Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: ColorSense

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colorsense giveaway

Chris is the winner!

This week’s giveaway is not a knitting book, but it is a book that might help you become a more adventurous knitter.

Choosing colors for a project can be really daunting — I read somewhere once that something like 40 percent of knitters not only choose the same yarn used in a pattern, but the same color, too — and you don’t want to spend a ton of time knitting, say, a Fair Isle sweater and end up not liking the colors in the end.

ColorSense: Creative Color Combinations for Crafters by Susan Levin aims to make picking colors a less painful process for crafters of all types.

It covers the language of color but then goes through a ton of options, from monochromatic combinations to two-, three- and four-color palettes. What’s really cool is that each color combination is shown on a two-page spread with a bunch of little swatches showing how the colors look together in different combinations and with different backgrounds, which makes it easier to literally see what you like so you can re-create that look in your project.

The book also includes punch-out cards of different colors you can use when planning your projects and take to the yarn store with you so you’re sure to get a good match. There’s also a color wheel with multiple shades of each color for easy reference.

This book is a whole color system that will really help you make better color choices and know that you’re going to love the look you end up with, in a knitting project or anything else you make with multiple colors.

If you’d like to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Dec. 18. I’d love to know about your comfort level with choosing colors. I have to say even though I’ve written a book on color knitting, I still tend to stick to tried-and-true color combos. But they’re classics for a reason, right?

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck.

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Comments

  1. I tend to knit in single solid colors, sometimes venturing into a single yarn with multiple colors in it. Samples of monochromatic schemes could really add depth to my projects. Multu-color schemes would really brighten my world!

  2. I am not very adventurous when it comes to color, I tend to pick the same colors but would love to branch out

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.