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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. Now this is a book I could really use! I hate it when I spend a lot of time on a project that doesn’t delight me the way it did when I imagined the finished object. Nowadays I tend to be quite conservative choosing colours because I can’t afford to buy yarn and then not like the end result 🙁

  4. I tend to stick to the same colors – jewel tones of sapphire blue and ruby red and emerald green. I would love to learn how to combine these with other colors or branch out into pastels.

  7. Thanks for the giveaway. My color sense is probably average. I like to play with paint chips, sometimes trying to match colors of fine arts prints.

  9. I need to learn to like other colors, yellow, brown and pink are never my first choices so I have to learn more about color combos and no-no’s…

  10. I tend to second guess myself a lot when it comes to choosing colors. It sounds like this book would be the perfect resource.

  11. I’m very fortunate. I have crafty friends who have shown me color combinations that I never would have thought of on my own, such as purple and yellow.

  12. I need to be a lot more adventurous with colour combinations; tend to stick with those that “go” rather than those that contrast.

  14. I’m not very adventurous when choosing colour combinations, I stick to a few tried and trusted ones!

  15. I love choosing colors that are outside the box. Love playing with combinations. These turn out to be fun! Although sometimes I get stuck. :0)

  16. I would love any help I can get to learn about color and putting them together. I know what I like when I see colors together but I’m not always sure how to get there on my own.

    Thanks for a chance to win. HappyHolidays!

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

  18. Thank you for doing this giveaway! I take a long time choosing colors so it would help me to be able to see what works best together to shorten the time it’s taking me. ????

  19. Unfortunately, I am that person who only makes things in the colors shown. This is so limiting, since I can’t picture this “gray” blanket in anything but gray. I have color wheels, things that show me matching colors or complimentary colors, but nothing seems to work. Those gorgeous things that people make where each row is a different color always come out looking like yuck for me.
    -Hangs head.- I’m just not good at this.

  20. I like to choose complementary colors most of the time, but always on the lookout for unique color combinations as well.

  22. As someone who is clearly in the 40 percent that chooses the same colors that are used in the pattern, I would find this book very helpful. Thanks for this opportunity!

  23. Choosing color combos is one of my weakest points. I tend to stick with basics and gray… This would be awesome to win. Thanks for the chance!

  24. When I choose colors, I generally just go with what appeals to me. I try not to get too hung up on color theory. You can also generally just meaner through a store and see the latest trends of colors.

  26. Thanks for the nudge about choosing interesting color combos. I’ve tried carrying paint chips to the yarn store but then have to change my ideas when I get there and they don’t have the colors/weight/fiber content I’m thinking of. Would love to put together my own mini skeins to try out some projects.

  27. This book sounds amazing! I believe that ANY crafter would love to own this book! The color palettes can apply to any type of coloring medium and I would love to check it out! Fingers crossed that the color crazy Crafting Goddesses grant me this wish! Thanks for the chance to dream in color!

  32. I don’t seem to have a lot of color sense. I just know what I love when I see it! Obviously I could use some help in this department.

    from winter-white VT,
    the Vermonster

  34. Wow, I would like to win this book. I just finished knitting 15 scarves to donate to the local Women’s Crisis Center and looking at them I realized they are pretty plain and hopefully this book can help me. Thank you for the opportunity to win it.

  36. Having a better color sense will help in all of the projects I work on, from knitting to quilting to embroidery. Every little bit of new knowledge helps.

  37. My sister has to go clothing shopping with me because I seriously do not know what colors go together….and I am over the age of 50!!!!! It’s even worse when I try to find yarns that will go together. If it’s a skill, I didn’t learn it. If it’s ingrained in our nature, my neurons are screwed up. This book might even be able to someone like me!!!!!

  38. This book is a great prize! It will surely be invaluable to those of us with tons of odd skeins waiting to be pulled together into beautiful combinations, and also for those of us who love dying our own yarn colorways. I’ve failed at both, believe me. Thanks for the giveaway.

  39. What a good idea. I find that choosing colors is the hardest part of any project which leads me to stall many a time. Please count me in as well. Thank you.

  40. I’m a gardener and a flower lover, so I try to use plants and flowers to find color groups. I would love to learn new ways to find and combine color choices.

  41. I love to try new and daring color combinations, but I’m not too color coordinated!! This book would really help me out!!

  43. So I used to be quite bold and adventurous with color in regards to my wardrobe but very conservative and hesitant in regards to my knitting. Recently, however, it’s switching around and this book would be invaluable to help me take that leap into daring color combos in crafting. ;p

  44. I need help being more creative with my color choices. I am never sure how far to go beyond “normal” choices.

  45. I am awful at choosing colors and this book sounds like something I could use, not just for knitting but for all areas in my life!

  48. I’m comfortable with choosing colors. If I like the color scheme then that’s the only important thing!

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.