Every time I post a picture of a sweater with several colors, someone will comment that they struggle choosing colors. I’ll agree that choosing colors online can be a struggle but just like with my quilting, I don’t sweat over the colors, for the most part.
When I look at my Tea with Jam and Bread sweater, I love the colors!
Tea with Jam & Bread
Here’s the back story. All the yarn is Cascade 220 (not Superwash). The tan is Doeskin Heather. The rust is Ginger and the black is Jet. But, my original plan was to make this using Doeskin Heather, Ginger and Fennel. When the yarn arrived, there wasn’t enough contrast in the Fennel and the Doeskin Heather.
Yarn Choice
It isn’t terrible but the Ginger contrasts so much more with the Doeskin Heather than does the Fennel that I didn’t think it would be a good mix. I decided to go with a blue/teal but then I saw that I had extra Jet and I held it up with the other two colors. While it wasn’t what I would have chosen if I’d had the entire Cascade 220 palette, the darkness/saturation of the Ginger and Jet seemed balanced with the lightness of the Doeskin Heather so . . Jet it was.
Looking at the finished sweater, I can’t imagine that any color I would have chosen would have worked better than the Jet.
I can’t imagine second guessing myself on every color choice I make. I’m sure that many times other folks look at my quilts or sweaters and wonder “what was she thinking?” but in the end, if I’m happy with what I make, that’s what really matters. If I’m making something for someone else, I’ll go with their color choices, or if I’m making it for a gift, I’ll use colors I know the recipient will like but otherwise, I just make whatever I like and once the colors are chosen, I don’t do much second guessing.
My main concern with choosing colors is that there not be too much blending. If I’m going to go to the trouble of making a three color sweater, I want all three colors to show and be easily recognized. There are times when a bit of blending is wanted but what I’m trying to say is . . if choosing colors paralyzes you and keeps you from making the things you want to make . . lighten up. Knitting, quilting . . most of what we do is supposed to be fun. If we’re worried about it being right or wrong, we’re probably losing some of the joy and . . there’s just not enough joy these days so be careful what you let steal your joy!
If you’re someone struggling with color . . especially if you have a project marinating in your head and you can’t choose colors . . just do it! If you can’t decide . . add some lime green and some orange . . maybe a little purple. If you don’t like it, I will love it and you can send it to me! 🙂
Jo Anne B. says
Judy, Thanks. I needed that.
JudyL says
So many seem to struggle with choosing colors. If I overthink it, then I struggle but I figure . . it’s just yarn or it’s just fabric and I am usually able to choose pretty quickly and then I don’t second guess my choices.
Sue S says
Like Stephanie over at the Yarn Harlot always says, if you don’t like it, you can always rip it back… Color theory is all fine and dandy and can teach you some things, but I feel like if you like it together, it goes together. Numbers of colors, size of repeats, all can change the look. If you’re not sure, knit a swatch! And not that I ever do this, but I think if you buy yarn for a project most places will let you return unused full skeins. I crocheted an afghan for the back of my chair and I used up all the small leftover balls of yarn that weren’t enough for another project. Some of them weren’t even enough for a complete row. It looks fabulous if I do say so myself.