Knitting Graphghans: How to change color

I finally got a video to cooperate with my computer! Yay!!! Here's a quick tutorial on how to knit a graphghan. First, here's a practice graph. It's 15 stitches wide by 15 rows high. Right-click to save it.

Practice square graph 15x15

 Next, you'll cast on the number of stitches in width. In this case 15 stitches. You'll start reading the graph in the bottom right corner. Following the color pattern on your graph, all of the odd-numbered rows are read right to left and you'll knit these. All of the even-numbered rows are read left to right and you'll purl these. Here's a quick video that shows you how to change colors. The most important thing to remember is you need to twist your yarn at color changes to lock the yarns together. This is to avoid making holes in your work.

If you have questions please leave a comment. You can also send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kariscrafts.

Crochet Graphghans - How to change color

Since I've been designing several graphghan patterns many people have asked for a tutorial. I'm working on a tutorial video series. Unfortunately my video camera is not playing nicely with my computer. As soon as I can get it working I'll post the videos. In the meantime, I've taken a few photos to do a short picture tutorial. Please forgive the lighting in the pictures. It's been rather cloudy so it's been difficult to get good natural lighting but I wanted to get this tutorial up.

To create a graphghan you'll first need a pattern. Here is a practice graph to get you started. It's 15 stitches wide by 15 rows high. You can right-click to save it.

No matter what size graph you use, know that each square on the graph represents one stitch. To create this in single crochet you'll first want to chain the number of stitches in width on the graph + 1. In this case 15+1=16 chains. This foundation chain does not count as your first row.

Chain 16 for the practice graph.

Now you'll start reading the graph in the bottom row. If you're right-handed you'll read the graph from right to left for odd-numbered rows (right side) and left to right for even-numbered rows (wrong side). If you're left-handed you'll read it in reverse. For row 1 you'll single crochet (sc) in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across. You should have 15 sc in this row.

Sc in 2nd chain from hook & in each chain across.

Chain 1 and turn. The ch-1 doesn't count as a stitch. It's just to raise your stitches up a row. For the second row and each remaining row you'll sc in each sc across following the color pattern on the graph. Chain 1, turn.

Ch 1, turn. Following color pattern on graph, sc in each sc across the row.

To change colors, insert the hook into your next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop but don't finish the stitch yet.

Insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over & pull up a loop.

With your new color, leave a long tail (that you'll weave in later) and use the new color to yarn over and pull through the two loops on your hook to finish your stitch.

Pull the new color through the two loops on the hook to finish the stitch.

Now you have the new color on your hook and you can do the next stitch with the new color.

Next stitch done with the new color

Here's a little more of the graph done.

I hope that makes sense and helps. If you have any questions please feel free to comment. You can also send me a message on facebook. I've also recently started a facebook group for graphghans called KD Graphghans. There are several free and paid graph patterns there as well as more practice graphs. This is a place to learn and share. I've set it up as a closed group so that progress pictures can be shared without family and friends possibly seeing a gift in progress (unless they're also a member of the group). You just have to send a request to join. We'd love to have you! :) Kari