PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT SPRING 2014

Today Pantone® released their fashion colors for Spring 2014 during the first day of New York Fashion Week. The colors are described as ‘A Season of Color Equilibrium’. “This season consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium”, said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allow for experimentation with new look and color combinations.”

Designers have paired soft pastels with vivid brights for spring 2014 to create a colorful equilibrium. The colors are inspired by a "mixture of blooming flowers, travels abroad and strong, confident women". Designers use color to refresh, revive and defy with this modern twist on the traditional.

The top colors for women's fashion for spring 2014 are:

   Pastels

      PLACID BLUE - pastel blue that is reminiscent of tranquil skies

      VIOLET TULIP - romantic, vintage purple

      HEMLOCK - summery, ornamental green

   Neutrals

      PALOMA - quintessential neutral grey

      SAND - lightly toasted and amiable neutral

   Strong, Vibrant Colors

      FREESIA - blazing yellow

      CAYENNE - spicy, high-pitched red

      CELOSIA ORANGE - fresh orange 

      RADIANT ORCHID - bright, rich purple

      DAZZLING BLUE - a subtler shade of cobalt blue

Dazzling Blue is currently trending as the Color of the Year for 2014.  WWD has reported that 17.05 percent of designers used this hue in their spring 2014 fashions for women. The color may feel very familiar - it's being compared to “Facebook Blue”. 

KNITTED HEMS

STITCH OF THE MONTH – September 2013

Hems are created when the knitted fabric is folded back and stitched into place. It's used to stabilize the bottom edge so the garment will hold its shape and prevent it from curling or stretching. Knitted hems adds a structural design element to a design.

It's important to do a gauge swatch when incorporating a hem into a design (particularly if the stitch pattern will change after the hem has been worked). It is recommended to use needles one or two sizes smaller than the main garment be used for the hems. 

THE PICOT HEM
The Picot Hem adds femininity and charm to a garment.  This is a popular hem used in patterns for baby garments and accessories.

Picot Hem

(even number of stitches)

Rows 1 thru 4:  St st
Row 5:  K1, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to end, k1. 

Rows 7 thru 9:  St st
Fold fabric under along the picot row and slip stitch edging into place. 

PURL FOLDLINE HEM
The row of purl stitches adds a sharp fold line to the hem of a garment.

Purl Foldline Hem
(any number of stitches)
Work in St st for 8 rows (ending with a purl row).
Row 1 (RS):  Knit
Row 2:  Purl
Cont working in St st for 8 rows.
Row 9:  Purl 
Row 10:   Cont working in St st beginning with a Purl row for 8 rows.
Fold fabric under along the purl row and slip stitch edging into place.

Abbreviations
Cont     continue
k2tog    knit 2 stitches together
rep       repeat
RS       right side
St st     stockinette stitch
yo         yarn over
WS       wrong side