Yes, yes I know, here I go again with yet another post about yarn and colour, I am on a bit of a mad colour/yarn-fixated thingy, well nothing new there to be honest. I am resisting the urge to apologise though, as colour and yarn make me absurdly happy and I'm not sorry for inundating my blog with happy-making stuff. And hey, I did promise to keep you updated following my post last week about the Lets Knit / Stylecraft colour choosing competition.
The three squishy balls in the image above are the three new shades of Stylecraft Special DK due to launch in early April. They are named Parma Violet, Storm Blue and Sage. I tried to photograph them as accurately as I could to share with you, they are really lovely colours in real life. They are soft and quite restrained, with a slight vintage vibe and compliment the existing colour range very well.
I added the three new shades into my studio shelves so you could see how they fit.
The Sage is a beautiful soft grey/green which sits equally well with the green and blue shades. It also looks delightful when placed amongst the soft pinks and purples.
Storm Blue also has a fair bit of grey in it, just like a stormy sea. I really like it and can tell you it works beautifully with many of the other colours in the Special range.
Parma Violet is an unusual colour, and truthfully I'm not mad keen on it as it's a bit pale and wishy washy for my own personal taste. Like sage and storm, this pale violet shade also has quite a lot of grey tone in it. It's a very changeable colour mind you, and looks very different depending on the light and which colours you place it with. Definitely a colour you would ideally need to see in real life before making up your mind about.
I borrowed this photo from the Stylecraft Facebook page, it shows a small selection of the wonderful colour entries that've already been sent for the competition. I think judging is going to be quite tough, I might need to eat lots of cake on Judging Day to help my colour-processing brain cells do a good job ;)
Full details about the competition can be found on my previous blog post HERE - closing date for entries is 31st March 2015.
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Loving the new colours all 3 of them! Are you going to do a blanket in granny squares with the colours you put on your blog earlier in the year? I really fancy another CAL my hands feel empty without a big project going on in the background of my life!!
Posted by: Lissie, France | March 06, 2015 at 12:01 AM
Oh yay! I see me entry all the way from Canada. How exciting!!
Posted by: Arlene Bomabck | March 04, 2015 at 09:10 PM
I'm with you on the new colours. A little too subdued to my liking. But you never know, sometimes when you pair them with more vibrant colours, they might just look amazing! Thank you for the post :)
Posted by: Marie | March 04, 2015 at 09:06 PM
That's fun the way people send in all sorts of little bits that show color they love! I DO like the three newbies very much!
Posted by: Pom Pom | March 04, 2015 at 08:07 PM
I love the new colors. I am glad to see that none of the new colors are the colors that I have dancing around in my head. Here I go back to the drawing board to see if I can refine the color a bit more. I have to say that I have fallin big time and have a bit of the wantseys for a pair of Wellies. I just love the patterns they have out now. I was seriously thinking of trying to save enough money to try and go to Yarndale. I will have to find a host that can help me with what flight to take and where to stay. Oh wow that would just make my head spin if I could go. That is on my must do list!! :)
Posted by: Robin Summers | March 04, 2015 at 01:02 PM
Know what you mean about the parma violet, on its own it's a bit wishy washy, but I can visualise it with stronger colours and it will lift them. Thanks to you, Lucy, I really can now visualise colours together 😊. Trying to find just the right colour something to send in. So far, everything I choose is already in the range. Got to keep looking!
Posted by: Kath | March 04, 2015 at 12:56 PM
Lovely new colours. I think the Parma Violet tones really well with the other colours where you have put it on your shelves. Given me idea for a new blanket.
Posted by: Marion | March 04, 2015 at 12:36 PM
I'm wondering if there will be another bunting- or mandala -fest this year at Yarndale???? Hope you don't mind, Lucy, if I mention that Reuseful.UK will be attempting to break the Guinness Book of Records entry for the Longest Line of Bunting (in the world). Details are on scrapstores.org website - closing date 30th April, judging 20th June. Thank you.
Posted by: Val E | March 04, 2015 at 12:00 PM
I adore this yarn!
But, here in Serbia we don't have it in so much stores :(
I used Special yarn for some hats, but I think it is grat for shawls and baby blankets :) New colors are wonderful!
Posted by: Nataša | March 04, 2015 at 10:15 AM
I really like these new colours. Need to think what to make!
Posted by: Gillian | March 04, 2015 at 09:52 AM
You are right, I love them! Especially the storm and sage, obviously ;) Beautiful additions! I'm not a big user of the purples I must admit, and I would of thought they had plenty in the purple range already but maybe that's just me and it does look like a pretty shade. Must enter the competition though, I still think those greens could still use a little more help.. lol!
S x
Posted by: Sandra (Cherry Heart) | March 04, 2015 at 09:33 AM
Thank you for these colours as they will be a help with my 'entry'. I love them and can see myself using them.
Posted by: Carol | March 04, 2015 at 09:20 AM
What nice additions and like your colour line-ups! X
Posted by: Hazel Henry | March 04, 2015 at 09:16 AM
I love the way you are so honest about the colours. Even though you get a lot of Stylecraft wool, I am pleased that you aren't scared to say you don't like Prma Violet much. I really believe you have such a large following on your blog because you are open and honest. Please don't ever change that. I love the new colours. Unfortunately not many shops in Durban (South Africa) stock Stylecraft. When they do, it is usually the most awful colours!
Posted by: Wendy | March 04, 2015 at 08:13 AM
They are lush and I love them ❤️ Xx love Joy ️Xx
Posted by: Joy | March 03, 2015 at 11:25 PM
I am hopeless at putting colours together and agonise for hours when it comes to choosing them for a new project...so much so that I normally end up using just two!
Posted by: Sharon Brown | March 03, 2015 at 11:03 PM
Can you send in more than one sample? I didn't see anywhere stated that you could only send 1 suggestion.
Posted by: Danna Brennfoerder | March 03, 2015 at 10:49 PM
There's no shortage of colours now for any kind of project, it's great to have such a choice in an affordable yarn. I'm sure you're going to have a great time doing the judging - hope you've put your cake order in already! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | March 03, 2015 at 10:48 PM
Those three colours are exactly what I needed, I'm surprised and thrilled. They're not exciting shades, but very useful if you like to work with graduated colours, e.g Emperor-Lavender-Parma Violet-White - I was so frustrated that there was no pale purple until now. Same with the other two. I'm a happy crocheter!
Posted by: Gillian McMullen | March 03, 2015 at 09:40 PM
Lovely, can never have too many colors to choose from. On a different note, I ran across a Perler Bead video and thought of you.(A cookie to hold ear buds/cords.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6I7f2TBp1w
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | March 03, 2015 at 09:19 PM
I hope they got my fuchsia color suggestion! I like the new colors they have done, having a big color palette to choose from is excellent! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | March 03, 2015 at 08:56 PM
Im not good at color, so I love your yarn color posts!
Posted by: kathy b | March 03, 2015 at 08:47 PM
Lucy thank you for showing them in context - its very helpful. I'm loving the colours and admiring you for your restraint as I know you LOVE stronger colours. I'm looking for a good jade colour or a peacock colour emerald, so will be interested see what the competition brings. You have really got me hooked on colour since I cam across your site and get very excited particularly when I see nature and yarn cohabiting so well together :)
Posted by: Sandra | March 03, 2015 at 08:38 PM
Thank you for showing them the way you have. I was not all that wild about them...a little too gray in them and dull...but they are great mixers! I love your love of color...it is what has drawn me to this site, and through you I have found a new love for yarn, crochet and not knitting!
I am new to Stylecraft yarn and so far have worked with the cotton...I really like it.
Posted by: Sue. | March 03, 2015 at 08:18 PM
I love those new colours! I have almost finished a cosy in coast colours and I want to make another blanket.
In reddish colours but with blue/grey/green too. Sage and storm blue look perfect.
Posted by: Isolde | March 03, 2015 at 08:11 PM