I've been soooooooooooo excited about sharing this post with you, honestly, it's been a devil of a job for me to sit on this fabulous colour news since waaay back in August last year. Yes, my silence has been required for that long, the wait has been ridiculously tough! But finally I'm allowed to unzip myself and tell you all about it, hooooray for that, I've been fit to burst!!
So as you can see from the above photo, next month Stylecraft will be adding three new colours to their already gorgeous range of Special DK. There are currently 74 colours in the Special DK range so we are already spoilt for choice, but in my opinion there will always be room for a few more. Always.
I've been crocheting with this yarn for almost seven years now (yes, my Granny Stripe blanket will be seven years old in May!), so as you might imagine I am very familiar with the colours. I keep this bowl of Yarn Pegs on the table in my studio and find myself constantly faffing around with them.
I tip them out, arrange them, line them up in rows, create colours wheels with them and photograph the proceedings. Almost every month my photo archives contain images of these pegs arranged to capture an idea/feeling/memory/colour story that might at some point in the future translate into a colour palette for a crochet project. It's one of my absolute favourite giddy pleasures, I can't tell you how much I love playing with these pegs!
I thought it would be fun to chat about the three new Stylecraft colours {Buttermilk, Vintage Peach and Mushroom} and take a little look at how they fit in with the existing colours. I did this same thing a few years ago when Sage, Storm Blue and Parma Violet were newbies and I know many of you found it helpful.
First up, lets look at the Buttermilk. This is a delightful shade of soft yellow which is quite close to Lemon, although it's just a bit warmer looking (more butter and less citrus!) I'm not a huge fan of yellow and tend to keep it in very small doses in my colour palettes (if I include it at all), but I do really like the new Buttermilk colour.
Ahhhh Vintage Peach, you are a beauty! There is a bit of a story behind this colour, as it was actually a choice that was put forward to Stylecraft by a certain Attic dwelling, crochet loving colour-junkie......know anyone who fits that description? This certain person felt that there was a gap that needed filling, a soft and gentle warmth that would sit in between the Apricot and the Shrimp. A sort of a blush, a sort of a peach, not too candy coloured, not too pastel, something slightly earthy and vintage inspired she said.
Sometimes the idea of a colour is insanely difficult to capture in real life, and between the Attic dweller and the yarn maker, there were many back and forth discussions and deliberations. In the end they managed to capture the vintage vibe of a rather lovely old fashioned colour and bring it to life. I love the warmth of the Vintage Peach, and it really does work beautifully with a good many of the existing colours.
Now finally lets look at the Mushroom. This is one of those colours that is devilishly hard to photograph in that it changes a lot depending on the light and the colours you put it next to. It's very similar to Parma Violet in that respect, and it's a colour that you perhaps need to see in real life before you make your mind up about it.
When you see Mushroom on it's own it can look rather lavender-ish, but as soon as you place it near the pale purple shades it changes completely and shows it's pretty pink side.
But really, I think this colour does best if you consider it as a very lovely warm neutral. It holds it's own amongst the warmer Stone/Parchment neutrals as well as the cooler Silver/Grey neutrals.
All three of the new colours fall into the softer, lighter part of the Stylecraft colour palette. They each have a slight "grey" element which in colour theory terms is known as a "Tonal" colour - this is often associated with vintage inspired colour palettes and makes these colours very easy on the eye. Tonal colours are different to "Tinted" colours which have white added to them - these are often referred to as pastel colours.
When I was an art student in my late teens I studied colour theory in depth, but (rather unsurprisingly) I've forgotten much of the theory and tend to rely on my instinct instead. I found a very good (and easy to grasp) explanation of basic colour theory to do with hues, tints and shades {HERE} if you are interested in colours and perhaps might like to have a bit of theory tucked under your belt.
Oh I LOVE the above collection of colours - such a pretty row of pegs!! Wouldn't they make a fabulous blanket?
Speaking of blankets, I'm absolutely loving the stripes of my Hydrangea blanket which is flying off my hook at the moment. I've got two of the new Stylecraft colours in my Hydrangea palette....
....would you like a peek?
I'll be chatting a lot more about my Hydrangea blanket next week - the yarn pack and new blanket pattern will be available from Friday 7th April. You'll also be able to buy the three new Stylecraft Special DK shades from 7th April onwards. It's a colour date for your diaries!
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ps just to let you know, this is not a sponsored post.
I too am a student of color from way back and just love the mushroom color they have added. Peach and yellow, well I could leave those. Will be ordering your Hydrangea pack and a few balls of the mushroom just to see what project I can fit it into. April 7th it is!
Thanks Lucy for the lovely inspiration... Warm regards from Canada.
Posted by: Arlene | March 15, 2017 at 06:10 PM
Lovely post Oh by the way there 82 plus 3 new total of now 85 I think its lovely of you to do this Thank you I dont think you need to say its not spondered as its non of anyones business I for one hope you get payed
love Christine xx
Posted by: Christine | March 15, 2017 at 06:06 PM
So pretty! Is it wool or acrylic? I must go see. You are a color magician, Lucy.
Posted by: Pom Pom | March 15, 2017 at 06:04 PM
Love the new colours. Although I am in love with the whole range I think! Especially as you put them together so well in different blankets :)
Posted by: Charlotte | March 15, 2017 at 05:51 PM
Pretty pretty shades Lucy. I can bet that was a hard one to keep quiet about! I love it when a range adds new shades, and like you, I don't think there can ever be too many. I have terrible trouble with my favourite shades. As you know, I'm a pink and blue girl, but I find it almost impossible to find good shades of grey/blue yarn and browny pink. The pinks are either too blue, too peach or too pink, and pale grey/blue shades are almost non existant. I love petrol and storm blue, but wish with all my heart that they would do paler versions. They either veer to duck egg or silver grey. It's a shame. I'm always on a search on yarn sites for dk weight yarn in these colours. They are like gold dust! Maybe one day Stylecraft might produce some. That probably would tip me over the giddy edge and my fingers would catch fire from the rapid crochet I'd be doing! ha ha!
I'm liking the buttermilk. I too don't really feature yellow in my makes but that is a nice one. I'm loving the Hydrangea blanket. Sooooo pretty.
Happy crocheting!
Much love Nessxxxxxx
p.s I've finally managed to get my yarn act together and peg the yarn colours like you do. OH MY WORD, what a difference being organised makes! x
Posted by: vanessa | March 15, 2017 at 05:48 PM
The three on their own would make a pretty baby blanket, they are really my cup of tea, I love your colour combos but at times they can be a bit bright for me ,hence your cupcake blanket was the first I made, the new one is also sing to me. But it would be a boring world if we all liked the same. I love your blog and wizz over when a new one pops up.
Thank you for your colour indulgence.
Posted by: heidijo | March 15, 2017 at 05:33 PM
Love all three new colours and am eagerly waiting to order my new blanket pack too :-) xxx
Posted by: Jean | March 15, 2017 at 05:23 PM
All three are very pretty! I think mustard is one that's hard to pin down - it changes so much in different lights. But my favourite is still spring green :)
Posted by: One-oh-four | March 15, 2017 at 05:15 PM
Hello
Love the last 2 colour pallets
And look forward to getting the new colours.....so I have them all again
Audra x
Posted by: Audra | March 15, 2017 at 05:01 PM