It's the time of year when the talk of color is on everyone's lips. The colors of fall are vibrant or subtle, always warm and inviting, truly rich and earthy. This weekend Birdsong and I had a long conversation about color. She had her colors 'done' and learned some colors were better for her than others. Some were colors she already wore and loved and others were a bit of a revelation.
It's time to change over the closets and so I've been thinking, gleaning, cleaning and dreaming about wardrobe fixes, too. Kristi steered my thoughts in this direction last week when she started her color series. If you have been curious about color, but never understood the terms or theories, you'll find Kristi's series very helpful.
Her first post had a meme with excellent questions about color choices. After you read the color questions (which can be answered on your own blog), go back to her post on color theory, the first in the series. You might also find her answers to the meme interesting.
Over the years my ideas about color, my likes and dislikes have changed. Trends have an impact on what we like (because of what we see), but with the process of aging eyes and changing preference, what once looked good to, or on a person, evolves. It was interesting to think about the transition
Here are my answers to the meme.
What is your current favorite color?
Shades of blue & red catch my eye more often than any other color. I'm drawn to bright clear color, but often find myself enchanted by something new, such as a color that hasn't been seen for a long time.
Had your favorite color changed over the years?
As a grrl-child my favorite color was hot pink (the rest of my bedroom was a cowboy theme), but I've always been partial to blue and other jewel tones. The colors I use, or wear, least are yellow and green and that much hasn't changed.
Is your current favorite color one that is currently trendy? (Do you see it in the fashion rags or on the clothes rack or in the linen aisle right now? How about 5 years ago?)
After checking with this site, I see that my favorite colors (clear, not gray) are out, in general. Plus, there is NO blue!? I'm not sure about 5 years ago, but two two years ago ago the colors were clearer. Color changes so rapidly any more. Is one color 'out' for long anyway? (Or maybe I just don't pay attention.)
What is your favorite color combination?
Right now it's brown and red, brown and blue, brown and almost anything.
Is that combination a popular one? (Is it used in prints you see in the stores and catalogs and magazines now? How about 5 years ago?)
From the looks of the above link, brown is very in, as are brown 'toned' colors…bright is out and drab is in. Maybe bright colors were more popular 5 years ago, I'm not sure. I'm not that conscious of fashion trends and often have trouble finding clothing in colors I like.
What is your favorite way of using color in your knitting? (Are you a stranded knitter? Do you prefer simple stripes? Do you prefer just accents at the hems/collars?)
If I use two or more colors in my knitting it's usually in a stranded project. Color choices also depend on the project. Socks in colorful yarns, multiple colored yarns are fun to knit and a good way to play with color(s), colors that may not be 'my thing'.
What colors look good on you?
Blue shows off my eyes and bright, clear colors are best with my skin tone. People are often fooled by my color preferences as I'll knit any color in socks and even wear pants in colors that wouldn't be good close to my face.
What colors look bad on you?
The current fashion favorites…grayed or brown tones. (Birdsong and I found we are at opposite ends when it comes to what colors look best on us. Opposites do attract.)
Do you wear colors that don’t look good on you just because you like them?
I don't wear any color I don't like and try to stay away from a color that doesn't look good, but sometimes I'll get a printed T-shirt just because I like the subject matter and only wear it around the house.
What is your favorite neutral color? black/white/ivory/tan/brown/gray – if brown or gray do you prefer cool or warm versions of those or does it matter? And, how dark?
Black has always been a favorite color, as well as gray…any shade of gray. Pale neutrals (ivory or tan) don't work for me and, when I wear brown, I like red browns in darker shades.
Is there a sweater pattern that uses more than one color that you’d like to make, but you wish to change the colors from what is published? If yes, which one? What do you not like about the published colors?
I love Eunny's
s Autumn Rose, but the colors would not look good on me. Sad, because if I change them it will no longer be Autumn Rose!
Color study is very interesting and I enjoyed taking many classes on color theory when I studyied embroidery. What I learned is helpful when I teach embroidery and the students enjoy learning tidbits along the way. They find it easy to absorb the principles in small doses and when it can be used in a practical application. Many people find it complicated and hard to understand color theory, but learning just a few basics will be very helpful to you when you dye yarn and/or pick colors for a project. Check out Kristi's series...you should find it very helpful.
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Speaking of color...Amy does such amazing color work when she dyes yarn and roving. This was the July selection in her Spunky Club...Shetland wool in the colorway Celebration. I spun it in a partial woolen method and plied it in chained singles so the colors wouldn't mix together. It was then wet finished (as in abused with a yarn plunger in very hot water and smacked around quite a bit) and it turned out beautifully!
