Pattern Spotlight: Shelob Sweater.

A woman wearing a purple and orange pullover with spider motifs sits on a chair.

Happy Wednesday, fellow crafters!

My name is Afifa, and I joined the Universal Yarn design team in February. I’ve been knitting since I was 10 years old and started designing in 2016 (you can follow me on Instagram here and see my portfolio of work here). I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be introducing myself with a Halloween post! Spooky season is my absolute favorite time of the year with the dip in temperature signaling sweater weather.

And, boy, do I have a sweater for you to cast on while getting cozy and binge-watching The Lord of the Rings Trilogy! Say hello to the free Shelob Sweater knit in Deluxe Worsted. Nothing embodies spooky season for me more than the frightening creatures portrayed in this epic high fantasy trilogy. From Gollum lurking around corners, jumping out, and yelling ‘my precious’ to the Orcs and the great spiders of Mirkwood. The mother of these spiders, Shelob, was the inspiration for this sweater. This ancient creature’s lair lies in Cirith Ungol (the pass of the spider) leading into Mordor, avoided by all but Gollum. While her offspring terrorize all who dare to enter the forest of Mirkwood.

The Shelob Sweater is knit seamlessly in the round from the top down. It starts with a dramatic drop stitch mesh pattern that mimics a spiderweb and is inspired by the extensive webs woven by the sweater’s namesake. The yoke incorporates both circular and raglan shaping, allowing the yoke to lay like a capelet on the shoulders. This mesh pattern also brings in one of the hottest trends in knitwear – openwork. Layered over simple everyday pieces, this trend keeps you warm and insulated on crisp autumn mornings and evenings, but cool and comfortable in the afternoon.

Shadowy spiders representing Shelob’s spawn drop down from the yoke to add to the spooky aesthetic of this statement piece, with additional spiders on the cinched cuffs of the balloon sleeves. The spider motifs are made using only knits and purls, worked from a chart, and decorate both the front and back of the garment. Deluxe Worsted truly accentuates every aspect of this design. From the 1×1 ribbing to the dropped stitch yoke to the spider motifs, I love how the smooth, 4-ply structure of this base creates exquisite stitch definition.

This was my first experience knitting with Deluxe Worsted. And, let me tell you, this 100% non-superwash wool yarn is a pleasure to work with. It’s soft, pillowy and blooms beautifully after blocking. In addition to that, this yarn is extremely durable – something I tested out while unraveling the dropped stitches and pulling apart the ones that ‘stuck’. This sturdy yarn will stand the test of time, allowing your stitches to stay crisp and you’ll be able to wear your Shelob Sweater year after year!

Even with 90 colors to choose from, it was easy to pick the colors for this project! Though black is traditionally associated with spiders and the spooky season in general, with a little help from Rachel, our Creative Lead, we settled on Rhapsody, for a more modern twist on Halloween. Pumpkin seemed like the obvious choice for an accent color to really tie the spooky theme together. This lovely bright orange screams Halloween and plays beautifully with the rich purple of Rhapsody. For my next Shelob Sweater, I chose Blue Splash and Bashful Pink as a subtle nod to the fictional Marvel character Ghost Spider. What colors will you pick?

Keep on knitting on!

Afifa

Textures & Treats Photo Contest

Autumn is a wonderful season for yarn crafting. The air is cooling down, and we’re ready to work on a brand-new sweater or shawl for the season. What could be better to pair with your crafting than a tasty fall treat? From pie to Halloween candy or warm apple cider, everyone has a favorite autumn treat to enjoy while they work on a project. We wanted to combine this love of yarn and treats into a photo contest that you can participate in on social media!

Photo of Ravello in 113 Nori and 105 HoneyPot with some pumpkin cookies – Petal Shawl in Ravello (free pattern) – Wooden stitch markers made by Katrinkles Knitting Jewelry

What is a photo contest? The idea of our photo contests is to let people show their creativity by taking pictures of our yarn, a WIP, or a finished product using our yarn. In July of this year, we held a photo contest featuring our yarns and projects that used our yarns. We were very happy with the results, so we decided to bring on another one! This time with a fall theme! If you are wondering what this is all about, or you’re looking to learn more, read below to hear more about the Textures & Treats Photo Contest.

When does it start and how do I enter? Starting today (October 10th), we are giving everyone on Instagram the opportunity to participate in a fun, fall-themed photo contest. We can’t forget to mention, there is a great prize for the winner! If you don’t yet have Instagram, feel free to create an account (it’s quick, easy, and free!) and follow us @universal_yarn for more details about the contest. Now time for the details!

What are the rules? First, grab your Universal Yarn, WIP, or FO (finished object), along with your favorite autumn treat. Then snap a picture! The setting is your choice – be creative! Once you do that, post the photo to your Instagram, tag us in it @universal_yarn, and use the hashtag #UYtexturesandtreatsphotocontest. You must be following us on Instagram to be officially entered, and we ask that you also DM (Direct Message) us a jpg image of your entry. Please note, by using the hashtag, you are allowing us to repost your content. The deadline to enter is November 9th!

Rules for the Textures & Treats Photo Contest – Truva WIP is Yonca Ozbelli’s – Gold stitch markers made by Erin Fisher (https://www.instagram.com/onfishershook/)

How do I win? After the November 9th deadline, our staff will vote and select the top 5 photos of those who have entered. On November 10, we will post the Top 5 as a carousel post on our Instagram, and you will vote for the winner through comments on the post. The winner will then be announced on November 15th, and a great prize will be on its’ way! Now, let’s think of some inspiration!

Inspiration? We hope the photos within this blog provide inspiration but let’s take some time to go through what we are looking for! There are so many amazing things about the fall season, whether that be the leaves turning colors, or pumpkin spice anything. So, what would make a good photo? How about a sweater with fall leaves, a pumpkin in the background, and a warm apple cider? That sounds like a great idea. If you’re not a big fan of pumpkins or apple cider, do not worry. One more idea could be your favorite Universal Yarn with a tasty Pecan Pie on the side, perhaps throw in some leaves or acorns as well. The options are endless, and there’s no telling what great yarn photos you can come up with!

139 Masquerade in Uni Merino with candy apples

We hope you decide to join us this autumn for our Textures & Treats Photo Contest!

Questions? If you have any questions, please email rferrel@universalyarn.com and I will be happy to assist!

We can’t wait to see your photos! – Robert

Knitflix: Halloween Edition

Happy Halloween, folks! We have a few days left of what is the official spooky season. No October would be complete without movie marathons. Whether you’re into feel-good Halloween flicks from your childhood or classic horror, I’m sure you have plans to watch something festive this weekend. I know those of us at Universal Yarn certainly are! So, today we wanted to share what we’re watching and some yarns and projects inspired by those flicks. Our design team – Aubrey, AJ, Heather, and I – are ready to share some of our favorites with you!

Aubrey

“Although I can happily admit I don’t love horror movies, I DO love film and television that has a dark or spooky undertone to it. Combine it with comedy, and I am sold. The Addams are a satirical take on the idealized 20th-century American family, and arguably the best part about them is that they are very much unconcerned with the fact that people find them bizarre or scary. Growing up, I would watch the television show with my parents, and Morticia Addams quickly became an icon of mine for various reasons. She’s stylish, passionate about her family, independent, and confident in herself, which are all qualities I admire. Also, this femme fatale was a knitter! Remember the 3 legged romper?



The 1993 film Addams Family Values is one of my favorites to watch around Halloween, and so I thought I’d share a couple of knitting patterns that I think will help anyone channel their inner Morticia. A dramatic silhouette I could see Morticia loving would be a cape. For our Elevated Essentials collection, I designed the Moria Cape, knit using 100% non-superwash wool Deluxe Worsted.

This cape was a lot of fun to design, and the black and gray color-blocked panels give it a very modern touch. It has a trapeze shape, with an open front and armholes that make it easy to wear out and about. I believe everyone deserves some statement outerwear pieces in their wardrobe, and this cape is meant to be exactly that! Pair this with a billowing blouse or dress and you have a very Morticia-esque silhouette. This pattern combines cable work and shaping, so it is on a more intermediate level. It is worked in pieces and seamed to ensure it lasts for years to come.

Though we might not design our patterns with characters in mind, it is so much fun to think about a character you love and what they might enjoy making and wearing. Morticia Addams certainly seems like the type of woman who would love to make herself some FABULOUS knitted sweaters and accessories!”

AJ

“I have watched Hocus Pocus every year for Halloween since I was a kid. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other movies that I love for the season, but this film feels like tradition at this point. My household has watched it enough that my husband and I will spout off goofy quotes like “Dead Man’s Toe!” to each other year-round for absolutely no reason.  I know – I’m weird. So anyway, that’s why I love this adorable Witch Legs Scarf pattern by Chelsea Roberts! It has an iconic style spotted in movies like The Wizard of Oz and in Hocus Pocus that just screams “Witch!”

A great yarn to use is our Uptown Worsted, which comes in plenty of vibrant colors and is made in an Anti-Pilling Acrylic that is ultra-soft and super easy to care for.  Because of the price-point and variety of color options, this makes for a great gift to thank hosts of Halloween parties, or simply a fun quick project to whip up and wear while passing out candy year after year.  I myself received this scarf as a gift during my Craft Guild Fall Gift Exchange, and I wear it for our October Guild Meeting for a bit of quirky costume fun!”

Heather

“I tend to spook easily, so I’m not a big fan of scary movies. However, I have to tip my hat to a classic B-grade horror flick from 1962 called The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. I stayed up watching the late-night creature feature at a friend’s slumber party after everyone else went to bed. A mad scientist keeps his fiancee’s head – and just her head – alive after a car wreck.

You’d better believe this blew my tiny mind.  Even now, when I see people in thermal hoods, I think of it.  However, this movie did kindle a love of truly awful movies in me, so I thank it for that. For the Brain that Wouldn’t Die, I keep wanting to make a balaclava, for obvious reasons! But to keep it from creeping me out, I think I’d turn the idea on its head (pun intended!) and go with Picklehead by Suzen Statz, designed in Uptown Worsted!”

Rachel

I think I may be the only one here that LOVES horror films. So does my mom, so that’s probably the reason behind it. I’ve been watching horror films since I was probably a bit too young to handle some of them. Even if they were off-limits, I remember sneaking behind the sofa in the living room to take a peek while my mom enjoyed them. I watch scary movies all year on a regular basis – rewatching favorites and savoring the new ones, regardless of whether they’re ridiculous or legitimately good (don’t even get me started, there are too many to name!). My pick for this Halloween is an absolute classic: Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Everything about this movie is great – the visuals and cinematography, ominous music, pace, and the psychological and supernatural tension throughout.

Regarding visuals beyond the set, the costume design is chock full of excellent sweaters. I’ve wanted to recreate several of the sweaters donned by Jack and of course, we can’t overlook (oh yes, the Overlook) Danny’s Apollo 11 sweater. (Take a look at this excellent project by Sabrina Magazine).

However, one of the most iconic images in the film is the carpet. It’s eye-catching, graphic, and unforgettable. So thank goodness The Shining blanket by Kraftling exists. This is described as a beginner-friendly pattern which is great because I know my crochet skills aren’t polished yet. The moment I spotted this pattern I knew it had to go on my “to-make” list – perhaps by next Halloween? For the blanket, I’d use Deluxe Worsted Superwash. Although normally I’m a non-superwash gal, I have to say that I like my homewares easy to care for. You can wash and dry this yarn on low heat without the concern of felting. Easy peasy!

So that’s it for our Halloween movie picks this year! Do you indulge in spooky movies each Halloween? What are your favorites? Do you have any projects recommendations to go along with them? Let us know in the comments!

Have a safe, spooky, and fibery Halloween!


Spooky Ricorumi!

Ricorumi Halloween

This Spooky Season we are raving about the adorable Ricorumi Halloween book! There are 7 cute patterns to choose from. Picking just a few may be tricky though, so caving into your cravings and making all 7 would make for a nice treat! Quick-tip! These patterns are written in UK terminology, but don’t let that spook you away – They are still written clearly and easily, all packaged with some adorable stories for each character!

I seriously CANNOT pick a favorite! But I can help you pick some yarn and supplies! You’ll need a 3mm crochet hook (I suggest using a Ricorumi hook found at your local LYS!), a large yarn needle for stitching and embroidery, toy stuffing, and the Ricorumi DK yarn, found here. Each cute little ball comes in at 25g and is only $3.25 each. Many of these projects only need 1 or 2 balls per color, making them affordable and fun!

To be specific here’s what quantities of yarn you’ll need for each one:

The Ghost = 1 ball each of 001 (white) and 060 (black) for embroidering.

The Spider = 2 balls of 060 (black) and 1 ball of 001 (white) for embroidering.

The Skeleton = 3 balls of 001 (white) and 1 ball of 060 (black).

I know I said I couldn’t pick a favorite, but can we talk about how cute the little lanky appendages on the Skeleton are? Seeing it posed different ways is giving me some silly Elf on the Shelf spin-off ideas. Maybe this is the year “Skeleton on the Sofa” can make a sensational debut!

The Witch = 1 ball each of 060 (black), 027 (orange), 046 (light green), and 043 (ivy)

The Cat = 2 balls of 060 (black), and 1 ball each of 046 (light green) and 011 (pink) for embroidering the nose and eyes.

The Pumpkin version 1 = 1 ball each of 011 (pink), 046 (light green) and 060 (black) for embroidering.

That witch with her little cauldron!!! I’m envisioning making props for my mantle with all of these little spooky friends. Maybe cutting out a paper broom for her, or some leafy greens and making plenty of pumpkins for a pumpkin patch! So many endless possibilities – What do you think you’ll try out?

The Pumpkin version 2 = 1 ball each of 024 (smokey orange), 043 (ivy), and 060 (black) for embroidering.

The Bat – 1 ball each of 060 (black) and 001 (white) for embroidering.

Of course, you can always go off book and create these in exciting colors of your own! Which one do you think you’ll try first!?! I’m getting ready to put the little skeleton on my hook. Maybe I’ll be extra ambitious and pose him for a stop-motion dance on social media!!! “Spooky Scary Skeletons….” you know the song, right?

That’s all for now, Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween to all you ghoulies and ghosties out there! We’re not sure what’s better: a large bag filled with candy of all kinds, or a fun crafting project to get us in the holiday spirit. Sadly, we can’t provide you candy via the web, but this Halloween, we have plenty of fun crafting projects to offer! So park your broom, sit a spell, and decide which project to start working on today.
Two Halloween-themed baskets knit using Uptown Worsted filled with candy.
We want all the candy!

To hold all of that aforementioned delicious candy, we have the Neon Pumpkin and Skull Baskets in Uptown Worsted (pattern link here)! Though these baskets are knitted in soft yarn, they feature a ‘magical’ plastic needlepoint canvas inside to keep their shape for many Halloweens to come (and all those candy grabbing hands)! We know you’ll enjoy the whimsical Fair Isle patterns on these as much as we do.
Young woman with vampire fangs wearing a black cape knit in Uptown DK.
Spooky and stunning in Uptown DK
Next up, for a fun adult costume idea, we have the Batcape in Uptown DK (pattern link here). Throw this on with a black or red dress, some fangs, a little fake blood, and you have an instant Vampire costume! The chevron pattern is gorgeous to knit up, and it has a red contrast I-Cord bind off. You could always wear this with a winter outfit for an edgy-cool everyday look too. ‘Ve vant’ you to knit this pretty cape!
A crochet alien-themed children's hoodie in Cotton Supreme laying flat on a starry background.
Bleep-Bloop
Everyone loves aliens and monsters right? We certainly do. Halloween is the perfect time to work up a fun creature inspired project. For kids, we have the Bleep Bloop Sweater in Cotton Supreme (pattern link here) which is an adorable alien-themed hoodie that can double as a great costume! This is from our Stellar Supreme collection, so if you’re a fan of outer space-inspired patterns, that is the one for you.
Three brightly colored crochet monster hats in Uptown Worsted pictured laying flat on a table.
Do the Monster Mash!
For the whole family, we have Clarice, Chunk, and Clyde in Uptown Worsted! These monster hats are adorably fun to crochet and make a great last-minute costume.
Uptown Worsted Spirit Stripes yarn in color MVP
Candy corn- love or hate it?
Want a Halloween colored item, but not into the whole costume thing? Try the Crochet Color Pooling Scarf in Uptown Worsted Spirit Stripes color MVP. This yarn is also perfect for team color projects!

Cover of book 50 Knitted Gifts
‘Boooooooooooooook’ -Winifred Sanderson
In the realm of books, we have 50 Knitted Gifts for Year Round Giving . This is a collection of patterns for every holiday on your list, and the Halloween offering sure doesn’t disappoint. Feel like making a felted trick-or-treat bag? Check. Boot Warmers? Check. This one has you covered for Halloween and all the holidays beyond.
Orange knitted boot toppers with spiderweb embroidery
Spiderweb Boot Toppers (Ravelry link here)
Knit felted Jack-o-lantern Halloween decoration
Felted Trick or Treat Bag (Ravelry link here) Hopefully, this has given you all the inspiration to start working on some whimsical and spooky projects for Halloween or any day of the year you choose to enjoy these! Now, kick back with your crafting and your candy corn and start watching Hocus Pocus. Happy Halloween!

Halloween Projects

It’s that time of year! Little ghouls and ghosties run amok in the neighborhood, and we love crafting fun things for them – and for us!  Let’s take a look at a few free patterns.

We want candy. More candy. And not the cheap stuff.

First, Clarice, Chunk, and Clyde in Uptown Worsted (pattern link here).

There is so much personality in these three crocheted monsters! Sized for children through adults, these friends are free patterns in machine washable Uptown Worsted.  We decided to make ours in the adult size, so we could have some fun here in the office!

selfie of three women wearing colorful crocheted hats with monster faces on them
(L-R: Amy, Rachel, and Heather, always up for some wholesome fun)

Photo of two knitted Halloween bowls filled with candy
I *guess* you can have some.

Next, Neon pumpkin and Skull Baskets in Uptown Worsted (pattern link here).

These Fair Isle knits have a piece plastic needlepoint canvas inside to help them hold their shape.  It’s optional, but we go through a lot of candy here, so we thought it was a good idea to help them stand up to the frequent “walk-by grabbing.”

Image of woman in knitted black cape looking over her shoulder
I don’t sparkle, but I’m still fierce!

Also, Batcape! in Uptown DK (pattern link here).

We released the Batcape last week and blogged about it.  Maybe you saw it, but if you didn’t, we don’t want you to miss it. 🙂

Cover of book 50 Knitted Gifts

Moving to printed patterns, there are some real gems in the book 50 Knitted Gifts for Year-Round Giving, from Sixth and Spring.  The book features great projects suitable for any occasion.  The Halloween selections do not disappoint!

Orange knitted boot toppers with spiderweb embroidery

Spiderweb Boot Toppers (Ravelry link)

Knit felted Jack-o-lantern Halloween decoration

Felted Trick-or-Treat Bag (Ravelry link)

Woman wearing light green knit hat with ghost face design

Ghoulish Ghost Hat (Ravelry link)

Knitted brooch in the shape of a black cat with hot pink eyes

and Black Cat Brooch (Ravelry link).

The book has some great patterns for Thanksgiving, too, but one holiday at a time.

The last thing we’re going to throw out there, for ultimate ease, is a crocheted color pooling scarf in Uptown Worsted Spirit Stripes color 509 MVP.

Image of orange and black skein of Uptown Worsted Spirit Stripes yarn

Hands off the candy corn, though.

We hope you have an appropriately spooky Halloween.

Happy crafting!

Halloween Projects – Batcape!

Halloween is almost here – but there’s still time to make yourself something spooky!

Here’s a brand new pattern – the BATCAPE in Uptown DK (pattern link here)!

(I looked for a dramatic sound effect that could be played for maximum suspense.  This was the first hit, so here you go.)

The pattern is written for one size, but it can be easily scaled up or down by adding or subtracting multiples of 6 from the cast-on.

We’d also like to give credit to our model Lilly, because it was super hard to keep a straight face goofing around with this cape and wearing plastic fangs.

The chevron pattern is knit in one piece from the top down. A contrasting i-cord is added at the end.

Woman in knitted black Halloween cape.

The perfect accessory for handing out treats.  Or for trick-or-treating in.  We’re not going to judge.

Happy holidays!

Emergency Monster Hats

Halloween is hands down my favorite time of year. The air is just starting to get crisp, meaning I can finally break out my handknits. There’s always candy. Everywhere. All the time. Cider, campfires, beautiful changing leaves; I could go on.

Clockwise from the top we have Rachel wearing Clarice, Heather wearing Chunk, and me (Amy) wearing Clyde)

But of course the most fun thing about Halloween are the costumes. I finally settled on my own costume idea for this year a week or two ago. But there was a period of panic where I just couldn’t come up with an idea I was happy with. Enter: monster hats (pattern link).

Hi. I’m Clarice. I know it doesn’t look like it but I’m actually very happy.

Now monster hats are really pretty fun any time of year. They’re really not season-specific. But, in a pinch, they can make an excellent costume.

Hhhii, I’m Chunk. I like you.

All three are crocheted in numerous shades of Uptown Worsted, our super-soft anti-pilling acrylic. This is a great hat yarn because it feels good on the head and is not itchy. It’s also quite affordable and buying several skeins in different colors won’t break the bank.

I believe she was not in her right mind while making me. I mean, one eye? At least it’s a large eye. I am Clyde, by the way.

There lots of different add-on elements going on in each of these hats. The idea is that you can follow the patterns as written if you like. Or you can come up with your own unique monster using different combinations of spikes, horns, different numbers of eyes, etc.

We want candy. More candy. And not the cheap stuff.

So if you’ve found yourself with out a costume and Halloween only a week away, why not be a monster?

You can find the patterns for all three hats on our website here (pattern link). Happy Halloween!