Color Secrets Revealed: How 12 Crochet Designers Choose Perfect Blanket Palettes
Have you ever stared at your yarn stash or been browsing in a yarn shop, completely stumped about which colours to combine for your next crochet blanket project? You’re definitely not alone! I’ve been there too, which is why I asked some top crochet designers to share their secrets for creating those gorgeous, eye-catching colour combinations we all admire.
I’m thrilled to bring you insights from 12 talented crochet designers who have generously shared their personal approaches to colour selection. What fascinates me most is how different each designer’s process is! Some work intuitively, some use colour theory, others find inspiration in nature or artwork, and a few have techniques I’d never even considered.
Whether you’re a beginner feeling overwhelmed by colour choices or an experienced crocheter looking to refresh your palette, you’re about to discover a treasure trove of practical advice and creative inspiration. So grab a cup of tea, settle in with your favourite WIP, and prepare to see colour selection in a whole new light!
Crochet Love Melbourne
From a just quick glance at Fran from Crochet Love Melbourne’s Instagram feed, you can see straight away that she’s fan of soft natural colours, including lots of warm pinks. However, she’s not afraid to add a pop of brighter colours too.
Here’s what Fran has to say about her methods for selecting colours for her blankets:
When I was asked to write a little about how I go about choosing colours for my crochet projects I honestly didn’t think I had much to say as I thought I was fairly ad hoc about how I choose colours. I don’t use colour wheels or colour theory, so I feel like I am sometimes wildly inconsistent!
After thinking about it however I realised that I am always unconsciously doing a number of things which definitely contribute to the way I choose colours for my crochet projects.
I always read the Etsy trends / insights report that they put out each season, mainly as I think they’re very interesting, but also because they give me a lot of inspiration. For example, this year they said that this pale minty green was their colour of 2025 and as I just happened to have bought some beautiful minty green cashmere yarn recently it was the perfect colour for my recent rib’n cable scarf design.
I am also constantly staring at what colours people are wearing when I am out and about and at my work ( in a public library ) and also asking friends and family what colours they like and wear as I really want to make things that people like and really will use!
Similarly, I try to make things in colours that I would wear, or use in my house, so most of my projects are just things I want or need to use in colours that I like such as my oven mitt design.
Every year I take note of what the Pantone colours of the year are, as they often determine trends and I like to be aware of what trends may be, even if I may or may not use those colours.
Sometimes project colours are determined by the yarn company I am collaborating with, for example the Starfish blanket I made recently was made in pastels (to be honest I’m not sure if I’m entirely happy with my colour choices for the blanket) as Hobbii was sponsoring me for the yarn and they wanted a pastel Easter type of look, so the yarn company requirements can also determine what colours I use.
Finally, I mainly go with a gut feeling of what looks right to me and what doesn’t look right, it’s just a sense I have when I like or don’t like something really and I suppose that is the X factor that I just can’t really explain…
You can find Fran’s patterns on her website or in her Ravelry store.
Emkatcrochet
Emkatcrochet, also known as Helen, is a prolific blanket designer who has created many popular blanket CALs for several different yarn companies. Her posts suggest that she is a fan of pastels and also plenty of bright, cheerful colours.
This is Helen’s take on choosing colours for crochet blankets:
When it comes to choosing colours for my crochet blankets, it’s one of my favourite parts of the whole process. I absolutely love colour!! The more, the better! I find so much joy in exploring new combinations and putting together palettes that feel fresh, exciting, or just plain cosy. Whether I’m aiming for something soft and subtle or bold and bright, the possibilities with colour are endless, and that’s what makes it so inspiring.
I find colour inspiration absolutely everywhere. My phone is bursting with photos and screenshots, anything that catches my eye, from a scene in a TV programme to the packaging on a chocolate bar. Sometimes it’s an outfit someone’s wearing, a beautiful sunset, or even a book cover. It doesn’t have to be “traditionally” beautiful, it just needs to spark something in me, and suddenly I’m imagining a whole blanket in those tones.
Once I’ve got an idea in mind, I turn to my trusty yarn pegs. These little tools are invaluable, they allow me to mix and match physical samples of my yarns to see how the colours work together in real life. It’s like playing with a paint palette!
Pinterest is another brilliant resource. I have boards full of colour palettes, nature scenes, and interior design shots that I use to guide or refine my choices.
Whether it’s online or in the everyday world around me, inspiration is always just a glance away.
You can find Helen’s patterns via her website or in her Ravelry store.
Emma C Makes
Emma, of Emma C Makes, is another lover of soft, natural tones, with a good dose of gentle pinks. She has crocheted countless blankets, including a number of beautiful ones made entirely from yarn scraps.
This is how Emma approaches colour choice for her blankets:
When starting out with choosing colours I often don’t have a particular palette in mind; I choose colours that I’m drawn to which tend to be muted pastels, with brighter pops of colour here and there.
When it comes to creating a blanket, particularly those that use mini skeins or scrap yarns, I let the colours guide me and choose the shade for the next row as I go along.
The only ‘rule’ I have is that I like to spread out very bold or very pale colours, and use them quite sparingly as accent colours, so they don’t dominate the overall look.
You can find Emma’s patterns in her Ravelry store or watch her tutorials on YouTube.
Keep Calm and Crochet On UK
Heather is the seasoned designer behind Keep Calm and Crochet On UK. Her blanket designs are bold and often bright, making great statement pieces.
Heather describes her way of selecting colours like this:
For me, colours are deeply personal, and I believe that everyone connects with them in their own unique way.
While I’m naturally drawn to the joyful spectrum of rainbows, I’m also often inspired by the mood of the design e.g. choosing rich, earthy tones for autumn or soft, bright shades for baby blankets.
I see my blanket designs as just a starting point. They’re more of a suggestion than a fixed formula, leaving plenty of room for others to reimagine them in colours that speak to their own tastes and memories.
I love the idea that each person can take a design and make it their own through colour, creating something truly personal and meaningful.
You can find Heather’s patterns in her Etsy store or via her website.
Knit Crochet Create
An experienced crochet and knit designer, Lynn of Knit Crochet Create is well known for her impressive selection of crochet and knitting patterns and books. Lynn’s bright and colourful Instagram feed suggests that she enjoys using a variety of different colours across her various projects and designs.
Here, Lynn describes her approach to colour selection:
I love to use my favourite belongings as colour inspiration – anything from an eclectic mix of notebooks, mugs and birthday cards to a stunning flower bouquet from a kind friend.
For my bear blanket lovey, I wanted to incorporate colours from some of my favourite things: a well-loved coffee mug, a fun notecard from a friend, a cute yarn ball stitch marker handmade by another friend, and my trusty ergonomic crochet hook.
I used yarn pegs to match the key colours from each item (I even included the coffee itself!), then start playing around with the combinations to reflect the mood or feel of the project I had in mind. It’s a fun and surprisingly effective way to build a colour palette, and it always feels really personal.
There’s something extra special about working on a project inspired by meaningful items, or a thoughtful gift or card from someone you care about. It adds a deeper layer of meaning to the blanket design, like a quiet reminder of that person and their kindness.
For me, it’s a lovely way to connect memories and crochet, especially when I’m focused on using what I already have in my stash. For my bear blanket project, I was delighted to find a gorgeous yarn cake that perfectly matched my favourite belongings. And that’s how my colour story became the heart of my baby blanket design.
Here are the steps you can follow too:
Step 1: Gather a few of your favourite items, or special cards you’ve saved from friends or family.
Step 2: Match yarn pegs to your chosen inspirational item(s).
Step 3: Have a mooch through your stash to find the closest yarn colours to match your pegs.
Step 4: Always take a photo of your inspiration, yarn pegs and chosen yarn, so you remember those amazing colour combos.
You can find Lynn’s patterns in her Etsy store and her free patterns on her website.
Lynn has also published this blog post about choosing colours, and you can watch her reel about making yarn pegs here.
Lottie & Albert
Lindsey is the designer behind both Lottie & Albert and the popular crochet subscription box Curate Crochet Box. Her blanket designs include two successful CALs for the yarn company Sirdar: one spring-themed and the other a fun Christmas design.
This is what Lindsey has to say about her approach to choosing colours:
When it comes to choosing colours for my blankets, I’m always guided by story and season. I find it really helps to start with a narrative or a feeling I want the blanket to evoke.
For example, my Blossom & Buds spring blanket was inspired by floral patchwork, allotments, and the slow growth of spring – so I leaned into fresh, floral shades and quilt-inspired layouts that felt like a garden plan coming to life.
On the flip side, my Gingerbread Christmas blanket was all about the joy of decorating gingerbread houses with my family – the kind of kitschy, vintage Christmas colour palette you’d find on a biscuit tin or a tin of boiled sweets!
That meant playing with nostalgic reds, pinks, candy stripes, and peppermint swirls to create a design that felt fun, festive, and full of tradition.
Overall, I often start with a mood board of textures, packaging, or even seasonal memories and from there, the colours almost choose themselves.
Once I have picked the initial colours I like, I then try to make sure there is enough contrast between the lights, darks and mid-tones, so that the overall blanket feels balanced. Sometimes it helps to plot the colours out in a way that shows them based on their overall usage too – for instance if there is a big amount of one colour, and just pops of a few smaller colours, I will try and lay this out visually to check it all still works.
You can find Lindsey’s patterns and subscribe to the Curate Crochet Box at the Lottie & Albert website.
Made By Hem
Helen of Made By Hem‘s designs are bright, eye-catching, and always make me smile. She’s a tapestry crochet fan and enjoys creating playful patterns.
Helen describes her approach to picking colours like this:
For me, colour choices almost always come first when I’m working on a new design. I love playing around with colour combinations as I very rarely work on projects using one single colour alone.
The first blanket I ever designed, the Rainbow Lolly Blanket, was conceived after a trip to the seaside and features vibrant pops of colour against a summery sunshine background.
I think I could now be entering my blue era so expect to see shades of blue running through my up-coming designs while I experiment with all of the beautiful blue tones and complimentary colour combinations on offer.
You can find Helen’s designs in her Ravelry store.
Nai Nai Makes
Naomi of Nai Nai Makes specialises in “scrap cake” projects and the majority of her designs use these cakes, which she makes and sells herself. This means that for many of her designs, and unlike the case for most other designers, the choice of colours comes into the creation of the yarn ball (scrap cake) itself and each item made with these scrap cakes is unique.
Here’s what Naomi has to say about how she chooses colours:
For me as a designer, I select my colour palette based on what final outlook I am aiming for. A specific selection for a bold finish usually with a neutral colour thrown in, or a palette based on scenery or garden vibes.
Mostly my signature colour vibe is the boho scrappy mix. This will always be random and most of the time colours that are a tilted step away from primary colours on the colour wheel.
I always add shades next to one another that don’t normally match and are compete opposites. No two shades the same sit side by side.
This is why I love building scrap cakes to continue this random mixed colour palette.
You can find Naomi’s patterns on Ravelry and her scrap cakes (as well as her patterns) are available from Etsy.
Off the Hook Creative
Off the Hook Creative is run by Carmen who’s a fan of bold patterns and retro-inspired palettes in her unique and striking designs.
This is how Carmen describes her take on choosing colours:
Usually before I start creating a design or a crochet project I think about what style/vibe/look I want to get out of it. Often my mind immediately goes to a retro colour combination, those are my favourite, but sometimes I also want to have an autumn or summer vibe too.
Here are a few ways I get inspiration for colour combinations:
1) If I really don’t have a clear idea of mood/style I would like to go for I simply Google: ‘trending colour combinations now’ or ‘most popular colour trend now’… I click search, and then I tap ‘images’ only so I just get a nice selection of thumbnail images to scroll through.
Often what comes up are delicious paint sample colour swatches. I mean who doesn’t love looking at paint swatches, and drooling over suggested colour combinations? (Or is it just me? Hehe).
I then have a look through and the colour combinations that stand out to me I take a screenshot and keep it in a folder on my phone named ‘crochet inspiration’ .
This really helps if you are making home accessories (i.e. blankets; coasters; cushions etc).
Here are a few examples:
I don’t use all the colours combined in one palette suggestion, but it gives me confidence of what colours could actually work together. For example the combination here that I did for a baby blanket gift, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to add the light purples to the combination of burnt orange and poppy colours. I was also not sure if beige and light dusky pink would be too muted together, but I really think it gives it a fresh country cottage vibe.
Here is more of a retro vibe, which I used for my In the Mood Blanket. So I would have specifically looked up ‘retro colour combinations’ and scrolled through some interesting colour combinations that take you out of your comfort zone.
2) Another way I find colour combinations is to refresh my knowledge of the colour wheel (we all learnt about it at school). I downloaded a free colour wheel chart from Color Wheel Artist. Sometimes for those more simple projects with only 2 to 3 colours I find it helpful to refer back to the colour wheel to find my complimentary colours.
3) I also get a lot of inspiration from nature or items around me. So I do take a lot of photos of flowers, or landscapes to keep in my digital file for inspiration for projects during a particular season… Like this is my inspiration for this Spring / Summer blanket design.
4) If I have a lot of one colour of yarn that I am struggling to find something to make with or it is a colour I am not sure how to combine with something else (let’s say for instance it is winter rose colour) I would search: ‘best colours that work with winter rose colour’ and I get a little written suggestion (AI Overview) on Google to read through to help visualise some options.
You can find Carmen’s patterns in her Ravelry store.
Spit Spot Stitches
Sapphire from Spit Spot Stitches is no stranger to designing blankets. The colours she goes for include lots of cheerful, pretty pastels. This year, she is the designer behind Sirdar’s Summer Picnic Blanket CAL.
Here, Sapphire describes how she took the theme of a summer picnic and came up with a gorgeous colour palette for this blanket:
For the summer picnic blanket I designed as the summer blanket crochet along with Sirdar, I wanted every stitch to feel like a celebration of sunshine, sweetness, and shared moments.
I chose colours with playful pops of pastel and juicy brights to echo the fresh fruits and treats you’d find in a picnic basket—think strawberries, citrus slices, and soft scoops of ice cream in the summer.
The textures throughout the design were carefully chosen to add a tactile, almost edible quality—bobbles like berries, ripples like melty strawberry ice cream, or watermelon pips from easy eyelets!
I wanted to teach techniques that are different for even experienced crocheters, the idea was to start simple, right at the basics and build on the skills week after week. More than anything, I just wanted it to be fun.
Summer picnics are little adventures with the people we love, and this blanket is meant to carry that spirit. I can’t wait to see all the finished blankets out in the wild, making memories and going on adventures of their own!
You can find Sapphire’s patterns in her Ravelry store or on Etsy.
Stitched Up Craft
Kylie of Stitched Up Craft is known for her bright and colourful motif-based blankets as well as her countless different granny square designs.
Here, Kylie describes how she selects colours for her designs:
I think many people have colour tones they are drawn to, that they have a more emotional response to, and for me it is jewel tones and dusky tones. While I can look at pastel or neutral colours and appreciate them, they don’t evoke an emotional response for me. Having that positive response is important to me because then that project is going to bring me joy.
I combine that emotional response with logic. How suited are the colours to design? Will they suit the purpose or the recipient?
I also always aim for a contrast of shadow and light, otherwise it may all just blend into each other, so I love using a neutral tone to make bolder colours pop.
So, I don’t have a simple method for choosing colours. I overthink it, I umm and aah, but then 9/10 I end up with the option I started with.
But I don’t mind spending so much time playing with colours, because for me it’s a big part of the creative process and I enjoy playing around with and imagining all the possibilities.
You can find Kylie’s patterns in her Etsy store.
The Queen of Loops
Jelena, AKA The Queen of Loops, designs highly unique crochet projects with bold patterns that really make a statement. The colours she is drawn to are rich and striking.
Jelena describes her approach to colour choice like this:
Choosing colours for the Floral Blooms crochet blanket was actually one of the easiest and most enjoyable parts of the project. I didn’t overthink it—I simply looked around my living room and let that guide me.
I’ve always loved working with colours that already exist in my home. It makes everything feel more connected and harmonious.
For this blanket, I pulled inspiration from the mustard yellow of my favourite chair and a few cushions, the rich petrol that complements my sofas, chairs and wall art, and a soft pale grey that gently mirrors the walls. These tones came together beautifully, creating a palette that feels calm, balanced in the space.
I also wanted to keep the colour scheme simple and understated—something that would blend into the space rather than overpower it. The goal was for the blanket to feel like a natural part of the room, not just something decorative, but something I could use and enjoy every day.
It’s such a satisfying feeling when a handmade piece not only reflects your style but truly belongs in your home.
You can find Jelena’s patterns on her website.
Conclusion
Wasn’t that inspiring? After reading through these designers’ approaches, I hope you feel empowered to experiment with colours in ways you might not have considered before. What stands out to me is that there truly is no “right” way to choose colours for your crochet blankets—just different paths that can all lead to beautiful results.
You might be surprised to discover which of these methods resonates most with you. Perhaps it’s creating a mood board, or maybe it’s pulling colours from a favourite object. Online tools and searches can also certainly help with suggestions and inspiration. The joy of crochet is in making each project uniquely yours, and colour selection is such a personal part of that creative journey.
I’d love to know which designer’s approach you connect with most, or if you have your own special method for choosing colours! Share your thoughts in the comments – I’d love to hear!
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun with the process and create blankets that bring you joy, both while making them and when they’re wrapped around you or your loved ones.
Happy crocheting!
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