The Slipped Stitch April 2023

Happy Easter!  Please let Spring come soon! With one of the snowiest winters in the last several decades finally coming to an end, warmer days are ahead.  The days are getting longer, the sun will shine again (yah!), and we will finally be able to enjoy being outside again without worrying about trudging through snow or slipping and sliding on ice.  As you enjoy your Spring, grab your project bags as well because we have a bunch of easy to take along projects to work on in your spare time – placemats for gifts and tees for kids are just a couple of the projects on the schedule.

The Fiber House is open til 7pm on Wednesdays.   Come on it and hang out, get help, or schedule a one-on-one class. 

Event Round Up

6^th Annual Cowboy Yarn Crawl – seven shops and a whole state to visit! Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Start planning your road trips now!

World Wide Knit-in-Public Day.  Save the Date!! – June 10, 2023.  We will have our annual picnic in the park.  Sub sandwiches will be provided!  Watch for more details next month.

Apr/ May Classes – 

Weekly Classes:

Wednesdays 1 to 4pm and Saturdays 10 to Noon – Learn to Knit/ Crochet.

Thursdays, 1-3pm - The Hub Group 

Saturdays, Apr 8, May 6, and Fridays, Apr 28, May 26, 1-4pm – Thrummed Mittens

Saturdays, Apr 15, May 27, and Fridays, Apr 7, May 19, 1-4pm – Skew Socks

Saturdays, Apr 22, May 13, Fridays, Apr 14, May 5– Tees for Tots and Kids

Saturdays, Apr 29, May, 20 and Fridays, Apr 21, May 12, 1-4pm – Placemats

Coming in May – Beginning Spinning Class May 29^th and June 4^th.

April Special-

10% off All Notions

They are a necessary addition to your project bags, so now’s the time to stock up!  Needles, scissors, stitch markers, project bags, yarn bowls, and more are all on sale this month.

NEW! NEW! NEW!

We’re still receiving new spring/summer yarns – some to look forward to are Plymouth Yarns’ Soft Serve – a self-patterning acrylic worsted and Wonderland Yarn’s Blossoms in fingering weight.  The Blossoms are cakes with a long color repeat that work up into beautiful shawls and other accessories.  Don’t forget to check out some of our new cotton yarns for summer projects including Jodi Long’s Flora and My Little Sunshine, and Berroco’s Lumi, Splash, and Spree.

Weaving and Spinning News

Weaving and Spinning Group will be cancelled for the month of April due to other commitments. See you in May!

In Consideration of . . . (also known as – Donna’s Soapbox):

More Then You Ever Wanted To Know About Color

As fiber artists, we are drawn to colors, whether they are neutrals, jewel tones, earth tones, etc.  We first learn about color in kindergarten when we get to play with paints or crayons.  At some point we are introduced to the color wheel and learn about the primary colors – red, blue, yellow and the secondary colors – green, orange, and purple.  Some of you may have done a “color study” to find out which colors suit you best.  Or you know that you are an “autumn” or “spring” color person.  It probably won’t surprise you to know that scientists have studied a lot about color.  So here is a little sample of color theory.

Color theory is both the science and art of using color. It explains how humans perceive color; and the visual effects of how colors mix, match or contrast with each other. Color theory also involves the messages colors communicate; and the methods used to replicate color. Color Theory is all about understanding color relationships.  This relationship comes down to three main characteristics of color: Hue, Value, and Chroma.

Hue distinguishes one color from another and is described using common color names such as green, blue, red, yellow, etc. Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. It defines a color in terms of how close it is to white or black, for example pink – true red – burgundy are all values of red. Chroma is the attribute that expresses the purity of a color. Mixing a pure hue with black, white, gray, or any other color reduces its purity and lowers the strength of the original hue. So teal is a mix of blue and green, plum is blue and red with a little gray added. 

When choosing colors for a project you also want to think about color harmony.  Visual harmony is when something is pleasing to then eye. Color can also cause an emotional response. When you look at the color wheel, colors that are adjacent to each other are called analogous.  For example, orange-red, red, and red-blue are analogous.  Analogous colors used together can produce a calming or relaxing feeling, but can also be dull or boring. Colors on opposite sides of the color wheel are complementary, such as yellow and purple.  Using complementary colors together creates a feeling of excitement and energy, but can also seem disturbing or jarring.

Another aspect to consider in choosing colors is contrast. Low contrast creates a softer effect which can be indistinct. High contrast pairs create more crisp graphics, really emphasizing each stitch, stripe or motif. When working stranded colorwork, the higher the contrast, the more clearly and crisply the pattern will appear.

A few tidbits on Color Psychology:

We are more sexually attracted to people wearing the color red.

We associate foods packaged in natural colors (like brown) as being healthier than those packaged in bright colors.

Blue, yellow, green or silver walls help you sleep better.  Red, beige, and purple are bad for sleeping.

When making decisions on purchases color accounts for roughly ninety percent of our initial judgment.

If you want to know more check out this website from Kate Smith, a color expert: https://www.sensationalcolor.com/

There is so much to it and so many aspects, that delving into color theory can almost make you want to stick with black and white.  But the world would be an awfully grey and dull world without color.  The most important takeway from all of this is your own personal feelings about color.  Is it pleasing to your eyes? Does it make you happy?  Whatever the colors you choose, if the answer to those questions is yes, then go for it.