How To Pick The Perfect Crochet Colors
Have you ever crocheted something you were so proud of from a technical standpoint, only to sit back and look at it and realise the colors are all wrong. I know I have, particularly when I was new to crochet, but occasionally still today when I don’t engage my brain before moving my hook.
It’s not just that some colors clash, it’s an issue with shading, grading and just poor yarn choice. But there are ways to avoid these issues and guarantee yarn colors you’re going to love!
Beyond Color Theory
And I think it’s important to note that not everyone sees or experiences colors the same way. This isn’t about color theory, it’s about working out what fits with your style and your crochet plans. You might love a good clash and combination of different shades. And what is great about my methodology, is that you can still use it if your color choices are more unique, to get just what you want too.
But first things first – if you have always struggled with colors, then you don’t have to go it alone.
Color Planning Made Easy
If you are not a natural with crochet colors, then there are some great shortcuts to brilliant combinations.
Manufacturers sell color packs
Great for beginners and those who want effort free palettes, color packs are often produced by manufacturers either as a set of well matched yarns or with a pattern attached that you can use them to create.
They tend to be a cheaper way to buy multiple colors of yarn too, because the cost is often a little less than buying those skeins individually.
Same brand, same line
Not all yarn manufacturers do set color packs, but they do mostly tend to have color themes in their particular lines. So for example, Hobbii has a Cosy line of yarn which I use a lot, and I find that whichever yarns I pick from it they look pretty good together.
Variegated yarns
Some yarn skeins have multiple colors in one. These can be in blocks of color or in more of a gradient style, but either way they are great, easy, cohesive ways of adding several colors to a single project.
Copy the designer
If the pattern you are following has the yarns specified, then using them is of course going to be the best way to get the exact same finish as the pattern designer.
Blank backgrounds
One of my favorite ways to make use of various colors without worrying about how well they match, is to work on a project with a large area of white space. Having several rounds of white between each different color gives enough space to make pretty much any shade look nice in the same project.
My Crochet Colors Method
I have quite a strong system for selecting crochet colors, and I’ve been using it for several years now. It’s only when I don’t bother to do what I usually do, that things start to look a bit funky.
Before I begin any new project, I ask myself a few questions to help my color choices.
What is the purpose?
If it is going in a certain room of your house, do you want it to match the colors there? If it’s going to be worn, what colors look good on you? Knowing the purpose of the project can give you some huge hints on which colors will be the best.
Is it a gift?
The inclination to create something in colors I want, even when I know it’s for someone else, is almost overpowering. But I do try really hard to put myself in their shoes, and I’m sure you do too.
If you are crocheting a gift, remember to ignore your personal taste and only think about theirs. No matter how much it hurts…
Choose one color first
This doesn’t need to actually be the predominant color of the project, just the color that you definitely want to include. So for me recently that’s often been yellow!
Gradient vs contrast
Do you want to have colors with contrast or to be similar to create a gradient?
If it’s a detailed project do you want to use a color to show off particular stitches or to give even more of an impression to the texture.
How many colors do you want?
I like to decide how many colors I want to use at this point, if I haven’t already. It sounds obvious, but sometimes I get part way into choosing my colors only to realise that I don’t actually know how many I need and will look good!
Yarn type consistency
For most projects, you need to remember that colors are not actually the priority when you are rummaging through your yarn stash. You know they need to be the same weight, but the same fiber goes a long way to making the project look its best too. The texture of different fibers really stands out.
And watch out for generic labels like cotton blend, you need to know what percentage cotton it is, and what it’s blended with too!
Line up your yarn
Now line those skeins up! Make sure that they look nice together on several backgrounds if you can. I have a black desk so I first put them on there, then move them onto the floor, which has cream carpet. It’s a fascinating thing that colors look different together depending upon the background.
Muddle up the line
It’s all well and good looking nice in a particular order of yarns on your desk, but creating a crochet project means that you’ll often have the different colors a lot closer to each other than the skeins are. A tiny row or single crochets sits surprisingly near to another row, and you need these colors to look nice when they are nearby and not a skein’s width apart.
I hold every yarn for the project next to every other yarn when I’m making that final decision, because you need to make sure they are a good fit from every angle.
Pick the order
Now it’s time to commit. You have your colors, you know they look good however you mix them up, so it’s time to find an order that works and stick to it.
When I’m at this stage I always take a photo of the yarns lined up in the order I intend to use them, just in case I get distracted and forget all of my hard work and decision making. A quick snap and I don’t need to do it all again later if I forget!
Show and tell
If you have done everything I’ve described and you are still unsure, then it’s time to get some help. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a couple of friends who aren’t afraid to share their opinions, and they are excellent friends to have in a yarn color crisis.
Pick your friend for honesty rather than crafting know-how and pop them across a couple of pictures. You’ll soon know whether you’ve settled on a combination that’s going to be popular – at least with that friend!
But seriously, there is no shame in asking for help. And it’s important to remember that conversely, if you are happy with your choices but other people are questioning them, then who cares? You love them, and that’s all that matters.
