Guest Post: Colour Choices with Celtic Cast On

Since launching our Cumulus patterns, we've been thinking a lot about colour. Did you know that when we developed this latest addition to the Fyberspates range, we selected a colour palette based on its cloudlike structure? As well as the usual jewel tones we're known and loved for, we wanted something soft and with a few more neutrals to complement the tone and character of this silky yarn with a great halo.
We are so excited to share this guest post today from Kelly of Celtic Cast On, a blogger with a huge reputation for great choices in colour when working up her wonderful knitwear. She's going to talk you through choosing colours to help you make patterns like the Aolani mitts really shine.

Take it away Kelly!
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Choosing colours for your next knitting project can be just as fun as the actual act of knitting.
My mind usually bounces to the colour I picture knitting a project in but sometimes I get, should we say, Colour Block? More often than not this happens when using more than one colour in the same project. When we start talking about 3 or more colours things get a little daunting.
How do you know what colours will complement each other? How can they look so great side by side in the ball and then not work together when knit up?
Lets look at the three main principles of Colour Theory and apply it to the Cumulus yarn collection by Fyberspates.
Analogous    

The easiest and most obvious choice for me would be to choose colours that stay in the same colour family, a gradient or Analogous. For example Moonlight, Teal and Sea Green  in Culumus make a lovely combination.

Sea Green, Water and Teal

Or Sea green, water and teal that were used in the Aolani pattern.

Complementary    
If we want to get more adventurous and use another principle of colour theory, it states that two colours opposite each other on the colour wheel will always be harmonious or complementary.  My eye automatically jumps to Rust (a warm colour) and Teal (a cool colour),opposites do attract.


Split Complementary 

The last principle is Split Complementary. You choose a colour on the wheel, look across to its complementary colour but use the colour on either side of the complement.

Teal, Rust and Ruby Red.

If all this seems a little overwhelming there are a few quick tricks you can fall back on when you are experiencing a Colour Block.

• Find inspiration . i.e. Pinterest - There are tons of gorgeous colour combo's on the web that you can use to help you. Find a picture on instagram that appeals to you, pull a couple of colours that you like, keeping in mind which colours will complement each other.
• Rummage through your stash and find colours you think will work together. It is always a good idea to do a swatch with your intended colours. Take a picture of your swatch using the black and white filter on your phone or edit a picture from your camera to black and white in a photo editor. You will know right away if there is enough contrast between your colours or if they are blending together too much. You should be able to see your colour work pattern even though the picture is black and white.

When it comes to colour, don't be afraid to explore and try different colour combinations.
There are so many possibilities!