Color Sense Creative Color Combinations for Crafters
Susan Levin, Sixth & Spring Books ISBN: 978-1-933027-29-6, $19.95
No matter how confident you are about color, Color Sense is a fantastic source of ideas for color combinations of all kinds.
I must have read (and probably own) dozens of books about color theory. Some I’ve found close to worthless, some are useful, and a very few are really helpful. Color Sense is one of those.
Levin, a cofounder of K1C2 (a great knitting company) and inventor of the Rainbow Color Selector, has written a book which must be the color book she has always wanted to find but hadn’t.
The first section, How to Use this book, cover all the basics of color. First it covers how the pages are organized, so the reader can understand the color combination pictures. Then it talks about the swatches and templates included at the back of the book. It also shows you in detail how to use the small Rainbow Color Selector that is included with the book.
Before a short glossary of color terms, there is a discussion of color considerations. These aspects, proportions, undertones, value, and other factors make or break many projects. These simple explanations will help you identify problems with your color schemes and repair them.
The heart of the book are the color palettes. They are divided into three large groups: combinations of one,two, three, and four colors. The main types of color combinations, like complementary or triad, are put into one of these groups.
For each color combination, based on the twelve-color color wheel, there is a two-page spread. On the left page, the top contains three swatch diagrams for the combination, one light, one saturated, and one dull. Below each of these are several combinations in that particular value range showing different proportions of each of the component colors. I find this fascinating because the matter of proportion in color combinations is rarely shown but is very important, particularly in fiber arts. I’m sure you will find that some combination are much more appealing than others.
The right page shows 20 more color combinations, five against each of four backgrounds. Various shades of the main colors are shown with no background and against white, gray, and black. The same combination of shades is shown against each of the backgrounds.
Although the particular choice of background color also has a big effect in needlepoint, these samples can help lots in making a decision between, say, a light blue and a navy blue for a pillow background.
The books ends with a set of color swatches, all printed on card stock, with 7 shades for each of the twelve colors, plus multiple swatches of black, white, and gray. You can take these out and create your own color combination or match the cards to combinations in the book and carry them with you when selecting threads.
Throw in a Rainbow Color Selector and you have a wonderfully complete and usable book on color that is aimed at anyone who works with thread, yarn, or beads.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Christa Evans says
Hey Janet,
Great write up. I have several books on color and always seem to be rereading them without feeling like I’ve gained the right knowledge and confidence that I need. I’m going to order this book based upon your review and look forward to exploring it.
Christa