shades of delight

I've been wondering why I like shade cards so much. I think they are one of the best-value purchases a knitter can make, but there is more to it than that, and I reckon it's because they make me feel gloriously professional.

I've been buying shade cards from Rowan for years and years. And this is mainly so that I can pull them out of my file (shade cards are one of the very few things I do file) and marvel at the colours and textures and amazing neatness of the little, trimmed strands of yarn which are stuck and named and numbered. I buy the whole set, not just single pages, because you never know when you're going to want to look at a yarn with lurex or twists or slubs or fluff. For fun, if nothing else.

But there's also the knowledge that all the designers and shops like John Lewis and Liberty have the same shade cards. That all the information you need (apart from the price) is included here whether you are in the business or an amateur; esoteric stuff such as metres per ball, tensions, fibres and needle sizes, details which make me feel knowledgeable and capable of making an informed choice.

While we were knitting Phoebe's sea glass scarf, I spent so much time on the Colinette site trying to cross-reference yarns and colours I realised I needed to buy their shade cards because sometimes old-fashioned paper and bits of yarn are so much easier and quicker than modern technology. They arrived at the weekend and they are worth every penny.

Colinette cards are very different to the Rowan cards because they are intended to show the huge number of colours available. They come with one master yarn-type card and then three shade cards. Apart from the fact that we are all sorely tempted to wear them as hair extensions or wigs, they are also make the yarns amazingly desirable. We've been tying knots in our favourite colours (we are using the elephant system to help us remember which we like best) but have a long way to go before we reach a manageably small selection.

While I was thinking about the joy of shade cards, a copy of the American edition of Kaffe Knits Again arrived. The timing was perfect - this book is like the knitted version of an amazing shade card; it is just gorgeous. It's the best knitting book I have seen in ages, and the perfect way to use just about every colour you have ever desired on a shade card, but have been afraid to use. It's also very clever in that it applies Kaffe's timeless patterns in simple, manageable shapes such as cushions and throws.

Shades of delight all round, then. 

Comments

[Kathleen]

Shades of delight, indeed.

I love coming to yarnstorm, knowing that I will get a color fix, even when things here are pretty monochromatic.

I've ordered both your book and Kaffe Fassett, so I will have a very colorful winter.

Thank you.

Kathleen

[michelle]

I am only a new knitter, scarfs and hats but Kaffe Fassett is also a glorious fabric designer. I love him!

[laurie]

How timely! I'm getting a new work space -- one that my husband and I will share -- and have been playing with the idea of using a few old color charts/shade card samples on the wall.

[kate]

I was fortunate enough to get an entire book of shade cards from a manufacturer recently and I've been enjoying it way too much.

[kathy merrick]

The other joy of shade cards is that of possibility and potential.
For someone like me, who feeds on "what's around the corner?", it's all about what you COULD do.
Fennel, tangerine, violetta?
Jelly, marmalade, posh?

That's the ticket.

[sandi @ the whistlestop cafe]

Like a bowl full of jelly beans!
I'll have to keep my eye open for that book.

[littlejennywren]

I love my shade cards too. I love dreaming about what to make and I just love the fact that time is taken to produce such a wonderful thing that can never be replaced by pictures on a web page. Some are so neat and tidy, others, because of the wildness of the wool, can get a bit tangly. I love the potential held by them and of course the colours.

[Zelia]

Yes... i just love all those colors mixed together!

[Mandy]

Thankyou for this tip - I never thought to do this - can't wait to aquire my own set of colinette :)

[rosie]

I feel an acute dose of lust coming on... My mothe used to have to hide her shade cards from me, as I would run away with them and hide them under my pillow!

[Kylie]

Have you discovered Collinette Jitterbug yet? it's a sock yarn that comes in "almost solid" shades. Most are jewel tones and just loooooovely.
Once again, thanks for the beautiful, colourful photos.

[Kristin]

I just saw that Kaffe book at amazon this past weekend and am now on hold for it at my library. I can't wait to see the inside, the cover picture is amazing!

Add me to the list of people checking the amazon US site to see if your book is listed yet.

[Rachel in Tx]

I love shade cards also. And I have been using the old ones - where the yarn is not available any longer - to trim cards and tags and other crafty things.

[catherine]

I am definitely a shade card lover and collector (for yarn and paint too). I have managed to buy yarn sight unseen, but I much prefer to play and plan with a shade card before making any decisions. I also like hanging on to superseded cards - an interesting record of changes in colour fashion and memories of old favourites no longer available. And they are just so nice to HAVE.

[Annhb]

I cannot wait to look through this, but I really do prefer the UK edition cover!!!!! I think "Gridlock" would make a wonderful vest and matching heating pad cover.

[Arianna]

Did you know that Kaffe is giving a talk at the V&A in November? Anyone thinking of going? Here are the details about booking tickets. http://www.vam.ac.uk/whatson/tickets/product.php?xProd=429

I really love your blog Jane, so inspriational in so many ways!

[Melanie]

How lucky for England that Kaffe moved there. Now that I live in Australia I can't enjoy his presence as I used to, but I do love him for the formative years of my creativity when he made textiles so interesting and exciting, and introduced the V@A to me as a source of inspiration and textile daydreams (because who could ever be as copiously productive as he!). I came across his sock yarn the other day, and snapped it up. Looks like I am going to have to buy a new book too.

[Violetsrose]

I, in my youth as a goth, have indeed worn Colinette wool as hair extensions - I had two sets - one bright red and one multicoloured - i would put my hair into two high ponytails and then plait it - get the skein of yarn and just cut throught the whole thing - take each piece of yarn at its middle and tie it over a hair band - then wind the hair band around the base of the plait on my head - then wind the plait around the join to secure it in place - then take a pair of tights - cut off body and feet so you have two stretchy tubes - cover the wound plait and whole join/base lump with the tight leg - It was so ace!!! See: http://www.geocities.com/violetsrose/WGW8.5mainframe1.html
Oh to be young and foolish again!

[Alyssa]

What wonderful colors and textures!! It must be even more lovely in person.

[Laura Foster Nicholson]

Hi Jane:
You know, what is really thrilling for me is choosing thread colors from my manufacturers' cards when I design a new ribbon. I have one thread book that has literally thousands of colors of thread, each woven in 6 different weaves across white, and then across black on the other side of the card. With these I know what the thread will look like oven (otherwise you have to guess). But the biggest thrill is not so much choosing the colors -- which is very high on my fun scale -- but when the first woven samples arrive. I wish I could show you the book. Maybe I will take a pic of it for my new blog.