Many overdyed threads are only shades of a single color. Knitters refer to these as “semi-solid” threads. It’s a term we should use as well to distinguish them from threads that have multiple colors.
While it is harder to use these threads you can create color schemes using semi-solid threads. Essentially think of the thread as being one color and work from there.
- Using your DMC color card, find the match to the main shade in your semi-solid.
- With this as the strarting point, find the other colors in that thread’s color family. These should match with your semi-solid even if the shades do not match exactly. If they do not, see the next step.
- For shades that do not match this color family, match those shades with other threads on your color card. You will not be looking for families with these shades, just for individual matches.
- Write all these colors down. Theses colors form the main solids for your design. The shades that match your semi-solid will reinforce those colors and should be used most. The other shades are used less and function almost as accents.
The difficult part of using these threads for a color scheme is that the thread itself provides you no guidance for finding accent colors, so you will have to look elsewhere.
There are lots of places to find accent colors. You can pick a color scheme and go from there. You can look at paint chip combinations and match them to your picked threads and color card. But lately I’m intrigued by the color schemes you find in scarves and multi-color fabrics.
If you look at most scarves you’ll see that they have lots of colors. The scarf I’m wearing today has seven different colors. Scarves have lots of colors for a couple of reasons. First off, people are more likely to buy them if they will go with many outfits and more colors allows this. Secondly, the prints in scarves tend to be more elaborate and complex than in other clothing. Both these things mean that they can help you find accent colors for your semi-solid.
- Find a scarf that has your main color of color family as its dominant hue. In scarves the dominant hue can be the background color, so don’t neglect that. It can be a picture of a scarf fabric or an actual scarf.
- Pick from the other colors in the scarf three colors: main accent, second accent, and “poison” color. Your poison color is a color that will be used in small amounts to enliven the design.
- Identify these colors on your DMC color card and write them down.
- Use your list of colors to find threads for your project.
- Line up your chosen threads with the semi-solid to see if they all go together. If any stick out, remove them. Go back to your color family or to the scarf.
Keep watching the blog for a tutorial showing how I did this with threads from my stash.
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
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