Blanket Planning with Yarn Pegs

I love making these blog posts to share with you all, I've had the best time faffing about with my yarn pegs and camera and uploading all the images this morning. Many of you will be very familiar with my yarn pegs and the way I use them to help me choose and arrange colours for my crochet blanket projects. I receive a lot of questions about my pegs on social media, so thought it might be helpful to share some more details.

First of all, the pegs themselves - they are cheap and cheerful wooden clothes pegs (clothespins in the US) - here in my town I can buy a pack of 24 for about £1 in the supermarket or cheap home store. You can find them easily online too {Amazon UK :: Amazon US}. Before I wrap the yarn, I write the colour name on the end of the peg (the end that you press, not the end that grips) using a fine biro type pen. To start off your yarn, secure the end with the grippy bit of the peg, leaving a small tail end sticking out (above)

Now begin wrapping the yarn around the peg - cover over the tail end and keep a tight, even tension as you wrap.

Wrap the yarn evenly and tightly up the length of the peg in a single layer, stopping when you get to the point just below the colour name.

Now keeping the yarn nice and tight, wrap it over and over back down the length of your peg so that you end up back where you started (down at the grippy end of the peg). Pull the yarn tightly up between the two grippy prongs at the bottom of the peg - pull it really as tight as you can so that the yarn lodges itself snuggly. Now snip the yarn off close to the peg.....

....and that's your yarn peg made. Pop your wrapped up pegs in a pretty bowl or a small bag and keep them handy for reference  - it's a lovely practical way to keep a track of colour names once you've taken the paper band of your yarn balls. But they really come into their own when planning and I truly wouldn't manage without mine. My yarn pegs are an essential bit of planning kit.

Usually my pegs live in my studio as I play with them almost every day when I'm there. I have them in a shallow ceramic dish on my studio table so that they are always to hand when I need a fix for my colour addiction, yeah, colour-junkie that I am ;) As I've been at home a lot more of late whilst I recover my energy levels, I decided to bring my pegs home for a bit. I found I missed my fix (can't do cold turkey I'm afraid) especially at this time of year when much of my time is spent planning and pondering. It's been fun to have them here at home, if a little distracting at times. I've found myself walking around with them, not even realising that I'd picked up the tray in the first place. It's as if my colour-seeking brain homes in on them, looking for a  solution to my over-stimulated and foggy thought processes as I try and make sense of my colour plans.

I want to try and explain a little bit about how I work when I'm planning a blanket or playing with colour ideas. So much of what I do is instinctive, but I think it might be possible to dissect the process a little and talk about it with you here.

The first thing to say is that I don't often dive into my colour pegs cold - I usually have some sort of an idea or a point of reference before I try and translate into colour. It might be an image, a photograph, a memory, a feeling even. Sometimes the reference is very clear (eg. the colours on the front of a magazine), and sometimes it is maddeningly vague. I often have strong memories/thoughts which evoke an emotion I feel like I want to translate into colour (eg that feeling when there is the first whiff of Spring in the air after a long winter) - this is quite hard to capture straight away and I often ponder on these "colour feelings" for a long time before settling.

For my blankets, I find that I naturally settle for odd numbers of colours, 15 being my favourite. Fifteen seems just right somehow, it's five groups of three and my brain likes that. Fifteen gives enough room for contrast and interest, whilst still maintaining a harmonious whole. I usually start with my favourite colours first - for me this is always the blue/green part of the colour wheel. Once my favourite blue/greens have been selected, I move out around the colour wheel and choose some purples and pinks. Then I decide how much heat I'd like in there - how much of the red/orange/yellow should I include to balance it all out? Sometimes neutrals/greys come in, sometimes they don't. Sometimes I don't have any heat at all (like my Harmony colours which are all blues/green/purples/pinks).

One thing about my colour palettes which never seems to alter - they are all very balanced without too much contrast. By that I mean I don't tend to go for very dark or very light colours in the mix. That is my "signature" I guess, the thing that defines my colour choices more than the colours themselves.

Once I've made my yarn peg colour wheel and everything is looking balanced and harmonious, I jumble the colours up and see how they start to play with each other. This gives me a chance to fine-tune the selection, to see if any colours are standing out too much or not playing nicely with the rest. Usually by this stage I'm really happy with my choices, often I'm positively jumping off the walls with excitement. The final test comes now.....

.....I have a go at ordering the colours as if I was planning a random stripe. I try hard to resist the urge to rainbowify them, and instead look for some unlikely but lively juxtapositions as well as some harmonious runs. This is a lot of fun, and I do spend a long time messing about here.

I photograph much of this process so that I have a record of my colour-thoughts. Often these playtime sessions will result in the whole lot being thrown back into the bowl without much of a second thought, but it's very useful to be able to revisit the images at a later date. The yarn pegs I showed you yesterday (inspired by Mollie Makes magazine and a greetings card) were made a year ago in January 2015 - I had pretty much forgotten them, but when I look at the photos I can remember exactly why I was pondering on those colours at that time, there are strong memories attached for sure.

At the weekend, I thought it would be interesting to present my yarn pegs to the Little People and see what they might come up with. Children generally have a terrific, natural instinct for colours which is based purely on the colours they "like", so it's fun to watch them make their selection and talk about their choices. I told them they had to choose fifteen shades, and that they should start by choosing their favourites first.

The above yarn wheel was Little Lady's choice - she started out with purples (her favourite colours), then moved into the browns. She balanced these with a selection of soft bluey-greens, and then popped in the Citron because she said it was warm and sunny and she liked it, and the Apricot because she said it was too pretty to leave out. I loved her brown/purple/soft blue choices, but really couldn't handle the Citron and the Petrol was jumping out at me as it didn't seem to want to play with the other colours at all. So I swapped those out............................

..............I took out Citron and replaced with Lemon. Took out Petrol and replaced with Sage. So basically these are the same colours, but softer versions, and Little Lady thoroughly approved.

The above yarn wheel was Little Lady's second go - again she started out with the purple/pinks, then balanced them out with blues and greens. I was surprised she chose the very dark shades (Burgundy and Emperor) but they look terrific here, and the whole colour balance is really great. Interestingly, no yellow this time!

So this is Little Man's yarn wheel, and I absolutely love it. He started with greys and the dark shades of blue (typical choice for a teen boy), then moved through the colour wheel and added in the deep greens. I expected him to perhaps put in some dark reds next (I offered up Claret and Burgundy, but he didn't like them one bit). He finally settled on some spicy heat to balance out the cool of all those blues, and wow, those hot colours really transformed the palette. Just put your hands on the screen and cover up the gold, spice and tomato and see how it dramatically alters? I felt really excited by this yarn wheel and could instantly see a bold, stripy blanket. I asked him if he would like me to make him a blanket in these colours, and truthfully he looked at me as if I was absolutely insane. Oh, that look. It was withering in the extreme. So that'll be a no then. Ohhhhh-kay, lets step away from the pegs then.

If you are wondering about my little six year old, he could not be persuaded to play with my pegs at all. No, no, no. He just didn't want to concentrate and apply himself, which is completely fair enough. I couldn't even tell you what his favourite colour is, he is a child that will not be pinned down to anything, quite the strong spirit that one.

Do you know what your favourite colour is? Do you have colours that you are instinctively drawn to? Are you there with the cool blues and greens, or do the fiery reds and oranges float your boat? Maybe you're a pink and purple kind of a girl? Do you like rainbows? Brights? Pastels? Vintage tones? Earthy colours?

Isn't it just the most amazing thing to be able to feel colour???!!!!! Love love love love love, times a gazillion.

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ps. the yarn on my pegs is all Stylecraft Special DK.

pps. this is not a sponsored post, just me being a colour-junkie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Susan Turner Maconkey]

Hi...Ive just joined your group and am awaiting 2x kits....
Just love this idea.Im very new to crochet,and can't wait to get started.
Regards Susan.

[Margaret bolton]

Missing your entertaining posts, hope you and your family are well. Very new at crocheting just started summer harmony granny squares. Do you rewind the balls of wool, if so does it make it easier? Greetings from the other London,Ontario.
Margaret.

[Karen]

Dear Lucy,
I love your site...too many reasons to even try to tell you...like someone asking what is my favorite color. Just one? Sure. I have to ask a question since you're so into color. Do you associate things that have no color, with color? I've always associated most of the days of the week with a particular color. Friday is red. Saturday is yellow. Sunday is pink. Monday is blue. Tuesday is also yellow. Wednesday is orange. Thursday is green. I wonder what that's about.
Karen

[Claudia May]

Thank you for the best idea I have seen for color swatches. I am going to start making my yarn pegs Today!
I read older posts and blog followers were wishing you get wells. I hope all is better, and you are healthy.

Smiles,

Claudia May

[Sandy]

great pictures

[Paula Morales]

I got to this post a little late but I love it! Putting colors together can be very intimidating but I love your advice to go on instinct and just have fun with it.

[cristina]

And also thanks Lucy, I have the wool wrapped like this!!!!!! many blogs I have discovered, but your site will be always the brightest of all! Lucy great! for 5 years ago I discovered your blog, but you always have new things! thanks.... thanks... thanks... my dear Lucy! you make always so happy with your crochet works! a big hug from Catalonia!
myworldofwool.com

[Gloria]

Hi Lucy,
Like everyone else I am hoping that all is well with you and your family and sending all best wishes.
Take care.

[Star]

Hope everything is well with you Lucy. I miss reading the posts of my crochet guru!

[Selma]

Dear Lucy,
where are you??? We are missing you and your lovely posts :-(((
I hope everything is o.k. with you and your family.
Nice greetings from Germany.

[Başak]

Dear Lucy,
I hope you are well and are taking care of yourself. I am missing your lovely posts very much .I look everyday.Where are you ? :(

[Kath]

Keep checking every day... Hope all is well. x

[Patricia]

Alles Gute für Dich und Deine Familie. Hoffentlich ist alles ok. Lass Dir Zeit, die Welt kann warten. Ganz liebe Grüße aus Deutschland.

[Tabbitha]

Missing you, Lucy. Your detailed color plans and beautiful handiwork have always been a highlight of my internet excursions. Always inspiring--I actually just followed your directions on creating these pins for my own color planning, and it has been so inspiring to me. Wishing you the best, and whatever you need: be it strength, inspiration, love, hope--I pray it finds its way to you so you can fill your corner of the www with light again. Much love!

[Joanna]

Lucy, just to let you know how much you and your blog is appreciated. Hoping that you feel able to return to it soon. Wishing you all the very best xx

[Phyl]

I hope you are well Lucy,
Missing you ..

[Stevie Godson]

I do hope you're okay, Lucy. You are missed.

[Jennifer Crewe]

Really missing you Lucy and do hope that you are recovering from the illness that you were experiencing. I check your blog very often and it seems such a long time since you have posted. All the best from West Australia

[ang]

Cue for a song - 'Wishing and hoping, and hoping and wishing' that all is well, and sending you a rainbow of hugs to speed you back to all your bloggy friends.

[Lisa]

Hi Lucy,
Thank you for your blog posts and photos, you provide me with so much inspiration and enjoyment! I'm ordering my first one of your kits this week, I'm so excited to start it! I really miss reading your lovely posts, I hope you're well and enjoying some time out :-)
Cheers, Lisa in Brisbane

[Christine]

Dear Lucy, I hope everything is fine with you and your family. I am looking forward to you coming back and telling us about your latest project, your holidays in the caravan... Take care of yourself!
From Portesham, Dorset

[Lynn]

Hi Lucy,
Hope you are enjoying a lovely, restful Mother's Day :)
Wishing you well and hoping that you are taking time to recharge your batteries!

[[email protected]]

Hope you are well honey missing your posts come back soooooon !!!!!!!!!!!!
Thinking of you
From Norfolk.

[Meg]

Hi Lucy, hope all ok with you and yours, take care and love, Meg x

[Linda]

Hi Lucy, I always read and it has been a while since you posted. I do hope you and yours are well. Missing you