Stitches

How do I add a new ball of yarn to a crochet blanket when I run out of the first ball of yarn?

How do I add a new ball of yarn to a crochet blanket when I run out of the first ball of yarn? p.s. I'm using double crochet stitches :)

Public Comments

1. Stop when you have a few inches of the first ball of yarn left. Make all of the dc stitch except the last one. (I mean yo & draw thru 1 loop, yo & draw thru 2 loops, stop.) You'll have two loops on your hook. Hold the tail in your right hand and hold a few inches of the new yarn in your right hand, yo (with the new) and pull through. You might want to experiment with how to hold it that works best for you. But when you're changing colors, you want to do it on the last step of the previous stitch.
2. Adding the new yarn is essentially the same thing as changing colors. Since I couldn't exactly remember the crochet terms for joining your new ball of yarn, I did a search for "changing colors" and came up with this, which has a few different videos on changing yarn: http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post_31.html If the videos are hard to follow, here are written instructions: http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa072697.htm When you've completed the blanket (or a few rows, your choice), go back with a tapestry needle and weave the ends into the stitches so that you hide them as well as reinforce the join.
3. if you need to in the middle of a row/round then work the last stitch up to where you only have 2 lps on your hk then attach the new yarn leaving a tail long enough to weave in. then crochet as normal. very easy. if it is in the begging of a row, then fasten old yarn off, join new yarn with dc, sl st, it up to u. I would join it with a sl st then dc in the same stitch.
4. It's always best to start a new ball of yarn on the edges of any project, and then hide the tails later. If you really have to use the very last inch of yarn, then you just join the yarn as always, and keep on going. There are many methods, and they all work. It depends on the yarn you are using, but usually you can just double the yarn, and work it in. If that is too bulky, do only half of the stitch, and then add the new yarn for the rest of the stitch, and it will be caught. Hide the tails into your work. The next row will hold it all together, and it will never come apart. What you would never ever do is tie a knot in your work!! Anything else is fair game. Check into the Russian join.
5. Usually I try to make sure that I don't have enough yarn to finish the row so that I can take about three inches of both yarns and tie them together. (reason for this will be explained later.) If you don't want to do this and want to connect when the skein is at the end Take your needle and start to make the "dc" and work only the first part. Now tie the new skein to the old one. Finish making the dc and you should have the "knot" at the bottom of the dc. Take the tails of the two yarns and cover them as you go along with the rest of the dc's and if the tail is too long cut it off after you are sure you have covered enough of it. Explanation for the connecting at the edge. If you look at the blanket the edges they do not look right and you are probably advised to make an edging. If that is the case the edging will cover up the connection of the two skeins and you will not have to weave in the tails. If you have a problem deciphering these instructions e-mail me with the problem and I will help you work it out.