Pantone Picks the Colors of Fall 2015

I know it seems crazy to be thinking about fall when winter isn’t even over yet, but that’s the way fashion works, and based on the New York City runway shows for fall, Pantone has released its list of the top colors for next fall.

And I’ve got to say, the future looks pretty good.

Of course Pantone’s color of the year, Marsala, is featured in a collection that’s said to “reflect a landscape of hope, fun, fantasy and all things natural.” They go on to say that these colors are “evocative of a love for nature and a timeless appreciation for warmth and security, which are conveyed through naturally inspired colors that remind us of things that are real and protective.”

OK then. They also note that the season’s colors are a departure because there aren’t men’s colors and women’s colors; all of the colors are great for anyone (though I don’t know if I know any guys who would wear the soft pink of Cashmere Rose, they’re mostly right that this is a more gender neutral palette).

The full top 10 colors for fall, as proclaimed by Pantone, are:

PANTONE 18-4214 Stormy Weather, a cool blueish gray
PANTONE 16-1144 Oak Buff, a golden yellow reminiscent of fall leaves
PANTONE 17-0627 Dried Herb, a sort of khaki green
PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala, a deep reddish brown
PANTONE 18-4726 Biscay Bay, a deep teal
PANTONE 15-1340 Cadmium Orange, probably the most lively color in the bunch
PANTONE 16-2215 Cashmere Rose, a soft, unobtrusive hue
PANTONE 16-0110 Desert Sage, which, wouldn’t you know, is a light sage color
PANTONE 19-4326 Reflecting Pond, a dark, almost black blue
PANTONE 17-3628 Amethyst Orchid, a pretty purple they call the “jewel in the crown” of this palette

I really like this collection and could see it influencing my knitting color choices if I were buying yarn this year. (I’m really trying not to.) What do you think? Would you knit with any of these colors? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

Looking for Fall patterns to Knit? Check out these Fall knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

Next Pattern:

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