SHERWIN WILLIAMS KNITTING NEEDLES: Paint Color Review

IS THIS YOUR PERFECT SHADE OF GRAY?

Gray is not the favorite child when it comes to paint color trends. However, maybe your home really SUITS gray, or you LOVE it, and you don’t care about trends! Either way, we’re looking at Sherwin Williams Knitting Needles, which just might make its way into your home – inside OR outside!

BEFORE WE GET STARTED…

To show you RELATEABLE & REAL homes, I ONLY use photos from my Online Colour Consulting clients. 

IS KNITTING NEEDLES WARM OR COOL?

Knitting Needles is a SLIGHTLY warm gray – slightly being an overstatement. This vague warmth gives Knitting Needles more of a STORMY look compared to some of the other popular gray paint colors, which can be more obviously warm or cool.

The 2 Types of Gray Paint Colours 

With this flexibility, if you have south-facing light or a home with afternoon western exposure, you can expect Knitting Needles to look warmer than expected, without losing its ‘grayness’ – which some grays can.

On the other hand, with northern light, Knitting Needles picks up just a bit more of its gray base and a bit more undertone along the way (which we’ll talk about shortly).

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Colour is the Best?

WHAT’S THE LRV OF KNITTING NEEDLES?

With its LRV of 53, Knitting Needles is in the light-medium range, giving it a bit more depth than some of the more popular lighter versions. However, it doesn’t have so much depth that it visually weighs a room down – UNLESS that room lacks natural light.

The awesome thing about this LRV is that if you have an overly bright room, Knitting Needles won’t wash out as much as a lighter colour will. If you have a dark room, you will DEFINITELY need to supplement it with the right amount of interior lighting.

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.

The Best LIGHT Paint Colours for a DARK room

The Best DARK Paint Colours for a DARK room

WHAT ARE KNITTING NEEDLES UNDERTONES?

Knitting Needles is a gray paint colour with a VIOLET undertone. Is it an overpowering hue? No, but if you’re nervous about this undertone or it doesn’t suit your home, it could be a bad fit.

Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY

Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF KNITTING NEEDLES

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM OR CABINET COLOR FOR KNITTING NEEDLES?

With its slightly lower LRV, Knitting Needles is slightly more flexible than some of its lighter cousins. Here are a few of my fave whites…

• Sherwin Williams Extra White
• Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
• Sherwin Williams Pure White

The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colours

6 Questions to Ask Before You Paint Your Cabinets White

IS KNITTING NEEDLES GOOD ON A HOME’S EXTERIOR?

ABSOLUTELY! Knitting Needles is a popular paint colour for a home’s exterior as it suits a WIDE range of roof colors, stonework, and brickwork.

As shown in this next photo, expect it to lean CONSIDERABLY warmer in afternoon western sunshine…

However, once the sun shifts, it falls back into place as a subtle stormy shade of gray…

Knitting Needle’s LRV also helps it hold its depth a bit better than a lighter gray, although ANY colour will look lighter and brighter on an exterior.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Colour

Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colours?

IS KNITTING NEEDLES A GOOD KITCHEN CABINET COLOR?

Nope. This isn’t to say it won’t work for you and your cabinets, but the violet undertone often comes up a BIT too much on cabinets. You must pay close attention to your countertop, backsplash, and wall colour to ensure they support this hue.

How to Choose the Best White Paint Colour for Your Kitchen Cabinets

The Best Paint Colours for Kitchen Island & Bathroom Vanities

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO KNITTING NEEDLES?

Comparison is the KEY to choosing the best paint colour for your home. And while there are SIMILAR colors, expect to see shifts in undertones, temperature, and depths, but you could check out…

• Sherwin Williams Light French Gray
• Sherwin Williams Repose Gray
• Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers

Sherwin Williams Light French Gray

Because they’re SO similar, let’s take a closer look at…

KNITTING NEEDLES vs. LIGHT FRENCH GRAY

I’m often asked what the difference is between these two shades of gray. Knitting Needles and Light French Gray have LRVs of 53, so they’re the same depth (light-medium). They both have a violet undertone. However, the main difference is that the undertone in Knitting Needles is more noticeable than LFG’s. This can make Light French Gray look more neutral than Knitting Needles.

Sherwin Williams Light French Gray with Pure White walls & trim

While this might seem good, some finishes need a subtle violet undertone. With Light French Gray’s lower commitment, it might not satisfy the needs of many interior and exterior finishes, meaning that Knitting Needles could be the better choice.

WHAT COLORS GO WITH KNITTING NEEDLES & OTHER WARM GRAYS?

• lighter or darker grays with similar undertone profiles
• light-medium or darker depth blue-gray blends
• many blue-green blends
• light-medium or darker depth grays with green undertones
• wide range of white paint colors, including some warm whites

Not sure if Knitting Needles is the best shade of gray for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!

READ MORE

Sherwin Williams 10 Best WARM GRAY Paint Colors! 

How Can I Make My Gray Room Look Warmer & More Inviting?

The 2 MAIN Types of Gray Paint Colours for Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colours

Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Collingwood

Not sure which paint colour is best for YOUR home?

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting – I’d love to help!

Chat soon,