Step 3 of 10:
Your First Color Change
Over the next few rounds you'll introduce white yarn to shape Pip's Tummy. Follow the color sequence carefully in each round.
Watch: Prefer to follow along? The video below shows how to crochet Rounds 6 to 12 and make your first color change for Pip's Tummy, from start to finish.
How the Color Change Works (read this first):
Change color on the last step of a stitch.
When you reach the final "yarn over and pull through" of the last stitch in the old color, make that pull-through with the new color. The new color then appears cleanly on the very next stitch. This is the secret to a neat color change.
Carry the resting color, don't cut it.
When you switch, let the color you've just finished with rest on the inside of the Body and carry it loosely up behind the Tummy as you go, catching it every 2 to 3 stitches so the strands stay short and hidden. You'll only cut the white yarn once, after Round 11.
A little color peeking through is normal.
A slightly bumpy join, or a hint of purple behind the white, will disappear once Pip is stuffed. Keep going!
Watch: Your first color change might feel a little tricky, and that's completely normal. If you need extra help, watch the How to change yarn color lesson before you start.
Round
6Crochet 1 single crochet (sc) in each stitch around with the following color changes:
Purple: 10
White: 2
Purple: 4
White: 2
Purple: 10
Total stitches: 28
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin Round 6. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
YOUR FIRST COLOR CHANGE
Make 9 more purple single crochets (sc):
Repeat 1 single crochet (sc) in purple 9 more times. Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops. On that 10th stitch, stop just before the final yarn over - you’ll have 2 loops on your hook.
Add white yarn:
Drape the white yarn over your hook. Pinch it with your left hand to make a snug loop on the hook. You'll now see three loops on your hook.
Tip: When changing colors, pull both yarn tails after your first few stitches to keep the color change neat and secure.
Color change to white:
Pull the new white loop through the two purple loops. You should now have one loop of white on your hook. The color change is made.
Make 2 white single crochets (sc):
Stop just before the final yarn over.
Color change to purple:
Drape the purple yarn over your hook and pull it through to switch colors, just like you did with white earlier. Make 4 purple single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 2 white single crochets (sc):
Color change to white, make 2 white single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 10 purple single crochets (sc):
Color change to purple and make 10 purple single crochets (sc).
Completed Round 6:
Here, we have made single crochets (sc) for 10 purple, 2 white, 4 purple, 2 white, and 10 purple.
There should be 28 stitches in total.
Round
7Crochet 1 single crochet (sc) in each stitch around with the following color changes:
Purple: 9
White: 4
Purple: 2
White: 4
Purple: 9
Total stitches: 28
Note: Pip's Tummy should now appear in the front center of the Body. Don't worry if your color changes don't look perfect, they'll become less noticeable as Pip takes shape.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin Round 7. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Make 8 more purple single crochets (sc):
Repeat 1 single crochet (sc) in purple 8 more times. Stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 4 white single crochets (sc):
Color change to white, make 4 white single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 2 purple single crochets (sc):
Color change to purple, make 2 purple single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 4 white single crochets (sc):
Color change to white, make 4 white single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 9 purple single crochets (sc):
Color change to purple and make 9 purple single crochets (sc).
Completed Round 7:
Here, we have made single crochets (sc) for 9 purple, 4 white, 2 purple, 4 white, and 9 purple.
There should be 28 stitches in total.
Round
8Crochet 1 single crochet (sc) in each stitch around with the following color changes:
Purple: 10
White: 3
Purple: 2
White: 3
Purple: 10
Total stitches: 28
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin Round 8. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Make 9 more purple single crochets (sc):
Repeat 1 single crochet (sc) in purple 9 more times. Stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 3 white single crochets (sc):
Color change to white, make 3 white single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 2 purple single crochets (sc):
Color change to purple, make 2 purple single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 3 white single crochets (sc):
Color change to white, make 3 white single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 10 purple single crochets (sc):
Color change to purple and make 10 purple single crochets (sc).
Completed Round 8:
Here, we have made single crochets (sc) for 10 purple, 3 white, 2 purple, 3 white, and 10 purple.
There should be 28 stitches in total.
Rounds
9-11These three rounds are worked identically.
Crochet 1 single crochet (sc) in each stitch around with the following color changes:
Purple: 9
White: 10
Purple: 9
Total stitches: 28
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin the round. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Make 8 more purple single crochets (sc):
Repeat 1 single crochet (sc) in purple 8 more times. Stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 10 white single crochets (sc):
Color change to white, make 10 white single crochets (sc), and stop just before the final yarn over.
Make 9 purple single crochets (sc):
Color change to purple and make 9 purple single crochets (sc).
Completed Round 9, 10, and 11:
Here, we have made single crochets (sc) for 9 purple, 10 white, and 9 purple for 3 rounds.
In each round, there should be 28 stitches in total.
Important: After Round 11, you've now finished using the white yarn for the Body. Cut the white yarn, leaving about a 3-inch yarn tail. Leave the yarn tail loose inside the Body.
Round
12With the purple yarn, crochet 1 single crochet (sc) in each stitch all the way around.
Total stitches: 28
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into that marked stitch to begin Round 12. Remove the stitch marker so the stitch is easier to work into.
Make 1 single crochet (sc) first:
Yarn over, pull through, yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
Mark the first stitch:
Remove your hook for a moment, and use the stitch marker to mark this first stitch.
Hook back in:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Make all your stitches:
Crochet 1 single crochet (sc) in each stitch around.
Completed Round 12:
Here, we have made 1 purple single crochet (sc) in each stitch around.
There should be 28 stitches in total.