Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Color Me Curious

by

color grid color tool

Color Grid from kangaroodyer.com

I read about this tool in the Summer 2013 issue of Crochet! magazine and can’t wait to get my hands on one.  I am not great with color.  I know what I like but that’s about as far as it goes.  I usually make the safest color choices since I’m not adept at complements and contrasts.  This tool promises to take the mystery out of color selection.  Finally!  Apparently, you choose a base color (main color in crochet) and place the template over that color.  Then colors that work with that main color will be identified – from colors that are very close to the base color on the color wheel to those that will stand out and add that little extra something to make your colors pop.  That’s what I need!

The tool is small enough to carry in your purse so you can tote it to the store when you are yarn shopping.  It’s inexpensive enough (about $10 with shipping) that it would make a nice stocking stuffer (okay, I know it’s not near Christmas) or gift – or to pick u[ for yourself.  It is, after all, exactly a tool of our trade.  I think I might wonder how I ever got along with this thing!

SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE EMAILED ME PERSONALLY ASKING HOW TO OBTAIN THE COLOR GRID.  I was remiss in not adding a link to the site because I assumed that the tool would be widely available in big box stores.  Wrong!  So far, it seems the stores have been slow to order this very useful tool.  So, please ask your retailer to stock these for you.  In the meantime, you can mail order yours from Gail Callahan herself here.  She is easy to deal with and ships very quickly!

UPDATE:  I received my Color Grid in the mail today and just had a chance to play with it.  It’s genius!!  It totally takes the guesswork out of color selection.  The tool is very easy to use and will be a permanent fixture in my crochet bag.  I won’t be making iffy color choices any more!

Comments

  3. I won one online last year. I guess I’m not the target audience for it, because I haven’t been using it at all.

  4. Ambar,
    Good observations, but this is better than a color wheel for me. The grid shows 8 colors surrounding your favorite or base color that are gradients of the color (not sure of the proper term so I’ll use ‘gradients’). Then, in the bar across the bottom of the grid, you see FIVE colors that would function nicely as contrasts or to make your original 8 colors ‘pop’. Those colors are on a color wheel, but I like the way Gail presents the color options. Works well for someone like me.
    jd

  5. Where can we get these tools?? I would love to try one. I am terrible with colour co-ordinating!!!!

  6. Thanks for asking – and reminding me to add a link to purchase the tool. It’s in the article now. So, please take another look.
    jd

Have you read?

Crochet Christmas Hat and Mitten Ornament

This tiny crochet Christmas hat and mitten set is such a sweet little holiday make. It works up in festive stripes and looks lovely as a tree ornament, package topper, stocking decoration, or tucked onto a wreath. It’s also one of those fun small projects that uses up leftover yarn, which is always satisfying around Christmas.

Materials

  • Red Heart Super Sport or 3 ply sport yarn in Christmas colours such as: 
    • Blue 
    • White 
    • Green 
  • Size 1 steel crochet hook 
  • Yarn needle for finishing 

Finished Size

  • Hat: approximately 1½ inches long 
  • Mitten: approximately 2 inches long 

Abbreviations

  • ch = chain 
  • sc = single crochet 
  • sl st = slip stitch 
  • st = stitch 
  • sts = stitches 
  • tog = together 
  • rpt = repeat 
  • rnd = round 
  • lps = loops 

Pattern Notes

  • Unless otherwise stated, work in the back loops only. 
  • Join rounds with a slip stitch. 
  • The mitten is worked from the cuff upward. 
  • The hat is worked from the cuff upward. 
  • For a more traditional Christmas look, try red, white, and green. 

Christmas Mitten Ornament

Cuff

With mitten colour, ch 6.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of the remaining 4 ch. Turn.
 (5 sc)

Rows 2–12: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 13: Hold the first and last rows together, matching stitches. Working through both thicknesses, ch 1, sl st in each st across to form the cuff. Do not turn.

Hand

Rnd 14: Working in the ends of the cuff rows, ch 1, (sc in next row end, 2 sc in next row end) around. Join with sl st in first sc.
 (18 sts)

Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off.

Rnd 16: Join stripe colour with sc in first st, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off.

Rnd 17: With mitten colour, repeat Round 16.

Rnd 18: Join stripe colour with sc in first st, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st, leaving last 6 sts unworked. Join. Fasten off.
 (13 sts)

Rnds 19–21: Repeat Rounds 17 and 16 alternately, ending with Round 17.

Rnd 22: Working in both loops, ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.

Rnd 23: Working in both loops, ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog, (sc in each of next 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog) 2 times, sc in last st. Join.
 Leave an 8 inch tail and fasten off.

Thread the yarn tail through the stitches of Round 23, pull to gather, and secure.

Thumb

Working in both loops, join mitten colour with sc in the first unworked st of Round 17.

Thumb Round 1: Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in last st. Join with sl st in first sc.
 (7 sc)

Thumb Rounds 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.

At the end of the final round, leave an 8 inch tail and fasten off. Thread yarn through the stitches, pull to gather, and secure.

Christmas Hat Ornament

Cuff

With hat colour, ch 4.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of the last 2 ch. Turn.
 (3 sc)

Rows 2–32: Working in back loops only, ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 33: Repeat Row 13 of the mitten pattern to join the cuff into a ring.

Hat Body

Rnd 34: Working in the ends of rows around the cuff, ch 1, sc in each row around. Join with sl st in first sc.
 (32 sts)

Rnd 35: Working in back loops only, ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.

Rnds 36–38: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off at the end of Round 38.

Rnds 39–44: Working in back loops only, repeat Rounds 16 and 17 of the mitten alternately for festive striping.

Rnd 45: Ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog, (sc in next 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog) around. Join.
 (18 sts)

Rnd 46: Repeat Round 45.
 (12 sts)

Rnd 47: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc next 2 sts tog, (sc in next st, sc next 2 sts tog) around. Join.
 Leave an 8 inch tail and fasten off.

Thread yarn through remaining stitches, pull to gather, and secure. Turn cuff up.

Tie

With mitten colour, ch 20. Fasten off.

Sew one end of the tie to the mitten cuff and the other end to the centre top of the hat on the wrong side.

Hanger

With mitten colour, ch 18. Fasten off.

Tack both ends of the hanger to the centre top of the hat on the right side.

This tiny Christmas set is adorable worked in classic holiday shades, and it would be very cute hanging on the tree beside handmade stockings and mini crochet candy canes.