Free Pattern Friday – Hazy Hat and Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Hazy Hat and Pullover set in Uptown Worsted Mist (pattern link here).

I actually have a lot of thoughts about this pattern, because

1) I love cables, and

2) I heard the “colorful language” around here as the pattern swelled to 4… 5… and finally to 9 pages.  That’s what happens with extended sizing (although we don’t really consider it “extended”), and full charts and written instructions.

The consensus is that it was worth it.

There are quite a few things to love here, like sizing from Small to 4X in the pullover…

detailing like twists along the sleeve and texture within the front cables…

and how nicely this does in Uptown Worsted Mist, which is variegated enough to add interest but not so much that it overwhelms a lovely design.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, and that you take time to do something for yourself.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Stitch Sampler Cloths

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Java Washcloth Set social media

Today, Stitch Sampler Cloths in Java.

We’re very excited about Fibra Natura Java (219yds/100g), our new 100% hemp yarn.  This is a perfect application for it too – it works great for home decor projects.
This is the first Free Pattern Friday we’ve done in this yarn, although we do have a few free patterns in Java that haven’t yet been highlighted.  Have you seen the Crochet Baskets at right?  Love ’em!

Java Washcloth 104 Pistachio squareThese cloths are designed to be basic samplers for those who are just getting their feet wet (no pun intended).  The cloth in color 104 Pistachio, right, uses increases and decreases, but the other four are strictly knit and purl.

All are written and charted, so they do double duty for those who want to try out reading charts without the risk of losing a stitch in a big lace project.  My reason for knitting them is simpler: the cloths are just plain pretty!

We hope you have a safe and happy Independence Day holiday.

Happy knitting!

Java Washcloth 101 Parchment square   Java Washcloth 102 Hazelwood square

Java Washcloth 103 Walnut square   Java Washcloth 105 Horizon Pink square

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!

 

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Summer Leaves Cloths

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Cotton Supreme Washcloths horizontal_blogToday, the Summer Leaves Cloths in Cotton Supreme.

Blue washcloth blogThese patterns come to us by special request from Jackie in Customer Service, who asked if we could add another one-ball project in Cotton Supreme (180yds/100g).

“The yarn is so soft!  When people touch it, they fall in love with it.  If we had another small pattern for it, then when I send kits as little prizes to our stores and customers, they’d get a chance to work with it and love it too.”

Mustard washcloth blogJackie’s wish is our command.  Voila, three lovely washcloths using leaf motifs.  One is an all-over lace pattern, the second is four leaves rising from a central column, and the third is a single leaf in the center of a field of reverse stockinette.  All three leaf lace patterns are charted, and all three cloths can be made from just one hank of Cotton Supreme.

Orchid washcloth blogWhen I look at these cloths, I can’t help but feel that they’d also make great afghan blocks, perhaps in Uptown Worsted or Deluxe Worsted Superwash on slightly larger needles.   There’s nothing wrong with re-envisioning a design for your own purposes.

Thanks for the great suggestion, Jackie.  We can always use another quick-to-knit pattern in our library.

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Sprout Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Universal_FrillyTop2_blog

Today, the Sprout Tank in Cotton Supreme DK.

Frilly top flat blogHot enough for ya?  It’s hot enough for most anyone, but that’s no reason to stop knitting.   When little ones still want to get out and enjoy the day, we have the perfect match of pattern and temperature.

The Sprout Tank is knit in two pieces from the bottom up, then seamed.  Pick up stitches around the armhole and knit the ruffled shoulder straps.  The mock cable eyelets around the bottom are both written and charted.  It’s a sweet detail that also gives a little more ventilation.

Universal_FrillyTop1_blogThe suggested yarn is Cotton Supreme DK (100g/230yds), part of our popular Cotton Supreme family of yarns.  It’s machine washable, soft, and long-lasting; a good choice for a kid on the go.

The whole tank takes just 2-3 hanks on US size 5 (3.75mm) needles.  Knit it, pop it on your little one, then sit in the shade while they enjoy the sandbox.  Don’t forget the hat and sunscreen for both of you – it’s a scorcher out there!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Sunflower Dress

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Sunflower Dress in Garden_blog

Today, something bright and summery for the crocheters!  The Sunflower Dress in Garden 10 is a sunny delight.

Sunflower Dress in Garden_altWritten and charted, this crochet confection uses our Garden 10 100% mercerized Egyptian Giza cotton thread.  Garden comes in both 50 gram balls and in 500 gram cones, handy for larger projects.

This is exactly the kind of design that inspires me to stretch my wings when it comes to crochet.  Just gorgeous.

Happy crocheting!

Afghan Knitalong – Block Three

Step Up Your Game block

How’d your intarsia go?  Ready for something new? How do you feel about lace?

Block 3 is called “Step Up Your Game” (link here).  It’s both written and charted so you can do whatever you prefer – but if you haven’t tried reading a chart before, we hope you’ll give it a go.  Once you get the hang of it, it’s a handy skill to have.

Amy shares a video with us in which she talks about charts and walks us through the basic increases and decreases.  Try out her modified ssk (slip, slip, knit) – it lays flatter than the traditional version for a neater look.

Continuing our theme of building blocks (no pun intended), our next square will be more lace, with one additional type of decrease.

We hope you learn something new – and have fun!

Sunday Swatch – Uptown Worsted

Sunday Swatch is in Uptown Worsted.

Sunday Swatch Uptown Worsted_blog

Sunday Swatch will look very familiar to those of you who are joining us for the Afghan Knitalong.  I thought I’d try Square Two, the “Do The Wave” block in different colors than my original color choice, just for kicks.

Why different colors?  Well, we now have not one, not two, but THREE different people at Universal Yarn working on the Rocky Shore colorway selection.

Yonca block 2 waves blogSquare 2 Jen_blog Katie 1 Wave blogYonca block 2 waves blog

Once again, all their blocks are different.  But still – sometimes you want to mix things up a bit.

There’s something else different about the colorful block.  It contains a noticeable mistake.  The pattern itself is just fine, it’s just that I wasn’t paying close attention as I worked.  So the choice before me was whether to unravel or to keep going.

These blocks are meant to be a learning experience, so that’s how I approached the decision.  When I look at the finished afghan, do I need it to be perfect?  Or will I enjoy looking at it and thinking about about the experience of making it?

In the end, I decided to let it go.  It will be one block among many, so it probably won’t stand out.  I’ll let this block be a lesson in accepting imperfection.

We’ll be back next week with block number three in our Afghan Knitalong.  See you then!

Free Pattern Friday – Amphoras Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

AmphorasTank_CottonGold

Today, we present the Amphoras Tank in Cotton Gold.  If ever there were a perfect marriage of pattern and yarn, this is it.

Cotton Gold is a thread of cotton with some extra sparkle.  A strand of metallic glitter is wound around the cotton, and the whole affair is generously strung with glittering sequins.  You don’t have to imagine what this does for a lace pattern, you can see.  It dazzles.  This is another yarn that we love so much that we are expanding the color palette.  You can see sneak peeks of the silver, purple, and blue on our website.

The Amphoras Tank is a very stretchy top designed to fit with up to 4″ of negative ease.  The yarn is held doubled throughout.  The Amphoras Lace repeat is written and charted – follow whichever is most comfortable for you.

We hope you enjoy this bit of glitter in your day!