Free Pattern Friday – Spring Rain

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Alana Spring Rain blogToday, the Spring Rain Tank in Alana.

This summery tank is knit in one piece from the bottom up. Work the lower body in the round, then separate at the armholes to work front and back.

See that V-neck?  Believe it or not, there is no neck shaping involved. The stretchy lace stitch pattern combined with the drape of viscose blend Alana (158yds/100g) causes the shoulders to naturally fall into place.

Amy Gunderson calls for a Twisted German Cast-On in this pattern, due to its greater flexibility.  She says, “The lace pattern is fairly open and stretchy, and I didn’t want it to be constrained by a too-tight cast-on.”

It’s not a hard technique.  If you can do a long-tail cast-on, you can do this.  I used this recently for a pair of top-down socks and loved it.  It’s a Goldilocks cast-on.  Not too tight, not too loose, just right.  The Knit Witch has a good how-to video on this technique.

We hope you enjoy this free pattern.  Happy knitting!

 

Spotlight on Yashi

With Spring coming, we want to highlight a great yarn for warm weather.

Yashi and Yashi Iro 2 balls blog

Yashi is 100% raffia.  It has a papery but soft feel and works great for accessories and home decor.  Yashi Iro is its multi-colored companion, dyed in shades that coordinate with the solids.  Our Sales Director Yonca has made a video to tell us all about it.

In the video, she mentions Rick Mondragon’s Japanese Knot bag, which is now available as a free pattern on our website.

Yashi Bag Rick Mondragon_hi-res

This was originally available for STITCHESWest attendees, and we’re very grateful to Knitting Universe for sharing it with us. By the way, if you haven’t been to a STITCHES show yet, put it on your to-do list.  They’re a blast.

You can find the Japanese Knot Bag pattern at this link.

We hope you enjoy this fun free crochet pattern.  Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Starry Road Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Universe Starry Road Shawl loose blog

Today, the Starry Road Scarf in Universe.

Breathtaking, isn’t it? Universe (246yds/50g) is the yarn we created specifically for our tenth anniversary, and it’s unlike anything else out there.  A cotton/linen blend held with a metallic strand, wrapped in polyamide for greater strength, it’s perfect for lacy shawls and scarves like the Starry Road Scarf.

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Free Pattern Friday – Swirling River Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Swirling RiverCardigan_front_blog

Today, the Swirling River Cardigan in Uptown DK.

This is a great light sweater for Spring in a lovely lightweight yarn.  Uptown DK (273yds/100g) is 100% anti-pilling machine washable acrylic.  Even if you’re a fiber snob, as I confess I sometimes am, you’ll be surprised by just how pleasant it is to work with, and just how nicely it knits up.

SwirlingRiverCardgan_back_blogThis cardi is traditionally constructed, knit in pieces from the bottom up.  The collar and button band are picked up and knitted after finishing the garment.  The Little Swirl and Big Swirl lace repeats are both written and charted.

We love this sweet piece, perfect for the cusp of the changing seasons.  We hope you do too.

Happy knitting!

 

 

 

Knit a Clover Family

What is it about the four leaf clover that intrigues us? It’s said that only 1 in every 10,000 clovers has four leaves (as opposed to the more common three-leaved clover). So finding a four leaf clover is considered lucky. The clover has also become a symbol of all things Irish, and upcoming holiday, St Patrick’s day. St Patrick himself is said to have explained the holy trinity of Christianity to the Irish (at that time, Irish pagans) using the three leaf clover as illustration.

Green mini-hanks blog

Holidays can be a nice way to pass the year, regardless of what our beliefs are. Traditions can be soothing and familiar and fun. And in any case, I happen to love the color green, all shades. And I enjoy any excuse to knit cute little frivolous things and entertain the math-geek part of my brain.

Finished clovers 2 blog square

The Clover Family is shown knit in 3 different yarns – Bamboo Pop (small), Uptown Worsted (Medium), and Deluxe Worsted held double (Large).

The 4 identical petals are knit separately. Then the stem is knit, turning into I-Cord at the end.

Dark Green Clover in progress blog

Then the I-Cord is threaded through eyelets along the lower edge of the petals. I used a crochet hook along with my long tail to bring the I-Cord through the eyelets, but you could use a tapestry needle or even your fingers.

Uptown Clover in progress blog

Draw the I-Cord taut, weave in the end, and voila – your very own four leaf clover.

Bamboo Pop Clover with tools blog

You could just as easily make a three leaf clover by leaving off one of the petals, or turn it into the super rare five leaf clover by adding an extra petal.

These clovers are pure whimsy. But I could see these pinned to a bag or a headband, giving them a little functionality. At the very least, we all need something green to wear next week on St Patrick’s day to avoid getting pinched.

Finished clovers 1 blog

Free Pattern Friday – Dreaming of Spring

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Dreaming of Spring blog

Today, the Dreaming of Spring Hat in Classic Shades Frenzy.

Here at Universal Yarn, the plants are getting mixed signals.  Is it time to bloom?  We as crafters are getting mixed signals too – shall we turn to warm weather fibers, or bundle up just a little while longer?

We thought we’d split the difference – a warm hat, but a quick project, so we can enjoy it and then be done when more moderate weather rolls in.  And because, like the flowers, we are ready to see the sun, we’re calling this one Dreaming of Spring.

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Free Pattern Friday – I Heart You Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

I Heart You Shawl in Naked Sock_blog

Today, the I Heart You Shawl in Naked Sock.

Me? Oh I have big plans for Valentine’s Day.  A horse drawn carriage, a bottle of champagne, and a candlelit dinner on top of the Empire State Building.

I kid.  I’m staying home and knitting, spending a quiet evening with my significant other.   If you’re keeping it low-key too, here’s a gift from us to you, a great pattern for crafting on what it seems will be a very chilly night.

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