Bamboo Bloom – Page 2 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

December 4, 2015April 3, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Lightning Strikes

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Lightning Strikes shawl in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints and Deluxe Worsted.

Is it corny to say that Lightning Strikes hit me like a bolt out of the blue? Too bad, because it did. Amy Gunderson created this luxurious shawl using variegated Bamboo Bloom Handpaints (154yds/100g) and Deluxe Worsted 100% wool (220yds/100g) It’s such a great combo. The Deluxe Worsted comes in a multitude of shades. It’s easy to find a color to bring out whatever tone in the Bamboo Bloom you wish.

Short rows are worked back and forth in the contrasting color to create widening and narrowing rows of solid color, bending to a V-shaped lightning fork across the shawl’s spine. The natural thick/thin quality of the Bamboo Bloom helps soften the edges of the short rows into more organic curves. I love the fringe – it reminds me of rain in a storm.

Calling for one hank of Deluxe Worsted and two of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints, worked on size US Size 10½ (6.5 mm) needles, this is not a particularly time or money-intensive project, although it is one with electrifying results (pardon the pun). It’s also available as a kit from your LYS in the blue above, or with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints color 302 Koi Pond.

I’m considering making in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 319 Forest Light for a friend with a Spring birthday.

Like a new meadow. I’ll just sit here and sigh contentedly for a few minutes.

We hope you have a strikingly good weekend.

Happy knitting!

September 11, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Interrupted Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!Today, the Interrupted Cowl in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

Recently we received a new color in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints, our limited edition color 323 Hashi. I grabbed a hank to swatch with, but of course once I started swatching I realized I needed to make something. This yarn is just so pretty!

This cowl uses a popular technique for Bamboo Bloom. It’s the same technique we used a few years ago in our Bloomin’ Hat and Scarf set. We’ve also seen it in some great independent designs like the STASH Lounge’s Simple Rules Cowl and the lovely cowl from NC yarn shop The Tail Spinner shown at right (great addition of a solid at the edge). You can find some fabulous one-ball hats, scarves, and cowls using Bamboo Bloom’s unique texture on Ravelry.

The technique? As you come to the thin parts of the yarn on your left hand needle, knit them. As you come to the thick parts of the yarn on your left hand needle, purl them. It sounds very “internet” to say “just one simple trick!” but it’s true. That one simple trick makes the color really pop.

It seems to be a technique that many of the creative minds at local yarn shops came up with independently that’s spread like wildfire. And no wonder – it’s a great easy way to get a lot of pizzazz without a lot of effort.

Here at Universal, this yarn has turned the heads of some of our newer knitters, like graphic designer Jannie. She learned to purl just so she could make this cowl. Way to go, Jannie!

We hope you add a little pizzazz to your life this weekend.

Happy knitting!

August 28, 2015

Bamboo Bloom Handpaints- Limited Edition 323 Hashi

One of the best things about my job is coming in in the morning to a brand new batch of yarn, fresh from the mill. This is an absolutely beautiful example. Bamboo Bloom Handpaints in color 323 Hashi.

Hashi means “bridge” in Japanese, and this colorway represents two meanings of the word. It’s evocative of a passage from one place to another – a bridge that we walk across step by step.

It’s also meaningful as a passage from one time to another, a bridge that we cross simply by living our lives. The muted buttery yellows and oranges of Autumn are there, along with an oaky brown. But they’re connected by shining strands of cream and silver, a nod to winter frost, fallen leaves, and a sun that has to work a little bit harder to warm us.
Bamboo Bloom color 323 Hashi is here as a limited edition. When it’s gone, it’s gone. And that, too, is fitting for the passing of the seasons. The season to come will be just a little bit different than every one before.

Bamboo Bloom is a popular yarn for its thick/thin quality and shiny/matte blend, and because of the many easy accessory patterns out there. Designers enjoy it as well. Take, for example, Vanessa Putt’s Striped Raglan Pullover in the Fall 2015 Vogue Knitting. It combines lightly heathered Llamalini (royal llama/linen/silk bourette) 101 Birchbark with coordinating Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 309 Nagano for an aesthetically pleasing blend of color and texture, perfect for this top-down loose-fitting bohemian pullover.

Looking at our new colorway 323 Hashi, I couldn’t help but think that it would be a great match for Llamalini color 107 Porpoise. The two together are a great earthy blend.

I’m currently making myself a one-ball cowl in Hashi. Since it’s a limited edition I couldn’t resist grabbing a hank while we still had some. When it’s all done, I’ll share it on our Facebook page.

Here’s hoping you enjoy the changing seasons, and find some inspiration in the world around you.

Happy crafting!

February 18, 2015March 6, 2015

Weaving Wednesday – challenge!

A few months ago, I sent a little care package to Denise over at Schacht, maker of our Cricket rigid heddle loom. It contained several different yarns, all completely different in composition and construction: Infusion Handpaints, Cotton Gold, Poems Silk Solids, and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

The challenge for Denise was to take all these vastly different yarns and weave them up into something awesome. I didn’t make it easy for her, but I at least softened the blow by including coordinating shades in each different yarn. Well let me tell you, Denise passed this challenge with flying colors (so to speak, at least in greys and blues!).

Check out the Schacht newsletter for details on the finished project and a great how-to for repairing a float, or skipped warp thread.

November 11, 2014

Holiday Helper – Quick Cowls

Breathe in… breathe out… knit one… purl two…

Everybody calm? Good. Let’s stay relaxed, because there’s still plenty of time to knit some lovely gifts for the holidays. This week, let’s focus on quick and chunky knits. Fortunately, we have an entire free e-book devoted to exactly this kind of pattern.

Quick Cowls collects five patterns in bulky weight yarns that look good and work up quickly.

The Get To the Point Cowl in Classic Shades Frenzy is always popular when we send it out for trunk shows. In fact, it’s on the road again this month for a showing at Bourgee Boutique in Claremont, CA. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and see it. Variegated Classic Shades Frenzy does the heavy lifting in making a striking design. Just one ball on US Size 11 (8mm) needles does the trick.

The Ethereal Lace Cowl is a lovely soft lace pattern that gets you a lot of bang for your buck. One ball of Mohair Mountain (660yds per ball) will make five cowls on US Size 11 (8mm) needles. That’s a lot of gifts from just one ball. The pattern is both written and charted, so pick whatever you’re comfortable with.

The Everyone Likes Stripes cowl is another that knits up quickly on size 11 (8mm) needles. With more than 120 colors of the called-for Deluxe Chunky 100% wool, this is a very easy piece to customize for your giftee. This is also one that I would have to put away after knitting because otherwise I’d keep it for myself.

Hairpin! This technique isn’t used as often as it should be! The Hairpin Lace Cowl uses one skein of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints for the vibrant variegated stripes and one skein of Deluxe Chunky for the solid center and edge. Unusual and beautiful.

Finally, the Lava Flow Cowl uses just one skein of Superwool on size 17 needles. We call it Superwool because it’s super stretchy. This is a warm and soft cowl with a lot of “sproing” to it. I’ve made this one myself – it’s a very fast and satisfying knit.

Breathe in… breathe out… we’re calm, right? Let’s all keep knitting and we’ll all get to the holidays together in great shape.

Happy knitting!

September 26, 2014September 26, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Goldfish School Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, a “pay” pattern set free! Michael del Vecchio’s Goldfish School Cowl appears in Bamboo Bloom Book 1: Backyard Blooms. When we brought it to a knitting retreat the participants were so taken with it that we decided it should be released into the wild.

Michael has wisely used a simple pattern to let the yarn shine. A basic 1×1 rib looks very striking in the thick/thin matte/shiny Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

We’re glad that last weekend’s knitters were so enthusiastic. They were right. This pattern needs to be shared!

Thanks for your hospitality, Baskets of Yarn. And keep knitting!

May 25, 2014May 25, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Bamboo Bloom Handpaints

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints color 310 Fuji.

The word of the day is “simplicity.” A very simple garter stitch swatch on size 9 needles. Knit every row and voila. A beautiful textured scarf that would look great with blue jeans and equally great dressed up. Add to your simplicity by kicking off your shoes and enjoying the great outdoors while you’re at it. Bamboo Bloom Handpaints has thick, soft wool sections interspersed with thin, shiny stretches of rayon from bamboo. It won’t weigh you down on a gorgeous summer day like today. There are beautifully coordinating solids in Bamboo Bloom, as well.

Our most popular free pattern for this yarn is Michael del Vecchio’s one ball Persephone Handpaints Cowl, pictured at right. It’s a simple knit on size 10 needles that really lets the texture of the yarn shine through.

We hope you are able to find some time today to appreciate the simple things in life – and to knit!