Black is my favourite colour to wear, which presents some challenges when you love to knit your own clothes. Part of me wants to wear black always and forever but it’s a bit too restrictive when it comes to knitting, considering it won’t show much texture, shaping, or anything really, and it’s a horror to knit with in bad lighting. It’s a fun challenge, designing something that will stand out in black yarn, but it’s a lot more limiting than a lighter colour. Often, I end up knitting in greys, so I can stick with monochrome, knit in the evening, and still enjoy all my hard work and fancy stitchin’ once I’m done. Another option is to combine a black with a white yarn. Whether marled together as one yarn or worked in a two-colour brioche/tuck stitch, thin one or two row stripes, or stranded or slipped stitch patterns, black and white knit together create a stunning high contrast effect.
I’ve made myself a black and white marled hat, a sweater and most recently a pair of socks, so all I need now is some black and white knit leggings and I’m good to go. White noise girl!
Collage
Left to right: Viktor & Rolf | Belstaff | Brunello Cucinelli | Jill Sander | Les Hommes
I so agree with you on the challenges of knitting with black. I do love it though and seldom knit with the colour alone unless it is a basic simple piece.
It’s tricky to knit more than just basics and not feel like all that effort was wasted. Very satisfying when a pattern and black come together well though!