Colour Play

It seems that I have managed to fill my week with rather a lot of yarny colour play, and I have really enjoyed myself. I think it must be my natural defense against the weather which has been multiple shades of wet, dismal grey. I'm edging very close to completing my poncho (yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeee!) and I've had many requests lately for yarn details and colour info for this project. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, and the picture above is the original colour selection I  made when I started out with my Interlocking Colour ripple blanket back in Autumn 2011.

I've used the leftovers from this collection for my poncho, with a couple of extras added in. However, when I tried to gather together updated colour info to share, I was shocked to find that out of the 18 shades I used, only 5 are still available. That means a whopping thirteen shades have been discontinued! I've tried hard to work out replacements, but frankly some of my best most favourite colours in this yarn (oh that turquoise blue!) have simply been removed which makes me very sad. Naughty Debbie Bliss!

I've been pondering a lot about yarn and colour palettes recently and my mind has been filled with all manner of delightful yarn infested thoughts. When I put together the colours for my ripple blanket, I wrote a post trying to explain a little bit about how I choose my colours for a project (you can read about it here). It is such an interesting subject and I get asked over and over again about my colour choosing strategies.

Oooooooo, look at all that yummy, scrummy yarny colour! Do you remember this? These were the colours I chose to make the Granny Stripe blanket for Connievan in the Spring of 2010. The yarn is Stylecraft Special DK,* 17 colours chosen especially to deliver Happiness. I had Happy Caravan thoughts in mind when I picked out these colours :: lazy, Summer afternoons, leisurely picnics, cool green grass, stripy deckchairs, strings of bunting, colouring books and crochet, wild flower meadows. I went to my Happy Place when I chose them, and even now they give me a huuuuuuge rush of pleasure.

Over the years that I've been working with the Stylecraft yarn, I've come to really like it a lot. I was very sceptical at first as I wasn't at all sure that I would be able to get along with an acrylic yarn. I had scratchy, squeaky, plasticky concerns, but right from the start it totally surprised me. It is soft and very easy to work with. It doesn't split and it hooks up beautifully. It makes fantastic, warm, soft, snugly blankets and the 100g balls are deliciously squidgy and generous. It's an all round amazing budget yarn, beautifully suited to blanket making.

Did you know that there are currently 55 shades of Stylecraft Special? Yes, fifty five! So my happy little collection of 17 shades is actually only a third of the total available.

One of the things I've been quietly working on during the past year is a fresh new range of colour collections. I've been experimenting with colours that are waaaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone. Mocha and copper and grey and camel! Yeah, I KNOW! Bet you never thought you'd see me embracing NEUTRALS did you, not in a month of Sundays!

But I am learning to open my creative mind, experimenting with all sorts of new and wonderful ways to combine colours that isn't necessarily based on instinct and emotion (which is my usual approach). I am very used to working with colour and have been doing it for all of my adult life. When I left school at 18, I went to art college for a year, and colour theory formed a big part of my training there. I then went on to take a degree course, studying textiles and embroidery for three years. Of course, none of this had anything to do with yarn (I am a late comer to the delights of yarn shops), but colour, yes most definitely. My textile work has always, always been all about the colour. And so it continues with yarn....

I've been at my studio this week, winding up a storm with my trusty yarn winder (oh how I love using that thing!), turning out some delicious yarn cakes to play with.

The rain poured down outside, and inside I immersed myself completely in the joy of colour. Lots and lots and lots of yarny colour. There are 36 shades above (all Stylecraft Special DK), including the 17 colours that have become know as "Attic24 colours"*.....

....here they are look, awwwww my heart just flip-flopped at the sight of them! Such happy sunshiny Summer loveliness in that bowl!

Now look at this...............

....ooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! What do you think?? Do you like it? Or is it a bit odd? Do you see two shades of GrEy? And do you see the pale, pale apricot and the BrOwN lurking in there? This was just me having a bit of playtime, and I can tell you that I didn't labour over this selection in any way shape or form. I just picked them very quickly and plopped them into the bowl, an experiment to see if I could bring myself to actually like a collection that contained grey, brown and apricot.

This was more of a considered choice, a collection of warm hues. Girly colours if you like.

And then onto the cool side, a bowl of ocean blues and grassy greens.

Hmmmmmm, not at all sure about this selection. I kind of like it, but it is maybe a bit pastely to really rock my boat. I picked out the softer colours of Stylecraft, thinking in my mind of delicate spring flowers, fluttery blossom and pale sunshiny mornings.

Ahhh, that's better, back to familiar Lucy colours, these are definitely my soul colours :o)

This colour palette of mine has become very well known since my granny stripe blanket was born. I see these colours around such a lot in Blogland, Facebook and on Pinterest, repeated and enjoyed, bringing colourful yarny happiness to so many. It really does make me very, very happy to see.

I'm really looking forward to working some new colour ideas though, it's very exciting stuff for a colour addict like me. Happy sigh.....I love colour and yarn. So, so much.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps. you can find my original Attic24 Stylecraft colour pack at Deramores*. There is currently 10% off all Stylecraft yarn there until 8th Feb. Enter the coupon code STYLE10.

*{sponsored link}

EDIT TO ADD :: re the colour pack of 17 colours....these are generous 100g balls and easily enough to make a single bed size blanket (approx 110 x 180cm). For a single bed ripple blanket, I used a 4mm hook and chained 213 to start (that's 210+3). You would need two packs to make a huge kingsize blanket. Hope that helps!xx

♥

♥...more snippets from the Attic...♥

Granny Patchwork Blanket :: Ta-dah!

Half Way

Yarndale 2013 :: The Yarn Bombing

Busy Days

Studio Time

Comments

[Heleen]

i simply love your colour picking skills! i find it quite difficult, but practice makes (almost) perfect, nothing more satisfying than picking & combining pretty colours and loving them!

[Jules]

A blogging friend, Rainbow Hare Quilts, pointed me in your direction as I had commented on her blanket that she is making and what a wonderful blog you have. The photo's of your home and all that colour and pretty things hanging up is delightful, I could live in your home :o)
I am going to attempt to make the granny blanket, though as I only have purple wool in my cupboard I will have to go and see about getting some other colours.

[meggie torrisi]

Hi Lucy, I love the bright colours you use. I've been reading your blog for a while now and if you were to use different colours, I don't think it would suit you. However, in saying that, I think you should make something using the brown, grey and apricot as mixed in your above photo, just so you can see for yourself what it looks like. Who knows, you may be surprised and like it. Meggie

[SparklePetal]

Oh LuuuUUUcy! Those textile pieces!! I have never seen them in your archives before (only discovered your blog in 2009). They are absolutely stunningly beautiful. When did you last make one? Have you sort of moved away from that creative phase at the moment? They made me very happy to look at anyway :)

[Ann]

I love the girly selection you've put together and am trying to replicate it for my next crochet blanket but am having to guess the colours. I think Stylecraft is an excellent yarn and it's very affordable for large projects. Thanks for the tip about the reduced price :)

[Meg]

Hi Lucy sooooooo pleased that Yarndale will happen again. It was so lovely to meet you last year. Lucy do you have a crocheted hot water bottle pattern in your archive ? I feel sure that I have seen one on your blog.
Love Megx

[Judith]

I read your post on colour combinations and immediately ordered two packs of the Attic 24 combination. My home is decorated in muted tones. I am interested to see how a pop of "Lucy colours" will look.

[Lorna]

I like all of your colour choices - I love Stylecraft Special DK I am new to the world of yarn and so far have only used acrylic - Stylecraft if soft and gorgeous.

[Sue Harding]

I simply can't afford Debbie Bliss yarns. I'm glad you've been experimenting with Stylecraft - much more economical! A lot of people shy away from acrylic yarns but I've never had a problem with them - in fact, 100% wool yarns are more of a nightmare for me.

Well done, Lucy. for embracing 'neutrals' too - there are some gorgeous smoky, earthy shades out there, evocative of natural landscapes! You could combine your love of rural scenes with softly muted colours.....I wonder what you'd dream up?

[María]

Thank you!!!! Thank you thank you and a big fat thaaaaaank you!!!! I discovered your blog a little more than a year ago and it inspires me so much!!! I am only a crochet beginner, I started a bit sooner than I discovered the Attic, but I want to tackle every single project I see here.... yeah right!!! as I have the skill (roll eyes...) but little by little and step by step I find myself trying differents things, each more challenging and more rewarding.... and you have been with me, through your blog, during the whole process. So thank you for making me fall in love with crochet.
PS. I have already bought the Attic yarn pack and some more... LOL!!! I said its my Valentines present.
María.

[Heather]

Good morning, flower.

Quite spooky really but I've just started a Pinterest board dedicated to colour combinations that would normally be outside my comfort zone. After a rummage through my yarn stash I realised there was a surfeit of spring colours and very little else. Ironically, of all your pics, one of my favourites is the bowl of blues and greens.

I recently bought a tea towel from Waitrose based purely on how excited I was by the colour combination.

I am an unashamed Debbie Bliss fan (though the discontinued colours thing drives me wild). My Stylecraft Special experience to date just hasn't floated my boat, perhaps I should give it another try? I think I prefer their darker colours - I just find some their pastel shades a bit too icky.

Aaah, I could sit and chat about yarn and colours into the wee small hours …

Heather xx

[Caroline]

I am french (excuse me, my english is not very good...). I wanted to thank you very much for giving us this pattern and the colour pack. I usually knit rather than hook, but this blanket is so wonderful... I was very deceived when looking for the cashmerino yarn and realized that your colours did not exist any more... I am not creative enough to imagine such a beautiful range of colours. I keep a not very pleasant thought about my japanese scarf with 9 colours (different pink, red, orange, purple...) it has been awful to organize the flowers... So I just ordered the "Lucy pack "a few minutes ago. THANKS THANKS THANKS !!!

[Caroline]

I don't have a terribly good eye for colour, unlike yourself.

I use my phone to photograph colour combinations I see whilst going about my daily activities. I then match them up for various projects.

I recently used a sweet packet as a basis for one of your wreaths.

[Miss Green]

Hi Lucy,

I always enjoy your blog: the colours, the enthusiasm, the creativity, the positivity! It never fails to bring sunshine on a rainy day!

I loved Yarndale and look forward to Yarndale 2. How do I go about getting a stall there? I would love to join the party.

Miss Green

[Inge]

What à lovely colours!

[Roberta Bortoluzzi]

Hi, I love your blog, is beauty, I love the colors, I love your crochet, visit my blog too,hugs from Brazil.
http://www.titacarre.com
http://elo7.com.br/titacarre

[Fuego Azul]

I love you're color-play! I love the different combinations you tried; very inspiring! :)

[alisonb2]

Just loved this post Lucy! Words, pictures and colour, colour, colour! Loved it all! Thank you for the boost. :-)

[Rose]

Great to see that you are disclosing what is sponsored in your post!

I hope you enjoy your colour experiments.

[Nicole]

I really like the warm 'girly' hues, I think on some of the days we've just had in Jan they'd be a perfect pick me up :-)

[CJ]

How lovely to see you playing with colour and mixing your little bowls of yarn. But mostly what I would like to say today is WOW! Your textile art is beautiful. I'd never seen it before, it's wonderful. I'm so pleased to have seen it. Your love of the sea is very clear from your work.

[Jo]

I like all your combos but sorry to say not the peachy one, the rest are so calming and that one just doesn't look like a colour from nature but we are all different aren't we. I have just finished a blanket with a man colour palette and posted today. Thanks for the colour splash. Jo x

[mouse]

Personally, I love the fast-pick one too (heck - I love them all!) - that fast picked one is a nice "muted attic24" - puts me in mind of all the gorgeous Yorkshire winter photos you have on the blog, so if you need a name for this collection, maybe the "Winter Blog Collection". I would pick that collection out for use (and himself says: "Tell Lucy my Mum'll probably want me to make her a new shawl from that lovely grey collection" - and he's only just coming new to crocheting now).

[Jo Navin]

I just wanted to say that my issue of Simply crochet magazine arrived nice and early today and your article was so great! Full of warmth, colour and inspiration (so no surprises there :-)) The first thing I ever crocheted was a heart too- I strung them together and made a garland, packaged it in pretty tissue paper and sent it off with bucket loads of love to my daughter at university for a valentine's treat. She was delighted. Your little heart " popsicle" is a lovely idea that I'll definitely be making and the floral heart is perfect too. The way you constructed the base is clever and very versatile, I won't be able to resist making one (or two or three....) Now I'm going to settle down to read your new blog post about colour, thank you for always brightening my day! Love Jo xx.

[Angela-Southern USA]

What fun you've had! Playing in a rainbow of wool. Yes, very surprised to see greys and browns, from you .lol(before you know it you'll be using white!) ;D I love the 'cool side' bowl, really speaks to me. Happy play!