If you are just joining us, this is Part 11 in our 12 part Learn to Crochet Series. To find out more on how to learn, please visit Part 1.

Each month, we have been learning how to crochet three different blocks.  After finishing this Part, you will have 30 different blocks in total that we will learn to stitch together in December to make a wonderful lap-sized afghan perfect for Christmas gift giving, although, you may be tempted to keep this for yourself to use for snuggling on the couch.

When I asked everyone if I should use 2 or 3 colors or stick to a monochromatic afghan, I had an ulterior motive!  If you are counting, I have crocheted 9 squares in each color.  I need 3 more squares.  Yes, I could make one more square of each color BUT….I would rather show you how to change colors in your work.  So lets get crocheting!!

You can crochet in a single color for a very long time and make many wonderful projects. However, one of the things that people love most about crochet is the beautiful colored work that you can create with different shades of yarn.

Eventually you will want to learn how to change colors in crochet. After learning how, you’ll be able to crochet so many more things, simply by working your stitches in different colors. There are a number of “magic knot” methods available, but I want to show you two methods that I find the easiest for changing in the middle of the row and at the end of the rows. NOTE: Either of these methods can be used for both middle of the row and end of the row.

Change Colors in the Middle of the Row (Method 1)

The easiest way to change colors in the middle of a row, is by doing so at the end of one stitch, right before you want the next stitch in a new color. This means that you will finish your stitch up until the last yarn over. The method is the same for any stitch – single, half double, double, etc. Pick up the new color yarn leaving a tail to weave in later, then finish the last yarn over with the new color.

Hold your old and new yarn tails down in the back of your work until the next stitch is finished. If the loop used to join the new color is a bit loose, simply tug on the tails and it should tighten up. You will weave in these yarn tails into their own color section once finished. You are now ready to start crocheting in your new yarn color!

Change Colors at the End of the Row (Method 2)

Finish the last stitch of the row in your original color. Pull up a small loop and take out your hook. Tie the new color onto the loop with a simple knot. (Don’t forget to leave a tail for weaving in later). Slide the knot down to the last stitch, insert your hook, tighten the loop and start crocheting your turning chain with the new color. If you are not carrying the yarn (see below), cut the original color yarn leaving a tail for weaving.

CARRYING THE YARN

When crocheting with two or more colors, you can carry the yarn that you’re not working with at the moment, meaning that you don’t have to fasten off and join your new yarn every time you change color. Basically, you carry the yarn until you need it again.

There are several ways for carrying the yarn, each of which produces a different result.

Carry on back (wrong side).

Leave the strands loose on the back of your work, picking them up again as they get used. You should crochet over the strand with the new color every few stitches to avoid a long stretch of yarn. This method can be used for something that has a right and wrong side such as a sweater or hat, but does not work well for items such as afghans or scarves where you use/see both sides.

Crocheting over the strand.

If you are making short color changes with only two or at most three colors of yarn, you have the option of enclosing the unused yarn in your stitches as you work. Lay the unused strand of yarn across the tops of the stitches of the previous row. Then, using the new color, work the stitches in the current row crocheting over the strand.

This method produces a neater appearance on the wrong side of the fabric, which is important where the backside will be visible, such as an afghan or a scarf. This method is shown in the above video (Changing Colors – Method 1)

Carrying yarn up the side of the work.

You may also carry the yarn up the sides of your work, if you are changing colors at the end of the row. Carrying the yarn up the side comes in handy when you’re working a horizontal stripe pattern.

However, this technique only works if you are crocheting stripes in even numbers of rows. If you are working a stripe pattern that changes color every row, the carried yarn won’t be on the side you need it to be when you want to pick it up in the next row.

If you are working with lots of color changes or long stretches of one color before the first color gets used again, breaking the yarn and starting it over again with each change may be the better option.

BLOCK 28 – CHECKERBOARD

To make this block, choose two colors from your afghan. We are going to use Method 1 to join the colors. In addition, we will be crocheting over the unused strand across each row. (see video)

TO MAKE THE BLOCK

Foundation Chain. With your first color (Color A) make a starting chain in multiples of 4 plus 2. For our square 32 half double crochets (HDC) was 10 inches plus 2 = 34 chains.

ROW 1 – HDC in third chain from hook and again in next 3 chains, pick up your second color (Color B), HDC in next 4 chains crocheting over Color A, pick up Color A and HDC in next 4 crocheting over Color B. Continue across the row (32 HDC). Turn
ROW 2  – CH 2, with Color B HDC in next 4, with Color A HDC in next 4. Continue to end of row. Crochet over the unused color as you go.
ROW 3 – Ch 2, turn, with A HDC in next 4, with B HDC in next 4 to end of row.
ROWS 4–5 – Repeat Row 2.
ROW 6 – Repeat Row 3.
ROW 7 – Repeat Row 2.
ROWS 8–9 – Repeat Row 3.

Repeat Row 2 – 9 until work measures 10”.  You should end with Row 4 or Row 8.

EDGING

One SC in each stitch across top and bottom and One SC in each row of sides.  3 SC into each corner.

BLOCK 29 – SPIKE STITCH

A spike happens when you form a stitch, but work it two, three, or four rows below.

The spike stitch is worked using the same steps as a single crochet stitch, but instead of working into the current row where you are crocheting, you drop down and insert your hook into a row directly below where you would insert it if you were working in the current row.

Then make your single crochet – Yarn over, pull through stitch. Draw the loop all the way up so that the top of it is in line with the other single crochet stitches in the top row. Finish your stitch (YO, pull through both loops). You always draw the yarn up so that the top of the stitch is still exactly where the top would be if this were a normal single crochet stitch.

You can work a spike stitch into the row immediately below or several rows below; the lower you go, the longer the stitch is. Different lengths of the stitch can then be combined in a variety of ways to make fun, geometric designs.

TO MAKE THE BLOCK

To make this block, we will be making 4 rows of single crochet in one color followed by 4 rows of SC in the second color. You will be changing colors at the end of the row using Method 2 and carrying your yarn up the side of the square.

Choose two of your colors. I would recommend using the lightest and darkest colors to create a more dramatic look. I did not do this for my square, therefore, the pictures and video were created using two different yarns in my collection.

Make a foundation chain of 34 stitches.

ROW 1 – Make a single crochet into 2nd chain from hook. Single crochet into each chain across row. (33 SC). Turn

ROWS 2 – 4. CH 1. Single crochet across row changing color at the end of ROW 4. Turn.

ROW 5 – With new color, Chain 1. *Make one SC in next stitch. Now make one SC in first row below next stitch, one SC in two rows below next stitch and one SC in third row below next stitch.* Repeat from * to * to end of row. Finish with one SC. 

Repeat rows 2-5 until square measures 10 inches.

EDGING

Make one SC in each stitch across top and bottom and one SC in each row of sides.  3 SC into each corner. Be sure to crochet over the carried yarn.

BLOCK 30 – YOUR CHOICE

Now it is time for you to get creative!! Your challenge is to crochet your FAVORITE stitch in two or more colors. You may make stripes in your favorite stitch or try a graphgan? Show me your choice in our Facebook page so others can gain some ideas.

My choice – was C2C. I changed colors every row meaning I had LOTs of tails to weave.

To change colors on the C2C, I used method One and changed the color on the last stitch of the row (before the chain 6) on the increase. And after the slip stitches at the beginning of the decrease rows.

Another challenge you may want to try would be the granny square. finish your round by slip stitching to the corner chain. Now attach your new color into any corner space with a slip stitch and make your chain for the next round using the new color.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me by email, leaving a comment below or posting in our Facebook page!

Next month, we will be putting these squares all together and will finally have a finished afghan..YAY!  Just in time for Christmas. 

NEED EXTRA PROJECTS!!