Changing Colours for Plaid - Beginner Crochet Tutorial
Hi everyone! In this video, I explain how to change colours in order to achieve a beautiful plaid look when crocheting. I have plaid crochet patterns available on my blog and in my shop. Please note that I am new to teaching crochet, so with each tutorial I make, I reflect on ways to improve the educational experience. If you have questions about changing colours, or thoughts on what might help you understand the technique better, let me know in the comments! You can also reach me on instagram: @callistafaye
I have to apologize, in some of the video clips my hands seem to migrate up off the screen. I know that’s annoying! I was filming this with my camera balanced on a coffee mug, you can see by my painter’s tape grip and coffee mug tripod I’m just doing the best I can with what I have. I hope I explained it okay, if you have any questions please let me know. I also took some photos and explain step by step below.
Today I'm going to be demonstrating how I achieve this plaid look by carrying over the yarn. It's really done through switching between three colours. Here I’ve been using white, light gray and dark gray. I’ve been using the Bernat Softee Chunky, which is Super Bulky (6) and it recommends a 8mm crochet hook. Because I am always working with two strands at a time I’ve actually sized up to a 10mm hook and I like the way that's been coming out.
My yarns are all kind of a mess right now because I have a little kitten running around my house and she likes to tear apart my balls of yarn.
However today I’m going to be demonstrating to you how to achieve the same look on a smaller scale. So this is with a medium weight (4) yarn so that's what we're going to be working on today.
I have a couple different yarns. I have the Red Heart Super Saver in Aran, Red Heart Comfort in Denim Fleck, and Bernat Premium in Navy, which are all medium (4) weight yarns. I’m using these three different yarns just because they are what I had available, but you can use any colors that you like. Your plaid illusion will be a lot better if you find similar tones. So these blues are quite similar to each other which help that overlap look nice and natural. So as I said before I’m going to be demonstrating how to achieve this look where you have the three different colors happening at the same time. When you build that up more you are able to achieve the look of plaid.
I apologize, my video and my photos are of different plaid projects - BUT the colour change process is just the same.
Below I have shared a simple step-by-step photo tutorial of how to change yarn colours, and how to carry over your yarn. In the video above I explain it in further detail, have a sample you can crochet along with me, and show you two methods for how to carry your yarn up when you move to the next row. Watch the video tutorial here.
As you can see I have this project started. You’ll notice my painter’s tape grip, I put that on there because I am testing out whether or not I like the more ergonomic grip. I’m looking to purchase some new crochet hooks and wanted to see what it felt like. Anyway, I am following my tartan blanket pattern and using half double crochet (HDC) stitches. This is very simple, the only change from a regular HDC stitch is when it comes time to change the colour.
Before completing the stitch is when we need our next color to come along.
You will have three loops on your hook. Pull your active colour (A) forward, out of the way.
Yarn over your next colour (B)…
…and pull through a loop (through all three loops on your hook).
Now you have switched to working with B. You need to carry colour A along with you, do this by holding it taut along your work. Not too tight, otherwise it will ruffle your work, and not too loose, otherwise you can leave loops hanging out of your work. Just pull it taut along your work.
Now we are ready to switch from B back to A. Remember, we are doing HDC so before we finish the stitch by pulling through all three loops on your hook, this is when we change colours.
This time, you put B down to the back of your work. This is important to prevent your yarn from becoming twisted. Always pull A forward, and put B backward. You’ll appreciate how paying attention to this little detail will keep you from creating a tangled mess.
Yarn over A.
And pull through all three loops. Now you are ready to continue crocheting with A. Carry B along with you as you work. Now you are ready to create a beautiful plaid blanket!
You can change colours with any stitch using this method, just before finishing your stitch is when you pull through a loop of your next colour.
Please let me know if you have any questions! And if you make one of my patterns yourself, I would love if you share your version with me! Happy creating!