Charting the Colors of 2026

Tess Crawford
Nov 11
2 min read

A Field Report from the Midnight Skein Society

It begins, as many of our adventures do, with a glint of color on the horizon. We’ve been tracking whispers of the hues that will define 2026 — from the pages of design houses and fashion ateliers to the quiet corners of art studios and old botanical archives.

Color, after all, has its own migrations. It moves like a flock of starlings — unpredictable, yet deliberate — and we make it our mission to follow.

A richly lit vintage train compartment with burgundy velvet upholstery, polished mahogany trim, and warm lamplight spilling across the room. The scene evokes the opulence of the Orient Express, enveloped in hues of deep wine, aubergine, and gold.

Dispatch One: Deep Reds on the Move

We first sighted them in the autumn collections — shades of plum, garnet, and weathered cherry surfacing like rediscovered treasures. These are not the bright reds of youth, but the deep, mature tones of travel trunks, sealing wax, and faraway sunsets.

They speak of confidence and warmth — a perfect foundation for the year ahead.

(Expect to see these hues take form in our winter collection… perhaps something rich enough to be mistaken for merlot by candlelight.)

Inside a green-painted Victorian conservatory, sunlight glows through tall arched windows onto terracotta pots overflowing with ferns and laurel. A brass watering can and stacked travel trunks add a vintage explorer’s charm amid the earthy greens and browns.

Dispatch Two: The Return of the Green Expedition

Next came the greens — not jungle-bright but grounded, mossy, herb-laced. Laurel, olive, and lichen. Colors that feel like walking through an English conservatory after rain.

These shades remind us to pause. To breathe. To craft with intention.

(A few of our field samples are already steeping in the dye pots — one smells faintly of sage and salt air.)

A tactile still life in khaki, mocha, and cream: worn notebooks, frayed parchment, a sepia map of Africa, and a fountain pen rest on a dark wooden desk. Linen cloth and sunlight add texture, creating an atmosphere of quiet, thoughtful travel.

Dispatch Three: The New Neutrals, Anything but Neutral

The explorers’ journals of 2026 show an unexpected evolution — neutrals that hum with hidden warmth. Cocoa, clay, khaki, and smoke.Gone are the sterile beiges of yesteryear; these are neutrals that remember where they came from.

They’re the color of aged maps and leather-bound diaries — and we’ve been sketching ways to capture that texture in yarn.

Soft dawn light filters through an icy window, illuminating a vintage observatory painted in shades of powder blue and pearl. A brass telescope points outward, while a steaming teacup, compass, and star chart rest on the table — a serene study in pale pastels and quiet discovery.

Dispatch Four:

In contrast to the earthbound tones, a cooler expedition emerges — pastels tinged with mist and memory. Iced mint, foggy blue, pearl grey.

These hues are the morning after the storm: quiet, introspective, full of promise.

What Comes Next

We’ll continue tracking the color currents as 2026 approaches, recording sightings and specimens along the way. Each discovery becomes a note in our dye journals — some will vanish, some will transform, and a few will return reborn as official Midnight Skein Society colorways.

For now, we invite you to travel with us. Keep your eyes on our dispatches — new hues, field sketches, and yarn sightings are on their way.