If you get our newsletter or follow us on social media, you’ve probably noticed all the Bamboo Pop love this week. And why not? It’s a great yarn for the warmer weather we’re all yearning for. Bamboo Pop’s bright colors make it a great choice for baby and toddler projects.
The Confetti Cap has sweet little sprinkles throughout, courtesy of the dots in this colorway of Bamboo Pop. The hat is sized newborn through 1-3 years, but only takes 1 ball for all sizes!
This sweet, simple knit cap would be a quick and easy gift when you need something quickly for a baby shower, charity project, or for that moment when you just get the itch to make something little and cute!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Caitrin knit in Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash (pattern link here).
Caitrin was formerly available as a pay-only pattern and part of e-book Color Fusion, a collection of cool-weather knits in Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash.
The Fair Isle pattern is easy to ‘read’ in your stitches, and the tweedy character of the yarn softens the bold graphic lines of the chevron. A well thought-out pattern from Tori Gurbisz.
Caitrin takes just one ball of each color, making it easy and inexpensive to customize for yourself. We’re delighted to offer this versatile pattern for free!
Stay warm, and have a great weekend.
Happy crafting!
This is part 8 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
Although Day 8 of Winter’s pattern is a Rachel Brockman design, I asked her if I could write the blog post for this kit. I just love it!
The tubular cast-on for the edge is a nice touch. Rachel demonstrates it in this blog post.
The Peppermint Bark Hat is the perfect (snow)storm of my favorite things: Fair Isle, knitting in the round, and snow.
The kit comes with yarn and color copy of the pattern. You provide needles and notions.
Actually, there’s one more of my favorite things in this kit: Angora Lace. It’s made of superwash fine merino, with nylon for durability and angora for extra softness. This kit features three balls in colors that match the classic holiday treat, peppermint bark!
Perfect pom-pom.
The colors were well-chosen – look at the rich depth in that Merlot! (For tips on achieving the perfect pom-pom, Amy Gunderson has you covered in this blog post from last year’s 12 Days of Christmas).
I mentioned Fair Isle colorwork. Checking the pattern and the inside of the hat, I see that Rachel has designed this so that no more than two colors are used in a row. And flashing back to last year, Rachel has some incredibly useful tips on Fair Isle in the round in this blog post from Series 2 of the 12 Days kits.
She also shares tips on managing your floats in this blog post – very handy at the very tips of those snowflakes. (See why I wanted to write this? I get to gush about the kit, and Rachel’s done all the hard work for me!)
US Size 1 (2.25 mm) needles are used for the ribbing, with US Size 3 (3.25 mm) for the body.
We generally sell out of all the kits every year. Of course, if we happen to wind up with a Peppermint Bark Hat kit when the season is over, and it mysteriously disappears… well, who could blame me?
Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn shop. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Autumn Air Toboggan in Classic Shades (pattern link here).
Some may think of Fall as sweater weather, but for me, it’s finally hat time!
Goofing around in my Cold Mountain Hat.
So when we get a new hat pattern, and it’s this colorful, I am on board!
The Autumn Air Toboggan takes just one ball of self-striping Classic Shades. The easy basketweave pattern adds texture without getting lost in the vibrant colors.
And that pom-pom! I’m a sucker for a good pom-pom. It’s part of why I asked to write the blog post for Day 8 of Winter’s upcoming kit (oops, spoiler!).
Long story short: it’s a new free, one skein, colorful, easy hat pattern that I will totally be casting on for ASAP. Good thing you can never have too many hats. (It’s true, don’t look at me like that).
Seasons Greetings from the Universal Yarn Team! Today, we’re pleased to share a special free pattern with you for the Christmas season: the Carolina Holly hat (pattern link)! Holly – like poinsettias, mistletoe, and ivy – conjures images of the holidays. The spiky plant is evergreen and beautiful, and it was the inspiration for the Carolina Holly hat.
Playing with pine cones, as one does.
This free pattern is a load of fun to knit. It takes three skeins of Deluxe Worsted – and that’s enough to make two hats. Of our line of yarns, Deluxe Worsted might just be my favorite. It’s excellent for every type of project, creates long-wearing fabric, and perfectly balances softness with the crunch of pure wool that I love. Plus, there are so many colors to choose from. For this hat I chose Sangria, City Turf, and Slate, but there are so many shades of red, green, and grey in the palette. I encourage you to find the combination that leaves you feeling inspired! Prefer superwash wool? You’re in luck – our machine-washable Deluxe Worsted Superwash would work perfectly as a substitute.
Baby Bobbles!
I wanted to give this hat some special touches. A double-thick brim ensures a warm and comfortable fit. A row of mini-bobbles knit in a rich red create little holly berries, and a large red pom-pom balances out the pop of red. Finally, to incorporate the grey used in the brim, the same color is used to add speckles to the pom-pom. The speckled pom-pom idea was not my own. I was inspired by designer Kiyomi Burgin, who has used this technique in her own work. You can find her post on speckled pom-poms here (link).
Subtle grey speckles in a big, poufy pom-pom – what’s not to love?
For your convenience, I’ve also created a tutorial. I hope you find it to be helpful! You’ll need to make your pom-pom before starting. If you haven’t done this before, don’t worry! You can find Amy’s tutorial on how to make pom-poms here (link).
To get started you’ll need a pom-pom, scissors, tapestry needle, and contrast color yarn. Step 1: Cut your contrast color yarn into lengths of approximately 12″. In the pattern I’ve directed you to cut 15 pieces. Fold each piece in half. Step 2: Keeping the strand of yarn folded, thread the tapestry needle.Step 3: Insert the tapestry needle through the center of the pom-pom. Step 4: Pull one end of the strand through the pom-pom, but be sure to secure the other end.Step 5: You should be able to hold each end of the strand as shown. Repeat Steps 1-5 until you’ve used each of the strands you cut. If desired, add more! When you finish you’ll have a medusa-looking pom-pom. Give your pom-pom a trim so that the contrast color ends are flush with the rest of the pom-pom. Finished! Now you can secure your pom-pom to the hat.
This is part 3 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 2 Edition.
Hats make such a satisfying knit. They’re small and portable, make great gifts, and they’re a fun medium to try out a new technique with.
The We Three Hats pattern (pattern link) includes three different hat patterns that can be made out of three colors of Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash. All hats are knit from the brim up to the crown. Each hat is a bit different, but one thing they all have in common is a coordinating pom-pom.
To pom-pom or not to pom-pom: that is the question.
And for me, the answer to that question will inevitably be: heck yes! I love pom-poms, all sizes. I have made many pom-poms in my life using lots of different techniques. I’d like to share with you my favorite way to make a pom-pom, along with a few little tips.
I’ve also used a homemade cardboard circle variation of this pom-pom maker shown in the photo. But I do love Clover’s manufactured sets. They come in lots of sizes and are pretty foolproof. Plus, they hold up a lot better than cardboard!
I like to use two strands of yarn because it makes wrapping the pom-pom maker go twice as fast. I use yarn from the inside and outside of the ball.
To begin, open up the hinges from both discs, along one side of the pom-pom maker. Begin wrapping yarn around both sides of the arced plastic pieces.
Continue wrapping yarn around the maker with even tension.
Think you’ve wrapped enough? Think again! Wrap yarn until it feels like the pom-pom maker is over-full. I usually try to count my wraps on one side so I can match the number on the following side.
This thing is wrapped as much as possible. Time to wrap the other side. Be sure to finish on the end as shown, so you carry the yarn to the other half of the maker to continue wrapping.
Close the side of the maker that is now wrapped in yarn and open up the other hinged side.
Start wrapping this second side as much as you did the first side.
This is going to be a beautiful and full pom-pom. I can tell already!
Cut the yarn. There is no need to leave a tail. But also cut two 12″ strands of yarn to set aside for later to secure the pom-pom.
Start cutting the pom-pom. The Clover pom-pom makers are very easy because you just cut in the groove between the two discs. Sharp scissors are a must for this step.
Cut all the way around the first half of the maker freeing these strands.
Then cut around the second half. Take care that the two halves of the pom-pom maker do not come apart yet. The strands are not yet secure.
Our pom-pom, unsecured, but cut. Not too pretty yet, but we’re getting there!
Take those 12″ strands that you set aside from earlier and tie them around the pom-pom, along the same groove where you cut apart the strands. I like to use two strands for this step because I like a full pom-pom, and there will be a lot of stress put on this tie yarn. If the yarn you’re using to make your pom-pom breaks easily, use a different yarn for the tie like linen, cotton, or acrylic. Two strands of my working yarn (Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash) were plenty strong enough in this case.
It is now safe to remove the pom-pom maker from the pom-pom.
It’s looking pretty good, but needs a little haircut to even out the edges.
Voila. Pom-pom!
Remember, you can find Series 2 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit patterns on Ravelry.
First, it’s a neat example of how to work the same stitch pattern flat or in the round.  Row one is the same on both, but of course when you’re working in the round things are a bit different because you’re never reversing directions.  In row 2, stitches are knitted for the flat back-and-forth of the scarf, but purled in the round for the hat.
The second reason to like this set:
It’s pretty cool what you can do with a pom-pom maker and a self-striping yarn like Major. Â You can plan out the colors, or just go with the flow. Â This little half-and-half topper happened organically.
Plus, let’s face it, what isn’t improved by the addition of pompoms?
Well.  We had been looking forward to some of the great new Spring designs out now in magazines (more on those another time) but it looks like we still need to think warm.  Fortunately, we have a free e-book that is perfect for the weather!
What really makes these hats, though, is the colorful fluffball topper on each of them.  Those are our Luxury Fur Pom-Poms.  They’re very handy for finishing off a garment that may need something a little more polished than a yarn pom-pom.  Each pom-pom has a string attached to let you tie it right on to your work.  Easy-peasy!
I’m not sure which of these is my favorite. Â I guess it partially depends on whether I’m in the mood for knit or crochet. Â For myself, I’m leaning toward the Lace Beanie on the lower right. Â Then again, the Honeycomb Ski Cap (with the pink pom-pom) would also be fun to make. Â Decisions, decisions.
Today, a little love for both the knitters and the crocheters! Both use Deluxe Worsted Superwash (220yds/100g), the popular machine washable version of our Deluxe line of wools.
First, the knitted Here and There Hat. Amy Gunderson uses right and left twists to create colorful slanting columns up the length of this cap. A Luxury Fur Pom-Pom tops it off with an extra pop of color. I love these pom-poms. They’re pre-made with an attached thread that you can just tie onto your work.
Next, the crocheted Parfait Hat. Two colors of Deluxe Worsted Superwash topped off with a Luxury Fur Pom-Pom. Adorable! I tried this one on, and it looked really cute. Sometimes it’s hard not to steal the garments for myself!
On the other hand, making my own would be another excuse to crochet, and that’s always a good thing.
