Blanket – Page 3 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

February 23, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Wraparound Blankie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Wraparound Blankie in Uptown DK Magix (pattern link).

You know those pretty balls of yarn that you look at and love, but you also think, “this looks neat, but what would I do with it?”

Voila. The Wraparound Blankie answers this question by pairing self-patterning Uptown DK Magix with solid Uptown DK to create mitered angles and panels bordered by coordinating bands of vibrant color.

The nice thing about self-patterning yarn is that you really don’t have to do much work to make a complex design. Pick two colors of the solid, two colors of the self-patterning, and go! This pattern is worked in pieces and seamed together, making it a good travel project. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to work on a blanket without actually having a full blanket on your lap.

We hope you enjoy this project, and have a great weekend.

Happy crafting!

October 13, 2016April 19, 2021

Free Pattern – Woven Sky Throw

Our Week of Major Patterns continues!

Today, the Woven Sky Throw in Major.

Entrelac is one of those techniques that seems tailor made for self-striping yarn like Major. Here’s it’s taken one step further by using two complementary colors.

Variegated gray yarn swatch — Major 117 Graphite

Variegated gray and blue yarn swatch — Major 104 Pebbles

The gray tones blend beautifully, making the blue a subtle contrast against the background. Is this a cloudy sky, or a clear night with the first bit of blue beginning to show? That’s for the viewer to decide.

There are a lot of ways you could go with this. Instead of gray and blue, how about gray and green for more of a stones-in-grass feel?

Variegated gray and green yarn swatch — Major 101 Verdant

It’s all up to you. Happy crafting!

Closeup of light blue and gray entrelac Woven Sky Throw fabric.

October 11, 2016

Free Pattern – Inchworm Baby Blanket

The Week of Major Patterns continues!

Today, the Inchworm Baby Blanket in Major.

We love this design for the way it uses Major’s self-striping qualities. Two complementary colors, 103 Capri and 105 Aloe, are swapped every other row. Crochet two rows with A, then two with B, etcetera. There’s no need to cut colors, you can just carry them up the sides as you go.

This free pattern is written and charted. It’s a six-row repeat that’s easy to memorize. Pretty timely for those of us who need a jump start on making gifts!

Tune back in tomorrow for another Major pattern! Happy crafting!

September 30, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Window Paint Throw

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Window Paint Throw in Adore and Adore Colors.

Cute, right? I love this creative use of self-striping yarn. You start each square at the center, then work your way out to the edge. It ensures that each square will coordinate, but still be different than its neighbor. Despite being a larger piece, this is a great carry-along knit because each square is worked separately and then pieced together.

The pattern calls for two of our newest yarns, Adore and its companion Adore Colors (273yds/100g), a DK-weight blend of soft superwash merino and acrylic that’s perfect for projects like this, that you’ll probably find yourself tossing in the washing machine sometime.

Also on my list to try in Adore Colors: the Beachcomber Blanket pictured at right. It makes such clever use of individual panels stitched together, to be sure those color repeats stay nice and long, rather than thinning out of the width of a blanket.

No matter your plans for the weekend, we hope you take some time to make something beautiful, just for you.

Happy knitting!

September 9, 2016August 5, 2019

Free Pattern Friday – Storytime Cardi

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Storytime Cardi in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash.

Is it storytime, then? I think it is!

Once upon a time, there was a yarn named Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash. It was just a bit smaller than its big sibling, Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash. DK wondered, “What can people make with me? I’m littler than you are!”

And DW answered, “Ah, but you’re just right for so many things! Lots of people want a littler yarn for littler people!” And DW was right! People did want DK for kid projects.

Continue reading “Free Pattern Friday – Storytime Cardi”

August 26, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Corner to Corner Throw

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Corner to Corner Throw in Classic Shades.

We are so, so lucky to work with so many amazing LYSes. Case in point: we can enjoy the talents of Alice Gossette and Kat Koeller of The Thankful Ewe in New Bremen, Ohio. This dynamic duo have appeared here before, with the free Summer Shawl in Bamboo Pop. They’ve graciously shared this design with us as well.

It’s called the Corner to Corner Throw because it’s crocheted… wait for it… corner to corner! We love how they coordinated Classic Shades 731 Natural Glow with solid Uptown Worsted in 328 Dijon for the fringe. It’s a great choice that takes the throw up a notch.

Working corner to corner means that the bands of color change height as the rows lengthen and shorten, an excellent use of self-striping yarn. It’s a simple way to give even more interest to an already striking pattern.

We hope you find time to work on something beautiful this weekend, either for yourself or for someone you love.

Happy crafting!

July 15, 2016July 15, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Cherish Baby Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Cherish Baby Blanket in Uptown DK Colors.

We’re in a kid frame of mind today! We recently saw these Blinky Bears knitted by Joan and shared by Yarn Cloud in Virginia.

They’re knitted in Uptown Worsted Tapestry (180yds/100g). Joan made a different bear for every grand kid so there wouldn’t be any arguments. Is that a great idea or what? The pattern is a Yarn Cloud exclusive by Pietra Bietsch and is available on Ravelry at this link.

We love these little guys and gals. We’re also happy to share this extremely simple pattern in Uptown DK Colors (273yds/100g), which also uses the yarn’s color shifts to good advantage. The Cherish Baby Blanket is a very easy four-row repeat perfect for beginners. The self-striping yarn makes the color changes, so there’s no juggling multiple balls and there’s less weaving in ends. A garter stitch border at the edges and a few rows of straight knitting at the top and bottom help keep it from curling.

We’re big fans of self-patterning and self-striping yarns for times when you want to add a little pizzazz to your work without having to fiddle with bobbins. For instance, take a look at the Zig to the Zag Tee.

Solid Uptown DK in 132 Night and Uptown DK Colors in 70319 Jubilee are alternated to make a very modern kid’s tee where the self-striping yarn automatically shifts through red and pink bands – one less thing for the knitter to worry about. They can just concentrate on making a standout top for some little fashionista.

We hope you enjoy the free Cherish Baby Blanket, and think about unique ways you can use self-striping and self-patterning yarns.

Have a great weekend, and happy knitting!

April 8, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Sugar Drops Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sugar Drops Blanket in Little Bird.

Sugar Drops indeed – what a sweet pattern! Just one color per row in machine washable Little Bird (344yds/100g), knitted flat (obviously). A blend of left and right crosses plus dropped stitches create an interesting texture that’s not too technically taxing. Pick up stitches along the long edges and add the garter stitch border.

Enjoy the weekend – and if you can, make something beautiful!

Happy knitting!

January 29, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Quilt

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Quilt in Classic Shades Metallic.

Today, we have a great use of color in a very simple design. Two complementary colors of Classic Shades Metallic (100g/175yds) are used in this basic but colorful quilt.

Each square is knit individually, then stitched together in an eye-pleasing way. A diagram is provided in the pattern for easy assembly.

It’s unusual to find a four foot long blanket that’s such perfect on-the-go knitting, but the small size of the individual squares (4 1/2″ along each side) makes it easy to knock out a piece of the quilt wherever you are.

This could also be a fun group project that could include all levels of knitter – get together with your friends for a quilting bee to gab and knit individual squares, and sew them together. Begin at one corner of the square, increase to the middle, switch colors, then decrease and bind off in the opposite corner. Toss your square on the pile, take a sip of wine, and start up another one.

Other great choices of yarn for this would be self-shading Poems wool and regular Classic Shades. There are nearly limitless color combinations.

Happy knitting!

June 26, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Firework Blankie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Firework Blankie crocheted in Little Bird and Little Bird Colors.

The 4th of July is almost upon us, making this a particularly appropriate free pattern. The Firework Blankie is crocheted in Little Bird Multi with rows of contrasting solid Little Bird (344yds/100g) every few rows for a bigger burst of color. And check out those adorable pom-poms on the points – like an extra little kapow!

We put together another couple of combinations of colors that could work, depending on whether you wanted to go bold or… slightly less bold.

Two different directions with the same multi colorway (201 Stroll), The one on the left is paired with 106 Go-Go Coral – the picture does not do justice to how almost neon-bright it is. The one on the right is paired with 111 Chinos, to tone it down a little but still be a contrast. Normally I’m in favor of subtlety, but with the Firework Blankie, I might go with the one on the left. This blanket says “playtime.”

Two more combos, both appealing to me since I favor cool tones. On the left is 204 Summer Story paired with 105 Wee Violet. I can easily see that thrown over a chair in a kid’s room. At right, 203 Grass Stain paired with 110 New Leaf. I’m imagining sitting out on the lawn with that green baby blanket spread out, toddler in a sunhat happily playing. No worries about the blanket on the grass – Little Bird is machine washable!

With gray as an increasingly popular color for baby projects, we also think 112 Ghostie Gray would be a good combination with pretty much any of the multis.

…You know, I thought I could make it through the whole post without saying it, but I just can’t.

Happy crocheting!