A few weeks ago we talked about how to start creating your own embroidery designs, and this week we are moving into picking a color palette. Even if you aren’t making your own design, you’ll find this post helpful for the times you want to rearrange a color palette from a pre-made design. Either way, if the thought of picking your own colors sounds a bit intimidating—this Abide Guide is for you!
Before we get started, keep in mind that picking colors isn’t like a math equation (aka there is no one right away). Rather you can come up with a multitude of different color combinations and they each look fantastic! So with that in mind, here is my step-by-step process for building a palette from start to finish.
1. The Fabric is Your First Thread
Before you touch a single skein of floss, you must pick your fabric. I think of the fabric as the main color of the design so it’s important you get this shade just right. Is your design meant to give off feelings of joy? Go brighter! Do you know your design will have a lot of competing colors? Stick with a simple cream! Is the background meant to represent night? Pick blue!
The Abide Rule: Fabric isn't just a backdrop; it’s a player. If you pick your threads first and your fabric later, your "perfect" yellow might disappear into a cream-colored linen. Pick your canvas first so your threads have a job to do.
2. Shop with a "Color Count" List
To avoid being overwhelmed, I never go to the store empty-handed. I bring my design/line drawing with me so I don't forget what I'm looking for. On the side, I’ll write a "Color Count" list:
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2 greens for leaves
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1 terracotta for the pot
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3 yellows for the chicken
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3 "pop" colors for flowers
Going into the store with this in mind you won’t have that dreaded moment of getting home and realizing you forgot a color for the flowers! Unsure about two colors? Buy both! You won’t regret it. It’s better to have more options than no options.
Already have an amazing thread collection? Use this same method and “shop” your colors at home!
3. Start with the "Non-Negotiables"
Start with the "Anchor Colors"—the things that must be a certain way to tell the story. Go to the DMC rack and pull your shades for those anchors. Don’t just look at them on the shelf; pull them off and hold them together in your hand. The lighting in the store is good enough to show you the truth of how two colors feel side-by-side.
4. Trust Your Eyes: The "Clash" Test
When I hold a green next to a terracotta, I’m looking for a fight.
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The Red Flag: Does the green look "dirty" next to the orange? Does the orange look "neon" next to the green?
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The Fix: If they are fighting, one has the wrong undertone. I lean toward organic, desaturated tones—mossy greens and dusty roses. These play much nicer together than bright, primary shades.
Keep in mind you may find four colors that look fantastic together and then you grab that fifth and it doesn’t quite work, but you love it so much that you feel like you have to keep it. Don’t be afraid to rework those other colors!
5. Depth vs. Flatness
If you want a design to have life and "dimension," you can choose to use more than one color per section. To avoid a flat look, pick light, medium, and dark versions of your main colors. For example, I often use more than one color green in a design that requires leaves or grass.
6. The "Readable" Text Rule
Lettering is the heart of many "Abide" designs, so it must be readable. I always ensure my text color has high contrast against the fabric. If I want to use a lighter, softer text color, I make sure the fabric is dark enough to let those letters breathe. Contrast is the difference between a design you can read and a design you have to squint at. Admittedly, this may be the hardest part of picking your colors! In the early years of Abide I often only used grey because I knew you could read it. But over time I have branched out to find more colors that have that contrast that is needed but still help add to the design and not just make it “okay”.
7. The "Living Room" Reality Check
Even with a great store-aisle selection, colors can shift at home. My advice? Give it a chance. Thread looks different when it’s bundled in a skein than it does when it’s lying flat against the fabric and against other colors. If you get home and a color feels like a "maybe," stitch with it for ten minutes or even stitch other elements around that one color. Often, once it's interlaced with other colors, it finds its place. If it’s a flat "no," swap it out. But let the needle have the final say!
I can’t wait to see the combinations you come up with! Hopefully, this guide makes picking your threads just as fun as the stitching itself. If you run into any 'color clashes' or just need a second opinion, don't hesitate to reach out. Happy stitching!
