How to Crochet Stripes: Free Patterns, Tutorials, Instructions and Ideas

There are zillions of different ways to crochet stripes. Let’s take a look at some of them — and let’s also discuss various methods for how to crochet stripes.

Front Loop Single Crochet Stripes -- This is a close-up picture of a striped crochet rainbow Barbie doll top. The free crochet pattern is available on our website. — Front Loop Single Crochet Stripes — This is a close-up picture of a striped crochet rainbow Barbie doll top. **The free crochet pattern is available on our website.**

How to Crochet Stripes

One of the most basic ways to crochet stripes is simply to crochet in rows, changing colors at the end of a row after you’ve determined that you’ve crocheted enough rows to create the stripe you want.

To change colors, simply drop the active color before you complete the last step of the last stitch in the row:

Here you can see I'm working in single crochet stitch. At the end of the row, I work as far as completing the first part of the stitch, but I stop before completing the last step. — Here you can see I’m working in single crochet stitch. At the end of the row, I work as far as completing the first part of the stitch, but I stop before completing the last step.

Then pick up the new color and pull through a loop of it to complete the stitch, leaving a long tail of yarn to weave in.

Grab the new color with your hook... — Grab the new color with your hook…

..and pull the yarn through to complete the last step of the last stitch in the row. Then continue crocheting in the new color. Later, you will have to weave in the loose ends created when you changed colors. — ..and pull the yarn through to complete the last step of the last stitch in the row. Then continue crocheting in the new color. Later, you will have to **weave in the loose ends** created when you changed colors.

So there you have it: That's one of the easiest ways to crochet stripes. You can do the same thing with double crochet stripes, half double crochet stripes, etc. — So there you have it: That’s one of the easiest ways to crochet stripes. You can do the same thing with double crochet stripes, half double crochet stripes, etc.

You can also work tapestry crochet stripes, which can be fairly complex.

Tapestry crochet is a technique that allows you to do mid-row color changes. So you can make all kinds of different pictorial stripes using tapestry crochet. Like this striped heart:

Striped Crochet Heart Square -- Click the photo to get the free crochet pattern for making this design. — Striped Crochet Heart Square — Click the photo to get the free crochet pattern for making this design.

About the Author: Amy Solovay is a freelance writer with a background in textile design. She has been crocheting and making crafts since childhood, and knitting since she was a teenager. Her work also appears at AmySolovay.com, ArtsWithCrafts.com and Crochet-Books.com. Amy sends out a free knitting and crochet newsletter so interested crafters can easily keep up with her new patterns and tutorials. If you’re already an Instagram user, Amy also invites you to follow her on Instagram.

This page was last updated on 1-9-2020.

Knitting and Crochet

How to Crochet Stripes: Free Patterns, Tutorials, Instructions and Ideas Learn about crocheting simple stripes, tapestry crochet stripes and more

How to Crochet Stripes

More Free Striped Crochet Patterns

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Striped Crochet Heart Potholder — Free Pattern