Thinking in Color

Artists and craftspeople have always studied color and light. In the early twentieth century, artists began to formulate ideas about the nature of color.  Johannes Itten, Anni and Josef Albers, and Paul Klee, among others, explored color in their work at the Bauhaus, a German art school that emphasized the importance of craft and theory in the arts. In the two paintings below, Josef Albers shows us different shades, or variations in light, of red and orange.

 

The interesting thing about Itten, Albers, and their cohorts is the deliberate, almost scientific way they dissected color, examining different kinds of color and even the way color behaves in different environments.  They created visual maps of how color changes, mixes, and interacts. 

Itten's Color Star, pictured above, comes with eight stencils that fit over the star-shaped color chart to isolate special color relationships. These stencils make it easy to see color values, like warm, cool, and complimentary colors, by blocking out other parts of the chart. Complimentary colors are those directly opposite each other on the chart (red and green; yellow and purple; and blue and orange, above).  Each pointed segment of the star includes five tints of a color, growing lighter from black to white. 

Paul Klee explored tints, or the amount of black or white in a given color, in this rich painting, reminiscent of a patchwork quilt. Quiltmaker Denyse Schmidt, whose quilt is show below, embodies the interest many modern quilters have in sophisticated, playful color.

 

There's no need to be shy when choosing colors for your next knitting, sewing, quilting, or decorating project.  Consider something unexpected, out of the ordinary, new!  If you need encouragement, look around at movies, paintings, and photographs that attract you.  Note magazine covers and window displays that catch your eye.  Here are some wonderful books to inform and inspire your next color experiment!

 
COLOR BOOKS

There are many eye-popping books about color out there.  If you are interested in learning more about color theory, we recommend these classics for their depth of information and rich examples.

Interaction of Color, by Josef Albers 

The Art of Color, by Johannes Itten 

Elements of Color, by Johannes Itten 

SEWING IN COLOR
Brighten your craft room with a full spectrum of colorful sewing projects!  These terrific books draw color into all kinds of quilts, from traditional block patterns to dazzling experiments.

Kaffe Fassett's Colourful Journey and other books

Denyse Schmidt Quilts

Our Spectrum Fabric Bundles are the perfect way to start an exploration of color in sewing.  Each bundle highlights our wide selection of vibrant solid cottons.

KNITTING IN COLOR
Knitting has a way of making a colorful yarn sparkle with each individual stitch. Whether you are knitting simple stripes or complicated fair isle patterns, color can transform a garment.  These books are perfect for knitters interested in multicolor techniques, or just looking for ways to introduce color into your projects.    

Hand Knitting:  New Directions, by Alison Ellen
Kaffe Fassett Pattern Library
The Art of Fair Isle Knitting, by Ann Fietelson
Last Minute Knitted Gifts, by Joelle Hoverson

Share your color experiments with us on our Purl Bee Flickr Group! 

Comments

[Lolly]

Great post with many resources! Thank you! There is a popular create-along called Project Spectrum that explores color in crafting and art. It is amazing to see what some of the participants come up with - it is in its second incarnation now with color "triads" where the crafter can explore the three colors together or each separately. Very inspiring projects! You can see more about it at: http://lollygirl.com/blog/?p=585

[kate]

I checked out Kaffe Fassett Pattern Library from the library- went nuts- so I bought it. I am a "new" knitter- but am trying to knit some of the patterns in it and will make swatches and make a baby blanket for grandchild with them. I love his color!

[yvette]

very informative and interesting post - thank you. love looking at the color star.

[purl bee]

We love Project Spectrum! Thanks Lolly!

[Karen]

Only recently discovered your blog. Fabulous, thought provoking entries.

Fun little aside. I had a copy of the Alber's book at one time for a color theory class back in college. The professor studied under Albers.

Thanks for the great post.

[Carmen]

que buen post de color, para reflexionar, las que ocupamos el color solo de manera intuitiva.
espero que leas español, sino en resumen:

great post!, thaks!

[Tango]

Thanks for all the information in your blog, very helpfull and practical. I do knit and crochet and sometimes loom. Oh! and I´m from Mexico.

Till next time, TKS!!!