Knitting and Stitching with the 2023 Color of the Year

Why do I look forward to the big reveal of Pantone’s Color of the Year? Well, because I’m a crafter! And once I have that color in mind, I start to spot it everywhere: from skeins of yarn in my local yarn shop, to quilts and throws, to clothing and accessories. I’m especially excited about this year’s color: Viva Magenta. The color red has always been one of my favorites because I associate it with energy and vibrancy. That's similar to Pantone’s website, where they describe Viva Magenta as an unconventional shade for an unconventional time, rooted in nature and a signal of strength. Empowering, electrifying, dynamic, audacious, and inclusive, Pantone describes this crimson red as a balance between warm and cool, and a power color that celebrates life.

My background is in fine art and jewelry making, and color and color theory is my passion. As editor of a DIY jewelry magazine, I would keep abreast of trends exhibited during the famed New York Fashion Week and how they influenced accessories in the months that followed. Similarly, I kept an eye on how Pantone’s Color of the Year revealed itself in clothing and accessories. Now that I’m a spinner and have also dug out my embroidery thread and my knitting needles, I’m looking for a few fun projects that incorporate the Pantone 2023 Color of the Year.

I love this variety of beautiful projects that inspire ways to create with this vibrant new hue.

Snowdrop and Rose Red Cowl

By Andrea Jurgrau

The exquisite details on this stunning Rose Red Cowl immediately caught my eye. If you’re a knitter, you’re one luscious skein away from having this gorgeous cashmere and silk cowl to wear and show off. Get the pattern here.
Snowdrop and Rose Red Cowl, from Enchanted Knits 2014. Photo by Christa Tippmann

A Little Girl in Red: A Needle Case to Stitch

By Katherine Augustine

Purchase a bit of dark red felt and gather up your embroidery thread and bits of lace and you’ll be able to stitch this sweet little needle case in an afternoon. Get the pattern here.
A Little Girl in Red: A Needle Case to Stitch, from PieceWork March/April 2015. Photo by Joe Coca

A Peruvian Tasseled Scarf to Knit

By Linda Ligon

I love the interplay between the various hues of red in this stunning knitted scarf inspired by Peruvian textiles and traditional Andean costumes. Get the pattern here.
A Peruvian Tasseled Scarf to Knit, from PieceWork, September/October 2014. Photo by Joe Coca

A Medallion of Frisado de Valladolid-Style Lace to Stitch

By Carolyn Wetzel

This elaborate medallion is on my to-do list for this winter. My goal is to stitch one up and thread it onto a long piece of brown suede leather lace to wear as a necklace. So pretty! Get the pattern here.
A Medallion of Frisado de Valladolid-Style Lace to Stitch, from PieceWork May/June 2018. Photo by George Boe

A Hooked Hot-Dish Trivet Pattern

By Elizabeth Heath

I recall sitting on the floor of my bedroom for hours working on latch-hook projects when I was about 10 years old, and recently my daughter and I have discovered the joy of punch needle. So this hooked trivet seems like a natural progression for us to try next. Get the pattern here.
A Hooked Hot-Dish Trivet Pattern, from PieceWork September/October 2014. Photo by Joe Coca

Muhu Gloves to Knit

By Anu Pink

Based on traditional patterns on gloves from the tiny Estonian island of Muhu during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the colors and patterns in these flamboyant knitted gloves are right up my alley. Get the pattern here.
Muhu Gloves to Knit, from PieceWork Fall 2018. Photo by George Boe

A Perforated-Paper Needle Book to Cross-Stitch

By Mary Polityka Bush

Since inheriting my grandmother’s vintage sewing machine and accessories, I’ve been fascinated with collections of needle books, such as this collection of Dawn Cook Ronningen’s. If I were to stitch this paper version, I would use various hues of red in place of the blue threads. Get the pattern here.
A Perforated-Paper Needle Book to Cross-Stitch, from PieceWork September/October 2014. Photo by Joe Coca

I hope some of these patterns have inspired you. Now, let’s go create!

Debbie Blair is the associate editor of PieceWork and Spin Off magazines. From her grandmother she has inherited a love of all things color related—the bolder, the better. A lifelong crafter and avid reader, she finds her happy place reading and relaxing next to a mountain stream.