Choosing colors for a crochet project can be one of the most enjoyable parts of creating—and sometimes one of the most frustrating!
Color choices are often very personal and can be influenced by preference, memories, or even culture. But when we are choosing colors for someone else, the process can become a little more challenging. We want the colors to work well together, create harmony, and give the finished project a cohesive appearance.
I know there have been plenty of times when I have struggled to find that “just right” combination—a main color with the perfect accent color that brings the entire project together while still being appealing to others.
Over the years, I have discovered several tools and techniques that have made choosing colors much easier. You don’t need to be an artist or have a background in color theory to make beautiful color choices. Sometimes all you need is a little guidance, some inspiration, and a willingness to experiment.
Here are some of the things that have helped me along the way.
A Little Color Theory Goes a Long Way
You don’t need to become an expert in color theory to understand why some colors seem to work beautifully together while others don’t. Learning a few basic color relationships can give you a starting point when you’re standing in front of a wall of yarn wondering what to choose!
Complementary colors are colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Because they contrast with one another, they can make each other appear more vibrant. Blue and orange are an example of complementary colors.
Analogous colors are colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Because they share some characteristics, they tend to create combinations that feel harmonious and pleasing. Blue, blue-green, and green would be an example.
Monochromatic combinations use different shades, tints, or tones of the same color. A project using several shades of blue, for example, can have a very cohesive and calming appearance.
When you’re choosing colors for crochet, you don’t have to follow these guidelines exactly. Think of them as tools to help you get started rather than rules you have to follow. Some of the most interesting combinations can happen when you experiment a little.
Color Wheel
One of the first tools I invested in was a color wheel, primarily because I never took art and had limited knowledge of color theory. The color wheel helped fill some of that void.
A color wheel is an adjustable disc that shows the relationships between colors. Depending on the wheel, you can see the pure colors as well as their tints, tones, and shades. Many color wheels also help you identify complementary and harmonious color combinations.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on one. They are generally inexpensive and can be found online or at local art and craft stores. There are also many excellent digital color tools available, but personally, I find having a color wheel in my hand much easier when I’m working with yarn.
If you’re new to color theory, don’t let the color wheel intimidate you. You don’t need to understand everything it shows you. Even simply looking at which colors are opposite each other or which ones sit next to each other can give you ideas when you’re stuck.
Color Samples from Your Local Paint Store
Here’s another resource you may not have considered: your local paint store!
Most stores that carry paint have sample cards or brochures that show different colors together. These can be a wonderful source of inspiration because they allow you to see how a main color, accent color, and coordinating colors can work together.
I particularly like looking at these when I know the main color I want to use but can’t decide what accent color would work best. A paint sample card might introduce you to a combination you wouldn’t have thought to try with yarn.
You don’t have to find an exact match between the paint color and your yarn. Instead, look at the relationship between the colors. Is the combination warm or cool? Is there a light color paired with a darker one? Is there a small pop of a brighter color?
Some paint stores also have online color tools that allow you to explore combinations from home. These can be especially useful when you’re looking for inspiration before heading to the yarn store.
Color Palettes
Color palettes are another favorite resource of mine. There are many websites that offer free color palettes, and they can be a great place to start when you’re looking for inspiration.
Usually, you can enter a color you already know you want to use and find a variety of combinations built around it. You may see complementary colors, accent colors, lighter or darker versions of the original color, and combinations you might never have considered.
Of course, there are many more colors available in an online palette than there are yarn colors. And the color you see on your computer screen may not look exactly the same when you find it in yarn. That’s okay. I don’t use these palettes to find an exact match. I use them to spark my imagination.
One online color palette site you might enjoy is Coolors. I’ll include the link so you can explore it yourself.
From Color Palette to Yarn
This is where things can get a little tricky. A color that looks beautiful on your computer or phone screen may not have an exact match in the yarn aisle.
Instead of trying to match a color perfectly, I find it more helpful to look at the overall feeling of the palette. Is it bright and cheerful? Soft and muted? Warm and earthy? Cool and calming?
Once you identify that feeling, look for yarn colors that create a similar effect.
And whenever possible, look at your yarn in natural light. Artificial lighting can change the way colors appear. Two skeins that look wonderful together under the store’s lights may look quite different when you get them home.
I also recommend putting the skeins together before you begin your project. A color that looks beautiful by itself may not work as well alongside your other choices. On the other hand, a color you weren’t sure about may turn out to be exactly what the combination needed.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Sometimes the perfect combination is one you discover rather than one you planned.
Don’t Underestimate the Accent Color
Sometimes a color combination doesn’t need another main color—it needs just a little bit of contrast. An accent color can bring a project to life without taking over.
An accent color might appear in a border, a stripe, a flower, a button, or another small detail. You don’t necessarily need very much of it to make a difference.
One of my favorite ways to use an accent color is to choose something that catches your eye but doesn’t dominate the project. A small amount of an unexpected color can make the other colors seem more interesting. And remember, your accent color doesn’t always have to be the color that makes perfect sense on paper. Sometimes that little unexpected pop is exactly what makes a project special.
If you’re unsure about an accent color, try using a small amount of it first. Make a small swatch, place the yarn alongside your other colors, or even take a photograph of the combination. Seeing the colors together from a little distance can sometimes make the answer much clearer.
Look Around You for Color Inspiration
You don’t always need a color tool to find beautiful combinations. Sometimes you just need to look around you.
Nature is one of my favorite sources of color inspiration. Think about the different greens in leaves and trees, the blues and grays in the sky and water, the colors in a garden, or the amazing combinations you see in a sunrise or sunset. Nature seems to have a way of putting colors together that simply works.
Photography is a wonderful way to capture these combinations. If you see a flower garden with colors that catch your eye, take a photograph. A beautiful sunset, a favorite vacation spot, or even an interesting combination of colors in a room can become the inspiration for a future crochet project.
Look closely at the colors rather than simply seeing the overall picture. You may notice several different shades of green in the leaves, for example, or discover that a seemingly simple sunset contains several shades of pink, orange, purple, and blue.
In the photograph I’m sharing with this article, you can see how the pink really stands out against the blue. Neither color has to dominate the other for the combination to be interesting.
And don’t forget the rainbow! It provides an easy reminder that colors can transition from one to another while still creating a pleasing overall effect.
Once you start looking for color combinations, you may be surprised at how many you find.
Find Yourself a Color Buddy
Sometimes we simply need another set of eyes. If choosing colors isn’t your strong suit, consider finding yourself a color buddy—someone whose eye for color you admire and whose opinion you trust.
A color buddy doesn’t have to be an artist or a professional designer. It might be a friend, another crocheter, or someone in your crochet group who seems to have a natural ability to put colors together. When you’re struggling with a combination, send them a photo of your yarn or lay the colors out together and ask what they think.
The wonderful thing about having a color buddy is that they may see something you don’t. They might suggest a color you would never have considered, notice that one color is overpowering the others, or help you find just the right accent color. And sometimes they may simply confirm what you were already thinking—which can give you the confidence to move forward.
I think there is something especially nice about being able to share the creative process with someone else. Choosing colors can become an opportunity to talk, share ideas, and encourage one another. And who knows? You may discover that your color buddy needs your help just as much as you need theirs!
Remember, though, there isn’t always one “right” color combination. Your color buddy can offer another perspective, but ultimately, you get to decide what makes you happy. After all, it’s your project!
And that last thought is important. Color is personal. What one person loves, another person may not. The goal isn’t to find a combination that everyone will love. It’s to develop your confidence and find colors that work for you and the project you’re creating.
Try This Simple Color Exercise
The next time you are struggling to choose colors for a project, try this simple exercise.
Start with one color you love. This will be the starting point for your palette.
Choose a second color. Look at your color wheel, an online palette, or even your own yarn stash. Try a color that harmonizes with your first choice or one that provides some contrast.
Add a third color. This could be another coordinating color or a small pop of something unexpected.
Lay the yarns together. Don’t judge each color by itself. Look at them as a group. How do they make you feel? Does one color seem to overpower the others? Is something missing?
Step back and look again. Sometimes the easiest way to judge a color combination is to stop staring at it! Look at the colors from across the room or take a quick photograph. You may notice something you didn’t see when you were looking at each skein individually.
And don’t be afraid to change your mind. Sometimes we choose yarn because we love each color individually, only to discover that they don’t work together as well as we hoped. That’s okay! Put one skein aside and try another. Choosing colors is part of the creative process, and sometimes finding the right combination takes a little experimenting.
There Isn’t Always a “Right” Color Combination
At the end of the day, color is personal. What one person finds beautiful may not appeal to someone else at all. The goal isn’t necessarily to find the combination that everyone will love. It’s to understand a little about how colors work together and then use that knowledge to create something that feels right to you.
These are some of the tools and ideas I have used over the years to make choosing colors a little easier. Some days I rely on my color wheel, other times I find inspiration in a photograph or a paint sample. And sometimes, I simply ask my color buddy!
The most important thing is to have fun with color and give yourself permission to experiment. You may be surprised by the combinations you discover when you stop worrying about whether you’re choosing the “right” colors.
Do you have a favorite tool, trick, or source of inspiration for choosing colors? I’d love to hear about it! Join my Stitches with Stories community on Facebook and share your ideas with us. You might even become someone else’s color buddy!
