at the end of a row is a slightly different scenario, but it follows the same core method. The trick is that you actually need to make the color change during the last stitch of the current row, not at the beginning of the next one. This way, when you chain and turn, the new color is already on your hook and ready to go.

1. Work across your row as normal until you reach the very last stitch.
2. Begin that final stitch in your current color, working it right up to the last yarn over (the same as described in the stitch-specific sections above).
3. Drop the old color and pick up the new color.
4. Complete the stitch with the new color.
5. Chain the appropriate number for your stitch (chain 1 for single crochet, chain 2 for half double crochet, chain 3 for double crochet), then turn your work.
6. Work back across the row in the new color as normal.

This approach gives you a clean, tidy edge with no awkward color bleed at the row start. It's the standard method used in most crochet patterns and the one we recommend for beginners.

Ready to add your next skill to your toolbelt? Learn how to join yarn in crochet.

What Should You Do With the Yarn Tails

Weave them in. Thread each tail onto a yarn needle and weave through the backs of nearby stitches in the matching color area, going at least an inch in one direction before doubling back for security. Trim any excess close to the fabric.

Some crocheters prefer to crochet right over their tails as they work, which saves time. It can work on the back side of thicker projects, but those strands can loosen or poke through over time, especially after washing. For anything you want to last, a proper needle weave-in is the better choice.

Conclusion

Learning how to change yarn in crochet is a skill that pays off right away. The rule is simple: start the last stitch before your color change in the old color, complete it with the new one, and weave in your ends. Practice it on a swatch a few times, and it will feel automatic. Once you have it down, striped patterns, colorwork, and tapestry crochet are all within reach.

Ready to start your next colorful project? Visit our yarn store at Paradise Fibers and explore hundreds of yarns in every fiber and colorway imaginable.