How to Change Yarn Colors Within a Crochet Round
Changing yarn colors within a crochet round is done during the final yarn over (YO) of the stitch so that the stitch does not end up half one color and half another. For striped patterns, the nature of crochet rounds allows you to leave one color at the beginning of the round, while you work with another, then pick up the first color again for the next found. For color changes in the middle of a round, you can carry the color not in use horizontally across the stitches and crochet over the strand to hide it until you need it.
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Instructions
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Crochet your project in the round until you come to the stitch where you want to change colors.
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Begin the next stitch with the old yarn color until you come to the final yarn over. For example, in a single crochet stitch you would insert the hook and pull a loop up with the old yarn, then stop. With a double crochet stitch you would yarn over, insert the hook, pull through two loops, then stop.
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Yarn over with the new color yarn instead of the old and pull the yarn through the loops on the hook to complete the stitch you were doing. The new color will now be the working loop.
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Continue to make the rest of the stitches in your round with the new color yarn.
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Cut the old color yarn, if you will not be using it again, about 6 inches from the stitching.
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Weave in the loose ends from color changes with a yarn needle.
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Tips & Warnings
To change colors in a single step stitch such as the chain stitch or the slip stitch, which consists of only one yarn over, substitute the new color yarn right after you insert the hook into the fabric, then pull up a loop with the new color yarn immediately.
If you will be alternating colors every other row or every few rows at the same point in the round, there is no need to cut the yarn. Simply carry the yarn up the wrong side of the fabric to use it in the next round.
Hold the old color yarn against the top of the stitches in the round and crochet over them with the new color if you plan to use the old color a few stitches away on the same round. This carries the yarn horizontally along with you so you don't need to cut it.
If you are alternating colors in rounds that are more than an inch apart, it's better to cut the yarn, weave in the end and join a new strand of yarn at the next round that needs it. If you leave a long vertical trail of yarn going up the wrong side of the fabric you risk it stretching and distorting your stitches by making them too tight or too loose.
