CROCHET WITH COLOUR
or orange and blue. This approach is not for
the faint-hearted but it can work really well.
Alternatively, pop into your local yarn shop
for some advice – fellow yarn-crafters will
always jump at the chance to coo over
different yarn choices! And of course, it’s
always helpful to hold the balls of yarn
together to see how they look before you
start crocheting. Of course, colour choice is
very personal, so go for colours you love,
especially if you’re making a big project. For
gifts, make sure you’re working with shades
the recipient will be delighted to receive!
STITCHES & COLOUR
A colour effect as simple as stripes can
become more interesting when you vary the
stitches you’re using. For example, combine
double and treble stitches in the same row to
create the look of wavy stripes. Or try
crocheting a row of dense double crochet
stitches with one colour, followed by a row of
lacy treble crochet in another colour. You
could also try spiked double crochet stitches,
where you insert the hook into a stitch a few
rows below the previous row, and work an
elongated stitch here.
Get your hook at the ready for these
fab patterns from Simply Crochet
magazine! To get the issues mentioned
here, you can buy digital versions of
back issues from Apple Newsstand
to view on your iPhone and iPad or
Google Play to view them on Android
devices. For more information and to
find out which other digital platforms
are supported, take a look at the
website address below:
http://www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/digital
Crocheted in the round, granny
squares like this are great for
practising your colour skills because
they’re small and usually use just
treble stitches, chains and slip stitch.
Turn to page 72 for the pattern.This striped cardigan from issue
80 of Simply Crochet is a marvellous
mix of stitches and even features
sequins! Designed by Pat Strong,
this longline cardi will be a fab
all-rounder for your wardrobe.A mandala is a circular pattern that’s
perfect for developing your eye for
colour and showing off your flair for
choosing beautiful shades! This
warm and zingy example can be found
in Simply Crochet issue 60.DESIGN IDEAS
7KUæWRWU\
Brighten up!
IMPROVERStart here!
BEGINNER
Fab cardi!(^123) EXPERT
SIMPLE ROUNDS
Working colour changes
in the round can create
some gorgeous,
eye-popping effects. You
can either change colour
when you slip stitch the
round closed, or fasten
off each round and start
again with a new colour
(see both methods on
pages 70 and 71).
COLOUR CHOICE
Be careful with your choice of yarn colour. Place
the balls of yarn next to each other to make sure
they work together. If you’re making a garment,
place them next to your skin as well, to make
sure they suit your skin tone. For a safe colour
effect, use shades of the same colour, such as
dark blue and light blue.
TENSION ISSUES
When you’re using
different colours of the
same yarn in a design,
this shouldn’t affect the
tension of your work, so
you don’t have to make
a new tension square if
you change colours.
COLOUR ROUNDS
Create concentric colour effects
COLOUR INSPIRATION
You can find colour inspiration for your crochet projects all around you,
from objects around the house to clothes in your wardrobe, or just
while you’re out and about, at the park, on the beach, or in the forest.
You’ll find interesting colour combinations everywhere, if you look for
them. Blogger Marinke Slump (aka Wink) celebrated colour in her
work, with bright mandalas (see left) being typical of her style. Visit
http://www.acreativebeing.com for instant colour inspiration!