To cut or not to cut, that is the question! (Help with changing colors in an afghan!!)

kstroud wrote

on Jul 30, 2009 12:51 PM

I am new to crochet. I have made one throw lapghan, and am starting on an afghan for my king-sized bed! I am really excited about my new-found hobby!! In this pattern, I am doing vertical and horizontal stripes and sewing them together in the end. Right now, I am working on the first, skinny, vertical strip which has 30 rows of red, 2 rows of light tan, 2 rows of red, 2 rows of light tan, 30 rows of red, etc. I started off cutting the yarn when I was changing colors, but was reading some blogs about NOT cutting, but "bringing the yarn up the side loosely as you crochet". Can anyone tell me which method is easier in the long run and HOW to do whichever method that is "best". I know everyone probably has their own preference, but this is going to be a large project for me (a beginner), and I would like to learn what's best earlier rather than later! Thanks so much!

MadelonM@2 wrote

on Jul 31, 2009 8:50 AM

Hi, as i have been crocheting for a while, i would cut the colours, but after cutting them i would weave then in straight away, if you wait until the end of the project you will have to do a lot of end and that is not really a fun job. Good luck

madelon from holland

MsBusyFingers wrote

on Jul 31, 2009 4:22 PM

Yes, I agree with Madelon. Make sure leave several inches and crochet right over those loose ends as you work the next row.

CrazySquare wrote

on Aug 9, 2009 9:21 PM

I agree, cut the yarn and like they said, leave a long piece and hide the end right now. If you wait until you are through with the afghan it would drive you nuts doing all of them.

elizabethann wrote

on Aug 24, 2009 1:02 PM

--You are going to crochet around the edge, since you will be crocheting over the carried yarn.

If you are going to crochet around the edge of each strip, then after the 30 row section I would attach and work the 2 rows of tan. Bring the red up the side, pick up and use for 2 rows. Bring the tan up the side, pick up and use for 2 rows, cutting at end of last row. Bring red up the side and use for 30 rows, working over the end of the tan yarn.

What do you mean yarn doesn't count as a medical expense? Crocheting is theraputic and helps me keep my sanity!

theonlynikki wrote

on Aug 26, 2009 6:49 AM

Personally, I cut leaving about 5-6 inches of a tail. With some projects I hold the tail and work it in as I go with the next color, but 90% of the time I use a large eye blunt needle and thread the tail into it and kind of sew it into the project and snip off the end. It's pretty much invisble that way.

Hope this helped.

DanaD@11 wrote

on Aug 26, 2009 2:32 PM

I do the same as Elizabeth Ann on solid pattern stitches. If the pattern is somewhat open work, I cut and then sew in with a blunt needle later.

Happy Crafting!