Last fall, I did a feature of the colors of brown I was obsessed with in the shop. I promised more blog posts about color, and here we are in winter and I'm just getting around to yellow. I'm going to set myself a phone reminder to do another color in March, so if you have a specific color you'd like me to focus on, please do tell me ... I'll even make it more interesting by making it a contest- comment just once telling me what color you'd like me to feature and why. I'll send one lucky randomly chosen commenter a skein of your choice in that color. Comment before noon EST Sunday, Feb 23, please.
Artfil's Sunflower in Sock and Singles, a beautiful variegated yellow
Today's focus is on...... yellow. Also described as flaxen, saffron, gold, blonde, straw, golden, lemon, amber, butter... all these are used to describe different shades of yellow. And I'm betting there's one of these that you like WAY more than the others. Or one that you definitely do not like. Me? I love a good vivid gold. But I'm not a fan at all of a pale, sunshiny yellow that's a bit on the green tinged side.
Above, Yarn Love's. Candied Lemon. Below, Yarn Love's Saffron. I would choose the color below over the one above, but I'm betting that many of you feel the opposite.
The right yellow can make or break your project. Adding just a bit to your project can really make it pop. I added a fourth color to my Magical Thinking b/c I wanted a bit of yellow. But it does have to be the right yellow. Adding a warm toned yellow might look great. But adding a cool toned yellow could force a lemon-face. That's why we're always happy to help you choose the right skeins if you e-mail. Who wants to make a sour face when they look at their chosen colors?
Maybe you just want a pop of yellow. Or perhaps, like Rachael, you make an entire Chamomile colored Touch the Sky cardigan. I mean, why not? It's stunning.
Or you could make a two color project like Bennet Sister that uses yellow to make that deep and brooding color really pop. Like the Malabrigo Sock combo below of Mask and Frank Ochre.
Swift Yarn's Fields of Gold
Swift Yarn's Desert Bloom
Now that I think about it, there really isn't a better mood-lifting color than yellow, is there? This might be the perfect time of year to start a yellow project, even a really small one like a pair of Rose City Rollers. Just something to perk myself up a bit. I've been feeling rather "meh" lately. The holidays are over and we are still months away from spring here in the Midwest. It's a rather muddy, dreary time that could definitely be lifted with a bit of sunshine, whether that be in the form of weather or yarn. Heck, I could combine two things that would life my mood, yellow and Opal Yarn with this color
Or a pair of the Smock Madness socks with one of these yellows
Flock Fibre's Honey in the Sun
Hand Maiden's Casbah in Saffron would make an adorable Baby Vertebrae or any of the sizes.
If you take just five minutes to browse our yarn, I'm betting you could find at least a handful of yellows that you find knitworthy. And if you're like me and you could use a bit of pep this time of year, maybe we should get on that and knit some sun.
And if you're in a place for a fade that features yellow, here's an idea for you that I just posted to Insta.
Life in the Long Grass Singles in Cushion and Chrysalis, Six and Seven Fibers Barley Singles in I'll Teach the Lot and Dreaming on a Train, Qing Merino Singles in Monsoon and Moss. You could use all or just three or four starting wherever you like. Rachael put this together. She's just a bit good with color, right?
Now go enter the contest and help me decide what color you feature next!
Grays or whites
Posted by: Patsy Coats | February 20, 2020 at 05:14 AM
I would like you to feature the color blue next. Actually, what I originally thought was that I would like you to feature whatever color the sky is or perhaps the ocean, but then it occurred to me that blue covered most of the territory ... not to mention its repeatedly being judged the most popular color amongst humans by self-report.
Posted by: G. K. Green | February 20, 2020 at 07:11 AM
Love the yellow’s you chose.
Green...my fav, luck of the Irish and springtime.
Posted by: Lois | February 20, 2020 at 08:02 AM
I would like to see blues featured in March, my birthday month. blues like my birthstone, aquamarine. Blues from the tones of the sky as March comes in stormy and leaves gently.
Posted by: Gail Fairman | February 20, 2020 at 09:52 AM
March always feels like light green and pink to me. Flowering trees with baby leaves.
Posted by: Rebecca | February 20, 2020 at 10:15 AM
red-- there is so much beautiful red! Thanks for the yellow- that is my favorite color and my suggestion last time!! woot woot
Posted by: Natalie | February 20, 2020 at 11:26 AM
Would love to see some rich, deep shades if blue!
Posted by: Cathy S | February 20, 2020 at 12:02 PM
I would love to see a mint green colorway with other greens to compliment. My favorite color is "green".
Posted by: Rhonda | February 20, 2020 at 01:02 PM
Thank you for highlighting the color yellow. Often hard to find and under-rated. Artfil's Sunflower is very tempting.
One of my favorite books is ODE TO COLOR by Lori Weitzner. It is both inspiring and soothing, but I digress.
The comments trend to the color green but I suggest pink. Although not my favorite it is also an under-rated color with a wide range. Plus it reminds me of spring and my Grandmother's peonies.
Posted by: Elizabeth SanMiguel | February 20, 2020 at 01:40 PM
Blue!! It is the color i reach gor the most!!
Posted by: Colleen D'Allura | February 20, 2020 at 02:15 PM
Oh please do pink! I love pink, it is cheerful and fun.
Posted by: Barbara | February 20, 2020 at 03:45 PM
I absolutely LOVE Artfil’s Sunflower! Gorgeous!
I’d like you to feature red. Red that does not lean into the pink or purple side.
Thank you for the contest!
Posted by: Jan | February 20, 2020 at 05:14 PM
Eye popping greens! All shades of greens to brighten, energize, excite, and wow any other color you work with it or use alone.
Posted by: Fran Hartman | February 20, 2020 at 05:33 PM
Green would be perfect for March!
Posted by: Laurie Bowman | February 20, 2020 at 05:41 PM
I vote for grey - neutrals can be exciting!
Posted by: Sarah | February 20, 2020 at 09:47 PM
I vote for teal! It’s such a rich and pleasant color. I’m always looking for teal colored yarn, especially with slight tonal variations.
Posted by: Sarah S | February 20, 2020 at 09:58 PM
pinky reds (not orangy reds)
The dark ones (cherry, burgundy, wine)- leave the pinks for another day.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Posted by: Cheryl | February 21, 2020 at 12:21 AM
I have a hard time with reds, so I'd love a post about reds and how to pair them with other colors. Reds can just be tricky. : )
Posted by: Coby Hanna-Butler | February 21, 2020 at 09:59 AM
As a new sock knitter, I'm kind of obsessed with the idea of white bases with brightly colored speckles, but I haven't jumped the gun to actually order a skein yet. I'd love to see a roundup of all your cheerful speckles! (Does white+colored speckles count as a color?)
Posted by: Samantha Arten | February 21, 2020 at 01:44 PM
Blues and Teals are 100% my favorites. But I have been intrigued lately with neony bits. Chartruesey shades have me looking!
Posted by: Heather Lawrenz | February 21, 2020 at 04:27 PM
I love green and think it would be the perfect color for March. Spring starts in March, and I love to see all the green things starting to appear in the flower beds and gardens. It's also the month for St. Patrick's Day, so green would be very appropriate. Besides that it's my favorite color!
Posted by: Donna Gerber | February 21, 2020 at 05:50 PM
I am all about greens as spring approaches. There are so many marvelous shades of green!
Posted by: Nancy Hughes | February 22, 2020 at 08:50 PM
I was very tempted to suggest gray, because there's so much variety, and it can be so classic. But instead, I'll go with orange, because I think it can be a really difficult color to approach with confidence. And because it would continue with the sunny and warm theme.
Posted by: Carol | February 23, 2020 at 05:18 AM
Turquoise and Aqua are wonderful colors that look fantastic on everyone. I have a hard time going yarn shopping and not coming out without one of those colors blended into the yarn.
Posted by: Gail | February 27, 2020 at 04:36 PM
A new leaf, light green would be the perfect color for March.
Posted by: Diane M | February 27, 2020 at 04:53 PM
Pale shell pink, Peach, coral, watermelon... would make a lovely fade for summer shawl to wear at the beach!
Posted by: Judy Luce | February 27, 2020 at 05:19 PM