Tips for Creative Color Theory & Dyeing Roving?

[oddacity]

So I'm a big fan of the color wheel. I could play with that thing all day. I know all about complements, split complements, analogous colors, etc etc whatever.

My problem is, I'm really -crap- at implementing them. At least creatively.

I'd like to do more dyeing. Especially because now my mother got me 5 pounds of wool for Christmas and I'd love to do something interesting with it. Perhaps even start selling on Etsy like I've been meaning to. But I always seem to find myself using analogous color somehow, and while they can be quite pretty, after a while they get boring. Not very interesting at all.

So for people who do a lot of dyeing, especially roving/yarn, do you have any tips? Where to do you get your inspiration? Do you maybe even just throw random colors together and see what happens? I don't know if I don't understand how to implement color theory, am not creative enough, or I'm just too darn afraid to take some chances.

[AlpacaNanny]

oddacity,
Whenever I am trying any new colors combinations I try a small sample.  I have been dyeing alot of yarn lately, and I will take a few yards, and experiment, using dye mixed in canning jars in the microwave.

It sounds like you have already dyed some of the roving, so you know how to do it? (I raise alpacas, and dye my raw fleece, then card with my carder, so I have limited experience in dyeing roving.) 

If I am looking for color combinations that I like, I will browse etsy, looking at yarns and rovings.    Here is a link to my photos that shows one of my favorite color combinations - spruce/vermilion/gold.  The batts (roving from my carder) is fleece that I dyed each color  individually, then blended when carding.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31272800@N05/

If you have questions about methods/techniques, please do not hesitate to ask!!!

Happy Dyeing,
Louise

[katesi]

Get really cheap natural fiber yarn and play with the dye. Just go nuts, have fun and write down what you do. Experiment on the garbage with color combos and then apply them on your good stuff. The colors won't be exactly the same but it should give you a good enough spring board.

[Belladune]

I bought this book:  http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Color-Works.html  to help me with this too!  I don't have it yet, but from the description it sounds like a really good read to become more familiar with color.   If you have an awesome library (we don't... which is why I have to buy....)  you could check it out!

[rednightsky86]

This may sound like a little bit of cheating but I have a home decorating color book, which gives examples of good color combos, and I use that as a starting point and play with different hues and tones.