Expert: Marilyn Jane Rimmer - 10/23/2008

Question
I am new to Tunisian crochet although I have crocheted for many years.  My question is about changing colors if you are making a pattern in the piece you are making.  I have been reading about making afghans from simple cross stitch patterns simply by changing colors and not stitching on a completed piece.  I can change colors mid row, but I don’t know how to change back to the initial color.  Do you simply let the yarn go to the next spot leaving a line on the back or do you have multiple bobbins of the colors alternated?  Thank you.

Answer
Usually it's recommended that you never carry an unused color for more than 3 stitches.  If you have longer "carries" it leaves a long, loose thread on the back of the project which can get snagged.  It's also harder to figure out how much yarn to leave, creating a pucker in the fabric.  Use a bobbin for each section of each color.  For those short areas, you simply carry the yarn across, leaving it loose across those few stitches.