Pantone recently announced their color forecast for Spring 2014. These are the colors that will be seen often in fashion and accessories. Unlike many fashion forecasts, this palette is balanced with lighter and darker shades of most colors. That, in turn, makes it very inspirational for needlepoint.
Usually they have less impact on needlepoint because our art is more timeless than timely, but aren’t these just wonderful possibilities for bright and cheerful needlepoint?
I can see a bright set of flowers in cayenne, freesia, and celosia orange with comfrey leaves against a pale blue background.
Or what about an ocean in those clear blues with brightly colored fish in radiant orchid, magenta purple, and the colors mentioned above.
The two neutrals in this palette, paloma, and sand, are darker than what we’d usually use for backgrounds, but think how their richness will make your needlepoint elegant.
One easy way to make your current projects more current is by picking these colors instead of other shades of the same hue. If you need yellow, pick the slightly darker, richer, yellow-orange of freesia. Go for the lighter, more blue, greens of comfrey and hemlock instead of a more primary green.
You can learn more and read several designer’s thoughts on this palette in Pantone’s report.
As you read the report, you’ll hear different designer’s takes on color. On the left you’ll see a color from the spring palette that most closely matches their inspiration. Often their designs and thoughts about color will give you additional ideas for color combinations for your stitching.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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