Author: Aubrey

We’re continuing our celebration of the re-launch of one of our favorite yarns: Deluxe Worsted. Deluxe Worsted is now available at a more accessible price point and a concise, curated palette of 89 shades. With the weather getting cooler outside, there really hasn’t been a better time to fall in love with Deluxe Worsted. Autumn pun absolutely intended, folks.

It’s no secret that Deluxe Worsted is a workhorse yarn. Made of 100% non-superwash wool, this beauty is designed to stand the test of time. Not only that, but it is comfortable to wear, and works up in such a way that your stitches always take center stage. With such a wide array of colors offered, there are endless possibilities of what you can do with Deluxe Worsted.

In the design studio, we begin with a mood board for every pattern collection. Inspirational images in that mood board become the source for the colors we choose for designs. I wanted to share some of the things I use as inspiration for design and color choice, and Deluxe Worsted color combinations that match well with those inspirations. Maybe you’ll find colors that are perfectly suited to your next project!

As a designer, I take inspiration from many places. Art History was always one of my favorite lectures in design school, and to this day, fine art is always one of the first places I look. Though I’m a designer who loves working with textiles, I can walk around museums for hours and hours, enthralled with paintings and sculpture. Looking at ‘The Soul of the Rose’, by John William Waterhouse, I was immediately taken by the gorgeous jewel tones of the woman’s clothing and hair and the feeling of passion exuded in this painting. Whether the colors I chose are used together in one piece for stripes or colorwork, or worked separately in different designs, they all flow together with a consistent and decadent feel. Since we are all spending more time at home these days, or maybe you don’t live near a museum, here are a couple of online galleries from major museums to start getting you inspired for your projects. The National Gallery of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art both have a lot of work that you can view online.

The natural world is a place brimming with wonders great and small, and is an endless source of color and texture. I saw this incredible photo by David Balyeat of Monument Valley, Utah, and fell in love with the subtle pastel gradient tones in this image. If I was designing something and using this image as inspiration, I would certainly pull out the pink and blue colors. Deluxe Worsted has such a varied selection, and many gorgeous pastel and more muted tones such as the ones I chose. I think there is a really beautiful shawl or blanket just waiting to be made in these shades!

Another inspiring source for me are the mysteries of the world, like things in space that I cannot see or touch to ‘understand’. This photo is the Crab Nebula, which was the result of a supernova explosion that Chinese astronomers witnessed in 1054. It is a stunning marvel of the universe, and ripe with bright beautiful colors. Black is a classic, sophisticated choice for knitwear. Paired with bright tones like the ones I chose, you could make a very eye-catching piece. My fiancé would love this color combination for a striped sweater or scarf.

I could talk about color forever, especially with a yarn like Deluxe Worsted that has 89 shades available! Color tends to be a meaningful and personal decision, especially if you are hand knitting or crocheting. When we design here at UY, variety in color choice is always on the brain, since we want to appeal to all. However, we also hope that you get inspired by our sample color choices and pick your favorites for your own projects! We are always delighted to see project posts on Ravelry where you chose your perfect colors for our designs. Tell me, which color inspiration spoke to you, or what would you choose to inspire your next project using Deluxe Worsted?

Happy Crafting!