My name’s Ashley Jane, also known as AJ here at Universal Yarn. I’m avid crocheter, lover of dogs and all things outdoors, drinker of teas, and the newest member to the design team! My first few weeks here have been a whirlwind of learning our product line, organizing and revamping our Trunk Show Program, and making the cutest ever sample of our Ricorumi Kits!
Ricorumi Kit, Neptune
While settling into my new role, I have had the chance to stitch and swatch a few of our yarns to get to know them. I narrowed down my selection to Bella Cash, Ravello, and Penna. I wanted a chance to play around with some of our softer yarns while seeing what types of texture and feel I could produce with crochet. I loved my results – keep reading on to see my take on these fabulous fibers.
Sample Pennants in Bella Cash 116, Ravello 115 and Penna 106Bella 123
Bella Cash: Grippy on the hook, and springy to the touch. Using a 3.75 mm hook, I tried out the Lemon Peel stitch to see what type of texture I could get while working with it and wasn’t disappointed. Made from 60% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 30% Nylon, this fine-weight yarn has great structure and stitch definition. Plus it feels nice and soft, and the hook size I used created a thick but malleable fabric. Bella Cash is easily one of my favorites to work with so far and would be fantastic in a full sweater with some texture and fine detailing, like the Bellissima Cardi, or the Holiday Lights Shawl.
Bella Cash 116Ravello 111
Ravello: Smooth to work with, and wonderful for making textures that have a nice light fluff to the finished piece. Using a 3.75mm hook for this fine weight yarn, the fabric has a delightful drape, and a soft airy quality to it. I played around with petal and reverse petal stitches for the pennant below. I loved it so much that I’ve decided to make my first Universal Yarn pattern from it, so be on the lookout for the Petal Shawl, coming soon! With a blend of 75% Cotton, 16% Extra Fine Merino and 9% Recycled Cashmere this yarn is lovely for summery tops like the Riviette Tank or the Lorelei sweater.
Ravello 115Penna 106
Lastly, Penna: Fluffy and Fun! This lace weight yarn is quite fine with lots of airy soft fibers, made from 50% Suri Baby Aplaca, 28% Extra Fine Merino, and 22% Nylon, so the stitches stand out in almost a ghostly fashion. Each twist and turn of your stitch can be seen through the fluff which I find looks beautiful with basic stitches, so I chose to whip up a simple pennant of Half Double Crochet’s using a 3.75 mm hook. An easy way to incorporate Penna into a piece is to hold it with another yarn like the Ariosa pattern suggests. This adds just the right amount of softness for that cozy, can’t-stop-touching feel. By itself, this is a standout yarn for lacework as seen in the Pluma stole.
Penna 106
All in all, these yarns are unbeatable for their quality and price points. I look forward to experimenting with more yarns and trying them out with crochet and other crafts.
We’re so lucky to have another beautiful crochet design from Edie Eckman!
For this simple, classic design, Edie used Clean Cotton, which is 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled polyester. It’s Earth-friendly and beautiful!
As well as solids, Clean Cotton is available in multis, for a lovely speckled effect in your projects.
Step one will be to make three individual squares, working in the round from the center out. Then join them at the edges to create the bag’s shape.
After joining, you’ll add a simple edging to the top for stability and a finished look.
Finally, add a handle. For ease, we used a handmade leather strap from Danish company muud, maker of fine leather bags. Here, we used a muud Hudson at 50cm (19.7″) long Hudson strap. You could also use the 70cm (27.5″) Hudson XL for additional length. They’re both available in black and in whisky on our site or from your LYS.
We love these straps because the simple swivel clasps are effortless to add and remove from your bag for easy care. Unclip the strap and toss your bag into the washing machine!
We hope you enjoy this beautiful, timeless crochet project. Have a great weekend – and happy crafting!
Designed by Rosann Fleischauer, the Painted Canvas Poncho is a re-imagining of two of Rosann’s previous designs: her Harvest Cocoon published in 2018 and the bottom-up Painted Canvas published in 2020. Each iteration of this design features the unique, origami-like construction method paired with gloriously self-shading yarns like now-retired Classic Shades, as seen in the Harvest Cocoon, or Colorburst, as seen in today’s feature pattern.
This pattern is comprised of two pieces that are sewn together. Each piece is worked sideways in linen stitch, allowing Colorburst to create vertical stripes across the piece. Linen stitch is soothing and easy even for novice crocheters like me. Plus, there is something so addictive about working with self-shading yarns. I love watching the colors shift from one hue to the next.
This is an excellent garment for year-round wear. It works wonderfully over a light summer dress as pictured, but it will keep you warm and cozy during cool weather thanks to the soft warmth of the superwash merino in Colorburst.
We hope you have a wonderful, yarn-filled weekend!
It’s World Ocean Day! The ocean is our planet’s life source. Covering about 70% of the Earth’s surface, our oceans produce more than half of the world’s oxygen, absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and are home to at least a million species, though we don’t really know the true number. We can all agree that a resource so vital to our well-being should be cared for and celebrated. So, in honor of World Ocean Day, we’re sharing some sen-sea-tional patterns inspired by our oceans and a few tips on simple actions you can take to help preserve this precious resource.
Seastar in Cotton Supreme
Did you know that sea stars can live up to 35 years? Amazing! These colorful invertebrates are one of the most recognizable sea creatures, so it’s no surprise that so many designers have created patterns inspired by them. In fact, we have three super cute patterns where starfish are the star of the show.
Our own Aubrey Busek took inspiration from these aquatic creatures when she designed Seastar (pattern link) for our Seaside Supreme ebook. This graphic sweater is a statement knit featuring intarsia and lace. It is knit using our popular Cotton Supreme yarn. I love that this pattern is written with both long and short sleeve options, making it easier to personalize.
As fiber artists, we have the power to create many long-lasting, durable items that are inherently less wasteful. For example, that handmade sweater is destined to last much longer than any sweater you buy in a department store. It’s an heirloom piece that you can wear for years and pass down, minimizing some of the waste created by fast fashion. Is there a sweater in your wardrobe you don’t wear often anymore, or perhaps that doesn’t fit the way you imagined? Instead of taking that sweater to the thrift store, consider unraveling it and recycling the yarn for another project. You can even make dryer balls from old sweaters and non-superwash yarn, like our Deluxe Worsted.
If you want something a little more whimsical that’s a nice complement to your collection of seashells, consider making the cute and free Seahorse and Starfish set (pattern link) by Michele Wilcox. Like Seastar, this pattern uses Cotton Supreme. One skein will take you very far with this pattern. I think it would be adorable to string several of them together to create a garland or mobile to decorate your home, reminding you of the ocean even if you live far from it!
Looking for a cute scrubby pattern for yourself or a loved one? Look no further than the Starfish and Shell patterns (link) by Rico Design using Creative Bubble. This yarn is perfect for creating scrubbies that are more durable and eco-friendly than disposable rags or sponges. They work as well for scrubbing your countertops as they will for exfoiliating your skin. Plus, your little one will love these projects as bath toys!
Narwhal & Seal from the Ricorumi Wild Wild Animals book.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Arctic. It amazes me that life can exist in parts of the world so frigid and seemingly barren. Yet, some creatures have evolved to be perfectly equipped to brave the harsh climate. With a knack for creating charming patterns, Rico Design pays homage to polar-dwelling seals and narwhals in the Wild Wild Animals pattern book (link). Both of these crochet amigurumi projects use Ricorumi Cotton DK. The Narwhal pattern is even available as a kit! Eco-conscious tip: instead of using poly-fil for your stuffed animal projects, try using scrap yarns and fabric instead!
The Betta Swetta Set
One of my favorite books as a young child was The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. This cute storybook about sharing mesmerized me with its beautiful illustrations. Perhaps thanks to that book, I’ve always been excited to spot a fish in any body of water and had a fishtank of my own growing up. I still love visiting the aquarium to marvel at their colors, shapes, and sizes. With that inspiration in mind, I designed the free Betta Swetta Set (pattern link) in Adore. This duo was inspired by all of the fishies in the ocean.
The Atlantic Ocean, as seen on a rainy November day at Daytona Beach. If you want to learn more about World Ocean Day, you can explore the website here (link).
Many of the species these patterns celebrate are threatened, and it’s our responsibility to do what we can to preserve the health of the ocean. You can create reusable bags for carrying the grocery items that will allow you to say “goodbye” to plastic bags for good. As I mentioned earlier, many of the handmade washcloths, towels, and other home items are more durable than store-bought or disposable options. Plus, you probably have the skills to mend your handmade items (and store-bought items) on your own, making them last even longer! If you’re looking for more inspiration, don’t miss my recent blog post about our most eco-friendly yarns and accompanying patterns.
I hope you’re feeling inspired to honor the ocean today, and every day! Do you have any tips you’d like to share on how to make your crafting more environmentally friendly? Do you have a favorite type of project that helps eliminate waste? We’d love to know!
Cowan is crocheted in one piece from the bottom up, separating at the armholes, and then rejoining for the upper portion of the vest. Its flowing outline makes it a great piece for its entire range of sizes, XS to 4X (it’s shown here in Small).
To get Cowan free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase.
Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by midnight on 5/29 and we’ll get you taken care of. Feel free to share the giveaway – the more the merrier!
Celeste is a lovely springtime layering piece with a straightforward construction.
Two rectangles are worked, with a tidy double double crochet at the borders for a neat finish. The rectangles are seamed, leaving space for the arms and neck (of course) to create a simple, classic silhouette.
As for the stitch pattern, it’s a gorgeous all-over lace that’s written and charted. You’ll get the rhythm of it in no time.
We used Fibra Natura Papyrus for this design. It’s a luxurious warm-weather blend of cotton and silk with an interesting texture.
The poncho is shown in 229-13 Celestial, but because I’m a sucker for blue-green, I’d probably make mine in the 229-19 Ether shown above. Either way, with that stitch pattern, the final result will be divine.
We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of beauty and joy.
With everyone practicing social distancing and staying at home over the past year, we’ve seen a tremendous growth in crochet and knitting. Whether you’re new to the crafts or not, you probably already know how comforting the rhythm of creating stitches with your yarn and weapon (hook or needle) of choice can be. The art of making has always influenced ready-to-wear trends, but we’re seeing the influence more and more. Trends like “cottagecore,” “grannycore,” and “soft retro” are popping up in ready-to-wear fashion. One way these trends have been expressed has been through granny squares, and it has us all inspired to crochet beautiful projects!
Too often when people refer to crochet patterns I hear “this is not your grandma’s crochet,” but in truth, it is your grandma’s crochet with a modern twist and there is no doubt that it should be celebrated! Just take a look at some of the statement pieces pictured above. Each of these garments contains granny squares, though some are infused with knit and fabric accents. My favorite is definitely the Flower Stripe Crochet Sweater by Farm Rio. It’s bright, bold, and beautiful! This trend embraces delicate floral motifs with soft pastels and vibrant pops of color with more traditional motifs alike.
Yonca is working on some delightfully colorful granny squares to create a crochet cardigan of her own. She’s using Wool Pop in an assortment of fun colors, all accented with cream.
As I mentioned earlier, everyone in the office is currently drooling over these unique designs. Yonca, our amazing sales director, was so inspired by the crochet pieces she noticed at Anthropologie that she decided to start her own. I always love Yonca’s designs and admire her ability to improvise when designing. She does this stuff on the fly and it’s so impressive. By contrast, I tend to plan and write most of my patterns in advance because I’m usually not the person actually knitting or crocheting my designs. Although, when I get to make them myself, I definitely improvise a bit!
This cute little square features a circular center in colors that remind me of a gorgeous, sunny day. She’s creating these motifs in a variety of colors of Wool Pop. The colors in the square pictured here are 602 Cream, 624 Blueberry, and 621 Dijon.
While we patiently await Yonca’s completed design, let’s take a look at a couple of patterns we offer that feature glorious granny squares.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a crochet expert, but granny squares are my favorite thing to crochet. They’re so quick and satisfying and are perfectly portable for when you’re on the go. When we were working on designs for our Lakeside Retreat collection in 2019 I knew I wanted to play with granny squares. One of my favorite pieces in the collection is the Cove cardigan worked in Unity and Unity Beyond. Generally speaking, crochet pieces add interest to any ensemble, but the yarn used in this design takes it a step further. The thick-thin, slightly nubby characteristics of Unity and Unity Beyond create texture that can really elevate simple pieces.
Simple, solid granny square motifs in two colors make up the lower portion of this design. A lacy motif decorates the shoulders and tops of the sleeves, allowing you to enjoy the breeze. The edging and sleeves are worked in double crochet. If you’re looking for the perfect spring cardigan, there is no doubt that Cove is for you!
Another personal favorite is the Mod Tiles Cardi, worked using Deluxe DK Tweed. This design is perfect for autumn. Sure, it may be spring, but it’s never too early to get a kick-start for cool weather. Plus, this would be perfect for chilly evenings throughout the spring and summer.
The classic collar, button-front, and floral motifs definitely give this design a retro vibe, but cropped sleeves and drop shoulders transform it into a modern piece. Deluxe DK Tweed features flecks of tweed and offers a rustic appeal. However, if you favor a brighter, bolder color scheme, you might enjoy the saturated hues of Dona instead. The cardigan requires six colors – one main color and five contrasting colors. If you’re feeling really playful, pick an even larger palette of colors – the options are endless!
While I wanted to focus specifically on garments today, I couldn’t let the opportunity to share a few other granny square patterns pass. A great, lightweight accessory is the Rita Cowl in Donnina. This mobius design features three neutral colors in beautiful motif – it’s lightweight and loose-fitting, making it great for rainy spring days. If garments and accessories aren’t your thing, the Oasis Blanket in Adore will surely sate your desire to make granny squares. Finally, Jennifer Olivarez created the clever Roundabout Bag using Yashi. I love how her color pairing and the way the striped squares wrap around the sides of the bag. This is a modern and sophisticated bag – what’s not to love?
Are you feeling inspired to create your own granny-square projects? We’d love to hear which of these lovely projects are your favorites!
Earth Day is a week away – and that’s something we should all be celebrating. We are just one of the estimated 1 trillion species on Earth…and we are also the life form that arguably has the greatest impact on the natural world. Recently, I listened to David Attenborough’s reading of his book, Life on Earth, originally published in 1979. In the last couple of chapters, he wrote about our impact on the planet, and this quote truly strikes a chord:
“The fact remains that man has unprecedented control over the world and everything in it. And so, whether he likes it or not, what happens next is very largely up to him.”
There is so much information available about how to ease our environmental impact. It can be very overwhelming at times! These conversations can often be heated, controversial, and even lead to confusion about what we can do. Ultimately, though, we can all take small steps to help preserve this remarkable place we call home. So, what does that have to do with yarn? Well, today I wanted to highlight some of the yarns we can use to minimize our footprints and create practical, reusable projects.
Our Java yarn is made with 100% hemp fibers. What’s so great about hemp? Well, for one thing, it requires significantly less water to grow and process! It’s an incredibly strong and durable fiber and is also very colorfast. Java has a rustic hand and is well-suited for projects such as washcloths and home décor.
Sunfire Bag in Java
An easy step for reducing your carbon footprint is to swap plastic shopping bags with reusable bags. At this point, several states have banned the use of plastic shopping bags altogether. And while your state may not have taken those measures, toting (pun intended) your own shopping bag is a great idea! Stroll to your local farmer’s market in style with the Sunfire Bag (pattern link). This crochet project is worked modularly and boasts plenty of space. I’d love to make several of these bags in an assortment of the 12 colors in the Java palette.
Stitch Sampler Cloths
Forget paper towels and disposable wipes! The Stitch Sampler Cloths (pattern link) are great reusable projects that work as well for spa days and personal hygiene as they do for scrubbing your dishes. Taking care of these cloths is a snap because they are machine washable and dryable. Each cloth in the pattern features a unique stitch motif, so you won’t get bored while knitting. Plus, they have a loop that’s convenient for hanging!
Most people first learn about the benefits of recycling in elementary school. I know I did! I’ve been known to unravel thrift store sweaters to recycle the yarn, but we’ve made the process even simpler with our Clean Cotton and Clean Cotton Multi yarns. Both yarns are made entirely of reclaimed fiber. Our mill gathered waste yarn scraps and bits of fluff from other yarns to give it new life as a soft, durable, and practical yarn at an impressively economical price point. Each yarn in the Clean Cotton family (which also includes Clean Cotton Big) is comprised of 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled polyester. While we created this yarn with projects like cozies, washcloths, dish towels, and bags in mind, it’s surprisingly soft. We’ve had several customers (myself included) create breezy garments, too!
Mosaic Dish Towels
The Mosaic Dish Towels (pattern link) are a coordinating set of kitchen towels that are absorbent and can be used to wipe up a spill here and there, dry your hands, hold hot plates, and more. All it takes is two skeins of each color and you’ll get at least two towels (as shown above). This straightforward pattern features a pretty motif along the bottom edge and garter stitch throughout the rest of the fabric. An I-cord loop is convenient for hanging these pieces in your kitchen, but you can just as easily drape them over your oven door handle. This design is an excellent choice for beginners interested in dipping their toes into a more exciting project.
Fresh Air Washcloths
Great for your kitchen or your bathroom, the Fresh Air Washcloths (pattern link) are just as practical as the Stitch Sampler Cloths I mentioned earlier. The saturated hues of Clean Cotton make it easy to add a pop of color to your home. These washcloths are knit flat from the bottom up in a broken garter stitch pattern. After you finish the square portion, an I-cord edging is worked around the edge using a contrast color. I think these would be great in Clean Cotton Multi, too!
Perhaps the most versatile eco-friendly yarn we offer is Cottonwood. Cottonwood is a GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton yarn. It is soft, smooth, and boasts excellent stitch definition. We’ve used this yarn for garments, accessories, and the same functional home products similar to others I’ve highlighted in this post. Last Friday, Heather gushed about the Sandbar shawl on the blog (link). In addition to an ebook, Cottonwood Arboretum, we have a plethora of free patterns to support this yarn, too.
Macaron Cloths
In keeping with our theme, though, let’s take a look at the Macaron Cloths (pattern link). With yarn this soft, we truly had your skincare routine in mind. They are gentle on the skin, yet highly absorbent, making them a terrific choice for your next spa day. The construction of these cloths is extremely similar to the Fresh Air Washcloths I mentioned earlier, but where they really shine is the array of stunning stitch patterns. Featuring long stitches, twisted stitches, lace, and I-cords, you’ll expand your knitting skill set and there is certainly no risk of boredom. Because each cloth is different, this is like getting five patterns in one!
Today I focused on some of the eco-friendly yarns we offer that use plant fibers. However, if you’re looking for some luxurious animal fiber yarns that are Earth-friendly, don’t miss Ravello and Cashmere Lusso – which both contain recycled cashmere, or Deluxe Worsted – a non-superwash wool yarn with a handful of natural, undyed colors.
So, this Earth Day, celebrate our planet and our craft with some beautiful, environmentally friendly yarns and patterns. Take a walk outside, plant a tree, clean up trash in your neighborhood, and take some time to show gratitude for our amazing home.
Sandbar was originally part of e-book Lakeside Retreat, a collection of knit and crochet designs in our Fibra Natura line of luxury natural yarns. We’re singling it out for release today because it’s uniquely appropriate to the season – and because it’s just so pretty!
Amy Gunderson had beautiful mornings by the beach in mind when she designed Sandbar. It’s the perfect piece to protect you from breezes coming off the water.
DK weight organic Cottonwood feels great against the skin. It’s a pleasant cotton to work with too.
You’ll start Sandbar from the center of that circular motif, then square it off. The wings are crocheted outward from two sides of the square, and then the border is added to the lower edge.
It’s a sumptuous and satisfying design in a luxurious yarn. We’re delighted to set Sandbar free.
Penna is one of our newer yarns. We found it at a mill in Italy and just had to have it.
See that halo? The suri baby alpaca in this yarn gives it the perfect fuzz to soften a silhouette. The extrafine merino keeps it soft and gentle. And the nylon gives it the strength you want in a beautiful finished object.
In Atrium, you can see how soft and romantic it makes this design feel. Designer Edie Eckman played to Penna’s strengths with this asymmetric piece. But then, that’s no surprise. We always feel lucky to have one of her designs in our yarns, like the recent free Piquilla Shawl crocheted in Wool Pop (pattern link here).
But back to Atrium! This may look like a scarf when it’s artfully draped, but it’s really more of a shawl or wrap. It’s 72″ long and 18″ wide at the larger end, for a modern, asymmetrical feel to go with its natural romance. You’ll work this light and lofty accessory flat, from the wider end to the narrower one. Three balls of Penna makes this airy scarf, perfect for a breezy spring day.
