Red is one of THE most used colours in Ukrainian embroidery.  It features on it’s own and  in patterns of dual colours or multiple colours in the regional embroideries of many parts of UA.

Growing up, I was exposed primarily to my Baba’s embroidery and therefore her style of composition and colour choices.  Some shades of red were extremely familiar to me from embroideries of my childhood, and may well be familiar to friends and other Ukis around the world who have seen many of the black and red patterns so popular and quintessential in Ukrainian costume and decoration.

DMC colours 814 and 815 were the traditional deep reds, 321 the gorgeous cherry red and 666 the light and bright and slightly crazy.

A few years ago, I wondered about subtle variations in colour and the inspiration they could bring with colour combinations and the overall appearance of a design.  I stood at the long wall of my go-to needlework supply store and picked out as many reds as I could and found there are definitely more that 4 or 5 shades of red available in my favourite embroidery cotton.

Sometimes in embroidery, patterns tell you what to do.  For example, there is no question in my mind that this design HAS TO BE done in 321 cherry.  I can’t imagine it any other way.

But another shade I love is the subtle, tomatoey, vintage 347.  Slightly faded and a little bit pink, it has brought to mind an entirely different style of colour combination.

After all, in colour combinations, what the eye sees of a colour depends very much on its surroundings.  A shade of colour is suggested to the eye based on relative shades around it.

Understanding this has prompted me to try alternatives to the traditional darks and mediums.

Apart from being fun, playing with colour brings new dimensions, mood and an element of the unpredictable to embroidery projects.

~oOo~