Monday, October 31, 2011

Predjudice and Favoritism on the Color Wheel

When I teach Color Theory, I don't teach students what colors look best on them. I figure that by the time we're young adults we've all gotten plenty of feedback about which colors "really bring out" our eyes and which ones make us look pale and sick. Perhaps some of you were even assigned a color "season" through the Color Me Beautiful program. (Wow, I just looked that up and found that it is still going strong. Who knew? I remember when my aunt got her "colors done." She was a Winter. She told me I was an Autumn).

I argue that everyone can wear every color, in moderation, mixed with other colors. I wear all of them. However, if yellow is my Superman of colors, purple is my Bizarro. When organizing my stash, I found this partially finished Wool Peddler's Shawl, in purple (here modeled as a cat blanket because I feel such apathy about putting it on):

I almost ripped it, but it measures nearly six feet across the top, so I worked a few rows of garter stitch and bound off. But I'll never wear it. It's destined to be overdyed. What is it about this blackberry color? What IS it?


I have more of the purple yarn, which is Lorna's Laces Fisherman, a 100% soft wool (merino?), worsted weight, in blackberry (you can see the colors here; this blackberry is more muted than the color in the photo). It's a great yarn, very soft and far more durable than Shepherd Worsted. I don't know why more shops don't carry it. In any case, I'm obviously not going to knit another project from this yarn.

Like purple? Want the yarn? Just leave a comment telling me your least favorite color and how it makes you feel. I'll start: Purple. Lethargic. I'll pick a comment at random at the end of the week!
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46 comments:

  1. ArletteOctober 31, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    I loathe, loathe, loathe pink. My pink-haired boyfriend's got me thawing toward it when it's in my environment, but I can't stand wearing it.

    I like RED!

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  2. jennaOctober 31, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    i think i'm on the same page as you, color-wise: love them all, and especially orange as an accent, but hate purple. soooooo much. i'm glad someone else agrees. anyway, i think all the color combos you put on yourself are fantastic.

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  3. JoyOctober 31, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Brown makes me feel drab. (Purple, however, makes me feel majestic!)

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  4. hannahOctober 31, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    That shawl would look awesome if your hair was dyed acid yellow. Just saying.

    My least favorite colors are salmon, putty, and dusty rose.

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  5. AledaOctober 31, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    See, now I love purple, but orange just makes me cringe. It just seems...icky.

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  6. VictoriaOctober 31, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    Well now I really like purple, especially ones like that. What I hate, REALLY really hate, is orange. Just the sight of it, and even the thought fills me with disgust and rage. The idea of WEARING orange... ugh. Just ugh. I would turn my life around, just to make sure I don't come into more contact with it than I have to. For instance, I will check team colors for any place I may live in the future. If one is orange, I would seriously consider not moving there, even if everything else is perfect about the place.

    I have to go calm down now, all this thinking about orange has made me upset.

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  7. LoriOctober 31, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    Color-prejudice/favoritism is an interesting topic. I saw your shawl and thought, "Wow! I love that color!" and then read the you hate it...
    While I do like all colors, purple a comfort color for me, in clothing and decoration. The same goes for red and most shades of blue; I just feel "myself" around those colors.
    Yellowy-green is a color I *want* to like, and I do appreciate it in small doses (usually mixed in with other colors in a print or stripes) but I don't like wearing it much.
    Fun to see everyone elses' comments!

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  8. Smallest FriendOctober 31, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    My least favorite color is orange. I'll wear any color but orange. i can't even describe it... It's just icky to me.

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  9. AudryOctober 31, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    Orange makes me look ill. But blue works great for me. Kind of funny that they are complimentary colors.

    I suppose that is the same with your yellow vs purple feelings. They are complimentary as well.

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  10. MargueriteOctober 31, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    I think we are opposite. I Love to wear purple. It makes me glow. But yellow makes me feel sickly, like a zombie. Also, pastel pinks make me feel old. I have a sister who gives me pink shirts every year for Christmas. I'm not sure she's aware of the pattern. Oh! And I have a habit of knitting green sweaters. At least once a year a green sweater is born.

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  11. UnknownOctober 31, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Gray is my least favorite color. Well, I guess shade but whatever. It makes be feel dull and lifeless. In my opinion it lacks personality unlike black or white which can be a perfect accent. My favorite color (judging from all my WIPs and stash is purple. Blue is a close second.

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  12. NicoleOctober 31, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    You might not like this, but I think yellow makes me look ill. I won't even wear gold jewelry. I like jewel tones, especially greens and purples.

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  13. alligatorOctober 31, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    pastels bore me. I never knit them except for this week I am knitting a pastel blue shawl for my Grandma because I know she'll like it. It's surprised me what a chore it is to work on even though I enjoy the pattern! I just don't like the color.

    I like most all other colors as long as they are not too flat looking.

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  14. PyewacketNovember 1, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    For some reason I have never liked blue. I don't know why, but I never have.

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  15. acpNovember 1, 2011 at 4:33 AM

    I can't say that there are any colors that I hate. There are some shades and tints that make me wince. Bubble gum pink is not my favorite. On the other hand I love the old fashion "ashes of roses" pink.

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  16. acpNovember 1, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    Bubble gum pink is not in my top 100 colors.

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  17. stebo79November 1, 2011 at 4:36 AM

    There is no color I "hate", but I just look sick next to yellow. So your purple yarn would find a loving home at my place :-)

    Greets, Steffi

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  18. torirotNovember 1, 2011 at 5:18 AM

    I love colours, and especially purple! And yellow, and orange, and red, and green, and....

    But you asked about the colour I like the least. That must be mint (pastel).

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  19. BarbieNovember 1, 2011 at 6:23 AM

    Beige and tan. They're really common for office decor and just put me to sleep. And if I'm wearing them? I look so washed out people ask me if I'm sick.

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  20. AlysonNovember 1, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    I just did this but blogger is being silly, so forgive if it's twice.

    PINK! because I have a 2 year old daughter and WHY DO ALL THE CLOTHES HAVE TO BE PINK??? Ugh.

    My colors change all the time but I do find myself buying purple yarn all the time, I don't know why. So this stuff will feel right at home in my house. And I can maybe make something to dress my child in NOT PINK!

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  21. wordlilyNovember 1, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    Beige. It makes me feel invisible and/or ill.

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  22. Blithe SpiritNovember 1, 2011 at 7:22 AM

    I love bright colours and not a fan of pastels. Hospital green would be my least favourite.

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  23. cameronNovember 1, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    Kelly green makes me feel anxious, but I really like most greens. What is it about that darn kelly? To fake Irish-y, I think.

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  24. AnonymousNovember 1, 2011 at 7:40 AM

    ecru makes me really, really unhappy. I'm with you on lots of colors in moderation (I tend to gravitate towards gray for my general wardrobe and accessorize with color), but ecru just...I can't put any color with it and make it look right. I lived in a house with walls that color and beige carpet for two years. Needless to say, I did not get my deposit back.

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  25. NinaNovember 1, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    I've been thinking about this a lot recently -- basically any shade of blue between teal and navy, and ice blue (easy to confuse with those palest grays and greens) does not work. They bores me. Maybe ennui is what I'm feeling ...

    Dusty rose inspires the same sort of listlessness, while blue-reds make me feel anxious. Can't explain it!

    (This thought process inspired by some stash-knitting of yarn that I bought because I loved the name -- Beach Plum -- and the picture -- turquoisey blues and purples -- and I cannot wait to finish them as socks because, well, see above!)

    Your cats are pretty adorable in that blanket, however.

    (And I am fine with not being included in the drawing ... though I love purple, I'm feeling blasè toward your beautifully knitted piece, which something powerful about color!)

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  26. Robin AllenNovember 1, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Bright yellow. Blech. Makes me look like I'm about to flatline.

    Purple, though, is one of my favorites. My couch is deep purple and my living room floor is painted eggplant.

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  27. AnonymousNovember 1, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    I'm sorry, Green, but you just don't do it for me. Really, it's me, not you. I don't mind a fling here and there, but anything long term...sorry.

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  28. BonnieNovember 1, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Yellow makes me feel like I have a liver disorder. :( But, I don't! :)

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  29. astoriaAnnNovember 1, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    I have black hair, green eyes, and yellow (sallow) skin. I can wear anything purple, blue, turquoise, and blue reds. Purple is just flattering to me, it makes my eyes pop and looks good with my dark hair. Anything with much yellow in it at all looks very bad. I love orange but can't wear it much. Unless its a blue-orange -- I know that doesn't seem possible but there are some cool oranges you know. Pink makes me miserable, it makes me think of pepto-bismal and barbies. Ugh.

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  30. StaceyKnitsItNovember 1, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    Pink makes me feel icky.
    Autumn colors are for me.
    You should over dye your shawl and wear it! :)
    If I win your yarn, I will most likely happily over dye it.

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  31. nNovember 1, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Pale, middle-of the road yellow makes me feel nauseous. I'm all for more saturated yellows that lean toward orange or green, though.

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  32. KathyLNovember 1, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    Tan, beige, cream, off-white - ick! My favs are blue, black, green, and gray. Purple - not so much, but I can gift whatever I make with it :)

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  33. TheaNovember 1, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    That pale-ish, sickly shade of blue/green that waiting rooms used to be painted before mauve became popular. Ick!!! Makes me feel sick to my stomach. BTW... can't stand mauve either.

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  34. pollyNovember 1, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    I HATE, loathe with a passion, BEIGE. I love orange, purple (often together), yellow, red, blue, green (wore various shades together), but absolutely hate that neutral beige.

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  35. bNovember 1, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    fluoro yellow makes me feel antsy

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  36. KarenNovember 1, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    No doubt about it... a bright red. I so often try to leave the house with it on in the morning. Sometimes I even make it to my car. Sometimes I make it to the end of the road. And then the inevitable u-turn. Sigh.

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  37. OlgaNovember 2, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    black. I jus hates it. Maybe cuz it reminds me of my heart...

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  38. DNovember 2, 2011 at 7:40 AM

    Tan. It's just sad. And it makes my skin look the same color.

    Favorites: green and yellow, preferably together. it feels like springtime, even on gray, dreary winter days.

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  39. craftivoreNovember 2, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    Moby Dick quiz on Penguin USA on facebook, how much do you know? https://apps.facebook.com/penguinusa/Quizzes/Take/1782

    I'm pretty omnivorous in colors, it all depends on what you pair them with. I've never been a wearer of green but have been inching into it with some more neutral ones, like a drab or army green. Don't think I would ever look good in a bright kelly, eek.

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  40. Mary KayNovember 2, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    I feel ill in Orange and look as queasy as I feel. Not a happy combination with my coloring.

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  41. meppybnNovember 3, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    Ahh-hmmm, I very much like that blackberry :) :) Though I think colour likes/dislikes are definitely related to personalities and I can see how that colour would not be a fave of yours :) :) Lethargic???? Soothing and restful to me :) :) In fact, I just bought the yarn to knit Tempest in two shades of, well perhaps it's a bit more burgundy that what you showed but looking good!!! Wearing orange would be my personal ick but know it looks great on others :)

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  42. green butterflyNovember 3, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    Ann, Your cats look lovely in purple!
    Jennifer

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  43. AnneNovember 4, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Yellow - sick. Beige - blah. I love me some deep jewel tones! Even in the summertime. I'm not a pastel person.

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  44. megNovember 4, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    Actually don't want the yarn because Purple is my least favorite! I am totally with you. My faves: grey, yellow, amber, mustard, teal, rust.

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  45. AnonymousNovember 4, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    I hate burgundy. It feels like my childhood.

    On the other hand, I love purple so much I end up buying it by accident sometimes.

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  46. Christina HughesNovember 5, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    Yellow: sickly. I try to wear it, it's so bright, but I take it off every time. Same with orange and I love orange. But purple makes me look fantastic. Which is why I am knitting a purple sweater right now after blocking out my last purple (and grey) sweater.

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