Making stripes in crochet must be one of the simplest things you can do to introduce colour into your next crochet project. Whether you want an even stripe using 2 colours or a thinner stripe using 3 different colours, I am going to show you how easy it is to change colour without breaking the yarn each time and make for a neater finish.
This technique works particularly well with basic crochet stitches like single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet.
Stay tuned for some really easy crochet patterns you can make and try out your newly acquired skill.
For this tutorial I will be using a simple HDC (half double crochet) stitch and working in an even stripe of 2 HDC rows for each block of striping.
Joining Yarn For The First Time
Weaving in and fastening off yarn ends is something that is time consuming and doesn’t always leave a neat finish. You will also notice that a bit of the old colour shows in the new row. To stop this from happening you need to do the following.
STEP 1: Crochet to the very end of the row leaving the last stitch, for this tutorial it is a HDC.
STEP 2: Start the first step of the HDC stitch into the last HDC but only pull the yarn through the first 2 loops leaving 2 loops on the hook.
STEP 3: Join in new coloured yarn and complete the HDC through the 2 loops on the hook.
STEP 4: Make 2 chains and turn to begin the next row. You have joined your first colour.
Working Stripes Without Breaking Your Yarn
After you have joined the second yarn (above) and worked another 2 HDC rows, you are ready to change of colour to start forming the stripes. Pick up the yarn for the new colour, bring it up the side of your work and crochet it into the next row with the same technique as before when joining the yarn in for the first time. Continue changing colours with this technique and bringing the new coloured yarn up the side until the end.
This technique also works well when you use 3 colours and alternate each colour at the end of each row (1 x HDC row for each colour). As long as the yarn colour you want to change to is at the end of that row, you shouldn’t have any problems. You will have lots options for your stipes.
Wider Stripes
When you have wider stripes, whenever both colours of yarn are on the same side of your work, you can twist them which “catches” the yarn of contrasting colour behind the colour you are working with.
In the case of a very wide stripe, it can be difficult to keep the tension of the yarn even along the side of your work. Often it gets too tight or too loose. If this is the case it is probably best to break the yarn.
Here is a quick and easy crochet pattern you can download to try out your newly found skill. I have made this halter top in an even stripe using 2 colours, an even smaller stripe using 3 colours and an uneven stripe using 3 colours.
Easy Crochet Halter Top Pattern
To download the PDF crochet pattern, click the link here Easy Crochet Halter Top Pattern
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