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This is a quick guide on how to crochet with yarn bobbins when using many colors. Bobbins are especially useful for crochet colorwork like tapestry crochet.
Many people get put off by crocheting with many colors. There are a couple of main reasons.
Firstly, using more than one color means you will have to change colors. This can mean more ends to sew in after your crochet project is finished.
Secondly, crocheting with multiple colors at the same time can get a bit messy. The yarn balls often roll around the floor as if they had minds of their own. They can get tangled and your whole project can end up looking like a big tangled mess.
However, there is a super easy solution for this! Why not crochet with yarn bobbins? In this quick guide, I will show you how using yarn bobbins can make your life super easy and your project look super neat.
Table of contents
1. What is a yarn bobbin?
A Yarn bobbin is a general term for something you can wrap your yarn around in order to work on a colorwork crochet project. That means it can be something you already have at home and use every day. Things like clothespins, sticks, foam hair curlers, pencils or anything else you can wrap yarn around. It is totally up to you whatever you choose to use.
Yarn bobbins are useful for splitting a ball of yarn into multiple smaller balls you might need when working on a colorwork project.
While using items you have at home might be handy and cheap, they do not always work that great. You need something that will stop the yarn unraveling and getting tangled.
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You can also purchase yarn bobbins that have been made for their purpose. I personally love THESE YARN BOBBINS from WeCrochet.
Get my favorite YARN BOBBINS from WeCrochet HERE
These come in three different sizes – large, medium, and small. Depending on how much yarn you need to wind on, you can choose the right size. They are inexpensive to buy and hands down the best yarn bobbins I have used with crochet. They are also sold in sets.
To use these yarn bobbins, open them up by flipping the soft side so you can see the middle of the bobbin. Wrap your yarn around the middle, as much as you need or like. Flip the soft top back over to hold the yarn in place.
This keeps your yarn tidy and organized. It does not unravel as the soft grip keeps the yarn in place. It does not untangle or leave the bobbin looking messy. Crocheting with these yarn bobbins also gives you even tension as you work with it.
2. How to use yarn bobbins on the right side of your crochet work
I have put my yarn bobbins to good use on my latest mystery CAL project! Take a look at FALL MYSTERY CROCHET ALONG – a Fall Pocket Scarf and join us for a new monthly Mystery CAL.
In the video, I have demonstrated how to work one row of the autumn leaf square which is part of the Fall mystery CAL which turned out to be a Keyhole Scarf with Pockets.
I will now give you some tips on how to crochet with yarn bobbins. Secondly, I will show you how to make your project look neat and tidy with no peekaboos!
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Before you start to change colors with yarn bobbins
It is always a good idea to prepare for working with multiple colors. You can pre-wind all your yarn bobbins before you start crocheting. It is frustrating having to stop halfway through the row because you do not have the color you need handy.
I also make a slip knot at each yarn end of each bobbin. This is handy when introducing a new color to your project.
If you place your yarn bobbins in the order you will need them, it will minimize the risk of you making a mistake in the pattern. I use a yarn holder to put all my bobbins on to keep them in place.
And lastly, I find it much easier if I have my colorwork chart printed out as I can mark each stitch off as I make it.
Important Tips to Remember when Changing Colors with Yarn Bobbins
The main thing to remember in working with multiple colors is to change to a new color on the last pull of the last stitch. This makes a neat color change.
After completing the first row, you need to decide and mark which side is the right and wrong side of your project. Always change colors such that you pull the yarn to the wrong side and keep all the color changes on that side throughout the whole project. I call it the ugly side.
As you progress through the chart you will need to change colors often. You can either drop the colors you are not using onto the back of the work. After fixing them in position with a few stitches using the new color. Make sure you push the “dropped” yarn to the back so you can not see it through your work.
If you need the same color in a few stitches you can also carry it over on the wrong side. You can do this by either crocheting over it or carrying it as afloat. These are all the basic techniques of crochet colorwork I go over in much more depth in my CHANGE COLORS IN CROCHET COURSE.
In order to turn your work when crocheting with yarn bobbins, flip over the whole stand with all your yarn bobbins and turn your work in the same direction. This will keep the bobbins in the correct order as you will need them for the next row.
3. How to use yarn bobbins on the wrong side of your crochet work
This is when you need to be careful when changing colors. You must remember to do so on the wrong side of your work. This is so the right side stays tidy and neat.
Instead of dropping the yarn you do not need or carrying it over to the back you need to do the opposite. You need to drop the yarn that you are no longer using to the front of your work, the side facing you.
There might be instances in the pattern when you will need to crochet with the upcoming yarn bobbin a couple of stitches before you reach it. If you need to change color a few stitches before your yarn bobbin, pull the yarn over the few stitches. Make sure this is not too tight and does not pull your work. This way you will carry it over and then crochet over that end to hide it.
This is another handy little tip I explain in more detail in my CHANGE COLORS IN CROCHET COURSE.
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