I also tend to keep sections of thread that I have used but have finished off "parked" at the top of the canvas, out of the way so that I can easily pick up that thread again when needed. This, however, doesn't work if two threads are very close in color.  On this pattern, I have the background and the lightest peach which are very close in color and I find it very difficult to differentiate the two.  Therefore, I never park the lightest peach when working the pattern, preferring to end the thread and wind it back on the original floss bobbin. When working the first Katrianna, I mixed them up frequently and had to take out the incorrect color many times, so this time I am being more conscious of the two threads to prevent the same mistakes.

Have you ever seen a pattern you like but don't like the colors of it?  I know I have! It is very common and not insurmountable. Changing colors to ones you like better and match your own color scheme makes the design feel more like your own and can go a long way towards making your scene fit your own vision.

Several of my patterns include different color schemes, simply because I kept thinking of other colors that could work. But how do you go about making a pattern match your vision?

Recently, a fellow stitcher by the name of Martha S, chose one of the rugs that I have several schemes for, in yet another color scheme, showing that the pattern can be changed to almost anything to suit your own scheme. She has given me permission to discuss her journey into choosing colors to go with her vision. She chose the Sonja rug for her scene.  

Above is Martha's storyboard. On the storyboard, she has samples of the fabrics and wallpaper that she eventually ended up using.  There are 3 floss color cards that she has placed on the board. The one in the center shows the colors she chose for the smaller, French knot version of the rug she placed in the bedroom. The floss card showing the various shades of grey shows the colors she eventually chose for the larger version of the Sonja and the smaller floss card at the bottom right shows samples of threads she used in other stitching she placed around the room.

This gave Martha an excellent way of matching colors to her current color scheme. As you can see, the shades of grey floss that she chose complement the greys she has in her fabrics and wallpaper perfectly.  Martha asked another stitcher (Peggy B) to stitch the rug for her once she decided upon the colors and this is the finished product in place in Martha's dollhouse.

If you wish to change colors in one of my patterns, you could apply Martha's technique to help you decide upon colors.  Make note of the number of colors in the pattern and be sure to choose the same number of colors for your pattern.  You may decide to change only one or two colors to better match your scene, or you may decide to change all of them as Martha did.  Changing the colors doesn't have to be hard and you can let your imagination soar using this method.

If any of you have stitched one of my rugs and changed the color schemes, I would love to see them. It is always fun to see what everyone has done with my designs.  I hope this helped you and until my next post - happy stitching!