I was reading Gail Callahan's book Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece this morning, and I would like to share some tips on how to make nice colorways when dyeing:
PLAN FOR CONTRAST. You can achieve color contrast through both color temperature and color saturation; include both warm/cool and light/dark areas in the yarn.
VARY THE COLOR VALUES. If all the colors in your skein are the same value, especially if they are too high in value, the eye can find no place to rest. Try to have some high values and some low values to add interest.
AVOID MUDDINESS. Allowing too many colors to blend together results in dark or possibly even black spots in your yarn. When two true primaries blend together, it creates a crisp color.
INTENSIFY COLOR GRADUALLY. Always start with a lighter dye color than you think you want. You can always add more color, but you can't subtract it.
BE BRAVE - MOVE TOWARD GREATER INTENSITY. A piece will look lifeless if it contains too little color. If the color looks too flat, give it a kick by adding some of the pure primary of the main color.
WARM UP A COMBINATION. To add warmth to a too-cool color scheme, include a warm color that's not too intense. For instance, pale salmon rather than a bright red.
INCLUDE AN ODDBALL. A small amount of the complementary color gives life to many color combinations.
And remember, the worst that can happen is that you have to overdye! Experiment, document, and above all, have fun!
Happy crafting! :D
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