FLASH Pattern Friday – Golden Fans and Gossamer Shawlette

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Today we are switching up the usual monthly schedule and offering a very special FLASH Friday to coincide with our sitewide St Patrick’s Day Sale. That’s right, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is here, and it’s actually a pot of Cotton Gold!

This weekend only, you can download the Golden Fans AND Gossamer Shawlette patterns for free on Ravelry using the code: FLASH. These popular accessory patterns show off our brilliantly sparkling Cotton Gold yarn. Let’s take a closer look!

Golden Fans features a stunning lace stitch pattern worked throughout. The written pattern includes instructions for both a scarf and shawl size of this accessory. Popular for weddings, Golden Fans is sure to stand out and get you tons of compliments on your knitting skills.

The Gossamer Shawlette is an ethereal accessory that will be the perfect topper to any outfit. This shawl has a triangular shape, and features a beautiful pointed edging. Wear this draped over your shoulders for a dressy night out, or style as a bandana for a sparkly addition to a casual look!

Cotton Gold is a lace weight yarn that is made with a cotton thread base that has metallic fibers and sequins strung throughout. Worked alone, it creates light and airy projects with a magical quality. Held as a carry along, it adds texture and dimension to any creation. Cotton Gold pairs extremely well with other cotton-based yarns like Cotton Supreme or Bamboo Pop, and yarns with a textured halo such as Penna or Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk (pictured above).

Don’t forget to use the code: FLASH on Ravelry to get Golden Fans and the Gossamer Shawlette free this weekend only, and don’t miss out on our sitewide St Patrick’s Day Sale! You can get $25 off any order of $100 or more (before tax and shipping) through 11:59 PM EST on March 17th. Our sitewide sale doesn’t require a code, the discount will be automatically applied when your cart amount reaches the $100 before tax minimum. This is a great time to stock up on yarn for future projects!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

Free Pattern Friday – Terrific Tea Towels

Can you believe it’s already the second Friday of March? Time flies when you’re stitching! This week, we have an exciting free pattern that you will love adding to your kitchen. The Terrific Tea Towels, to be exact. Using self-striping Cotton Supreme Waves, you’ll have a colorful homeware that is perfect as a dishcloth, washcloth, or just decoration. Let’s learn more about this exciting pattern!

There are many things to love about the Terrific Tea Towels, but we especially love how beginner-friendly this project is! You will use soothing stockinette stitch throughout the body of this cloth, with garter stitch edges for the top, bottom, and sides. With many colorways in Cotton Supreme Waves, including solids and speckles, you can customize your Terrific Tea Towels to match your personality!

Cotton Supreme Waves is one of three members of the Cotton Supreme Family! With a 100% cotton base, this yarn is incredible for homewares and wearable projects. The buttery soft and breathable fibers of Cotton Supreme Waves are a delight to work with and will lead to long-lasting creations due to the yarns durability!

Now through Sunday, March 10th, at 11:59 PM EST, get 20% off Cotton Supreme Waves! So, now the only question is, what will you create? Let us know in the comment section below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert

Free Pattern Friday – Heidi Hood

What’s the thing to knit during transitional weather? Why, an accessory, of course! Today’s Free Pattern Friday brings you the Heidi Hood designed by me!

I designed this whimsical accessory specifically to show off the fun pops of neon in Bella Pom Pom against the dark background of 954 Phantom Heather in Deluxe Bulky Superwash. The Heidi Hood is just the ticket to keep your neck toasty while giving you the option to wear the hood up or down. This accessory is knit from the bottom up, starting with the neck. Fluffy Fisherman’s Rib is worked in the round in Deluxe Bulky Superwash until the neck portion is completed. Bella Pom Pom is then carried along for the hood which is worked flat, with a built-in I-Cord along the edges. The top of the hood is formed by grafting each half together.

Why did I choose to highlight Bella Pom Pom in this pattern? Because it’s the perfect carry-along yarn to transform a simple accessory into a head-turner. Throw in Deluxe Bulky Superwash and you’ve got yourself a squishy, cozy, fun-to-knit piece! With so many colors available in this bulky weight yarn, you can choose to either accentuate the neon pops against a darker shade or use a complementary color for a more subtle nod to neon.

This weekend only, get 20% off your order of Bella Pom Pom and Deluxe Bulky Superwash, through Sunday, March 3rd. What are you waiting for?

Keep on crafting on,

Afifa

FLASH Pattern Friday – Serra

A woman poses in the Serra sweater. The text "Flash Pattern Friday, Serra knit in Wool Pop" appears to the right of her.

Hi friends, and Happy Friday. This is the last Friday of February, so it’s time for a FLASH pattern! That means we are giving a normally paid pattern to our audience for FREE! Today we bring you Serra, designed by Rachel Brockman.

This beautiful sweater features Wool Pop, a gorgeous blend of 50% bamboo, 35% superwash wool, and 15% polyamide. It has a subtle sheen and a lovely drape when stitched. This yarn is a favorite for trans-seasonal garments and accessories, as the bamboo offers a soft, supple feel to the warm, springy wool.

This sweater is knit in the round from the bottom up, then the front and back are separated at the underarms and worked flat to create sleeve openings. The shoulders are joined with a three-needle bind-off before the sleeves are worked flat and sewn to the body. Stitches for the neck edging are picked up and worked in the round to finish off this elegant piece. The all-over cables and texture make for a timeless, sophisticated pullover that will take you from winter into spring!

To get the Serra pattern for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer is valid through Sunday, 2/25.

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

Free Pattern Friday – Sprezzatura Set

Happy Free Pattern Friday everyone! Today, we are releasing a set that is perfect for knitters of all skill levels: the Sprezzatura Set. Personally, I am a huge fan of relaxing knitting patterns that feel fun, yet not so complex that I can’t simultaneously talk to a friend or watch my favorite late night show. The Sprezzatura Set is a relaxing, fun knit that anyone can tackle, and a one ball wonder (we ALL love those). Let’s get into it!

Sprezzatura is an Italian word that means to have an an air of nonchalance. It is a beautiful word, befitting for this shawl and headband set that, once knit up, have quite an effortless appearance. The shawl is knit flat from tip to tip with directional increases and decreases that create the elongated triangle shape. A slip stitch edge is worked on the shawl; keeping everything looking tidy. Garter stitch worked throughout lets you focus on the shaping, and is part of why this pattern is perfect for a knitter looking to grow new skills.

The matching headband uses a provisional cast-on that is later unpicked and bound off using the I-Cord method. If this sounds intimidating, don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it in no time, and all of our patterns include stitch guides that thoroughly explain techniques used.

Designer Afifa Sayeed chose to use Rico Design Creative Melange Garzato Aran for the Sprezzatura Set. This aran weight wool and acrylic blend is perfect for simple stitch patterns like garter stitch, thanks to the self shading stripes that come to life as you knit or crochet. Creative Melange Garzato Aran comes in a 200g beehive style skein, and with over 700 yards, you can easily create this shawl and headband with just one ball! There are 12 stunning colors to choose from, tell us which one you would choose!

We hope you enjoy this week’s simple, yet stunning, free pattern release.

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

Free Pattern Friday – Seeded Scarflette and Beret

What do you think of when you see pink? Whether it’s Barbie, Mean Girls, Breast Cancer Awareness, or your old highlighter set from elementary school, the point is that pink makes a statement! This Friday, we have a bright, bold, and beautiful set that will bring joy to your wardrobe. The Seeded Scarflette and Beret, designed by Rachel Brockman, is this week’s freebie. Let’s learn more about this pair!

Whenever you combine Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk and any of our Uni Merino yarns, expect breathtaking results! The soft and warm merino wool base of Uni Merino is a perfect match for the ethereal halo of Mohair Loves Silk. If you’re not a fan of neon, don’t worry; these two yarns have many complimentary colors; see below for inspiration!

Hinted upon in the name, this set features a stunning seed stitch pattern. Plus, you’ll notice the gorgeous spiral decreases in the beret, giving it elevated elegance!

There’s no better time to knit the Seeded Scarflette and Beret. This weekend only, Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk and our Uni Merino family of yarns are 20% off! The mohair and silk blend of Mohair Loves Silk makes it an excellent partner in crime for the superwash merino and nylon blend of Uni Merino. This offer expires on Sunday, February 11th, at 11:59 PM EST, so shop today or use it as an excuse to shop on Super Bowl Sunday (if you REALLY don’t want to watch the game)!

Alternative color suggestions below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert


Collection Spotlight: Precious Picnic

Spring is just around the corner and we are embracing it in a big way with our newest collection featuring eight adorable patterns for your little ones. Taking inspiration from nature’s sweet treats, the Precious Picnic collection utilizes the colors and imagery of fresh fruit in a variety of designs ranging from adorable stuffies, accessories, and garments to blankets in our easy-care Uptown Bamboo DK. Let’s jump right in and talk about each piece!

Dress your little one in an outfit as sweet as they are with the Bilberry Set, designed by me! The adorable romper is perfect for layering over long sleeves during a cool spring picnic and the bucket hat will protect their heads from the sun. We’ve chosen 522 Sailor and 525 Willow for our version, but let your favorite fruit serve as the foundation of this leaf-topped ensemble! The romper includes sizes for 0-18 months and the hat includes sizes for a newborn to a toddler. Both pieces are constructed from the top down with a simple stranded colorwork motif to create the leaf pattern.

My personal favorite – the Concord Wrap, also designed by me. A sweet little cardigan with adorable grape bunches adorning the front hem. The crossover design with buttons and I-cord ties makes it easy to dress a wiggly one. This layering piece is the perfect cocoon for any outfit, keeping your sweet babe cozy thanks to our soft, smooth Uptown Bamboo DK yarn. The sample shown uses 517 Lilac and includes sizes for 0-24 months. The Concord Wrap is constructed in pieces and seamed.

What’s more fun than a set of stuffed fruit? The Fresh and Fruity Set, designed by, you guessed it, ME, is just ripe for pretend play. This stuffed toy set includes varying colors and shapes, helping teach young ones about objects and colors in fun ways. The set features colorways 525 Willow, 505 Daisy, 514 Tomato, and 518 Mulberry. Each fruit is knit seamlessly from the top down and stuffed as you go.

What could be more fitting in a collection of fruit-inspired items for young ones than a gingham blanket? Rachel Brockman designed both a knit AND a crochet version of the quintessential picnic blanket. Both versions are constructed in a modular fashion, making them the perfect on-the-go project. The crochet version of the Gingham Blankie is shown in 502 Lily and 507 Peach and the knit version uses 502 Lily, 519 Bluebird, and 521 Chill

Keep the mess off those adorable outfits with the Juicy Bib Trio designed by Rachel Brockman – a collection of bibs decorated with apples, lemons, and pears bordered by an edging inspired by basketry, like a little picnic basket. Each bib is knit flat from the bottom up using a knit-purl texture to create the motifs. The bibs pictured above feature colors 514 Tomato, 505 Daisy, and 524 Lemongrass.

The Melon Seed Set, designed by Rachel Brockman, is refreshing and sweet. Its inspiration was the juicy summer treat. Vibrant 513 Flamingo and 526 Melon work playfully together in this easy stranded colorwork pattern, along with 538 Tuxedo. The sweater comes in a wide range of sizes starting from 0-6 months up to 6-8 years! The socks are available in sizes Baby through Youth.

The Strawberry Patch sweater, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, features a plump, juicy berry applique on the front with on-trend contrast color sleeves to keep this piece cool and casual for your little one. This sweater is crocheted seamlessly from the top down in turning rounds. The colorwork of the sleeves and body are created with intarsia in colors 502 Lily and 514 Tomato. The strawberry stem detail is worked with 524 Lemongrass. The pattern is available in a range of sizes from 3 months to 6 years.

Celebrate the release of this adorable collection with us this weekend with 20% off the Precious Picnic E-book through our website, that’s a value of $40 for just $20, PLUS 20% off Uptown Bamboo DK.

Keep on knitting on!

Afifa

Flash Pattern Friday – forest Slipper Socks

A pair of fuzzy looking slippers is shown with a cup of coffee and the title "Flash Pattern Friday. Forest Slipper Socks."

Hi friends, and happy Friday. This is the last Friday of January, so it’s time for a FLASH pattern! That means we are giving a normally paid pattern to our audience for FREE! Today we bring you the Forest Slipper Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman.

These slippers combine Bamboo Pop Sock Solids and Minou for a wonderfully warm combination for your tootsies. Bamboo Pop Sock Solids comes in 100g balls made of 37% cotton, 55% bamboo, and 8% pbt. It’s available in 22 shades, some of which match perfectly with the featured, fuzzy carry-along. Each 50g ball of Minou is made of 40% baby alpaca, 8% merino wool, 52% nylon and is available in eight bespoke colors. Both yarns called for are held together through the whole project to create the fur-like texture.

The Forest Socks Slippers are knit from the cuff-down, in the round, with a heel flap and gusset. The heel is shaped using short rows and stitches are grafted together for the toes to finish the project seamlessly.

To get the Forest Slipper Socks pattern for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer is valid through Sunday, 1/28.

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

Free Pattern Friday – Clairvoyance

If you’re looking for a striking accessory to top off your outfit, Free Pattern Friday is here for you! This week, flashy carry-along Cotton Gold combines with our beloved Bamboo Pop to create Clairvoyance. Designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, this accessory will turn heads and have you receiving compliments left and right. Let’s read more about this week’s featured crochet pattern!

Cotton Gold is one of our featured carry-along yarns, and it looks incredible when held against the bamboo and cotton fibers of Bamboo Pop! The lacey pattern of Clairvoyance makes it perfect for spring and summer, giving you a breathable accessory.

While the sample shown uses two sage colorways, you can mix it up to match your personality! How about the beautiful combination of Cotton Gold 1095 and Bamboo Pop 112? This would be a perfect piece for New Year’s Eve parties for years to come!

Or, try two gorgeous blues with Cotton Gold 1100 and Bamboo Pop 111!

The choice is yours, and we know that regardless of what you choose, you’re going to look great!

This weekend, save 20% off Cotton Gold and Bamboo Pop through Sunday, January 21st at 11:59 PM EST! The possibilities are endless when you create with these two customer-favorites. The best part is you can hold Cotton Gold with Bamboo Pop in both simple and complex stitches. Whether you want to stick to garter stitch or try something with lace, the dazzling sequins will stand out, especially when they catch the light. Create something that will last a lifetime today with Cotton Gold and Bamboo Pop!

Thanks for stopping by!
Robert

A Winter Wonderland Wall Hanging

Winter is the season of magic and mystery. The cold weather is a shock to the senses, and beautiful snowfall is one of nature’s quiet little miracles. For yarn crafters, it is a season full of project inspiration. From cozy sweaters, to snuggly scarves, winter calls us to create.

At Universal Yarn, we offer an expansive line of yarns suited to all types of yarn crafters. The patterns we release are primarily for knitters and crocheters, but we celebrate all fiber arts. Occasionally, we work with indie designers, fiber artists, and social media influencers to create unique projects using our yarns to help inspire our customers. This winter, I wanted to commission a creative project and blog post featuring a yarn craft that is resurging in popularity: locker and latch hooking. We worked with a local artist, April Lee, for this project.

A wall hanging made using a variety of yarns from Universal Yarn in the locker hooking technique.
Our Winter Wonderland wall hanging, made by April Lee.

April Lee is a custom fiber artist based out of Charlotte, NC, and has been a lover of fiber arts since she was 15 years old. During the pandemic, April tried out the locker hooking craft, and the rest was history. In 2021, she launched Latched By Lee, LLC, which is a custom fiber art business specializing in one-of-a-kind art pieces using various textiles. Every item is handmade using latch and locker hooking techniques. Here is what April had to say about locker and latch hooking.

‘Locker hooking is a technique that uses a tool with a crochet hook on one end, and a needle eye on the other. It creates loops of yarn that are pulled through the backing of a mesh canvas to create a design. The loops are locked into place using the yarn that is threaded through the needle eye. Locker hooking originated in England in the 19th century, and at that time was primarily used to make rugs. Stripes of fabric that were no longer suitable to use for clothing were used to create floor mats, rugs, and quilts. Since then, locker hooking has expanded greatly. You can create wall hangings, bracelets, baskets, purses, chair cushions, pillows, and much more! I love exploring all of the different things I can create using the locker hooking technique.’

A close up image of the Winter Wonderland Wall Hanging using a variety of yarns from Universal Yarn.
Cliffs Of Moher was used to make the trees and candy canes, while Bella Chenille was used for the snow, and Uptown Worsted was used for the background.

We asked April to create a wall hanging art piece inspired by the idea of a winter wonderland. April chose a variety of our yarns to use for this project, and I have to say I was SO intrigued to see how all of these different fibers would work together in the piece. Here is what April had to say about some of the yarns that were used.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed using the various types of yarns from Universal Yarn to create this project. Bella Chenille’s polyester fibers are the perfect fit to create a fluffy and realistic looking snow texture. The Cliffs Of Moher yarn from Yarn Vibes was one of my favorites because the wool created tight loops that gives a different feel on the canvas. A helpful tip while locker looking is to double up thinner yarns to make the loops more secure, and it also helps to close any gaps on the canvas.

A close up image of the wall hanging made in the locker hooking technique.
I loved April’s choice to add some sparkle to this piece with the rhinestones and beads. Winter is the season of sparkle!

Deluxe Bulky Superwash was very smooth, making for a great transition when locking loops in place. I used the Rico Design Soft Merino Aran virgin wool yarn to create the snowcapped mountains. Terrain was essential to this project because it added layers and dimension to the piece. For the background, I used Uptown Worsted in Royal Blue, and it did not disappoint. The blue allows for the other colors to shine and gives the true winter wonderland appearance. I appreciated the tightly woven Ricorumi yarn because I used it as the locking yarn (the yarn through the needle eye) to help secure the loops in place. Finally, I added a few beads and rhinestones for embellishments to give a ‘pop’ to the piece, because what is a winter wonderland without some sparkle?

A close up image of the locker hook wall hanging featuring yarns from Universal Yarn.
You can really tell how the different yarns create a unique texture with the locker hooking technique. Cliffs Of Moher is 100% wool and makes tighter loops than the acrylic fibers of Uptown Worsted do.

Overall, I really enjoyed creating this piece and exploring the different textures of the yarn. Universal Yarn has quality yarn that can be used for many different yarn crafts.’

A picture of a locker hook wall hanging and a variety of yarns from Universal Yarn.
This picture shows the piece along with some of the different yarns that April chose to use!

To get started with locker hooking, April recommends some materials that you will need: a latch hook mesh canvas with 3.75″ squares, a locker hooking tool, the yarn of your choice, and of course, your creativity! If you are local to the Charlotte area, April offers classes and workshops throughout the year. Her next class will be in March 2024 at the Craft Fest hosted by Petty Thieves Brewing. You can find out more about April’s work on her website www.latchedbylee.com and be sure to follow her on Instagram @latchedxlee .

I hope that this post has given you some winter wonder-ful inspiration to try something new. This could be a great hobby to explore in between large knitting or crochet projects, and to use up some of your stash yarns! Learning a new craft can also be a fun way to beat the cold weather blues. Wishing you all a fabulous 2024!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey