Tea for Two: A Study in Values

Tea for Two, 20" x 20", designed and hooked by Michelle Sirois-Silver, Vancouver, B.C., Copyright Big Dog Rugs, 2009.

Value range, like color selection, is an essential design element with an important place in the planning process. To determine the value range for a piece, I start by considering the mood or tone I want to create and how certain value and temperature relationships will work together. Combinations of values create the overall mood of a piece. For example, implementing a full value range from white to black creates an energetic and complex piece, while a limited value range creates a softer, muted, and sometimes somber tone.

One of my greatest design challenges is maintaining a dynamic value range. I often start a rug with the intention of giving it energy by integrating a full range from light to dark but end up hooking a piece with a mid-value range and muted tone. My natural inclination is to create smooth value transitions that are visually pleasing when I'm working up close to a rug's surface.

This article is from the November/December 2010 issue. For more information on our issues, check out our issues page.