Tag Archives: color crush

Color crush: pool blue.

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Knitters sometimes ask me which they should pick first: the pattern, or the yarn? There’s no right or wrong way to find your next project, of course, nor are these the only two ways. Often we are motivated by color, coming into the yarn shop picturing a particular shade, and searching the shelves for a skein that matches our mind’s eye. Here’s one such case.

For months, Bailey’s been searching for a certain shade of blue: a little turquoise, a little cerulean, a little arctic. She calls it pool blue, and points it out when we’re ordering new yarn or restocking our favorites. I’ve learned to look for it, too, and though we’ve never quite found the perfect pool blue, we’ve come up with a lot of close shades. Perhaps it takes all of these to make pool blue, the way sunlight, movement, and depth alter the color of water.

Here are some of our favorite pool blues, with pattern ideas for each!

Harrisville Shetland in Peacock and Seagreen

With its springiness and structure, Harrisville Shetland is well suited to Andrea Mowry’s “Moon Mint,” a textured slip-stitch pullover with a plaid like pattern.

Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in Cloud, Seabright, and Sapphire

Match up a few shades of pool blue for Gudrun Johnston’s “Riggies Cowl” & “Riggies Beanie,” two simple but clever garter stitch accessories.

Isager Soft in 10 and Silk Mohair in 66

Aegyoknit’s “busan sweater” features a large central cable, and at 16 stitches = 4″, it’s a perfect match for one of the fluffiest yarn combinations at the shop: Isager Soft and Silk Mohair.

Isager Tweed in Raw White + Silk Mohair in EO, Tvinni in 102, and Tweed in Turquoise + Silk Mohair in 66

The popular “Norma Sweater” still has our attention, a design by My Favourite Things for the Isager Archives collection last year. How about a creamy white “Norma” with pool blue colorwork stripes?

Sandnes Garn Sunday in 6315 + Hand Maiden Superkid Silk in Topaz

Hold a solid merino with a hand dyed mohair/silk for PetiteKnit’s “Oslo Hat,” a simple stockinette accessory that particularly shines in a bold bright color.

BC Garn Bio Balance in 12 + Sandnes Garn Tynn Line in 6044

Bailey is working on Susanne Müller’s “Sabai Top” using this same yarn combination in different colors, and the fabric is so soft and light. I like the idea of a marled pool blue for that pattern, the aqua and cornflower blue coming together to make a unique shade.

Julie Asselin Leizu Fingering Non Traiteé in Biarritz + Sandnes Garn Tynn Silk Mohair in 5824

Here’s another subtle marl, perfect for PetiteKnit’s “Monday Sweater.”

Malabrigo Mecha in Green Gray and Thereza

For instant gratification in pool blue, reach for bulky weight Mecha and make an“Arcade Cowl,” by Kristel Nieves.

 

What colors have you been infatuated with lately? Let us know in the comments, or come by the shop and we’ll help you find yarn to match!

Color crush: light blue and brown.

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Knitters sometimes ask me which they should pick first: the pattern, or the yarn? There’s no right or wrong way to find your next project, of course, nor are these the only two ways. Often we are motivated by color, coming into the yarn shop picturing a particular shade, and searching the shelves for a skein that matches our mind’s eye. Sometimes it’s a color combination that we’re seeking, a pairing that has captured our imagination – here’s one such case.

Bailey’s most recent shop sample is the “Escher Beanie,” by Rows Knitwear, an intriguing two-color slip stitch rib pattern.

She used one ball each in Isager Soft and Queensland Llama Seta, a contrast in textures and in color.

As she worked on it, curious knitters asked about the color combination, so like her “Karla Cardigan,” a striking combination of light blue and dark brown. Could it be a color crush?

Since then, we’ve been pulling out similar shades from all over the shop, robin’s egg and chocolate, baby blue and espresso, sky and carob – here they are, with pattern ideas for each pair!

Lang Cashmere Premium in 21 + 268

Make the most of two precious balls of cashmere yarn with Amy Christoffers’ “Pressed Flowers Kerchief.”

Isager Soft in 10 + E8s

Lindsay Degen’s “Six of Daisies Cardigan” features large scale floral motifs, an ideal use of a high contrast color combination like this one.

Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Iceberg + Meteorite

Hoods and bonnets are more popular than ever – stripe these complementary shades of Shelter for Milena Juhola’s “Harriet Bonnet.”

Brooklyn Tweed Imbue Sport in Vapor + Peat

Use this super soft merino for Aimée Gille’s “Le Bandana,” a simple kerchief that can be knit with stripes of all sizes.

Isager Tweed in Topaz + Chocolate and Isager Silk Mohair in 41 + 34

I’ve been eyeing Other Loops’ “Lace Loop Sweater” lately, and this dreamy yarn combination would make a nice one.

Isager Spinni in 10s + 8s + 6s and Isager Soft Fine in 11 + E8s + E6s

Bailey came up with this combination for My Favourite Things’ “New Norma,” an oversized pullover with simple colorwork stripes.

Julie Asselin Leizu Fingering Non Traitée in Hydrangées + Brownstone

While Brownstone is more rouge than brown, we still love it with pale blue – a lovely color pair for the simple stripes of Florence Miller’s “Tombo Tee.”

What color combinations have you been infatuated with lately? Let us know in the comments, or come by the shop and we’ll help you find yarn to match!