sewingoflove

All is well and good when it comes to crocheting a single color blanket or scarf, and even striping is easy. It’s totally different however, when you begin blocking colors and designs. I’ve crocheted an American Flag as well as my newest project, a scarf with zig-zags. I’ve gotten pretty good at this design. It took a me a while to find a way to work it though; I couldn’t find a tutorial or video online. So, here’s mine!

Start by making your chain, or whatever your crochet pattern is up to where your design changes colors. Drop the loose end of the color you’re working and pick up the new end. Continue the pattern, making sure the first color is actually INSIDE the crochets in the pattern of the new color. Do the same thing to switch back, and if you don’t need the second color again, you can drop it completely.

Now, the second row is where things can get kind of funky. You CAN do it the same way, but you’ll end up with some color bleed. What will happen is that one string of yarn of each color will end up “in” the other color block. It won’t be really noticeable in a zig-zag pattern, but very specific patterns (such as stars, lines, circles and letters) need to be done differently. You can see in the top row of my American flag that I hadn’t discovered the technique I’m about to teach you. And then I figure it out in the middle of the stars, and the rest looks great. Go figure, right?!

Just for reference–when I crochet, I end up with a horizontal texture because I onlyuse half the stitch on the row below rather than the whole thing. If you use the whole thing, you can utilize what I described above.

As you finish the first color block and get to the second color section, drop your first color, but lay it over your crochet hook. Push you hook through the stitch below and wrap it in the second color, then finish your stitch. That’s it!! Nice and completely simple If you’re doing a double crochet, you wrap your hook using the second color before going through the lower stitch. Any questions? Let me know!

Happy stitching!