Following up from my articles about the best strategies to choosing thread colors for your projects I’ve had a few discussions on the best tools for working with embroidery colors. So here are my suggestions for the embroidery tools must-haves for working with colors!
The list is not too long, and if you’re an avid stitcher, you’ll frequently find yourself using or consulting some of the books I’ll highlight. Personally, I go back to these tools on a daily basis and to be completely honest, you won’t be needing anything else when it comes to creating gorgeous color schemes for your embroideries.
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Tools for Working with Embroidery Colors
Depending on the embroidery project you’re working on, choosing the right colors can vary in difficulty. Sometimes it’s as easy as flipping through a book or using an online palette generator. Other times, you might need to combine multiple tools to achieve the exact palette you’re after.
Here is a list of essential tools for working with embroidery colors I recommend to beginners and more experienced stitchers, if you haven’t already got them.
1. DMC Color Card with Real Thread
If there’s one must have I recommend you should invest in is the DMC color card with real embroidery thread. This is the only tool I always keep on my desk, and can’t tell you how many times I’ve double-checked colors and realized they weren’t as I imagined.
Some of the online color schemes generators do an amzing job, but there’s nothing quite like the real thread samples in this card. Pair it up with the color wheel listed below, and you’ve got everything needed to craft your own custom palettes.
2. Anchor Color Card with Real Thread
The Anchor Color Card is similar to the DMC one but features real embroidery thread from the Anchor brand. If you’re using both brands in your projects, this card is another must-have.
Personally, I find Anchor’s floss colors to be more vibrant and saturated for certain shades. I often mix both DMC and Anchor floss in the same pattern.
3. DMC Printed Color Card
This DMC color card is the printed version of the one with real threads. It’s a bit cheaper and it’s cover looks very similar.
Make sure to carefully read the description before making a purchase. If you’re after the one with real thread and end up with the printed version, it can be a bit disappointing.
4. Color Wheel
This handy color wheel is a must-have tool for crafting your own color palettes. It works just like the online palette generators: just spin the wheel, and the arrows point to different color pairings. It’s affordable and one of the easiest ways to create aesthetically pleasing color schemes for your embroidery projects.
A lot of stitchers think this tool is only for painters or for deep diving into the dull world of color theory. Sure, you’ll pick up some color theory knowledge along the way, but when you combine it with the DMC card featuring real thread, that’s all you really need for mastering colors.
5. Colour Confident Stitching Book
Colour Confident Stitching Book by by Karen Barbé is an essential read to understand a bit better how colors work together and affect each other.
This is a great book on colour theory applied to textile art and a useful resource on how to create your own color palettes.
6. Colour Confidence in Embroidery Book
Last but not least on the list is another book – Colour Confidence in Embroidery by Trish Burr. Saving the best for last! Consider this book the ultimate guide to embroidery colors, like the bible of color for embroidery enthusiasts. If you’re looking for made-for-you color palettes, then this is an absolute must-have!
The book features over 200 stitched examples with DMC thread keys. The color palettes are indeed crafted with the needle painting technique in mind, but you can always use the colors suggested for smaller and simpler patterns.
Conclusion
If you’re new to embroidery, don’t let all these essential tools overwhelm you. Over time, you’ll gather everything you need, and most importantly, you’ll develop your own techniques and discover what works best for you.
Besides the Anchor color card, I personally own all the tools I mentioned, and I can confirm, you won’t need much else when it comes to working with embroidery colors.
If I were starting my journey today and I’d have to choose between these resources, I’d grab the DMC color card with real thread, the color wheel, and Trish Burr’s Colour Confidence in Embroidery book.
To me, that’s the ultimate power trio!
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Let me know in the comments below what other tools for embroidery colors do you use and don’t forget to join @makenstitch on Instagram so we can connect!
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