Help me decide! Capsule item dilemma: crimson or plum? - YouLookFab Forum

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Help me decide! Capsule item dilemma: crimson or plum?

Keturah

Veteran

So, I'm knitting the sweater featured below. I want to knit it in crimson or plum.

My dilemma is this: true red, crimson, oxblood, wine, and the like are what popped up my F/W 2014 wardrobe capsule, along with lots of nude blush, So I was going to begin building my capsule around that color.

(For reference, the other colors that popped up were nude, rose beige/nude blush, cream, ivory, black, grey, and touches of loden/grey-green. Also, lots of clear orange, which I'm interpreting as cognac for accents. So right now, the palette is incredibly neutral and needs some strong color to balance it out. For the record, as much as they seem to "clash" I love pairing strong colors like true red and wine/burgandy/plum together. Maybe that's weird. But I do.)

That said...um...well, I keep popping up with wine, burgundy and plum when I shop, even though there isn't a hint of it to be seen on my pinterest mood board. I am knitting a dress right now that is plum. (I did buy the yarn last year, but I'm still wearing it this year.)The crimson would be more in-line with my mood board and it's gorgeous. But there's something about that plum that makes me want to knit it up into a sweater. I want to wear a strong crimson lip or softer mauve/nude lip with it.

It's one of those items I want to fit into my current capsule, but also recognize that it's hand knit, expensive yarn, and wouldn't just wear it one season: I want to love it and wear it for years to come. Of course, I could always just knit another sweater in a red. It's true. And I may do that.

But for the sake of working through capsule planning...

Do I go with my heart or stick to my capsule??

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18 replies

Latest reply was from Keturah

Staysfit

Veteran

Oh my! I would go with your heart! You will wear it, and it sounds like it will still go with everything in your capsule anyway! The colors are beautiful!

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

The heart wants what the hear wants. I say plum. Here's why:
1) What bottoms would you wear with it? Likely every neutral will go. (Even your loden green--whether or not you want to is your preference.)
2) Will you put some sort of topper over it--or will it stand alone? If so, will you have enough--i.e., enough for your preferred level of variety? same goes for any accessories like scarves.
3) A capsule wardrobe is a theoretical construct. You made it up. You can change it.
4) If you will wear it for the number of years you think you should--even if the colour is not trendy, (though it is) then go for it.
5) Don't forget, the colours that are on your mood board reflected how you felt the day you picked them--you do not have to be locked into them forever.
6) You should love what you wear--especially if you are making it for yourself.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I'd follow your heart, esp if you are already doing a plum dress. One pair of gorgeous earrings to work with both. Assuming that the plum goes well with your nude blush neutral. It would be awesome with the loden and black too. A small plum capsule is a fine thing. Might be a treasure hunt to find plum shoes but who knows.

Whose patten? Is it on ravelry? It's lovely.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I'd say go with your heart, knowing that the texture won't show up as easily as it would in the lighter crimson. (But really, that's a beautiful sweater - I'd make it in both colors )

Beth Ann

Veteran

I think the yarn matters. If you're experienced, you know that colors often look slightly different in the garments than on the skein. Which do you think will have the most depth and richness? Look the best in different lights? Your wardrobe neutrals would "go" with both crimson and purple.

Lovely pattern!

Anonymous

I love the crimson, but I think you should change your capsule to match your heart. Then you can follow them both!

Keturah

Veteran

Well clearly, plum has won! So I'm going with my heart.

Staysfit, I like crimson, but I just love really rich red-violet plums. It's a great yarn too! 50/50 locally raised alpaca/organic US merino.

Alana, wow, great questions and I found the plum answering them all! I wear a lot of black for bottoms. I don't own much forest or loden green, but love it a lot and want to add some. I love pairing plum with dark greens. And I love wearing plum. I enjoy crimson, but never really wear it. I feel "out there" and highly visible wearing it -- unless we're talking lipstick, nail polish, shoes, or accessories. And for some reason, that feels entirely different to me.

Rambling Ann, it's a really wonderful (free!!) pattern from Norah Gaughan. It's here available from knitty: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEdf10/PATTbeatnik.php

Lots of knitters made one and have shown it on Ravelry.

I don't own much nude blush - just a boho style chiffon topper. And it's really more of a mauve. So it would easily work with the plum.

Alexandra, I actually might get a less expensive crimson yarn and knit it up. I know darker colors don't show cables as well. But I love the color a lot. Having not seen it in person, I am hoping it's brighter and saturated, and not just a dark color.

Beth Ann, I actually haven't been able to touch and use the yarns in person. But I have looked at other garments made with the yarn and they turn out really gorgeous - drapey, soft, and squishy. And yes, most of the colors I have are neutrals. Actually, all of the colors in my capsule are neutrals, except for two dresses and this sweater. I think it's time to change that!!

clearlyclaire, well said <3 I did pin a lot of crimson, but I just don't see myself wearing it that much. It feels like such a stretch...

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I have made one of her sweaters, the pattern turned out well. I like how this one has some waist shaping, pretty unusual for something with this many cables. How fun!

Gigi

Veteran

Well, since you say that you pinned a lot of crimson but don't see yourself wearing it a lot, I would say to knit the sweater in plum and then find something else to satisfy the crimson craving.

Also, if you pair crimson with green, you might look a little Christmassy, and that sometimes looks odd. I think I remember you saying in another thread how much you like greens, and I think the plum will go better with the greens. Although I am a color idiot and might not know of what I speak!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am glad you are sorted and going with your heart. And that is a stunning sweater!

Keturah

Veteran

Rambling Ann, I don't alway want to knit and wear Gaughan's designs. But she is an amazing knitwear designer. Every single present knitter who made Beatnik says it fits like a dream. I think I love it because of the waist shaping. Cabled sweaters get blocky awfully fast without it, I think.

Gigi, I definitely went with the plum. I'll still throw in some crimson. But probably not in large amounts.

Suz, I hope the sweater looks as stunning on me as it does in the photos! I've only knitted one sweater for myself. It turned out fine (mostly because it's oversized). So we'll see how this one goes.

So yes, I chose the plum!! And...I bought one skein of the crimson to knit into a cowl, or perhaps hat and mittens. That way IG et some crimson in my life, but am not knitting a whole sweater in it.

I do love red, I just don't like wearing it. I'd rather wear orange, blue, green, plum -- anything but red, unless its really dark and more wine/burgandy. Why is that? Something to ponder maybe.

Aida

Veteran

Glad the heart won out, that sweater will look gorgeous in the plum! Plus that shade should go along with enough of your other capsule colors, too.

Keturah

Veteran

Aida, thank you <3 I am learning a lot from making capsule -- like knowing when to change the capsule despite my Pinterest board, that I like wildcards, and that I just don't feel comfortable wearing a lot of red. I love plum with just about everything; it's one of my favorite colors and I'm rather excited about pairing it other colors!

I'll post photos of the yarn and sweater as I knit it up!! xo

cheryl

Veteran

I love the plum and am envious of your knitting skills. You are going to look gorgeous in that sweater!

Yuna

Member

Both colours will work wonderfully with your wardrobe colours! Go with your heart on this one

rachylou

Veteran

Plum and red play nice... another vote for plum

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Go with your heart. Most people love the colors that love them back. I would love to see it when it is finished.

Keturah

Veteran

cheryl, you are lovely <3 thank you! I am so excited about the color and the sweater!

Yuna, I went with my heart.

racheylou, your vote counts...because I went with plum And I love plum and red together, so I'm happy as a queen

dianthus, that is a really, really wonderful style truth! I've never heard it quite put that way, but I am going to hang on to that! And...I went with the plum