Flirtatious Fir

I just couldn't let go of this photo - the idea that sturdy brown fir cones begin as such lavishly pink little flowers intrigued me.

There is a lovely mix of browns, and even a hint of olive to set them off:

I chose midrange hues for part of the sock yarn, and pastels for the other:

and pastels for the other:

Both sock colourways have been designed so that the brown hues and the red/pink hues will alternate in full rounds for most sock sizes.

The BFL:

I am drawn more and more to the idea of semisolids and subtle blends - even in a richly complex colourway, I like the effect of choosing hues in a similar value range.  Except for specifically designed striping effects, high contrast creates a graphically intense variegation that can overshadow the colours themselves. It can be very challenging to create a balanced blend, while still honoring the spirit of the original inspiration, because light and dark are not the only factors in contrast.  Warmth and saturation play a vital and sometimes surprising role, and the balancing act is a delicious blend of intellectual planning and sheer instinct.

The silk blend turned out rich and shimmering, as always:

The merino lace palette honors the delicacy of the wee blooms:

Comments

[Rachel]

Stunning! I wish I could get one of each!

[--Deb]

That is a FABULOUS color! Yours always look good, but that one is particularly gorgeous. I'm not even that big a fan of pink and yet ... it's perfect.

[Heather]

Sorry, but the biologist is me can't let this one go. Firs are gymnosperms, not angiosperms. They don't have flowers.

[Katinka]

I think this may be one of my favorites -- such a lovely colorway!

[Cayenne]

You are amazing! Have you ever tried dying processed fiber for spinning?

[Aim]

Oh, such a lovely colorway! I really like how that looks. And I never realized fir cones EVER looked pink!!! Thanks for sharing that photo :) It's really interesting to see what inspires you....

[Cheryl]

Wow! I love these colors. Soooo pretty! I'm always so impressed how you take the colors from a photo and translate them into yarn. The results always amaze me!