Friday, January 16, 2015

Friday Contest and Color in Designs

I was looking through some of my Elizabeth Hiddleson pattern books the other day. There is one thing that always puzzles me about her designs; all of her doilies are  either white or ecru, she never seemed to use any colors (at least not to my knowledge.) I know that colored threads were available during the time she was creating her patterns, so it had to be her personal preference to use only white or ecru. I have heard that some designers think that using colored thread  detracts  from the beauty of the stitch patterns used. And, I will be the first to admit, there is nothing more beautiful and elegant than a pure white doily (especially one of EH's designs!) 
One of Elizabeth Hiddleson's gorgeous doilies from Revised Designs, Volume 9. 

I, on the other hand, can't seem to get enough colors in my designs. 


But, it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com or in my Etsy shop bellacrochetEtsy. The pattern will be  in PDF form and will be sent as an attachment to an email. I do not have printed copies of my patterns available; no printed patterns can be mailed. 
I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. If I do not hear back from the winner within 7 days, I will select a new winner. Failure to contact me within 7 days  will result in the forfeiture of all prizes. 
Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.) You can also leave your email address with your comment so I can notify you if you win, but this is optional. 
To enter, just leave a comment here on the blog answering this question:
Do you like to use a lot of different colors in your crochet work, or do you prefer to use only white or ecru ?

This contest is now closed. Please check back again next week for my next contest!

34 comments:

bzbutterfly said...

I use a lot of colors too
Iz

amamama said...

I love to use color! I like to make toy and amigurumi patterns for yarn in thread and therefore they must be in color.

Beva said...

I love colourful doilies but most people ask me for white or ecru.

Katy said...

I tend to use quite a bit of colour. Although there is something classy and timeless about a white crocheted doily or tablecloth or bedspread.

Unknown said...

I use a lot of color! Nothing brightens up a corner like a colorful doily or tablecloth.

Unknown said...

I love color! Right now I am enjoying my coffee in my favorite mug, which is bright red. I call it my happy cup. However, I have to admit that I am intimidated by selecting colors to use in my projects. Now and then some color combination screams, "Pick me!" but that does not happen very often. Having worked in a quilt shop for a few years helped me to "see" colors together; still...

camie g said...

i use color, it depends on the pattern. some look better in white/ecru. I also prefer solid colors as opposed to the ombre ones, i think the ombre ones are harder to make it look right. they are better as background, or accents, like your easter basket example. or the flowers on the butterfly example, but i don't generally use ombre for the whole thing. and, i hate having to weave in the ends, it's bad enough with yarn, but with thread, oy, i have to put on two pairs of magnifiers just to see it, so i try not to have too many color changes in thread if possible.

Phyllis Moynihan said...

Generally I like the look of Pure White Doilies. White or Ecru doilies go with any surrounding. However I do want to start using some color in my doilies.

Chain Stitch Crochet said...

I like using a lot of color too. Although in changing color I dislike weaving in with thread. It's harder to hide.

Anonymous said...

I Love lots of Color too as well as White or Ecru. I feel some things should be in Colors and some in White depending on the project or even the person if it's a gift.

Thank you,
Yiayia
Hegwitch@hotmail.com

ps45vs1 said...

I am new at thread crocheting and love the use of color in everyone's work. White and ecru are beautiful as well in certain projects. I'm trying both ways and mixing white with colors to make my pieces pop!

Unknown said...

It's funny to me, but with my yarn crochet I love color. With my thread I prefer just the white or ecru with occasional, maybe just pale "hints", of color. Shrug. Never really realized it till you asked the question. LOL!

Unknown said...

Where I live its hard to get color thread but do love doilies in color.

Unknown said...

I love lots of color!! Oh and glossy, bright colors take my breath away. If I'm having a bad day, laying out the brightly colored doilies or starting a new one, will brighten my mood instantly. Makes me forget all about the pain I'm in. :-)

AbraKassSandra said...

I like my crochet doilies in all sorts of colors to match my decorations ;-)
Nice greetings from Germany!
Sandra
abrakasssandra@aol.com

Sherri said...

I like them all, color, white, red, ecru and any other colors I just love making doilies!

Divonna Littlefield Thornburg said...

I love to use colors, especially jewel tones!

Unknown said...

I have done many, many of EH designs in both white & ecru. Now with all the Egyptian Cotton colors available etc. I break her patterns down & use colors too!!
They are truly beautiful & timeless patterns ! !

karen kelly said...

I like to use lots of colors. It makes me feel happy!

Dars said...

cOLORS cOlORS COLORS!!!!!!!!

Gramma Rita said...

I absolutely love using lots of color in my work! I've found that with doilies, it seems a lot of people only want white or ecru, but that doesn't stop me from making colorful ones! :)

Unknown said...

it really depends on what I'm working on-somethings look better in 1 color-some in multi colors-

Anonymous said...

I love to use a lot of color mostly when working with flowers. I rarely do an all white doily.

denise.fritz@yahoo.com

Typstatting said...

I love colours and also the plain colours as well!

jonamc said...

It depends on the doily. Some doilies look stunning in white or ecru, like pineapple doilies. I love making unique doilies, participularly floral doilies, holiday doilies and Ann's Lovely Ladies, for these you just have to use colour!

Rita Swanson said...

I love using colors for holiday doilies and ecru for all others.
Rita

Wildflower said...

I like to use a lot of colors in my doilies that I make.

Kaylene said...

I love colour in doilies including white. I always seem to end up with pink in my projects!

Anonymous said...

I add colors with white. Also use diffrent colored thread for making doilies. Hardly 4 or 5 doilies are in pure white.
Darshana

Carmel said...

wow I love it, Yes I also love colour in all i make, Going to start Bird of paridise next week,

Carmel said...

oh I hope i win pattern lol

Draw said...

I have lots of colour and enjoy the colour until I make the doily! Then I don't like it as much. I have made several doilies of the same pattern with different colours, and the detail is just not seen or appreciated in a coloured doily! So, because of this, I stick to white or ecru for my doilies and use all the colour I want for my yarn projects! Happy Crochet!!!

panavia999 said...

One important aspect of Hiddleston's booklet's was always a large photo showing the stitch definition, a valuable tool in working her patterns. I know it is valuable for me to see the picture while deciphering the written pattern. Seems that the patterns sometimes suggested other colors options. But EH's designs kept it staighforward, and left color options to the user's imagination. For example, I bought a pattern book on ebay, and the lady who used it wrote n the margins how many times she made a certain doily, the colors used, and the people she made it for.

Anonymous said...

maybe older patterns were done in all 1 color because colors(especially red)ran when washed???.Not positive,but I did read that somewhere