This one is still for those of you interested in fashion - be it designing or you just like to be that person who says "oh, that's going to be SO big next season - and, if you think of it in terms of fiber color choices, for fashion-conscious knitters, too. (: This post is all about colors for Spring '09.
As we all begin the inevitable stash-buying for winter projects (be it fabric or fiber), all sorts of choices need to be made regarding materials, shape, construction techniques, and, of course, COLOR! Color is so important... we see color before we see the fiber content, the finishing techniques, or the price tag. So, if you're one who looks to the the fashion industry for cues to "what's cool" (I am one of these), here are the top ten colors (complied by WWD) for Spring '09. (The color balance of your screen will, obviously, affect the accuracy of the colors you see)
18-4043 PALACE BLUE
15-3817 LAVENDER
14-0754 SUPER LEMON
15-1626 SALMON ROSE
18-2328 FUCHSIA RED
14-1307 ROSE DUST
16-5804 SLATE GRAY
16-6339 VIBRANT GREEN
16-0435 DARK CITRON
14-5714 LUCITE GREEN
To be clear, these colors are the ones most used by designers this season. This is not the color forecast.... The difference will become clear shortly.
So, who is wondering how the heck these colors are chosen? To those "outside" of the fashion industry, it's a really weird thing. Color forecasts are trending tools used to guide designers in a particular color direction. Color forecasts are put out about 24 months before the collections are "shown".... which happens about 6 months before the clothes shown make it to the sales floor. The color forecast for each season is produced by the Color Institute (no, seriously), which is a the research facility at Pantone (the people who make colors... no, seriously). There are a lot of factors that go into the color forecast. Two factors that I learned about during a recent trip to the Color Institute were the economy (do we have the money for fun colors or should they be practical) and national/international emotional state (do we need comfort colors? Are we in a state of celebration?). The trend cycle - as in: how long has it been since we've seen fuchsia?- is also a large factor. Of course, designers are free to stray from the color direction as published, but this should explain the seemingly uncanny phenomenon of walking into a store and seeing the same-ish colors from so many different designers.
So, who is wondering how the heck these colors are chosen? To those "outside" of the fashion industry, it's a really weird thing. Color forecasts are trending tools used to guide designers in a particular color direction. Color forecasts are put out about 24 months before the collections are "shown".... which happens about 6 months before the clothes shown make it to the sales floor. The color forecast for each season is produced by the Color Institute (no, seriously), which is a the research facility at Pantone (the people who make colors... no, seriously). There are a lot of factors that go into the color forecast. Two factors that I learned about during a recent trip to the Color Institute were the economy (do we have the money for fun colors or should they be practical) and national/international emotional state (do we need comfort colors? Are we in a state of celebration?). The trend cycle - as in: how long has it been since we've seen fuchsia?- is also a large factor. Of course, designers are free to stray from the color direction as published, but this should explain the seemingly uncanny phenomenon of walking into a store and seeing the same-ish colors from so many different designers.
Okay, enough of that. I have an FO!
Pattern: Eunny's Deep-V Argyle Vest
Designer: Eunny Jang
Resources: ?! of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (yes, the cursed yarn)
Size: Wrong
Gauge: Wrong
Okay, let me explain all that went wrong in making this project. #1 - I didn't make a gauge swatch. So I got about 1/4 of the way through and had to rip the whole thing out, as it was apparent I was making a vest for a 6 year old, not a 23 year old. Sad. So I re-cast on with the biggest needles I could without making the yarn too frumpy - size 5. And I upped my size from a 32 to a 36. It looked bigger, because it was, but it was still questionable. And let me tell you, it turned out more like a Deep-V corset than a lovely comfy vest.
Also, I somehow completely missed the repeat for a row that hits right through my waist. The result is a mistake that probably I can only see, but I don't just see a non-repeated row. I see structural instability. Seriously. It pulls really strangely at the site of the non-repeated row. Does this make sense? Maybe I'll try to take a picture. Or maybe I'm trying to forget that this, my favorite project yet, is not perfect. **sigh** Quite a disappointment, really. So many people have complimented me, but I can't help but know that I'm only 90% happy because of the flaw. Boo. In any case, I'm proud that my first finished piece of color work didn't totally suck. I'm going to chalk up the mistake to the fact that I was working with the cursed yarn.
Okay, next time I promise to talk about the big book from Saks. Bon Thursday!
Also, I somehow completely missed the repeat for a row that hits right through my waist. The result is a mistake that probably I can only see, but I don't just see a non-repeated row. I see structural instability. Seriously. It pulls really strangely at the site of the non-repeated row. Does this make sense? Maybe I'll try to take a picture. Or maybe I'm trying to forget that this, my favorite project yet, is not perfect. **sigh** Quite a disappointment, really. So many people have complimented me, but I can't help but know that I'm only 90% happy because of the flaw. Boo. In any case, I'm proud that my first finished piece of color work didn't totally suck. I'm going to chalk up the mistake to the fact that I was working with the cursed yarn.
Okay, next time I promise to talk about the big book from Saks. Bon Thursday!
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1 comment:
Sanks man, i like reading your brainnnn tooooo! whats your next week looking like?
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