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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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Color Value for Makers

February 5, 2021 Leave a Comment

Sponsored by Knit Picks. Post contains affiliate links.

Four skeins of primary colored yarn in color as well as black and white, used to help explain the concept of color value.
Pictured: Wool of the Andes Bulky from Knit Picks

How is it that I’m always yammering on about my love of primary colors and dropping ❤️ 💛 💙 on things, but I haven’t written a proper blog post on color theory before? Last week, I published a cute TikTok on using your phone to help select yarn color, and it definitely got my (color) wheels turning. Let’s talk a bit about color theory for yarn crafters, starting with the concept of color value.

What is Color Value?

@handsoccupied

Color value 101 & how to use your phone to figure it out 🧶 ##handsoccupied ##learnontiktok ##knitting ##crochet ##whatilearned

♬ Rasputin (7″ Version) – Boney M.

In the video, I explain that black and white photos help makers see the contrast between colors, and that color value can be described as how close to black or white, or how light or dark a color is. But since we’re working with a blog post and not a 30 second video here, let’s dig a little deeper.

Four skeins of primary colored yarn in color as well as black and white, used to help explain the concept of color value.

Useful colors to picture for color value

A graphic featuring eggplant, lavender, navy and light blue squares designed to illustrate a point about color value.
Anyone else seeing Candyland cards in this graphic? 😆

Eggplant/lavender & navy/sky blue are commonly-identifiable colors, easy to picture. They’re also good for explaining the phenomenon that two DIFFERENT colors can have the same/similar value. In this example, eggplant & navy have a more similar color value than lavender & sky blue.

I used my iPhone to convert the above graphic to black and white using one of my phone’s built-in black and white filters. (Here’s how to do that. I recommend the Mono filter.) Here’s the result.

A graphic featuring eggplant, lavender, navy and light blue squares designed to illustrate a point about color value.

As you can see, when converted to black & white, the eggplant and navy colors have nearly the same color value. And while the lavender and sky blue aren’t quite as close in value, they are closer to each other in value than their darker, same-color counterparts.

Another way to think of these examples: sky blue is another name for LIGHT blue. Navy is another name for DARK blue. Light colors are described as having “higher” value than dark colors. Light colors reflect more light than dark colors, which absorb more light. Light is how the eye perceives color, so that is why you have to care about color value in your making, particularly if you’re combining colors in an effort to make a design discernible to the eye.

Four skeins of primary colored yarn used to help explain the concept of color value.
Pictured: Wool of the Andes Bulky from Knit Picks

Related Reading

I former librarian, I firmly believe in the value of reading about the same concepts, but explained and illustrated in new ways. No two makers have the same context and reference points, so if my explanation on color value isn’t totally clicking with you, or if you want to delve further into reading about color theory before I get around to writing another post, give these links a look:

Color Theory Basics I – Tricksy Knitter

The Value of a Color is in the Gray – Roving Crafters

How to Choose Colors for Fair Isle or Stranded Colorwork Knitting – Berroco Blog

Value in Color Theory – Round Table Yarns

9 Hints for Selecting a Colorwork Palette for Stranded Knitting – Interweave

Colour Theory for Knitters – Tin Can Knits

Color Theory for Stranded Colorwork – Brooklyn Tweed

Color Value for Makers: A a bit about color theory for yarn crafters, starting with the concept of color value.

Sponsored by Knit Picks. Post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Crochet, Knitting, Latch Hook, Macramé Tagged With: color theory, color value, colorwork, picking yarn for projects

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « 5 Types of Yarn Ball & How to Work with Them
Next Post: Diamond Brocade Stitch Video Tutorial »

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author & pattern designer ❤️💛💙
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Please email for pattern support. 🧶

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How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style . How to to knit throwing (a.k.a. English) style 
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In knitting, there are a few common knitting styles. Most often you’re going to encounter continental style and English (throwing) style on your knitting journey. I recently had an old video teaching continental style get a lot of views. Based on the comments, it was clear the people wanted to also see a throwing tutorial, so here you go! 🧶
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Please note that there is a LOT of variation in knitting styles, and one isn’t necessarily better than another. Most often, I’ve found it comes down to two things: how you were taught and whether or not you’re really into colorwork knitting (which can involve a mix of styles). 
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Longer-term knitters who’ve made it this far: do you prefer one over the other? And why? 
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#handsoccupied #englishknitting #learntoknit #knitting #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitting_inspiration
How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on How to do a one-step provisional knitting cast on / a.k.a. crochet provisional cast on, scrap yarn cast on
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I read recently that tiktok and Instagram are being used as search engines more and more. 🤔 I thought since I’m going to all the work of making tutorials on YouTube, I should experiment with making a quick version of them for other platforms. There are obvious teaching limitations to vertical video, short-form content like this, but I think I covered the gist of this cast on in a minute. The YouTube version also covers how to unzip this cast on because there was time for it 👍🏻 L1nk is in my profile. 
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I’m very much looking for feedback as I continue to make instructional knitting & craft videos. Sometimes good tutorials are hard to find, and (ideally polite) feedback helps me improve. 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #knititngtutorial #knittersofinstagram #crochethook #knittingtutorial
For the first time in a long time, there’s a new For the first time in a long time, there’s a new tutorial from Hands Occupied! 🎉 The video is live on YouTube & the blog. 
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The post covers what provisional cast ons are & how they differ, and the video covers how to work a one-step provisional cast on using scrap yarn and a crochet hook. (This is a great one to save for future reference.)
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I learned several names for this method while researching this video & post. Crochet provisional cast on, one-step cast on, scrap yarn cast on - if you know even more names for this technique, please share! 
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#handsoccupied #provisionalcaston #knitting #scrapyarn #crochethook
Working on a sample for some upcoming videos. It’s an overcast day with intermittent sunshine & I have a scruffy little sidecar. 🐶 Can’t complain! 
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What’s on your needles this week? 
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Yarn: @debbieblissknits Cashmerino Aran 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #knittinglife
Peg boards and craft room organization go together Peg boards and craft room organization go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, as you can see, do latch hook tools and screwdriver organizers! 🪛 
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I think this trick translates to any tool with a thick handle, so leather working tools, punch needles, print making tools, etc. should work! What other tools am I, a needlecrafter, blanking on right now? 
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#craftorganization #handsoccupied #latchhook #latchhooking
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