How to Change Colors in Crochet

ByNicole Chase Updated on

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Learning how to change colors in crochet is one of the most important skills needed to elevate your projects, whether you are making colorful blankets, garments, or plushies. If you’ve ever ended up with uneven stitches, loose tails, or jagged transitions, don’t worry, changing yarn colors is simple once you master this technique!

Hands holding two small crochet swatches showing different yarn color changes in pink, teal, and blue yarn, demonstrating different methods for how to change colors in crochet.

Quick Summary: How to Change Crochet Colors

  • Best For: Adding new yarn colors, working colorwork designs, or seamlessly joining a new skein of yarn in flat rows or joined rounds.
  • Why Learn It: Master clean transitions with crochet color changes without unspooling stitches, creating bulk or leaving visible knots on your work.
  • Skill Level: Beginner.
  • Key Techniques: You can swap colors by pulling your new yarn through the existing loop on your hook, or by completing the final yarn-over of the previous stitch with your new color.
Two crochet swatches resting on a white surface showing yarn color changes in pink, teal, and blue yarn.

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Watch the Crochet Color Change Video Tutorial

In the video below, I’ll walk you through 3 different ways to change yarn colors in crochet step-by-step.

We’ll start with two standard color change methods that work wonderfully for flat rows, basic joined rounds, graphics, and all projects really. Then, I’ll show you a seamless, invisible color change technique which is my absolute favorite for amigurumi and continuous rounds! Follow along with the video below, or scroll down for the step-by-step photo tutorial.

This video is also available on YouTube. Watch this video: How to Change Colors in Crochet on YouTube.

Method 1: Basic Pull-Through Color Change (Easiest)

This quick pull-through technique is one of the simplest ways when learning how to change colors in crochet. While the tutorial photos below demonstrate this method at the end of a flat row, keep in mind that the core pull-through concept can be adapted across almost any stitch pattern or row placement.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Complete your final stitch in your first color as you normally would. Drop that first color. Place a loop of your next color onto your crochet hook and pull it directly through the loop on your hook.

Hands holding a crochet hook with a single pink yarn loop on the hook at the end of a pink single crochet swatch.
A blue yarn place onto a purple crochet hook next to a pink crochet swatch.
Blue yarn has been pulled through the pink loop and is now the loop that is on the hook.

Step 2: Tug the tail of your first color tightly to collapse and close the old loop, leaving only the loop of your new color on your hook. Secure your yarn tails. I prefer to secure my yarn tails with a knot.

Hands pulling the pink yarn tail down to shrink the pink loop of yarn.
Close up of the pink yarn tail being pulled tight so only a blue loop remains on the crochet hook.
Hands tying yarn tails underneath the crochet hook to secure the color change.

Step 3: You now have your new color on your hook and are ready to chain, turn, and continue crocheting your next stitches in the new color.

A single blue loop resting on a crochet hook at the edge of a pink crochet swatch, ready to start the next row.
A row of blue single crochet stitches have been worked across the top of a pink crochet swatch.

Pro Tip for Method 1: Depending on your project type, you can tie the yarn tails of your two colors together on the wrong side of your work to secure them, and let them become hidden on the inside of your project, or leave the yarn tails loose to weave in with a tapestry needle later.

This standard color change method is widely considered the best practice across general crochet patterns for how to change crochet colors. By finishing the final yarn-over of your last stitch in your new color, your next stitch starts with a clean, perfectly formed loop on your hook. This technique works seamlessly whether you are changing colors at the end of a row or mid-row.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Work your final stitch before the color change in your current color up until the final yarn over. (For a single crochet, insert your hook into the stitch and pull up a loop, leaving two loops on your hook).

Crochet swatch in pink and blue yarn, held by two hands.
Inserting a crochet hook under the top loops of a blue single crochet stitch.
Pulling up a blue yarn loop through a single crochet stitch.
Two blue yarn loops resting on a purple crochet hook before completing the stitch.

Step 2: Drop your first color, yarn over with your new color, and pull it through both loops on your hook to complete the stitch. Secure your yarn tails with a knot if desired.

Yarning over with pink yarn on a crochet hook containing two blue loops.
Pulling pink yarn through two blue loops on a crochet hook to finish the single crochet stitch.
A single pink loop remains on the crochet hook after completing the color change.
Hands tying pink and blue yarn tails together behind a crochet swatch.

Step 3: You now have a loop of your new color on your hook, ready to begin your next stitch.

The yarn tails have been secured and the loop of pink yarn is shown on the hook, ready to begin the next stitch.
The first single crochet stitch in pink yarn has been made across the blue row.
The row has been completed with pink single crochet stitches on a blue and pink swatch.

Pro Tip for Method 2: When working color changes mid-row (such as in tapestry crochet or multi-color graphs), you can carry the unused yarn along the back of your work or crochet over it to minimize weave in loose ends later.

Method 3: Seamless Invisible Color Change (for Amigurumi)

If you work in continuous spiral rounds, such as when you are making amigurumi, you’ve likely noticed that standard color changes leave a jagged “step” line where the old color ends and the new color begins.

The invisible color change method solves this problem by smoothing out that transition for a crisp, seamless line.

When to Use this Method (and When Not to):

  • Best Used For: Full round transitions worked in continuous spirals, such as changing colors from a plushie’s foot to its leg, creating striped tails, or transitioning from a shirt to body section.
  • Avoid Use For: Mid-round color switches, color graphs, or small color patches (like eye patches or spots). For those mid-round changes, stick with Method 2 above!
Graphic showing a color change on an amigurumi piece with a noticeable step up, and a color change on an amigurumi piece with a smooth finish, with text that says

How it Works (At a Glance):

  1. Complete your last stitch in your starting color.
  2. Insert your hook into the back loop only of your next stitch and join your new color through that back loop.
  3. Continue working your stitches around in the new color as normal.
  4. On the final stitch of the following round, you’ll work into both the unworked front loop and the color change loops to lock everything smoothly in place.

Because this technique requires specific stitch placement across continuous rounds, I have a complete, dedicated guide to this exact method!

Want the full step-by-step photo and video walkthrough?

Check out my detailed guide on how to make an invisible color change in crochet for a deep dive for this amigurumi-friendly technique!

Frequently Asked Questions on Changing Colors in Crochet

How do I prevent gaps or loose stitches when changing colors in crochet?

Gaps usually happen when the yarn tails of your old and new colors are pulled unevenly. To prevent this, pull both yarn tails gently after making your color switch to tighten the loops down to match the rest of your row. Tying the tails in a knot on the wrong side of your work (or weaving them in securely) will keep your tension locked in place.

What do I do with the yarn tails when switching colors?

You have two main options depending on your project type: 1) Weave them in with a tapestry needle securely into the back of your stitches. This is best for items where both sides are visible. 2) Tie the old and new yarn tails together on the inside of your work and leave them hidden inside, no weaving required. This is best for items like amigurumi where only one side of your work is visible.

How do I change colors when working in the round?

If you are working in joined rounds, use Method 1 or 2 at the end of your round. If you are working in continuous spiral rounds (like amigurumi), use Method 3, the invisible color change method, to eliminate the jagged “step” like between rounds.

Do I need to cut my yarn every time I change colors?

Not necessarily! If you are altering colors every few rows (e.g. stripes), you can “float” or carry the unused yarn up the edge of your work instead of cutting it. If you won’t be using that color again for many rows, or if you’re working mid-row colorwork, it’s best to cut the yarn.

Pinterest pin image displaying hands holding two crochet swatches above a coral background with text that reads "Crochet Color Changes, Crochet Tutorial", and the website.
Brava yarn by Crochet.com

More Crochet Tutorials for Beginners

If you found this beginner tutorial helpful, check out these other crochet tutorials to keep building your crochet skills:

I hope you enjoyed this post! Be sure to leave me a comment below to let me know what you think.

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I’d love to see what you make with this tutorial! Don’t forget to share your finished work with me: on social media by tagging me @thenicolechase, in your Ravelry projects, or post over in my Facebook group!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy crafting!

Nicole

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