Knitting Needles vs Zircon
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Zircon (LRV 59) reflects noticeably more light than Knitting Needles (LRV 53), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 3.1 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Knitting Needles vs Zircon in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Knitting Needles and Zircon are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Zircon reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Knitting Needles vs Zircon Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Knitting Needles on one side and Zircon on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Knitting Needles comparisons
See how Knitting Needles stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 53, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Knitting Needles encloses it.
Knitting Needles reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 53 vs 30, Knitting Needles is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 53 and 52, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 7-point LRV gap (60 vs 53) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 53), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Knitting Needles reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (53 vs 43) makes Knitting Needles the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 53 vs 4, Knitting Needles is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 55 and 53, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Knitting Needles reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Knitting Needles reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 53, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 53 vs 21, Knitting Needles is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 53), opening up a space where Knitting Needles encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 53), opening up a space where Knitting Needles encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 53), opening up a space where Knitting Needles encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 53 vs 51), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Knitting Needles reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Knitting Needles reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 53), opening up a space where Knitting Needles encloses it.
At LRV 53 vs 41, Knitting Needles is decisively the brighter choice.
Knitting Needles reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Knitting Needles reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 53 vs 31, Knitting Needles is decisively the brighter choice.