The Color Wheel in Knit & Crochet
Using a Pick, Point, and Match Rainbow Selector to Choose Yarn
Choosing yarns to use in a project can be daunting and risky, but help is available. Try using a color wheel when selecting yarn for an upcoming project.
Deciding which colors to use is one thing every project has in common. Using a color wheel to choose color combinations guarantees that color choices will be based on proven principles of balance and harmony.
Sometimes, a pattern looks great – except the colors used in the example are not what the knitter or crocheter would like to see. However, by making a reasonable investment in a twelve-point color wheel, whole new worlds of color are easily accessible to blossoming designers.
First Things First
The first thing to do if eye-catching fiber art is desired is to purchase a color wheel. They don’t run much, and one for less than $7. can certainly easily be found. The one used for illustration purposes in this article was purchased in a craft store for about six dollars. It’s a nice hands-on version that can go to the yarn shop for planning color choices.
However, there are many, many other wheels available. Interactive color wheels are even available on the internet.
Using the Wheel
Choose a Starting Color
Now that the wheel is home, take a close look at it. Each of the twelve color families on the color selector includes seven numbered values, from pastels to deep jewels, encircling a cutout window. Place the starting color (whichever is most important to the design of the item), or simply pick a yarn that looks great.
On the dial there are two triangle shapes to be used for three-color combinations, a square and a rectangle for four-color combination, and double headed arrows for two-color combinations. Each has a star at one corner. Point any of these stars to the starting color. For a successful and easily balanced combination, use the colors indicated by the corners of that shape or by the other arrow if starting with the double-headed arrow.
Choose and Match the Values
Each color family is numbered from 1 to 7 to designate the lightness or darkness of that color. Match the numbers from each color in the combination to the number of the starting color.
For example, if the starting yarn is blue and its value is number 5, choose either of the triangles for a three-color combination. If using the red triangle, point the starred corner to blue, and the other two corners will point to red and yellow. Now look for red and yellow yarns that match the number 5.
For a four-color combination, choose the square or the rectangle. Follow the same procedure as described in the preceding paragraph.
More Information
There is so much more to color, however, this was a good start to choosing yarn for a basic project. Delve into primary, secondary, tertiary, splits, monochromatic and complimentary colors to add even more sophistication to a project.
The history of color theory is captivating, as are special problem colors, like yellow (one of the hardest colors to wear.) Proportion in color is absolutely fascinating. And, of course, choosing colors in fashion that complement a person’s face is of utmost importance.
