Blue: 2008 Color of the Year
More About Blue, Its Many Meanings, and How to Use it in Quilts
Pantone, Inc. chose a shade of blue as its color of the year for 2008--and 2000, 2003, and 2005. Find out why blue is a color every quilter should try this year.
Pantone, a company that provides color palettes for fabric designers, publishers, and other industries, chose PANTONE 18-3943, Blue Iris, as its color of the year for 2008. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said Blue Iris “combines the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, [and] satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement.”
Blue, the Beloved Color
Students of color won’t be surprised that Pantone chose shades of blue as Colors of the Year in four out of the last nine years. Blue is by far the best-loved of all colors, at least among people in western countries. In a study reported by Joe Hallock of Site Difference Corporation, 35% of women and 57% of men said blue was their favorite color, easily beating out the next most-preferred colors, purple and green. The preference for blue strengthens as people age, maybe because blue is easier for older eyes to perceive than some other colors. Almost no one has blue as a least favorite color.
The Cultural and Symbolic Language of Blue
What could be a better sign of good luck than a blue sky above? What’s more peaceful and profound than a fathomless blue sea? Who wouldn’t like to be the blue ribbon winner?
As these examples show, people associate blue with any number of positive qualities. Blue’s reputation for soothing and relaxing is borne out by research showing that exposure to blues tends to reduce blood pressure and slow down the nervous system.
Blue is also the runaway winner when people are asked to associate a color with the words “trust,” “security,” and “reliability.” (No wonder politicians wear blue suits! They’re trying to look “true blue.”) The Virgin Mary was traditionally depicted in blue robes, both because she was Queen of Heaven and also because blue pigments, made from lapis lazuli, were too precious to waste on portrayals of lesser beings.
When You Don’t Know Which Color to Choose, Use Blue
What does this mean for quilters? If you’re making a charity quilt or a gift for someone you don’t know well, a color scheme based on blue fabrics is most likely to put a smile on the recipient’s face. Fabric colors to avoid: orange and brown, which topped the list of people’s least favorite colors.
Of course, blue also has a darker side – its connection to feelings of cold, loneliness and sadness. The music of loss and longing is called the blues. No one wants to have a blue Monday, feel blue-deviled, or get the baby blues. That makes blue fabrics a good choice for quilts commemorating a loss or sad event.
Fabric Shopping? Try These Blue Color Combinations
If you’re looking for color inspirations for your next quilt, why not try some of Mother Nature’s favorite blends?
- Flowers with deep blue petals and orange or yellow centers, such as forget-me-nots, bluebells, or irises.
- Water, mingling blues with shades of green and white.
- Ice and snow, which combine blue and white.
- The sky, with its blues, whites, grays, and silvers.
Use blue fabrics to cool down hot color mixtures of reds, oranges, and yellows. Pair dark blues with white fabric for a fresh, nautical feeling. And don’t forget the patriotic favorites: red, white... and blue.
