Pantone has named MARSALA as the Colour of the Year for 2015!

Pantone^® named MARSALA 18-1438 as the Colour of the Year for 2015 
December 4^th, 2014

Marsala is described as "a naturally robust and earthy wine red" that will translate easily to fashion, beauty, home fashions and interiors.

This universally appealing colour is a rich red-brown with blue undertones which embodies both warmth and sophistication. Marsala is a natural, earthy colour that is sultry and seductive.

"It's a colour that you can mix with what you already own," said Leatrice Eisman, the executive director of the Pantone Institute. "You can add just a touch of it. That's the intent and purpose. It is not the colour that swallows the world." As an accent it pairs well with warmer taupes and grays, golden yellows, turquoise and teal as well as a vibrant range of blues.

FASHION

Designers such as Daniel Silverstain, Dennis Basso and Hervé Léger by Max Azria featured Marsala during the Spring 2015 runway shows. Blake Lively was stunning when she wore it on the red carpet during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2014. Expect to see this hue paired together with other colours in floral prints, plaids and stripes. Fashion accessories such as sunglasses, purses, sunglasses and shoes will also feature Marsala.

Blake Lively

BEAUTY

Marsala is a flattering colour for many skin tones. This deep wine is an elegant hue for lipstick and nail polish but is also flattering as an eyeshadow. Sephora will launch its Marsala Layering Lip Collection and Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio in December 2014. 

Sephora's Marsala Collection

HOME FASHIONS/ACCESSORIES
This rich colour will add elegance to any room. It adds warmth and elegance when used as a home fashion accent paired with warm taupes and grays and vibrant blues.

Home Fashions

Marsala is a fortified Italian wine that is produced in the sunny region of Marsala on the coast of Sicily. 

ST. JOHN'S WORT LACE

STITCH OF THE MONTH - December 2014

St. John's Wort is an all-over slipped-stitch lace pattern that resembles small flowers. The pattern is worked over a four-row repeat. Slipped stitches are worked over two stitches on the right side which decreases the number of stitches on the row. These stitches are increased with a yarn over on the purl (wrong side) rows. Therefore, the stitches should only be counted once a purl row has been completed.

St. John's Wort is an herbal plant known for its anti-depressant properties and studies have shown that knitting can be a natural anti-depressant. How perfect there would be a lovely knitting stitch named after this medicinal plant.

St. John's Wort Lace Stitch
(Multiples of 6 stitches plus 2)
Row 1 (RS)  k1, *sl1, k2, psso, k3; repeat from * to last st, k1
Row 2  P5, *yo, p5; repeat from * to last 2 sts, yo, p2
Row 3  k1, *K3, sl1, k2, psso; repeat from * to end, k1
Row 4  P2, *yo, p5; repeat from * to end
These 4 rows form the St. John's Wort Lace Stitch Pattern