How to Choose Colors for Knitting Socks

Full Color Image:

These colors, especially the bottom two yarns, would not make the colorwork pattern pop. See grayscale image below.

When knitters ask me what colors they should use for their Interstellar Shorties, I usually tell them to listen to their hearts. What colors speak to you? What yarns have you looked at and thought, “What would you look like together”? That being said, the colors you choose can affect how much the colorwork pattern stands out. Do you want to maximize the colorwork pattern in your Interstellar Shorties? Choose a high contrast between the main color and the contrast color. Going for a softer look? Try to colorways that are within a few shades of each other.

Mono Filter Applied:

These yarns are similar enough that the colorwork pattern may not pop.

How do you know if the two colorways are a high enough contrast? If in doubt, take a photo on your iPhone (or other smartphone), and use the mono or black and white filter under the edit option. Then take a look. If you can’t see much difference between the two chosen yarns, then you won’t see much of the colorwork pattern in the finished sock. If that’s what you want, then proceed. If that is NOT what you want, choose another color. Something that also helps me is a basic color wheel. Colors located across from each other on the color wheel are contrasting, so they will ‘pop’ when they’re worked side by side, in a colorwork pattern. Think Christmas green and red, or the Denver Broncos’ blue and orange. Shades near those directly contrasting shades could also work nicely. Play with a swatch or two. What’s the worst thing that could happen?