Are you wondering if Sherwin Wiliams Knitting Needles is the right paint color for your decor? Gray is always a hot color for interior decor, but it’s not the only neutral as more colors are gaining as much popularity as it has.
Knitting Needles is not the most popular gray out there, but you picked it for a reason. And I’m going to help you decide how to use it through this guide. Come on this exciting journey with me to learn about this paint color and how it works.
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When to Choose Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles
This paint color is not the most difficult to work with, although its undertones are peculiar. As a pretty color, it easily blends with many others. But the following are ideas of when to pick it, considering the hues it shows.
Have a small room to decorate?
Knitting Needles is a light color that brings some coolness and serenity to a space. If you have a small open space to decorate, consider using it because it makes the room appear bigger than usual.
Is there a lot of light?
This paint color loves light, as do many other paint colors. Knitting Needles is not a dull color, but it usually looks prettier when used with good natural lighting.
Looking for a suitable backdrop?
As a neutral paint color, Knitting Needles works well with many others. So, it allows flexibility when creating a color palette, especially when working with a cool color scheme.
The truth is that Knitting Needles blends in any decor and with many colors. You can even use it on your house’s exterior. These are only pointers on where to start and how best to use it. However, that is not all; I have more to show you about this paint color. Let’s go, shall we?
What Color Is Knitting Needles?
It’s a peculiar name, isn’t it? What inspired the name Knitting Needles for this paint color? After all, a knitting needle is not typically such a neutral color. While there’s no clear indication behind the unique name, I can tell you that the color is as delicate as the traditional knitting needle.
That’s probably the reason behind the name; the brand doesn’t say, anyway. A knitting needle is a slender, long, and pointed pin used for hand-knitting. It is typically made of metal, wood, or plastic. If you knit, you may begin to get an idea of why the color has this name.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles SW 7672 is a light gray color with subtle coolness and sophistication. Its undertones make it interesting, taking it away from being a bland gray paint color.
A Snapshot of the Specifications of Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles
Explaining the basics of this paint color is good, but I want to show you a snapshot of the important details using a chart. You will better understand what makes Knitting Needles unique, especially when it comes to undertones and LRV.
| Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles | |
| RGB | 195, 193, 188 |
| LRV | 53 |
| Undertone | Purple |
| HEX Code | #C3C1BC |
The LRV of Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles
Maybe you’ve seen it before but have never known its meaning, but LRV means the light reflectance value of color. It refers to the amount of light the color reflects or doesn’t reflect, using a scale of 0 to 100.
The lower the value, the darker the color is. And the higher the value, the brighter the color is. Pure white has an LRV of 100, while pure black has an LRV of 0.
Paint colors use the same scale but with different extreme values. Since there are pure black or pure white paint colors, the scale is 2.5 to 94 for them.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles has an LRV of 53, just a little above the middle point. As a result, it reflects just a fair amount of light. It doesn’t look washed out, although it performs best in bright natural light.
The Undertones of Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles
Every color has an undertone, regardless of how neutral it may appear. While some have undeniable undertones, others are not so easily discernible. Neutrals are the hardest to pick their undertones, but in the right setting, you will find them.
Knitting Needles has a cool purple undertone. It gives the gray paint color a calming effect and slight depth that is missing in some gray neutrals. That’s why I call it a pretty color.
This is Knitting Needles in normal light and how it should typically appear:
The undertone is barely there in the picture above. To the untrained eye, it may not be obvious. But this next picture is different and clearly shows the undertone.
Does Lighting Affect SW Knitting Needles?
This factor may be the most interesting and crucial one that affects color. Knitting Needles doesn’t like cold light unless you don’t mind seeing the purple in it.
As a cool color, it works best in a room with a lot of warm sunlight. Fortunately, it is not too bright as to look washed out in bright lighting.
This is Knitting Needles looking pretty with just a hint of purple peeking through in the bright natural light:
Now, here it is, looking slightly muted and showing much of its purple undertone because there isn’t as much natural light to brighten it:
Knitting Needles may look different under artificial lighting. This is especially true of warm yellow artificial lighting. Bright white artificial lighting may not affect it so much, but if you plan to use it with yellow light, the result may be different.
Does Knitting Needles Pick Up Other Hues?
Some light colors tend to pick up some of the hues of vibrant colors around them. This may be a problem if you have a specific picture of the resulting color in mind, and the vibrant hues mar it.
Knitting Needles may pick a little of the vibrant colors around it, but the good news is that it only makes the color prettier. Check out the next picture.
How Does Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles Feel in a Room?
As mentioned, it’s a pretty color that works well in small spaces. The reason I say this is because of its shade. Knitting Needles is light, airy, and calming, so it makes a small room appear bigger.
It is a neutral paint color, so you can add other colors to make it pop. Blues and purples will work well with Knitting Needles, so you can splashes of these colors, as well as other vibrant colors. The room becomes a place to relax and unwind after a long and hectic day.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles: Warm or Cool?
Knitting Needles is a cool paint color. While gray is typically a cool color, you will find warm grays, such as those that have beige undertones. However, this paint color has a cool purple undertone, toning it down, adding depth, and creating a calming feel.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration
Knitting Needles is a striking color when used right. But it’s possible to find it darker or lighter than you envisioned. This is why I always advise you to use color samples before deciding.
Fortunately, there’s a relatively wide array of choices from the same color strip to allow you to choose another color. Here is the list, from light to dark:
- Sherwin Williams Zircon SW 7667
- Sherwin Wiliams Knitting Needles SW 7672
- Sherwin Williams March Wind SW 7668
- Sherwin Williams Pewter Cast SW 7673
- Sherwin Williams Summit Gray SW 7669
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles Complementary Colors
What are complementary colors? These are colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. If you pick a color, move 180 degrees away from it, and you will find its complementary color.
It doesn’t matter whether or not they match, but they cancel each other when mixed to create a grayscale color.
Knitting Needles is a gray color, and grays are typically not on the color wheel. However, the purple hue changes the game, and its peculiar shade means you can find the perfect complementary color or something close to it.
Its complementary color is a light shade of blue-gray, and the best color to match it from Sherwin Williams is Krypton SW 6247. You can also try Benjamin Moore’s Thundercloud Gray 2124-40 or Behr’s High Speed Access N530-3.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles Coordinating Colors
These are colors that go well together and create a seamless flow in any color scheme. The reason is that they usually have some similarities, although they don’t always look like they do.
As a neutral color, Knitting Needles has several coordinating colors, but the three I picked from Sherwin Williams are Attitude Gray, Shell White, and Extra White.
- Sherwin Williams Attitude Gray SW 7060: A deep gray with a cool cyan undertone to create a pleasing complement with the light Knitting Needles.
- Sherwin Williams Shell White SW 8917: A warm white with a slightly peach undertone for a bright look in the decor.
- Sherwin Williams Extra White SW 7006: A bright and cool white for trim and ceilings when you use Knitting Needles on the walls.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles Color Palettes
You will need a color palette to create that vibe and look you picture in your mind. Although Knitting Needles is classy enough to work with white alone, you will enjoy it better if there are other colors to complement it.
Monochromatic Color Palette
- Pewter Cast SW 7673: A dark gray paint color that makes Knitting Needles appear light and complementary.
- March Wind SW 7668: A popular gray paint color only one shade darker than Knitting Needles but with the same cool purple undertone.
- Zircon SW 7667: A pale gray paint color with a slightly purple undertone for a gentle look and feel in your decor.
Contrasting Color Palette
- Full Moon SW 6679: A light yellow with a warmth that contrasts the cool Knitting Needles but complements it in a soft way. Use minimally to avoid overwhelming the light gray color.
- Salty Dog SW 9177: A deep blue with a slightly crisp hue, it brings depth to the decor, working well with the cool and purplish Knitting Needles.
- Alabaster SW 7008: A warm white whose slightly yellow undertone pairs well with the warm Full Moon, bringing something vastly different to the decor.
Coordinating Color Palette
- Extra White SW 7006: A bright and cool white for trim and ceilings when you use Knitting Needles on the walls.
- Shell White SW 8917: A warm white with a slightly peach undertone for a bright look in the decor.
- Attitude Gray SW 7060: A deep gray with a cool cyan undertone to create a pleasing complement with the light Knitting Needles.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles vs Similar Colors
Are there colors that are similar to Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles? Yes, there are, and I’m going to compare them side by side to see how similar they are. Stick around to learn more.
SW Silverplate vs SW Knitting Needles
Silverplate has slightly blue undertones, making it a cool color that works well with Knitting Needles. And with the same LRV of 53 as Knitting Needles, both colors look almost the same.
SW Repose Gray vs SW Knitting Needles
The popular Repose Gray is a warm light gray, as opposed to the cool Knitting Needles. Plus, it has a higher LRV of 58, compared to the LRV of Knitting Needles.
SW Light French Gray vs SW Knitting Needles
Both colors have the same LRV of 53, but Light French Gray is a perfect neutral, balancing cool and warm tones. Apart from these differences, the colors look the same.
Benjamin Moore Paint Color Equivalent for Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles
You may have noticed how I kept saying that Knitting Needles is a unique color. That’s because you won’t easily find an equivalent from Benjamin Moore or any other top paint brand. Every color is unique, regardless of how similar it may be to another color.
However, Benjamin Moore’s Smoke Embers 1466 is very similar to it. Also, Stonington Gray HC-170 is close to the shade of Knitting Needles.
Where Can You Use Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles?
As a neutral paint color, Knitting Needles is suitable for any room. You can even use it on exterior walls, especially with the right trim color. So, let’s see how Knitting Needles works in different rooms and on exterior walls.
Best Ceiling Color for SW Knitting Needles Walls
I would go with white, although you can get creative and try a light or dark gray. But remember that you will need a lot of light to make such a combination work.
Best Trim Color for Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles Walls
Again, white is your best bet for a trim color when the walls are painted in Knitting Needles. Play it safe and use a crisp white like SW Extra White to avoid clashing colors.
Best Trim Color for SW Knitting Needles Exterior
Black, such as SW Tricorn Black, which is a true black, looks good on the trim. But like others, I would go with white to make the gray color pop.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles on Kitchen Walls
Although it is still being worked on, you can already see the striking contrast between the walls and white cabinets. The decor will feel cool and refreshing, even on hot days.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles in a Bedroom
This next picture is such a beautiful one. It is a monochromatic color scheme, but I can’t fault it because it looks so good.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles in a Living Room
Use this paint color on the walls and throw in splashes of color using accessories or upholstery. Knitting Needles makes for a splendid backdrop.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles in a Bathroom
Your bathroom should be one of the best places to release stress and find some peace. The paint colors contribute to this vibe, and what better color to use than Knitting Needles?
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles in a Dining Area
It should work in a dining area if it looks great in the living room or kitchen. This next picture infuses blue using the curtain, and the result is simple but pleasing.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles on Cabinets
This bathroom vanity just changes the look and feel of the room. I understand why it is the owner’s favorite place in the house.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles on Exterior
Knitting Needles can look soft and welcoming when used on exterior walls. Don’t be afraid of the color appearing too cold; you may be pleasantly surprised at how it interacts with the light and trim colors you pick.
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles in a Powder Room
This room looks so good and inviting. The soft white artificial light makes it look even better, although it has a solid gray look to it.
Conclusion
Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles is a light paint color with cool purple undertones. With an LRV of 53, it is a mid-tone gray that reflects a fair amount of light. So, it works well with different exposures, although it works best with bright natural light, like many colors.
You can use it in different spaces, as the pictures above prove. It all depends on the decor, color scheme, personal style, and surrounding elements. If I’m to pick gray colors with cool undertones, Knitting Needles will make the list.
Draw inspiration from the color palette guide to get the best out of this paint color. You won’t go wrong with Knitting Needles, and I’m available to answer your questions in the comments section. Let me know your thoughts and experience.
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