A lot of patterns going around at the moment feature stripes: two or three colors that go together perfectly.
You could follow the colors suggested in the pattern sample… but you want to try something a little different. But how in the world do you pick a colors that go together? Color theory. That’s how!
Picture the yarns on a color wheel
Most yarn lines contain a wide range of of colors. Here’s a look at the color palette for Cotton Candy from Be Sweet:
Whoa! Overwhelming, right?
But don’t fret. To get started with selecting a pair of colors, imagine them organized around a color wheel:
It’s not all of the yarns, of course! I just picked a representative for each color wedge!
Most yarn companies design their colors of yarn with compatibility in mind. This is good news! It means that most yarns from a single line are of similar tone and will work together nicely… it’s just up to you to pick your fave color combo!
Color Theory 101
Fortunately, there’s a name for the art of picking colors that go together: color theory. Oodles of brilliant artists and designers agree on some fundamental color groupings. Phew! That means we can use what they’ve figured out to help us pick our color pairings!
There are three color schemes that, if followed, will create knock-your-socks-off color combos: analogous, complementary and split complementary. For help picking an awesome pair (or triple) of color, stick with one of these schemes, and you can’t go wrong!
Analogous
Analogous colors are the ones that are next to each other on the color wheel:
This scheme can work with any number of colors… pick two that are next to each other, three or four!
Complementary
For a color pair with a real ‘punch’, go with complementary colors: colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel:
I love using complementary colors. The difference in colors highlights the striping/pattern in your knitting/crochet!
Split Complementary
A complementary color scheme gives you two colors… so if you want three, you’ll need to use the Split Complementary scheme. Here’s how this one works: start with one color. Zip across the color wheel to it’s complementary color, and select the two colors next to it:
Are you ready to hop into color?
See… it’s not so bad? The color wheel is your friend!
By using one of these color schemes, you’ll be able to put together a beautiful color combo! (I know I’ve started eyeing the blue + pink + orange one!)
Thanks so much to Be Sweet for permitting use of the photo of their lovely yarn to use as examples!
Thanks, Stacey, for simplying how to choose just the right colors. It makes sense to me now, especially the split complimentary, and now won’t seem as intimidating.
Great post, Stacey! Now I know how to do it! It was all instinct before your post but that sometimes doesn’t work, hehehe
Thanks so much for this post – very helpful! What other resources do you recommend for learning more about color theory as it relates to yarn choice? When I’ve tried to research this in the past I’ve had trouble finding something that makes sense with crochet/knitting.
@Andie… Hmm, that’s a really good question! I’ll put a tweet out into the twitterverse and let you know if I get any good responses :)
I tend to just follow the color advice (without yarn) and do my best to put yarn colors to it. But you’re right, there should be more yarn-specific choices! I’ll keep you posted :)
Okay, Andie, I got some recommendations!
Colorworks (book): http://www.debmenz.com/books.htm
Space Cadet Creations Newsletter (free ebook): http://spacecadetcreations.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c74ccb88f2f04f3c1eda8c586&id=3b6e20eeb3
Artful Color Mindful Knits (book): http://www.knittinguniverse.com/store/items/view/244/Artful_Color_Mindful_Knits_-_The_definitive_guide_to_working_with_hand-dyed_yarns/
Hope those help!
Another great post that is packed with very useful information. I am loving all the colorful projects that are so popular right now and this will be a great key in choosing colors from now on!
Thanks so much! You have an awesome talent of making things make sense. You are a great teacher!
In crochet softies the elephant pattern….shouldn’t the mouth pattern say double crochet instead of single?
@Debbie- You’re absolutely right. Unfortunately, almost *every* double crochet in the book turned into a single crochet :/ I have no idea how that happened!
I’ve forwarded that onto my publisher, and it should appear in the errata, soon!
Good catch!
Stacey your so wonderful you think about everything and everyone’s needs your just a treasure. Luv the color wheel I had forgotten all about it from my art days thanks for switching the light bulb back on :O)
Hi Stacy, I always love color compatibility advice! A refresher is always good, and it helps me pay attention to the colors I select, in so many things. About a million years ago, I went to beauty school and they taught us about colors. The one thing I haven’t forgotten is the base color, what every other color is built on. Those three primary colors influence every other color and it’s a beautiful thing! What would we do without color!!! I love it so!
Love this!
3 things I do for finding color combos:
1. Ask my teen daughters. I show them my stash and they have come up with some great combos that I wouldn’t have thought to pair.
2. Artwork. Some artists like Josef Albers and Mark Rothko are famous for exploring color combinations in their painting. Why not get advice from a genius??
3. A knitwear designer, whom I’ll name because I know Stacey has worked with his patterns– Stephen West– did a really neat thing in his Rav forum a few months ago. He went around his town & took photos and then showed yarn combinations based on the colors in those photos. He encouraged people knitting his pattern to do the same. It was really interesting to see the images that he and others used for inspiration.
I have always had problems with which colours to choose, I think this is honestly going to save my life.
Thank you Stacey. This colour chari and explanation is so valuable on many levels, even for wearing clothes combinations as well as painting and floral combinations. Amazing.
Awesome! I’m totally enjoying looking at the yarn cakes and colors ;)
thank you for your usefull info.
Thanks so much. My LYS is closing so there is a huge sale. My opportunity to get a wide color range in one brand to assure weight compatability in a granny project. Your tutorial is the perfect inspiration before I go there this morning. It always seems no matter how many colors I have, there is always always one more I wish I had.