How to Change Colors in Crochet: Stripes and Amigurumi Color Changes

Changing colors is how crocheters make stripes, spots, clothing on a toy, a different colored belly or a pair of mittens on a bear. The method is simple: you finish the last step of the old color with the new color. Done this way, the change is tidy and the new color starts cleanly. This guide shows how to do it in rows and in rounds, how to deal with the loose ends and how to fix the common problems.

The key idea: change on the last pull-through

A crochet stitch is finished when the last yarn over is pulled through the last two loops on the hook. If you change colors there, the new color becomes the top of the old stitch, and the next stitch starts in the new color. If you change one step too early or too late, the old color shows in the new row, or a thin line appears. So the rule is: work the stitch in the old color until two loops are left on the hook, then pull the new color through those two loops.

How to change colors, step by step

1. Work the last stitch of the old color until you have 2 loops on the hook. For a single crochet, this is after you have pulled up a loop through the stitch.
2. Drop the old yarn to the back (or the wrong side) of the work. Leave a tail of about 10 cm (4 in), enough to weave in later.
3. Pick up the new yarn, leaving a tail of about 10 cm (4 in) as well. Yarn over with the new color.
4. Pull the new color through the 2 loops on the hook. The stitch is now finished, and the loop on the hook is the new color.
5. Keep crocheting with the new color. Hold both tails along the top of the stitches for the first few stitches, so you can work over them if you want to hide them.

Changing colors at the end of a row

For stripes worked in rows, change colors on the last stitch of the row, before the turning chain. Then chain and turn with the new color, and the whole next row is the new color. If the stripes are only two or three rows apart, you can carry the unused yarn up the side of the work instead of cutting it, but do not pull it tight, or the edge will pucker. For stripes that are further apart, cut the yarn and start a new one.

Changing colors in amigurumi

Toys are usually worked in a continuous spiral, so there is no row end to change at. Pattern lines such as "change to white in the last stitch" tell you where to change. You work the last stitch of the old color the same way as above, and the first stitch of the next round is in the new color. A color change in a spiral shows a small step, called a jog, where one round meets the next. It is a normal feature of crocheting in a spiral, and it usually sits at the back, where it is hidden by the toy's position or by an arm or a tail.

• Keep the end of the round at the back of the toy, if you can.
• Pull the new color snugly on the first stitches so no gap shows.
• For a small spot, such as a cheek patch or a paw, do not carry the yarn far. Cut it and use a new strand.
• Decide where the change is before you start the round, and mark it with a stitch marker.

What to do with the ends

• Weave the tails into the back of the work with a yarn needle, in two directions, and trim them close.
• In a toy, the ends can be run inside the stuffed body, where they will not be seen. Pass the tail through a few stitches inside, and cut it.
• Avoid big knots on the outside, which can show and make bumps. If you must tie a knot, make it small and push it inside.
• Work over the tails for a few stitches as you crochet, if you want to save time. Check that the ends do not show through the fabric, especially in light yarn.

Common problems and fixes

If you are still learning the stitches, start with our guide on how to single crochet. The finishing steps for toys, including hiding ends inside the body, are in our guide on how to stuff and assemble amigurumi. To practice on a real pattern, browse the crochet patterns for beginners, or download a free crochet pattern that uses two colors. Our guide on how to read a crochet pattern explains lines that tell you when to change color.