Focussing on natural and neutral colors for the past few months, I turned back to bright colors recently, in particular, for some crocheted flowers. It was also the opportunity to use the multi-color threads in my stash.
I’m quite surprised at how well the multi-color threads worked out. One way I used them is in combination with lighter solid color threads for the flower center.
Another way is to use a combination of different multi-color threads, for example, variegated orange and variegated red with berries in variegated violet.
Following these simple rules for combinations, I made several crochet jewellery. Many of them are all-fiber jewellery, that is, they contain no metal findings or plastic or stone beads. There are, it seems, quite a number of people who have allergies to metal and therefore can only wear fibre jewellery.
The strap for most of the crochet jewellery are based on patterns I’ve just learned to make from the Swimsuit #3 issue of Duplet magazine. I usually work the straps in natural, beige or other light or neutral color. I also crochet any number of flowers and berries, focussing more on the flowers themselves rather than on their arrangement on the necklace (or bracelet).
Only later do I arrange the flowers, berries and leaves on the strap, every now and then wearing the necklace to see how the flowers lie around the neck. The weight of the flowers affect the appearance and comfort/wearability of the necklace, especially when I lean forward and move around. Often, I need to add extra crocheted flowers and berries to complete the piece.
Here is a necklace that I made using a metal button.
Summer flowers necklace in green and yellow
I like the color combination of this necklace, and didn’t expect the green and yellow multi-color thread to work so well. The flowers and berries are all made with the same thread but the flower centre uses a thread of the same hue but lighter than the color of the strap. I think that lighter color gave the necklace a kind of focal point. I’m very happy with the result and have also discovered that the color combination is very flattering to the skin.
Here is a similar design using the same combinations of threads but this time using a crocheted berry for button. I have also decided to add a couple more flowers and berries around the necklace to make a more asymmetrical design.
Green and yellow color combination
This necklace uses a lavender color strap and flowers in red and orange variations. The berries are in violet multi-color thread. I used violet to match the hue of the necklace strap. I also love the result of these color combinations!
Violet is the focal point of this necklace.
Usually, I try to choose a hue as focal point and reflect it in other parts of the necklace. The focal color need not be the most dominant color in the piece but it’s role is to balance the visual design of the piece.
For the green and yellow necklace, I realize now that the hue I used as focal point was beige although the dominant colors are green and yellow.
Although green and yellow are domianant colors, the necklace's balancing color is beige.
I hope that these notes are helpful for other designers working with color, especially with multi-color threads.
These necklaces and more are now available at The Crochetology Shop.
