KATYE -- . What is the color scheme where this tray will be used? The "suggested" colors are three shades of green. Do you like blue? Light, Medium and Dark Blue. Orange? Light, Medium and Dark. You could use three shades of reddish brown but that might be a little bit boring. Maybe three totally different colors would work -- red, blue and green?

I am not trying to be sarcastic. You can use any three colors you choose. Variegated floss might even work. Do you have a stash of different flosses? Pick several different combination to see what looks good to you.

Have fun with this project. That is important.

To start with, if you have a color chart from DMC or Anchor, look on those and pick our some possibilities, then lay them out in daylight, side by side, and see if you like how they fit together. Any good needlework shop would let you see them in natural light. I often utilize friends for their opinions, and they often kibitz with me, too.... it's great to hear other opinions. But, yes, do pick some colors of floss, pull the skeins, and compare them side by side. That's the best way!

I APOLOGIZE. I totally missed that you asked about using shades of gray. All that my brain registered was that you wanted to change colors.

My advice still holds -- one dark, one medium and one light. Possibly one medium dark, one medium light and one variegated.

Oh, I like the idea of adding the variegated! :)

That sounds pretty.

This design if you look at it. It has the sign of the cross. As well as a tray. This design is Celtic and it show the color of the Shamrock.

I agree with Miss Crosstitch. It would be nice with green and golds.

I agree that you can stitch it in any color combination you like but I am wondering if there is some significance attached. Hence the color green. Even so, I would do it in the color I like.