Flash Pattern Friday: Coco

It’s Flash Pattern Friday and we have a treat for you! A very special holiday pattern – Coco.

Coco is from Series 4 of our 12 Days of Winter collections and is available as a kit at this link. This adorable stuffed toy would make the perfect gift for any little one. Coco features contrast-colored paws and the cutest little embroidered face. The fun doesn’t stop there, Coco’s fashion-forward striped accessories are designed to be removable for versatility.

Coco is knit using Uptown Worsted, our best-selling 100% anti-pilling acrylic yarn. This machine-washable yarn is an excellent option for any item that is sure to get a lot of love. It glides smoothly over your needles and is a delight to work with. Plus, the yarn takes color like a dream, giving Coco’s accessories the perfect saturation.

To get Coco 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, December 10th!

As an added bonus, Uptown Worsted is buy three, get one free through Sunday, December 10th! That means 25% off! With a wide variety of rich and vibrant hues available, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on your stash of this beloved yarn. For project inspiration, check out our collection of free patterns featuring Uptown Worsted at this link.

Keep on knitting on!

Afifa

12 Days of Winter – 2023 Kit Collection

Assortment of Knits with text "12 Days of Winter, the 2023 Kit collection"

Hello, December! It’s that time of year again, when we present to you our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. And, with bittersweet news, this is our last kit collection of this type. Join me today as I reflect on year’s past and share the exciting refreshed and new kits we are offering for 2023.

The cover from our very first edition of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, from 2017.

In 2017, when I first began working at Universal Yarn, we conceived the exciting idea to create twelve wintry accessories featuring a variety of our yarns to support our local yarn stores through the gift-giving season. These kits were designed to be beautiful, thoughtful finished objects to give a loved one, or to be a present for your best fiber friend. The designs were all centered around winter, and primarily meant to be useful beyond the holiday season. We dreamt of frozen lakes, snowy forests, the warmth and crackle of the fireplace, and twinkling lights. Then, we took that imagery and created a collection of twelve designs to inspire.

Top Left: Series 1 Snowflake Mitts / Top Right: Series 2 Mistletoes
Middle Left: Series 3 Mountain Pines / Middle Right: Series 4 Chai Latte Set
Bottom Left: Series 5 Crochet Cinnamon Swirl Stole / Bottom Right Series 6 Hubble the Winter Wolf

Pictured above are some of the highlights our the past six years of 12 Days of Winter. In those years, we have published a total of 76 knitting and crochet patterns to celebrate the season. From mitts and hats to scarves and stuffies, we truly have something for everyone in these collections. As we reflected on which of these patterns were best loved for Series 7, we wanted to rekindle the joy they brought you. With that said, we are so proud to share our latest 12 Days of Winter Kit collection, which features old favorites and new patterns alike.

The Cover of our 12 Days of Winter 2023 Kit Collection

First, let’s talk about some of the oldies but goodies. Eight of the patterns in this collection were revisited from previous years. We’ve refreshed them with exciting new yarns. Take Aspen, for example. This beloved classic cabled scarf was a hit during our third year of the kit collection. It’s intricately winding cables are impressive, but easier to achieve than one might expect. This year, we’ve paired it with a yarn destined to shine in cables: Yarn Vibes Cliffs of Moher. Its rustic, plump hand gives the cables such a warm and woolly texture.

The popular Forest Garland, which has both a knit and crochet version, was reimagined using our Cotton Supreme and Cotton Gold yarns held together. The shimmering sequins of Cotton Gold make it look just like twinkly lights or beautiful bulbs decorating a Christmas tree.

New yarns are just part of revisiting our previous years of patterns. As you can see so far, we’ve been swapping colors as well. That’s the case for each of these patterns, and I especially love how it worked out for the Blue Spruce Socks and Snow Day Set. We opted for unexpected yarns and icy shades to maximize the wintry impact. The Blue Spruce Socks use two strands of Uni Merino together, and the Snow Day Set takes Rico Design’s Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed on a frosty adventure!

Originally from Series 2, We Three Hats and Snowfolk were especially favored among our in-house team and our customers. We kept the yarn for We Three Hats the same, but played around with cool shades of sugarplum and icy blues. This outstanding kit is like three in one, because you’ll have enough Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash to make all three hats and enjoy a sampling of fun techniques! Similarly, one kits gets you all three Snowfolk, lovingly named Agnes, Dorothy, and Maureen. This year, these ladies got a makeover with all new accessories in best-selling Uptown Worsted to keep cozy on a cold winter’s day.

Although all of the kits we’ve revisited so far were featured in previous 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections, not all of those from this year are. In fact, we’ve taken two stunning kits from discontinued yarns and gave them new life! The Holiday Stockings and the Illuvia Shawl were once part of our Dona color kits. Their techniques made them a perfect fit for the collection. The stranded Holiday Stockings, now knit in Rico Design Baby Dream DK Uni are a joyful home décor project just waiting to be stuffed with little trinkets. The colorful Illuvia Shawl, now knit in Wool Pop, features a sampling of exciting stitches that will delight you as you knit, and impress your giftee!

Finally, we’re happy to introduce some brand new patterns to you! The last four kits I’ll touch on were designed to round out this year’s collection. The first two, Mini Marshmallow and the Twilight Socks, are special because they combine different yarns for impact. Mini Marshmallow is actually a tiny version of his big brother, Marshmallow, from Series 5. This little best friend would make the sweetest gift for your little one. I can easily see their little body popping out of the aforementioned Holiday Stockings on Christmas morning, just waiting to be hugged! Mini Marshmallow is knit using plush, soft Bella Chenille, and their stylish sweater is knit with colorful Rico Design Creative Melange Chunky.

The Twilight Socks are the advanced sock knitter’s dream. The intricate motif combines twisted stitches and mosaic knitting, and the results couldn’t be more jaw-dropping. Here, we’ve paired the variegated marls of Cobblestone with the saturation of Uni Merino into one amazing pair of socks.

The next two accessories will keep your neck and shoulders toasty and warm all season long! Crochet enthusiasts will absolutely adore Milky Way, a cozy cowl featuring the brilliant self-shading hues of Colorburst. The spike stitches blend the colors together and create a finished piece as impressive as the galaxy we call home. Unlike the kaleidoscope of colors seen in Milky Way, the knitted Snowstorm scarf looks a bit more neutral in Kingston Tweed. Gray and navy tones in a mosaic colorwork pattern will remind you of a nighttime blizzard, and the soft pink edges bring to mind rosy cheeks out in the cold.

There you have it – our designs for the final edition of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections. We deeply appreciate all of your enthusiasm for these patterns and kits over the years. We hope each one has filled you with warmth and holiday cheer. And if these collections were something you looked forward to each year, fear not – we promise we will have many more festive treats in store for you in the years to come!

Be merry, my fiber friends, and have a wonderful holiday season!
-Rachel

12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition, Part IV

A stuffed wolf toy sits in front of a stack of folded accessories from the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 6.

This is part 4 in a four-part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition.

The features from our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, may be coming to a close, but with so much inspiration, hopefully your project planning is just beginning. It’s always so thrilling to review comments on this blog, or see projects line up in queues on Ravelry. From the looks of it, we may see some beautiful holiday projects in the works! Before you commit though, check out our final three days from the 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition, the Holiday Stroll hat and scarf set, the Snow Globe Stocking, and the Holiday Elf Socks.

Holiday Stroll Set

This year’s crochet project was designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. Once I saw our mood board, I knew I had to use Bamboo Bloom Handpaints in the color #324 Steven Befabulous. It even has “fabulous” in its name! It’s made of a blend of 44% wool, 48% rayon from bamboo, and 8% acrylic. This is all spun together for a unique thick and thin, matte and shiny quality that stands out in any piece. I paired it with complimenting solids in Deluxe Bulky Superwash, made of 100% superwash wool, to create a warm and cozy project for the season. The vibrant combination inspired the perfect set for taking a stroll to look at holiday lights.

The Holiday Stroll Set livens up any outfit, whether you stick to neutrals, bright colors, or both!

The best thing about the scarf is that it has pockets! It’s made modularly from the bottom up in sections, alternating between rows of a granny stitch stripes pattern with granny squares that are seamed together. Once the whole scarf is complete, the edges are folded up, then seamed to create pockets. The hat is also constructed modularly: you create a ring by sewing granny squares together, then you work directly into them for the crown and brim. The hat is finished with a nice fluffy pom pom for a final touch of fun! In case you need some tips with a pom pom maker, we have a great pom pom video tutorial on our Tik Tok, found here, and a wonderful photo-tutorial on our blog, found here.

Snow Globe Stocking

The Snow Globe Stocking, designed by Aubrey Busek, is a quirky take on a holiday classic. Rico Design Creative Bubble, and Rico Design Creative Bubble Print, both made of 100% polyester, are used as carry-along yarns to add some extra sparkle to the base yarn, Deluxe Bulky Superwash, made of 100% superwash wool. Can you just imagine how sweet it will look on your mantle filled with treats? You’ll find new special details each time you look at it. With the twinkle throughout, the overall effect is truly just as magical as a snow globe!

The sparkle from Rico Design Creative Bubble adds some magic to the Snow Globe Stocking.

I really enjoy the color combinations in this stocking. The cuff blends from red to a cool minty green, then to a creamy white with dots of stranded colorwork that look like sprinkles. Then, there are wonderful pops of color at the heel and toe. The heel is added after the rest of the sock is complete using a technique called an “afterthought heel,” which sounds complicated, but it’s actually not so bad! If you are in doubt, there is a helpful photo-tutorial blog post about the method, which you can review to feel prepared to make this fantastic stocking.

Whether you fill it with treats, or simply hang it for decoration, the Snow Globe Stocking is sure to spice up your mantle this season!

Holiday Elf Socks

The last kit in this year’s collection is the Holiday Elf Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman. These socks just tickle me! I love the way that they mirror each other with their bright colors. It’s just what I imagine a jolly North Pole Elf would wear – a bit mischievous, and dazzlingly bright, with tiny festive trees. They are made with Uni Merino, a blend of superwash merino wool and nylon, perfect for a snuggly and soft pair of socks.

These happy socks are “sisters, not twins,” although they can be made to match instead of mirror, if you prefer!

They are made cuff-down with a heel-flap, and use stranded colorwork to make the adorable mini trees and surrounding design. The toe is seamless, using a Kitchener stitch to graft the live stitches together. I have recently started making socks, and have been using this method on every pair so far. At first I found it intimidating, but now I love it. The end results are so worth it, and we have a tutorial at this blog post which includes step-by-step photos that is incredibly helpful. Once you finish, you’ll have a pair of wacky holiday socks without any pesky toe seams to comfortably wear for years to come!

If you look closely, you can see where the toes are completely seamless!

I hope you have enjoyed looking at patterns from the 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 with me today. If you missed Part I, Part II, or Part III be sure to go read through them! You’ll hear thoughts from the other designers of the collection, Aubrey and Rachel, and get more tips and tricks for techniques that you’ll encounter in the designs!

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with a printed version of the pattern, the yarn required to make itn. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

12 Days of Winter – Series 6 Edition, Part III

This is part 3 in a four-part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 edition.

Hey everyone! Another year has flown by, and it’s time for our annual 12 Days of Winter blog celebration. I’m a big fan of the winter season. This time of year brings with it an ethereal sense of happiness that is quite unique. The days are short and often dark, plants are dying, the weather is cold, and yet – things like delicious warm comfort foods, sparkling holiday lights, parties, and (if you’re lucky enough) gorgeous falling snow fill the air. It’s a time of endings and beginnings, and a perfect opportunity to start a brand new project to welcome the new year.

Speaking of brand new projects, I have some inspiration for you! Today, I’ll be sharing three of the projects from our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 6. The Frozen Pond shawl, Keepsake Cover, and Snow Dust stole. All of these kits were designed by Rachel Brockman, our Creative Lead. Rachel has a way of creating unique designs that cater to a variety of skill levels, while always having thoughtful details that make them special. The thing that ties all three of these designs together? Lace stitches.

A close up image of a person facing away from the camera and looking down. They are wearing a hand knit shawl in a dark blue color on their shoulders.
The Frozen Pond shawl is perfect to drape over your shoulders on a chilly day.

Lace knit stitches result in some of the most gorgeous patterns you can imagine, and they are actually what first drew me to taking up knitting as a hobby. I remember seeing a book full of patterns for Victorian inspired lace shawls, and I was instantly intrigued. The eyelets, twists, and turns created by lace stitch patterns are lovely, and they are a perfect match for the winter season, as they often share the same sense of delicate and ethereal beauty.

A close up image of the details of a hand knit blue shawl with lace stitches.
The Frozen Pond shawl lace detail, doesn’t it look like pretty trees?

Frozen Pond is an asymmetrical shawl knit using our sinfully soft Nymph yarn. Nymph is a DK weight blend of cotton and polyamide, with a soft, fuzzy halo that adds dimension to any project. Boomerang shaped shawls like this one have great drape, and are easy to style in a variety of ways. The Frozen Pond shawl’s name was inspired by the dark blue colors of iced over water in the winter. I love the way the diamond pattern of the lace has shapes that look like trees, and I imagine they’d line the perimeter of the aforementioned frozen pond.

The lace pattern worked in this shawl will require some attention on your part while knitting. However, in between the sections of lace you’ll get to relax with some garter stitch, perfect for when you want to knit while watching TV in the evening. We’ve included both written instructions and charts for this pattern, so you are able to utilize what works best for you.

A person stands holding up a large hand knit blanket in a blue, magenta, and green striped colorway.
The Keepsake Cover has candy colored stripes, making this a perfect holiday gift project.

The Keepsake Cover is a joyful blanket pattern knit using three colors of our Uptown Worsted yarn. This 100% anti-pilling acrylic yarn is a workhorse, perfect for projects like blankets that will get a lot of wear and tear. A combination of ribbing, cables, and lace make up the motif that is worked throughout the Keepsake Cover. The diamond shape in this pattern reminds me of Christmas tree ornaments, with the eyelets created by the lace resembling the light bouncing off the ornaments as they hang on the tree.

A close up image of the details of a hand knit striped blanket with lace and cable details.
The Keepsake Cover is perfect for getting cozy with a cup of hot cocoa!

This pattern also includes written instructions, as well as a chart to help you visualize the cable and lace motif. If you’re not familiar with how to read knitting charts, a pattern like this one is the perfect way to learn. It may seem intimidating at first, since this pattern has both cable and lace stitches, but after your Keepsake Cover is complete, you’ll be a chart reading expert! Here is a link to a blog post where we discuss more on how to read knitting charts, which might be particularly helpful to those of you who are brand new to the skill.

The Snow Dust stole (or wrap!) is an excellent example of the delicate, cobweb quality you can achieve by knitting lace stitch patterns. This accessory is practically the winter season as a wearable item, and you’re sure to look like a snowy dream while you wear it! Snow Dust is knit using our Cotton Gold yarn, which is a laceweight cotton thread yarn, with small sequins and metallic fiber strung throughout. It looks gorgeous worked on its own as you can see from Snow Dust, but also makes an excellent carry-along yarn to add sparkle to other projects.

Snow Dust features simple stitches like knits and purls, as well as yarn overs and basic decreases (‘slip, slip, knit’ – ssk and ‘knit two together’ – k2tog) to create the lace repeat. This would be a great project choice for someone who wants to get really comfortable with knitting lace, because the rectangular shape of the wrap means they can simply focus on the knitting. The end result of the lace stitch pattern reminds me of the quiet, sparkling beauty of the outdoors right after a snow fall. This wrap would be perfect for a night out to the theater, or a fun dinner with friends.

A close up image of a person standing away from the camera and looking down. They have a hand knit wrap in a white color with lace stitches draped over their shoulders.
The lace details in Snow Dust look like little bird tracks in fresh fallen snow!

No matter which of these projects you want to create, the lace stitches in these patterns add texture, delicate details, and depth to the overall result. Don’t fret if you’re still a beginner when it comes to lace patterns. Practice makes perfect, and once you master all the basic stitches, you can apply them to the Frozen Pond shawl, the Keepsake Cover, or the Snow Dust wrap!

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, and a printed version of the pattern. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Tune in tomorrow for the final installment of our 12 Days of Winter, series 6 blogs!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

12 Days of Winter – Series 6 Edition, Part II

This is part 2 in a four-part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition.

In today’s installment of our blog series on our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, I’ll be highlighting three delightful knitting patterns: Hubble the Winter Wolf, the Hemlock Set, and the Pomegranate Path set.

You may be asking yourself, “what do these three projects have in common?” The answer, my fiber-loving friend, is warm, woolly textures! With an emphasis on our “Deluxe” family of yarns, these projects utilize our three worsted lines: Deluxe Worsted, Deluxe Worsted Superwash, and Deluxe Worsted Tweed. A trifecta of worsted weight wools, if you will!

Additionally, these projects showcase texture. In Hubble the Winter Wolf, we’ve sprinkled in some Minou for fluffy interest, and in both the Hemlock Set and Pomegranate Path, we’ve incorporated plump cables throughout. The final thread tying these patterns together is headwear! A pom pom topper for a stuffed best friend, a headband for a dressier outing, and a beanie to ensure your warmth for the duration of the season! Shall we take a closer look?

A front view of a small, hand knitted wolf toy using Universal Yarn Minou and Deluxe Worsted. The toy wears an embroidered turquoise hat with a pom pom.
Hubble the Winter Wolf has the cutest floof around his chest, paws, ears, and tail. Irresistible!

Hubble the Winter Wolf

I’ll be honest – this pattern is my pride and joy in the collection! This design took lots of experimentation and was an absolute joy to put together. If you’d like to know a little about the design process, it began with lots of ripping back, sketches, and jotting down scribbles of notes in my graph paper notebook (side note: every knitter who enjoys charts, designing, or modifying patterns will benefit from a graph paper notebook, throw one in their stocking!).

A small, hand knitted wolf toy, shown from the side and wearing a turquoise hat.
Hubble’s hat is constructed so that his little ears pop out – don’t worry, all that fur will keep him plenty warm! He only wears the hat to look stylish!

Hubble is knit modularly and is mostly seamless. He begins with the nose, which is worked flat. Then, stitches are picked up around the nose and joined in the round to create the snout. Some stitches are placed on hold while you utilize the rest of the live stitches to shape the head. Then, stitches are picked up again from an opening at the bottom of the head and everything is worked in the round, using a surprisingly simple intarsia in-the-round method. The ears are worked separately and sewn to the head. The legs and tail are picked up directly from the body and worked in the round, although I’ve included notes on how to modify them to be sewn on if that’s your preference. Finally, he’s finished with a simple hat that’s worked in the round from the bottom up and completed with a touch of embroidery and a pom pom. If that sounds like a lot, fear not! I’ve included some diagrams and photos that will help set you up for success.

A small hand knitted wolf toy with a fluffy chest, ears, and paws.
Hubble’s hat is removable, so you can bring him along on winter and summer adventures alike!

This precious toy is knit using two heathered shades of Deluxe Worsted, a 100% non-superwash wool that I turn to again and again. The breadth of colors, smooth 4-ply construction, and soft yet rustic feel of this yarn make it perfect for every type of project. I chose two shades of grey to bring Hubble to life: #12503 Charcoal Heather and #12502 Smoke Heather. To add a more realistic element to the design, I opted to hold a strand of Minou in #104 Kitten together with Deluxe Worsted in select sections, including the chest, ears, tail, and paws. The pop of color is given through the hat, where I chose Deluxe Worsted again in the color #71662 Turquoise. Scrap yarn in white and black are suggested for the embroidery, pom pom, and nose.

A woman glances directly at the camera while wearing a headband and mittens that are hand knitted using Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted Superwash.
Elegant and understated, the Hemlock Set will tie together any winter ensemble. We love how it looks with this white jacket because it makes the knitted accessories the star of the show!

Hemlock Set

When planning any pattern collection, I know I can always rely on designer and social media extraordinaire, Aubrey Busek, to create elegant, thoughtful designs that are infinitely wearable. When she brought her sketches for the Hemlock Set to the table, I knew we needed to include them in the collection. After all, what could be more wintry and festive than mittens and an ear warmer to ward off the chilly temperatures?

A brunette woman cradles her face with her hand gently. She is wearing a green handknit headband and pair of mittens.
Deluxe Worsted Superwash is soft and snuggly, making it a great choice for giftable projects like this one.

The Hemlock set is a matching accessory set featuring a headband and mittens. It’s an addictive and enjoyable project that works up pretty quickly, making it a great last-minute gift project that’s certain to please. For this project, we opted for soft, easy-care Deluxe Worsted Superwash in the festive new color, #774 Mistletoe. How fitting, right? The cables themselves seem to mimic the hanging holiday plant, and the bobbles echo their small berries.

The cables twist and turn their way across the mittens and around the headband. My favorite detail is the cross at the center of the headband – it’s like a cable within a cable, very meta! Plus, it’s easier to achieve than you might assume! It’s simply formed by separating the work in half, working to a specific length, and making a cross that forms an “X” before rejoining the two halves together once more. Easy, peasy!

Techniques you’ll explore while making the Hemlock Set include ribbing, stockinette stitch, cables, bobbles, basic shaping, working flat, and knitting small circumferences in the round. Personally, if you’re new to any of these methods, I recommend making the headband first and graduating to the mittens. The choice, of course, is yours!

Last year, Aubrey shared her love of bobbles in two of her designs, the Enchanted Scarf and Crystalline Cowl. She even created a helpful tutorial to demonstrate how bobbles are constructed. You can check that out at this link.

A woman is seated, smiling, and glancing to the side. She sits in front of gift boxes and tinsel and wears a hand knitted scarf and hat.
Pomegranate Path is a cozy accessory set to keep you warm on a winter’s day.

Pomegranate Path

The final design we’re spotlighting today is another accessory set, Pomegranate Path. Rich texture and saturated color come together in this staple set. No winter wardrobe is complete without a scarf and a warm hat. This set is knit using Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash, which is undoubtedly a fan favorite! This yarn is predominantly made of superwash wool, with a touch of viscose and acrylic for the tweedy nubs. That means it’s machine-washable, making it a great yarn for gift knitting because you won’t have to worry about the recipient having an accidental felting disaster! Keeping with our bright holiday theme, we chose one of the more recent additions to the line, color #921 Beet.

A brunette woman smiles while wearing a hand knit hat and scarf that features cables, twisted stitches, and texture throughout.
Coordinating cables decorate both the hat and scarf.

Pomegranates are considered the jewel of winter – and why not? They generally ripen during this season, add a brilliant pop of color to a dreary day, and double as decor and a tasty treat! Yes, we primarily named this design for the bold, beautiful color, but we see the connection between the textures and the fruit, too! For example, a slender border of seed stitch pays homage to the juicy seeds that fill the pomegranate. And, much in the same way you enjoy the fruits of your labor when preparing and eating a pomegranate, you’ll love the process of knitting different twisted stitches and cables throughout this project!

A close-up image of a woman wearing a scarf. It features cables, twisted stitches, and tassels.
Take a closer look at the variety of stitches used in this pattern – the texture is so tempting!

In the past year, I rekindled my love of scarves. I just cannot get over how enjoyable knitting a richly textured accessory can be. And hats will always be among my favorite types of projects to knit. This pattern offers plenty of interest, and we have several helpful tutorials to help you along the way. You might enjoy the Right and Left Twist tutorial (link), cabling without a cable needle is optional, but useful (link), and these handy chart-reading tips will help you with any project that includes them (link)!

Join us tomorrow for Part III of this blog series, where Aubrey will dish about a shawl, stole, and cozy blanket!

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you.  Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with a printed version of the pattern and the yarn required to make it. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy stitching,
Rachel

12 Days of Winter – Series 6 Edition, Part I

A stuffed wolf toy sits in front of a stack of folded accessories from the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 6.

This is part 1 in a four-part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition.

No matter which holiday you celebrate, winter is filled with gift giving of all kinds. Each year, our design team comes together to envision what projects will embody the spirit of the season, and creates kits that are exclusively sold at Local Yarn Shops. For this 12 Days of Winter, it’s all about bright and festive cheer! From the twinkling of snow and lights, to the bold colors of candies and toys, 2022 is a year for joy.

Today, I’m going to highlight the first three days from the 12 Days of Winter – Series 6, which you can find, or order via drop shipping, at any Local Yarn Shop that carries Universal Yarn. The Partridge Cowl, Candy Cane Lane hat, and Swiss Meringue Slippers each have special and thoughtful details that will delight knitters and gift recipients alike.

The Partridge Cowl is a beautifully colorful piece, designed by Rachel Brockman. It’s knit seamlessly in the round and uses stranded colorwork throughout. Since you are working with multiple colors of yarn throughout the whole project, we have labeled the difficulty as intermediate, and we have a blog post to help you navigate this technique at this link. It begins with a provisional cast-on which is unraveled and then grafted to the opposite end with the Kitchener stitch for a true seamless look when finished. The yarn in this kit is Rico Design Baby Dream DK Uni, paired with Rico Design Baby Dream DK. Both the solid and multi versions of this yarn are made of 50% polyacrylic and 50% polyamide, making for an ultra-soft cowl that’s perfect for bundling up this winter.

Partridge Cowl by Rachel Brockman.

My favorite part about this design is how the birds alternate their direction throughout the cowl. They were described as “dancing” in one of our newsletters, and I fell in love! Every time I see them now, I start humming the classic Christmas carol and envision the detailing near their beaks as notes of a birdsong twinkling to life.

Partridge birds singing and dancing in the Partridge Cowl.

Candy Cane Lane, by Rachel Brockman, is a jovial hat featuring a quintessential Candy Cane design, with a peppermint swirl at its crown. It’s knit in the round from the bottom up and uses stranded colorwork to create the swirls and motif. Made with just two balls of Fibra Natura Donnina (100% superwash merino wool), this sweet and smaller kit makes a wonderful stocking stuffer for a loved one, or a fun, compact WIP for holiday travels.

Candy Cane Lane hat by Rachel Brockman.

Hats are such a wonderful seasonal accessory – especially when you get to tell people “Thanks, I made it myself!” With the bold contrast of the red and white colors, the Candy Cane Lane hat is a head-turner, so get those compliment responses ready!

The cheery peppermint swirls and candy cane motifs of the Candy Cane Lane hat.

Last, but not least, we have the Swiss Meringue Slippers, by Aubrey Busek. These snuggle-worthy slipper boots are worked flat in two parts, first the foot, and next the cuff, which is sewn on later. Some of the seaming involves using the Mattress Stitch, which we have a handy blog tutorial for, found at this link! Buttons of your choice are added after seaming, for the final touch of winter cheer. Three colors of Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Superwash are used in alternating stripes with subtle detailing to create a rich texture on the feet, while swirled cables dance up the cuffs. It’s a great project for those who want a colorful piece, without doing stranded colorwork, as these slippers feature a mosaic colorwork technique where you only use one color at a time. The 100% superwash wool makes for plush, yet durable slippers for season-long wear.

Swiss Meringue Slippers by Aubrey Busek.

Booties, as I like to call them, are an absolute must-have for cold weather comfort. The colors are fantastic, making them as dazzling and decadent as the cookie puffs they’re named for. This project is a wonderful take on the normal “Holiday Classics,” and I will shamelessly be working on this kit for myself before I even think about their gift-giving appeal!

Close-up view of the textures and twists in the Swiss Meringue Slippers.

Thank you for reading along as we explore the first three beautiful designs from the Series 6 edition of our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. Join us tomorrow for three more designs, and what makes each of them so special and unique. Do you have a favorite from what has been shared so far? Let us know in the comments below or on social media. Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, and a printed version of the pattern. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

Comfy Day Crafts

Here at Universal Yarn, we are gearing up for a big day of “Comfy-ness” this Sunday for National Comfy Day! With the holiday season behind us, we are now in the full spring-swing of preparing some amazing new designs and collections to share with everyone! It’s always exciting to keep looking ahead, but it is also important to take a day to slow down, get super cozy, and unwind. I plan to do this by staying in my coziest lounge clothes and enjoying some Combo Cuppa-Crafty time. (If you caught Aubrey’s focus on Pinterest trends in her recent Blog Post, you know that I’m a fan of a nice Cuppa Tea!) Now, the only problem with setting a whole day aside to craft, is I don’t know what to make yet! Read along and help me pick a project!

By the Fire Slippers by Rachel Brockman

My first pick is the By the Fire Slippers by Rachel Brockman. I have recently picked up knitting again and my main desire has been to make myself socks and slippers! This design is from our 12 Days of Winter – Series 5, which starts each season as an LYS exclusive kit offering and releases to the public after the holidays. As luck would have it – this collection just released over Valentine’s Day! I think these slippers would be a fantastic cozy cast-on for National Comfy Day, don’t you?

The yarn used in these slippers is our popular Deluxe Worsted Superwash. It has a robust palette, leaving me with plenty of options to choose from if I wanted to go off book and choose my own colors. It’s also machine wash friendly, so I get the best of both worlds with a springy soft feeling for my feet combined with easy care after walking around. Granted, I may not do much walking in them – does a Netflix marathon count as exercise?

Asher Set by Aubrey Busek

My second pick is the Asher Set by Aubrey Busek. It’s another knit project, and would stretch me a bit outside of my comfort zone with knitting a hat to match the beautiful shawl, but I do love a challenge! Even though I’m ready to relax, I think it could be nice to have a calm headspace to learn some new techniques.

The yarn used in the Asher Set is our plump and perfect Posh Alpaca. This blend of wool, super fine alpaca, and acrylic makes for a thick roving style yarn that sets the stage for minimal and texture-heavy patterns alike. I love the idea of having a go-to piece for wrapping up and snuggling indoors, or for grabbing attention while I’m out and about.

Pothos Cowl by Courtney Mulcahy

My last choice is the Pothos Cowl by Courtney Mulcahy. While the idea of “comfy” inspires pieces that make me want to sink into the sofa and sip my tea, I also can see myself using my Comfy Day to start preparing for warmer weather! With spring around the corner, I’m starting to get excited for some live music out by the water, and sunsets at the park with my pup. This cowl could be the perfect accessory for any activity! Plus it’s crochet, which is already my preferred craft. I could probably do this as a fun one-day project!

It’s made with our new, silky-soft Vireo, a blend of Tencel and wool that is both sustainable and season-appropriate for the warmer days I’m envisioning. The palette reminds me of berry bowls and ice cream – I just can’t pick a color, they are all so sugary and delightful. If I can land on a color choice, this may be the project for me after all – or maybe I should just make a few of them?

So which should it be? You tell me! I can’t wait to hear what project you think I should try, and what project you’ll be crafting on National Comfy Day on Sunday!

That’s all for now, Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane

Day 12 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 12 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.

Can you believe it’s already December 12th, and this is our final blog post highlighting our 12 Days of Winter Kit collection? Time flies when you’re having fun! Some of these projects are short and sweet, so I’m sure you can tackle them as a last-minute gift that’s handmade with love, such as Marshmallow, the Sleigh Ride Set, or the Gingersnap Hats. Or, as a time saver and perfect gift for fellow fiber artists – simply pick up a kit and give it as is!

Today, I’m going to highlight the final accessory in the collection: the Snowfall Shawl. I shouldn’t choose favorites, and this is, in my opinion, perhaps our best ever 12 Days of Winter Collection (though I say that every year!). Of my own designs, I think I’m most smitten with Snowfall. It’s sparkly, hazy, and features such a lovely lace motif. It’s hard to think of a more perfect shawl for the season!

The tonal shades of Noelle and surprisingly crisp stitch definition makes for some truly dreamy lace knitting.

Snowfall is a semi-triangular shawl that’s worked from the top-down. However, unlike your traditional triangular shawl, it starts with a large amount of cast-on stitches to ensure a perfect fit over your neck and shoulders, making it especially easy to style.

You’ll get to indulge in the following techniques for this pattern:

  • basic decreases
  • yarnovers
  • knitting flat
  • garter stitch
  • creating tassels
I love styling my shawls with a point at the front in a “bandana” fashion. It keeps them looking modern, fresh, and oh-so-cozy!

For Snowfall, I chose Noelle for the yarn. Noelle is a DK-weight blend of merino wool, baby alpaca, polyester, and nylon. It features a tubular construction, with the softest fibers blown through the tube to create an exquisite halo. The color 301 Elida, used in the pattern, is a tonal grey with a dazzling silver sparkle.

The glimmer of Noelle perfectly complements the crystalline qualities of snowflakes.

Our 12 Days of Winter collections always lean into wintry themes: snow, coniferous trees, delicious holiday treats, and colors that vibe with the season. I really wanted to create an elegant shawl with lacy snowflakes, so I looked to close-up images of the icy natural phenomena.

How beautiful are the ice crystals in snowflakes? I’m inspired to make even more lace patterns that reflect them!

I thought about the different types of snowfall, which is why I opted for both a small and large motif. The upper portion featuring smaller flakes nods to gentle flurries, a sight that always fills me with joy. The final portion of larger, more dramatic snowflakes reminds me of heavy snowfall – the type with large flakes that tempted you to catch them with your tongue as a child. Finally, the tassels that drop down from each tip echo the movement of snow falling from the sky. Oh, how nature is so inspiring and magical!

I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing a bit about my inspiration for the Snowfall Shawl, and that you’ve had fun reading each of our posts over the past two weeks. It’s always such a pleasure to share this collection every year. Our team truly puts our heart into it – it’s a large collection and lots of work. We hope you enjoy every stitch!

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy crafting!


Day 11 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 11 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 5.

Delicious seasonal foods are one of my favorite things about winter. From mulled wine to pot pies, most of my favorite things to eat are perfect for cold weather. Cookies are a beloved treat of most families, and baking is a great way to spend more quality time with loved ones over the holidays. I absolutely love cooking and baking, I find it to be just as therapeutic and relaxing as knitting. Homemade gingersnap cookies were my inspiration for the Gingersnap Hats kit, knit using Deluxe Worsted Tweed.

Gingersnap Hats -knit using Deluxe Worsted Tweed colors 910 Porcelain, 913 Smoke, and 920 Camel

Techniques you’ll explore in the Gingersnap Hats patterns are

  • Knitting in the round
  • Stranded Colorwork
  • Slipped stitches
  • Mosaic Knitting
  • Cables
  • Making pom poms

The Gingersnap Hats kit comes with the yarn you need and three hat patterns rolled into one (like a cookie!). One kit will make all three hats- meaning you can keep all three for yourself, or gift a couple to loved ones! Each hat is very different, so you’ll get to explore a wide variety of fun techniques in the whole pattern. I chose colors that felt warm, spicy, and worked well together. I love how the different shades don’t compete with one another in these hats, and each one shows off the tweedy nubs in Deluxe Worsted Tweed so well. This superwash wool based yarn is wonderful to work with and easy to care for.

Two-Color Plaid Hat

The Two-Color Plaid Hat features a broken rib hem in the color 920 Camel. I love ribbing stitches, and enjoyed playing with some different rib stitches for this hat trio. You’ll then work a buffalo style plaid colorwork pattern all over the body of the hat. It easily works into the crown shaping, creating a seamless look. Since this colorwork only uses 2 colors, it has a very bold, graphic look that makes a statement.

Two-Color Cable Hat

For the next part of the Gingersnap Hats, I designed the Two-Color Cable Hat. This hat features some knitting techniques that are really fun when worked together. First, you’ll work a folded brim using the color 913 Smoke, in a classic K1, P1 rib stitch. Then, you’ll immediately begin working the mosaic two-color cable texture. This type of knitting uses slipped stitches in one color and knit stitches in another to achieve the final texture. You’ll also work cables into the mosaic pattern. Although this may sound intimidating, you’ll only be using one color per row, making it easy to tackle! Mosaic knitting has a unique process and end-result appearance that you’ll love once you get the hang of it.

The Three-Color hat

The final hat in the trio is the Three-Color Hat. First, you’ll work a twisted rib hem (my favorite), then, you’ll use all three colors for a slipped stitch tweed-like pattern. From there, you’ll transition into the stranded colorwork section of the hat. This hat uses all three colors, so be extra mindful of your float tension here, and change needle sizes as indicated in the pattern. For the crown shaping, we return to the rhythmic tweed texture. Each of these hats is adorned with a pom pom that matches the color of the ribbing. So cute!

Deeeee-licious

For today’s post, I wanted to share a delicious recipe for homemade ginger cookies, which inspired the Gingersnap Hats. These cookies are soft, chewy, full of spice, and drizzled with white chocolate. If you need encouragement for baking, the office staff ate all of these cookies in about 10 minutes after I finished taking these photos!

For the cookies you will need:

  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 3/4 cup of shortening or butter (your preference)
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/4 cups of all purpose baking flour
  • 2 teaspoons of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • brown sugar, cinnamon, and white sugar blend for rolling cookies before baking
  • white chocolate for drizzling (I like the Ghirardelli melting wafers)

How to make cookies

  1. Combine the sugar, molasses, shortening or butter, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium until mixture becomes light and fluffy.
  2. Add in your dry ingredients, and use a large mixing spoon or spatula and stir to combine well.
  3. Once well combined, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge. Minimum: 1 hour
  4. While dough is chilling, preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
  5. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  6. Pour cinnamon, brown, and white sugar mix onto a plate.
  7. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out and roll dough into 1″ balls. Roll the dough in the sugar mixture to give a light all-over coating.
  8. Place approx 12 cookies per sheet, leaving space between each cookie. (Recipe makes 24-28 cookies depending on size)
  9. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, or until they rise and fall in the oven (to retain chewy soft texture).
  10. Remove from oven and place sheet of parchment paper with cookies on counter to cool completely. If you have wire cooling racks, you may also use these. I like leaving the parchment paper underneath for easy cleanup after drizzling chocolate!
  11. Once the cookies are completely cool, heat your white chocolate per the package instructions.
  12. Using a small sandwich bag, spoon the liquid white chocolate into the bag, and ziplock closed. Cut a very small hole in one corner of the bag.
  13. Use a zig-zag motion to drizzle the white chocolate over the cookies. Make a second pass in the opposite direction.
  14. Allow to cool completely, until the chocolate becomes hard. enjoy!!!
This looks exactly like a perfect winter’s night

Knitting/crochet and baking are two hobbies that go wonderfully together. Make your yummy treats, then relax with your WIP while you get to enjoy them! The ginger cookies pair well with a spiced tea like this vanilla chai. Tell us in the comments: what is your favorite holiday treat to enjoy while you knit or crochet?

Remember, the Gingersnap Hats and our other exclusive 12 Days of Winter kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy crafting,

Aubrey

Day 10 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 10 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.

Are you new to lace knitting, or are you already a fan? Either way, you’re in for a treat today as we take a closer look at the oversized, extra cozy Evergreen Shawl!

Beautiful and oversized, you’ll be so cozy in the blanket-y shawl.

First, though, let’s chat about this lovely design and all the special details. When I wear shawls, I love an oversized one, especially in the winter. You can wrap them around your neck and shoulders a couple of times – and you can’t have too many layers, wouldn’t you agree? 😉 I chose Deluxe Worsted, our classic, 100% non-superwash wool yarn, in the color 12296 Green Leaf for this piece. Since the shawl is covered in lacy fir trees, the color seemed like the perfect fit.

Just take a look at how large, yet still elegant, this Everygreen Shawl is!

In this pattern, you’ll get to indulge in the following techniques:

  • yarnovers
  • basic increases and decreases
  • right and left twists
  • knitting flat

This shawl does indeed have perhaps the simplest of shapes: a right triangle with decreases along one edge. The straight edge of the shawl has a gorgeous lace diamond motif, which although beautiful, does cause stitch counts to fluctuate throughout the pattern. So, as you’re decreasing along one edge to shape the shawl, you’ll also need to ensure that you maintain the stitch patterns as established. It’s a nice balance of rhythm and engagement, perfect for someone who wants to stay focused through a knitting pattern.

Although I’d consider this pattern Intermediate level, don’t fret if you’re a beginner who’s craving a challenge.  I’m the very last person to discourage someone from trying something new. So, if you have little or no lace experience, or even if you have a bunch, I have a few handy tips for knitting lace that will get you started on the right foot.

The lacy tree motif makes this shawl perfect for winter. Just imagine yourself in a snowy forest with those pops of green peeking out beneath the piles of snow atop the boughs.

My first tip is to sharpen your chart reading skills. This pattern includes helpful charts and written instructions, but I find that charts are a great way to visualize exactly what you’re doing. Back in our first series of the 12 Days of Winter Kit collection, before we even knew it would be a tradition, I shared some tips for reading charts. You can find that blog post at this link.

My next tip is to use sharp needles. I have so many favorite needles that it’s hard to choose a brand. I’m a bit of a needle nerd and I love everything from Addi Lace Tips to any of the ChiaoGoo lines and have had great experiences with Hiya Hiya Sharps. But in truth, your favorite needle brand probably has an option for sharp tips and that’s what you really want. Why? Simply because it makes working those decreases much easier! In this pattern, usually, you’ll only work two stitches together; however, some lace patterns have you work more than that – three, even four together (as in the Dusk Poncho). And if you must do a purl decrease through the back loop, you’ll thank yourself for the investment, trust me!

Insert lifelines as you knit to give you a safety zone if you make a mistake and must rip back your work.

My final tip for lace knitting is a lifeline – because it’s a lifesaver! I feel like a pro whenever it comes to correcting mistakes in cable knitting or most textured stitches, however, I always find correcting mistakes in lace to be a bit more tricky. As a result, I often tink back (knit backward – get it?) my work or simply rip back until I get to the row where I made the mistake. When you have lots of decreases and yarnover increases, it’s really easy to lose your place. My suggestion is to insert a lifeline. What’s a lifeline? It’s simply a strand of yarn to place through your stitches as a safe spot to unravel your work if needed because all of those stitches will be secure with a strand of scrap yarn threaded through.

Option 1: This is probably the most preferred method, especially if you’re knitting lace. Before you start knitting your row, thread a piece of scrap yarn that’s about six to eight inches wider than your work and simply glide the tapestry needle through each live stitch without removing the needles. You’ll work just below the knitting needle, as pictured in the example photo above. The ideal place for a lifeline is before a fresh row repeat – this way you know exactly where to start once you unravel your work.

You can always insert a lifeline after you work your rows, too.

The second option is great for moments when you’ve forgotten to insert a lifeline…or if you were overly confident only to find out you made a mistake later. Oops! And I have to say, I’m GUILTY! Have no fear, though, because you can still insert a lifeline any amount of rows below (see above photo). This time, all you’ll do is thread the tapestry needle the same way you did in the first option I described. Then, carefully thread the needle through one leg of each stitch across the row. Picking up each leg of the stitch from below is a bit trickier, but if you take your time you’ll be good to go, I promise. Then you can rip back all the way to the lifeline and your stitches will remain secure.

The tip detail shows how the tree motif transforms into a chevron lace motif, and the final shaping is just so pretty!

That’s it for my lace knitting tips and I hope you find them to be very useful. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to us because we’re always happy to help. Do you have any lace tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy crafting!