Design in Color
At the beginning, I thought choosing a color palette would be a quick, decisive step—something I could define and move on from. Instead, it became a process of paying attention.
I started with what I was naturally drawn to: earthy, autumnal tones—warm browns, soft greens, muted oranges, and creams. There was an immediate pull toward colors that felt grounded and seasonal, like crisp air, dried leaves, and late afternoon light.
But even in that early stage, there was tension.
I questioned whether my choices were too predictable, or too tied to a single season. I wondered if I needed to incorporate cooler tones—blues, purples, or greys—to create balance. I tested greens that leaned slightly cool, like dusty sea green, and had to ask myself honestly: does this feel like me, or am I trying to make it work?
That question became a turning point.
Instead of building a palette based on what I thought it should include, I started focusing on how colors made me feel—especially when held together in yarn. I explored combinations through swatching and fiber pairings, layering merino with mohair and cashmere to see how tone and texture interacted.
Through that process, patterns started to emerge.
I found myself consistently returning to warmth—not loud or saturated, but softened and slightly muted. Colors that felt worn-in, sunlit, and natural. Even when I introduced contrast, I preferred it to feel intentional and grounded rather than stark.
From there, the palette became clearer:
Warm neutrals to anchor everything: cream, bark, hazel
Golden and earthy tones: copper, rust, burnt orange, mustard, dusty honey
Softened accents: dusty rose and muted greens like olive
A single balancing neutral: pearl grey, added not to cool the palette, but to give it breath
What I didn’t include was just as important.
I chose not to force in colors that didn’t feel aligned—true cool tones, bright pastels, or anything overly saturated. Not because they aren’t beautiful, but because they didn’t support the feeling I kept coming back to.
At some point, I also realized something important about myself as a designer:
I’m drawn to quiet, wearable color in life, but I’m interested in expressive, layered color in design.
That gave me permission to explore contrast and colorwork within this palette—without abandoning it.
Where I Landed
My palette isn’t about a strict set of colors. It’s about a feeling:
Warm, but not heavy
Soft, but not dull
Earthy, but still light
Cohesive, without being limiting
It’s a palette that leaves room to explore—through fiber, texture, and composition—while still feeling unmistakably mine.
From the studio, Erica