The Art Of Choosing: Split-Complementary Color Schemes

Pages

  • PATTERN SHOP
  • TUTORIALS
  • SEW ALONGS
  • SEWING ROOM ORGANIZATION
  • MY BOOK
  • QUILTS
  • PORTFOLIO
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

The Art of Choosing: Split-Complementary Color Schemes

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Art of Choosing is a series discussing fabric, color, and the fabric selection process! For past posts, click here.As I mentioned in the last Art of Choosing post, I want to spend the next few weeks talking about different color schemes that can be pulled directly from the color wheel! :)Split-Complementary Color SchemesThe Art of Choosing: Split-Complementary Color Schemes by jenib320The Art of Choosing: Split-Complementary Color Schemes, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Today is all about Split-Complementary color schemes! Split-Complementary color schemes are very similar to the Complementary colors schemes that we talked about last time. They're made by taking a single color on the color wheel, looking directly across to it's compliment but using the colors on either side of the compliment. I think (hope!), that will make more sense in the photos below! So, let's explore the 12 split-complementary color schemes in fabrics!Red, Yellow-green, Blue-greenRed, Yellow-green, Blue-green by jenib320Red, Yellow-green, Blue-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Red, Yellow-green, Green-blue by jenib320Red, Yellow-green, Green-blue, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Red's complement is Green, the two colors on either side of Green are Yellow-green and Blue-green.Red-orange, Green, BlueRed-orange, Green, Blue by jenib320Red-orange, Green, Blue, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Red-orange, Green, Blue by jenib320Red-orange, Green, Blue, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Red-orange's complement is Blue-green, the two colors on either side of Blue-green are Green and Blue.Orange, Blue-green, Blue-purpleOrange, Blue-green, Blue-purple by jenib320Orange, Blue-green, Blue-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Orange, Blue-green, Blue-purple by jenib320Orange, Blue-green, Blue-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Orange's complement is Blue, the two colors on either side of Blue are Blue-green and Blue-purple.Yellow-orange, Blue, PurpleYellow-orange, Blue, Purple by jenib320Yellow-orange, Blue, Purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Yellow-orange, Blue, Purple by jenib320Yellow-orange, Blue, Purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Yellow-Orange's complement is Blue-orange, the two colors on either side of Blue-purple are Blue and Purple.Yellow, Blue-purple, Red-purpleYellow, Blue-purple, Red-purple by jenib320Yellow, Blue-purple, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Yellow, Blue-purple, Red-purple by jenib320Yellow, Blue-purple, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Yellow's complement is Purple, the two colors on either side of Purple are Blue-purple and Red-purple.Yellow-green, Purple, RedYellow-green, Purple, Red by jenib320Yellow-green, Purple, Red, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Yellow-green, Red, Red-purple by jenib320Yellow-green, Red, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Yellow-green's complement is Red-purple, the two colors on either side of Red-purple are Purple and Red.Green, Red-purple, Red-orangeGreen, Red-purple, Red-orange by jenib320Green, Red-purple, Red-orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Green, Red-orange, Red-purple by jenib320Green, Red-orange, Red-purple, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Green's complement is Red, the two colors on either side of Red are Red-purple and Red-orange.Blue-green, Red, OrangeBlue-green, Red, Orange by jenib320Blue-green, Red, Orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Blue-green, Red, Orange by jenib320Blue-green, Red, Orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Blue-green's complement is Red-orange, the two colors on either side of Red-orange are Red and Orange.Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orangeBlue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange by jenib320Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange by jenib320Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Blue's complement is Orange, the two colors on either side of Orange are Red-orange and Yellow-orange.Blue-purple, Orange, YellowBlue-purple, Orange, Yellow by jenib320Blue-purple, Orange, Yellow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Blue-purple, Orange, Yellow by jenib320Blue-purple, Orange, Yellow, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Blue-purple's complement is Yellow-orange, the two colors on either side of Yellow-orange are Orange and Yellow.Purple, Yellow-orange, Yellow-greenPurple, Yellow-orange, Yellow-green by jenib320Purple, Yellow-orange, Yellow-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Purple, Yellow-orange, Yellow-green by jenib320Purple, Yellow-orange, Yellow-green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Purple's complement is Yellow, the two colors on either side of Yellow are Yellow-orange and Yellow-green.Red-purple, Yellow, GreenRed-purple, Yellow, Green by jenib320Red-purple, Yellow, Green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Red-purple, Yellow, Green by jenib320Red-purple, Yellow, Green, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Red-purple's complement is Yellow-green, the two colors on either side of Yellow-green are Yellow and Green.Now I'd like to share a project I made using a split-complementary color scheme:Dresden by jenib320Dresden, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.Blue, Red-orange, Yellow-orange: A simple Dresden plate mini quilt! Again, if you'd like to pull some split-complementary fabric stacks of your own, or share your split-complementary color projects, feel free to post in the flickr group! Tomorrow we'll be talking about Harmonizing color schemes! :)Happy Sewing!Note: I created the color wheel graphics myself, so please don't borrow them without crediting me and linking back! Thanks! :)

20 comments :

  1. RebeccaNovember 22, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    I've got to tell you - I'm loving this series!! Thanks so much for sharing this!!!

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  2. Tracey JacobsenNovember 22, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    I love this! Such cute combinations (and very clear). :)

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  3. Impera MagnaNovember 22, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    Somehow... seeing the fabrics, the color wheel thing makes much more sense... maybe the fabrics inspire me and the color wheel doesn't... not that I mean your great color wheels aren't totally cool... it's the fabrics that make me want to run out and go fabric shopping!!!Thanks... this is very helpful!

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  4. aneelaNovember 22, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    It makes so much more sense when looking at the combinations in fabric form than just on the colour wheel. Perfectly explained!

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  5. Live a Colorful LifeNovember 22, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    I could pull some fabrics from my stash. However...I have nearly identical fabrics! Your stacks are so beautiful.

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  6. Donna S.November 22, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Picking out fabrics (colors) is the worst part for me. This was very interesting. Thank you.

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  7. Francis PaulNovember 23, 2011 at 3:24 AM

    wow, so clear! thanks :-)

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  8. MaritNovember 23, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    These posts are a treat, Jeni! I think about half of my quilts are inspired by the color wheel, and different ways to play with it. The german painter Johannes Itten has written some very inspiring theories of harmony and contrast in color. This is an endless source of inspiration, and you are doing a FANTASTIC job presenting it!My last post shows a quilt using exactly this split - complementary color scheme. In my favorite color combination...; )

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  9. BegoNovember 23, 2011 at 5:02 AM

    I always go with my guts when picking colours but this is indeed very very interesting. Thanks for the explanation. It will definitely save time next time I start a project :)

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  10. DaniNovember 23, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    I have just started following your blog, and this will be a great series! My weaving study group has just finished off a year long project on colour. Split complimentary and double split comp. are my favourite colour harmonies.

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  11. HilaryNovember 23, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    I am loving this series on colour matching ~ thank you so much ~ looks like you have put in a lot of work to produce these posts, I just wanted you to know it is appreciated, and that you are firing up my inspiration! With thanks, Hilary.

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  12. goletagirlwendyNovember 23, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    Thank you for posting this, I have a hard time putting colors together and this is great.Have a great Thanksgiving.

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  13. JaceyNovember 23, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    As always, your stacks are fabulous! I hope you, the boy and the bunny (Hi, George!) have a fabulous Thanksgiving!!

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  14. Beth SchroederNovember 23, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    Jen - I am loving your tutorials. It makes a lot more sense looking at the fabrics with the color wheel. The finished projects are really helpful also. And I love your fabrics!!! They are the perfect tone-on-tone and tone-on whites that I am always on the hunt for! What are the orange stripe and the green stripe?

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  15. tramtadamJune 8, 2012 at 2:38 AM

    Fantastic,very helpful infomations for me!Thanks for your tutorials.Petra

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  16. LaurieNovember 20, 2013 at 11:55 PM

    These are awesome!! I think this is my favorite kind of color combination! Thanks for these posts!!

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  17. YOGA TIPSApril 29, 2014 at 6:28 PM

    Inside Pictures will be the the majority of challenging of all specialist genres associated with professional pictures.

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  18. UnknownDecember 12, 2017 at 1:11 PM

    Thanks for this post and the fabric examples. Very helpful!

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  19. UnknownJanuary 16, 2022 at 11:05 AM

    Very helpful post as a student for doing creative arts assignment

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
  20. SueAugust 5, 2022 at 5:00 PM

    Hi Jeni, This was very helpful for a Color Consultant class I am taking right now. Your fabric choices in colors made learning the scheme a lot easier to know and use! Thank you!

    ReplyDeleteReplies
      Reply
Add commentLoad more...

Thanks for keeping this blog a positive place, I appreciate the time you are taking to leave a comment! I will answer any questions here in the comments section.All comments are moderated to filter out spam. Your comment will appear after it has been approved.

Newer Post Older Post Home Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom ) Hi, I'm Jeni Baker! Welcome to my blog! Here I share my creative adventures in sewing, quilting, and knitting! I design sewing and quilting patterns for the everyday maker.

SEARCH

FOLLOW BY EMAIL

Get new posts by email:
Subscribe

NEW IN MY SHOP

Indigo Steps Quilt Pattern Indigo Steps Quilt Pattern Expanse Quilt Pattern Expanse Quilt Pattern Candyweb Quilt Block Pattern Round Wooden Beads Cotton Twill Tape

INSTAGRAM @JENIB320

FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST @JENIB

SIGNED COPIES OF MY BOOK!

Patchwork Essentials: The Half-Square Triangle

$$ SAVING PATTERN BUNDLES

MY PATTERNS

Wholesale Ordering Information

FAVORITE POSTS

CATEGORIES

  • Bags ( 188 )
  • Books ( 35 )
  • Bunny ( 360 )
  • Clothing ( 61 )
  • Color Me Retro ( 60 )
  • Crafts ( 62 )
  • Crafty Goals ( 14 )
  • Curiosities ( 19 )
  • Dreamin Vintage ( 49 )
  • Dyeing ( 33 )
  • Enamelware ( 41 )
  • Featherweight ( 11 )
  • Food ( 123 )
  • Friday Favorites ( 61 )
  • Gardening ( 50 )
  • Geometric Bliss ( 37 )
  • Goals ( 17 )
  • Home ( 14 )
  • Indigo ( 12 )
  • Knitting ( 82 )
  • Monthly Report ( 84 )
  • Nordika ( 50 )
  • Patchwork Essentials ( 44 )
  • Pyrex Series ( 13 )
  • Quilting ( 612 )
  • Recipe ( 15 )
  • Sewing ( 474 )
  • Sewing Room Organization ( 8 )
  • The Art of Choosing ( 21 )
  • Thrifting ( 104 )
  • Travel ( 43 )
  • Tutorial ( 170 )
  • Vintage ( 98 )
  • Vintage Sheets ( 183 )
  • Yearly Review ( 18 )
  • finished quilt ( 71 )

ARCHIVES

  • ▼  2011 ( 218 )
    • ▼  November 2011 ( 18 )
      • Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
      • Catch-up!
      • The Art of Choosing: Harmonizing Color Schemes
      • The Art of Choosing: Split-Complementary Color Sch...
      • This Weekend
      • BIG Sale!
      • Favorites
      • Book Review + Giveaway: Little Bits Quilting Bee
      • Lately
      • Favorites
      • Vintage Sheet Wonky Star Mini Quilt
      • The Art of Choosing: Complementary Colors
      • (Mostly) Wordless Wednesday
      • This Weekend
      • Favorites
      • The Art of Choosing: Color Basics + Giveaway!
      • Fall Pillow
      • Striped Stocking Tutorial

Tag » What Are Split Complementary Colors