What is your favorite color? What clothes or shoes do you see on the rack and they immediately draw you in because the color is speaking to you? What’s the color you always have to wear—YOUR color? Mine has always been blue. Baby blue is my absolute favorite, but I will take all shades and hues of blues. When I was little, my dad would say, “You can’t wear all blue all the time.” And I’d respond, “Watch me!” I even (still) have dreams of designing an all blue house.

There’s something about this time of year that I love. It’s the hot cocoa and the s’mores, hot cider & apple cider doughnuts, putting on my favorite boots and my statement knit scarf, curling up under a warm handknit blanket with a good movie, and the way the trees take turns in changing colors. Fall is full of beauty, and as the weather starts to cool, I start thinking about all the colors and textures of yarns I want to use to make all of the things that make people feel cozy. I don’t know what it is about color that has always attracted me, but it’s something that I innately bring with me to my knitting. So, in typical fashion, I set out to understand why and to learn more…

I have the absolute joy of dating an artist. And with that comes a unique perspective on almost EVERYTHING. Even though I’ve always had a natural sense of what colors go together, and what colors make me feel good, I never had any formal classes or did any formal studying of how color works. I’ve only ever had a top-level interaction with color theory—the relationship between colors. Artist boyfriend, who specializes in portraiture, is the first person to explain to me the differences between hue, chroma, and value. Needless to say, I was incredibly surprised to learn that color theory also applies to knitting. And of course! Why wouldn’t it? That was a “duh” moment for me.

Color affects how we feel things and how we see things. For creatives, it affects how we create and design. Have you ever wondered why wearing green shoes with a purple blouse works? Or why no one complains that Christmas colors are red and green? Well, that’s because these pairs of colors are on the opposite sides of the color wheel! But I never knew that. I just knew what I like and wore what I like. And I do the same with knitting…I just pick the colors that I like and think work well together…colors that make me feel good and that will make others feel good.

As we move into November, things are kicking off with National Knit-a-Sweater Month (NaKniSweMo). Follow me on Socials (links below) to track my progress as I retroactively participate in a 2020 knitalong (KAL) of the Amber Pullover from Interweave. And guess what color yarn I’ll be using to keep things bright as we get more into sweater weather!

You can always count on the fortuknit shop to have a great selection of colors and I hope you are always expressing yourself in a colorful way. Don’t be afraid of color. Give the color wheel a spin as you choose what to wear, how to accessorize, and how to decorate. Color is a mood and it affects your mood. Grab the colors that energize you, make you feel warm and fuzzy, and like your best self.