Changing yarn while crocheting usually means an unplanned change, running out mid-row, hitting a knot, or finding a thin, weak spot you do not want to crochet through. I keep this page separate from a planned color change on purpose, because the fix here is about reacting fast without unraveling work you have already finished. The good news is the actual join takes seconds once you know it.
You Ran Out Mid-Row: What to Do First
Stop at your current stitch rather than trying to stretch the last few inches of yarn across one more stitch than it can cover. A stitch worked with too little yarn pulls the row tight and distorts the tension around it, which is harder to fix afterward than a clean, planned join.
Check how many loops are on your hook right now. If you are mid-stitch with 2 loops left, finish that exact stitch with the new yarn using the pull-through method below. If you have not started the next stitch yet, begin it fresh in the new yarn instead.
The Fix, Step by Step
- Work up to the last step of your current stitch, leaving 2 loops on the hook.
- Introduce the new yarn and pull it through both loops to finish that stitch.
- Continue the rest of the row entirely in the new yarn.
- Leave both tails hanging loose for now rather than knotting them.
- At the end of the row, tie the two tails together loosely to hold tension while you keep going.
- Once your piece is finished, untie that temporary knot and weave in both ends with a yarn needle.
Hitting a Knot or Flaw Instead of Running Out
If the trigger is a knot or a visibly thin spot rather than running out, cut the yarn 3 to 4 inches before the flaw instead of crocheting through it. A knot worked into a stitch usually shows as a small hard lump on the finished fabric, and a thin spot is a weak point that can snap under stress later.
I treat this exactly like an unplanned yarn-out: stop, cut clean, and join fresh yarn using the same pull-through method.
Avoiding This Next Time
An unplanned change is really just a planned change you did not see coming. Before starting a new row on a project where yarn is getting low, unroll what is left and compare it against roughly a yard and a half per 20 double crochet stitches in worsted weight, then decide whether to start a fresh skein at the row’s edge instead of mid-row.
Frequently asked questions
What do you do if you run out of yarn mid-row?
Finish your current stitch with 2 loops on the hook, then pull the new yarn through to complete it, and keep going in the new yarn for the rest of the row. There is no need to unravel back to the start of the row. Weave in both loose ends once the whole piece is finished, not right away.
Do I need to unravel back to the start of the row?
No, that is one of the most common myths around running out of yarn mid-project. The pull-through join works at any point in a row, not just at the edges, so you can switch yarn on the exact stitch where you ran out and keep working forward without losing any progress.
Is it okay to crochet over a small knot in the yarn?
It is better not to. Cut the yarn a few inches before the knot and rejoin with fresh yarn instead, since a knot worked into a stitch tends to create a visible bump and a weaker point in the fabric. Treating it as a planned cut and rejoin takes about the same amount of time as trying to hide it.
Wrap Up
An unplanned yarn change does not have to mean unraveling anything. I finish the stitch I am on, pull the new yarn through, and just keep going. For the same technique used deliberately, like for a planned color change, see how to switch yarn when crocheting.