Color and stitch blocking

I'm usually not much of a color person in terms of the clothes I wear. Given the choice between a bright palette and all black everything, I'd go with black every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I guess you could say I tend to be a bit more utilitarian in my color choices...I want everything to go with everything, so I usually stick with muted hues.

But with spring just around the corner, I've been dreaming of some colorful pick-me-ups and things with a bit more visual interest, particularly in the form of blocked colors and stitch patterns. Here's what I have in mind.

Stitch block cowl, Purl Bee

I am addicted to huge cowls like this one — they're just so cozy! I'm a huge fan of the blocked stitch look, it really draws you in and makes you look more closely. It would be just perfect for transitional weather in spring and early fall. I don't wear much yellow though, so I'm thinking maybe some icy blues or rust shades for the contrast yarn. I suppose it will depend on whether I'm in the mood for warm or cool colors if/when I decide to knit this pattern.

Cashmere scoreboard sweater, Madewell

A girl in one of my classes was wearing a raglan sweater today, and I've been wanting to knit one with colored sleeves forever. Hers had a soft blue-green body with gray sleeves like this one from Madewell. It was adorable, but if it were up to me, I would reverse the sleeve and body, because I always want the pop of color to have a smaller surface area than the main neutral. I would go with a pretty light grey or oatmeal body, offset by soft pink or apricot sleeves. I'd probably knit the sleeves three-quarter length, and maybe extend the body by a few inches (I like my sweaters long).

Crochet shopping bag, Kvalitid (via One Sheepish Girl)

Finally, one super easy knit that would look great color blocked is a tote. It could be such a cute way to add a splash of color to a weekend wear. It would also be adorably nautical in a more neutral cream and navy. There's also some cool stitch blocking going on between the orangey-pink bottom and the white/grey body. This one is actually crocheted, and I'm not a crocheter, but it's great for inspiration. Or maybe it's just the perfect opportunity to bust out the crochet hooks and learn a new skill!