Pattern – Page 35 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

May 29, 2015May 29, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Summer Poncho

It’s Free Pattern Friday!Today, the Summer Poncho in Flax.

We’re on the road to Columbus, OH right now for the annual summer National Needlearts Association trade show, but we still had to share this absolute beauty.

The Summer Poncho is designed by Susan Whitmore, the owner of Rainy Day Creations yarn shop in Pineville, NC. To the right you can see Susan snuggling with Suzy the Cuddlebunny at a previous year’s show in the Universal Yarn booth.

She has just closed her shop and is enjoying a richly deserved retirement. We miss her welcoming shop, but we’re so glad that she’s taking time to enjoy herself. And we’re doubly glad that she shared this lovely design with us before hopping on her motorcycle and vrooming off into the sunset!

Knit in FibraNatura Flax linen yarn in two pieces and seamed, this oversized poncho will fit a variety of sizes and is easy to adjust simply by seaming more or less of the sizes and neck. It’s a simple written pattern and contains a schematic for assembly. Such a great piece for summer!

We hope you enjoy this piece, and that you pull a page from Susan’s book and take time to enjoy life.

Happy knitting!

May 22, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Swim Cover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Swim Cover in Alana.

This is a timely design. Why? Take a look.

Yep, that’s next week. Hot. Hot hot hot. Hard to believe it’s only May. So maybe this is a good moment to cast on for something to help you stay cool.

Alana Coverup alt 2_blog Start off this long weekend by casting on for the knitted Swim Cover in Alana (158yds/100g). Be ready to chill by the pool or on the beach with a sun hat to keep you in the shade and some flip-flops to keep your feet off the scorching ground.

Pictured is the small size of this cover-up, which took exactly five hanks. In the pattern we call for six, just in case you want to grab an extra hank for safety. We do factor in a little extra yarn for swatching purposes, but surely you wouldn’t skip your swatch, would you?

This simple garment is knitted flat, with some nice reversible stripe stitch detailing at the hem, pictured right. The whole cover-up is just two rectangles seamed together at the sides. This lets you make the armholes as long or as narrow as you wish. We call for 9-11″ for the armholes, so you’ve got plenty of room to lift your arm dramatically to your brow while calling for a mint julep from your lounge chair.

Next week, stay cool, make sure your pets (and you!) have plenty of water, and keep crafting.

Happy knitting!

May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Water Ski Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Water Ski Scarf in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray.

We featured Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray not too long ago in the popular Color Block Scarves, but it’s so perfect for the season that we couldn’t resist sharing it again.

I love this yarn, and I love this scarf. The pattern is knitted flat (obviously) and both written and charted. Lace on US size 6 (4mm) needles goes quickly, and the tassels make this such a fun and kicky piece.

Cotton is great for summer, of course, and the pastel tones of Seaspray go great with the current bright trends. We put together a couple of fantasy outfits below that would look great with the scarf.

First, toss on a tank and your keds and you’re ready to go, no fuss no muss. You could use pretty much any pastel top and then just a pop of whatever color you’ve made your scarf in at the bottom to pull it together.

Next, dress it up a little! Neutral sandals keep it from being too matchy-matchy. You could even do a nice braided leather bracelet, although I do like the melony orange accent with the gold here. The purse and turquoise/blue earrings bring it together.

We hope you enjoy this free pattern, and that you always feel fabulous in your handmades wherever you go.

Happy knitting!

May 8, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Guadalupe Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!Today, the Guadalupe Stole in Classic Shades Metallic.

I love this loose and airy crochet shawl. It’s long and luxurious, and the Classic Shades Metallic gives it just the right amount of sparkle in the light. Of course, if you’re not a glam kind of person, Classic Shades works up to exactly the same gauge, so you can still get the great color shifts without the bling.

This stole is comprised of 18 Motifs that are joined as you go on round 3. Amy used almost all of four balls of Classic Shades Metallic for this, so you may want to grab another ball just for safety.

If I were pairing this shawl up with an outfit, I think I might try to pull out the lavender as an accent color. Actress Minka Kelly (photo from denimology) has a good base outfit here that many of us could also pull off. Top it with this shawl, maybe pick up another color with some cute earrings, and you’re ready to turn heads.

Happy crocheting!

May 4, 2015May 4, 2015

Knitspiration – Bannai Taku

It’s a glorious Monday morning. How about a little knitspiration?

I have no idea what this piece by Bannai Taku is called. It’s difficult to find information about this Japanese illustrator’s work, since I don’t speak Japanese. But something about this speaks to me.

Some of it is the fresh colors…

And some of it is the spirit of freedom in the outdoors.

It brings a feeling of lightness and peace.

When’s the last time you climbed on a bike and just rode? Were you still a child? Did you feel like you were flying?

Can you still capture that sense of joy in the world around you?

I hope that sometime today, you’ll step outside and pause for a moment. Look up. Take a deep breath. Let your mind be still and be in the moment.

Then take another deep breath and move through your day with a smile.

Edited to add: A reader who cycles informs us that the Japanese text for our cycling illustration translates to… Cycling. Thank you for letting us know!

May 1, 2015May 1, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Acid Wash Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Acid Wash Pullover in denims.

If there’s a yarn that has captured the imagination of our customers this season, it’s denims. A bulky cotton/wool tape with hues ranging from sky blue to indigo, it’s perfectly on-trend for the current year. Looking at this pullover, you can see why it’s so popular.

This bulky-weight pullover knits up on 6.5mm needles, but the cotton content means you won’t swelter. Right twists and cables run the length of the body to a 1×1 ribbing at the hem and collar. The contrasting sleeves are a nice touch, as is the lowered back edge.

Worked in pieces and seamed, this pattern is both written and charted and contains a schematic. The right twists are easy as pie to do.

Having just finished a quick one ball project in this yarn, I’m eager for more. This would fit the bill nicely.

Happy knitting!

April 24, 2015April 24, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Picket Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Picket Cardigan in Little Bird.

More than one person walked by my desk this week and picked this up to fondle it. Little Bird (100g/344 yds) gives it a lovely sheen, and the smoothness of the fiber really makes those cables and ribs stand out. It’s not stiff or bulky at all, but very soft and comfy. The machine washability makes it a home run for baby knits.

This cardigan is knit in pieces and seamed. The back and sleeves are worked in plain stockinette stitch, while the fronts are cabled. The pattern is written and charted and contains a schematic.

This would look great on a little girl or a little boy. The buttonholes can be placed on either side – although truthfully I always forget which is which. Eh, the baby won’t care.

Happy knitting!

April 20, 2015April 20, 2015

Lluxurious Llamalini

For me, there are more than a few yarns here in the office that inspire daydreams of beautiful projects. One of those is Llamalini, a decadent blend of linen, royal llama, and silk bourette. I’m not the only one – designers are picking up on this gem too. May we show you what our own Amy Gunderson has done recently?

Dichotomy looks great with the very in-style color blocks that meander up the body and across the arm. Worked flat in pieces from the bottom up, it uses a circular needle strictly to accommodate the large number of stitches required for a pullover with up to 10″ of positive ease. Sleeve cuffs are worked by picking up stitches off the sides of the body piece and knitting downward.

Color changes are achieved with the intarsia method. The contrasting “line” is formed by working increases and decreases in the blocks of color – no cabling required.

You can purchase this pattern on Craftsy or Ravelry. (Puppy not included)

In the Spring/Summer 2015 knit.purl, the Swingback Hoodie is turning heads. Amy wrote an in-depth guest blog post about her design process for this piece.

A dramatic feather-and-fan panel makes a pointed back hem. The hood, fronts, and back are worked from the top down, while sleeves are worked from the bottom up.

As part of the knit.purl blog post, Lisa Shroyer asked for Amy’s suggestions for personal styles that would work well with this cardi. We got a little happy in the studio with Amy modeling. We couldn’t resist giving you all a little taste of the fun we had.

Happy knitting!

April 17, 2015April 17, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Color Block Scarves

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Three Color Scarves in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray.

It’s hard to believe that something so simple can look so stunning. We use the phrase “let the yarn do the work” a lot, but it’s very applicable here.

This is a very basic four row pattern consisting solely of knits, purls, and slipped stitches. It creates a pebbled texture – not quite a stockinette, not quite a garter stitch. A subtle pattern to match a subtly variegated yarn, Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray (230yds/100g).

This 100% cotton drapes beautifully. The DK weight means it’s light enough to work for warmer weather, and to wrap around with adding a lot of bulk.

This scarf was a delight to style on our mannequin (we call her Molly), to the point that I had to stop myself from finding more ways to wear this. Three coordinating colors brighten up any outfit – mix and match to suit your style.

Happily, each scarf only takes about 40 grams of each color – less than half a hank. So you could easily get two scarves out of your color choice. Above, we use 306 Storm, 305 Ink Blue, and302 Sun Lime. Below we use, 301 Carmine, 304 Blue Skies, and 302 Sun Lime.

Not only is this going into my queue, I’ll also be recommending this to the newer knitters I know. There’s nothing like an easy project that looks smashing to build confidence.

Happy knitting!

April 10, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Kauai Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Kauai Cardigan in Alana.

Summertime… and the livin’ is easy. This cardi makes me feel like I should be strolling on the boardwalk in my sandals with a frosty beverage in my hands. Maybe I could wear a giant Yashi Sunblock hat with it.

It’s made in Alana (164yds/100g) , a tropically colorful viscose blend. It’s a great choice for bright color with a sheen. Speaking from personal experience, I haven’t noticed pooling or flashing – just bright colors and happy hues.

And since we’re talking about free patterns, here’s one that flew under the radar!

The Butterfly Scarf is also in Alana. We released this fun broomstick lace design a couple of weeks ago, but never actually made it part of a Free Pattern Friday. Consider it a bonus wish for warm, leisurely days.

Happy crafting!