Sweater – Universal Yarn Creative Network

April 19, 2024April 19, 2024

Free Pattern Friday – Whirligig Cardigan

Happy Friday, Friends!

This week we are releasing the Whirligig Cardigan, designed by Afifa Sayeed, which captures all of the whimsy and colors of spring! Two bold shades of Cotton Supreme collide with two punchy colors of Cotton Supreme Speckles to create swirly pinwheels all over.

Cotton Supreme is a ridiculously soft, worsted-weight, 100% cotton yarn. It’s available in a whopping 45 colors and is a dream to work with and wear, but its versatility is the real kicker. It’s suitable for homewares like baby blankets, washcloths, stuffed toys, and more. However, Cotton Supreme truly is most popular for garments and accessories worn close to the skin. It’s an approved yarn for sensitive skin types, and is used by many for chemo caps, like the Hope Hat.

Cotton Supreme Speckles is the variegated counterpart to Cotton Supreme. It has the same 100% cotton base and weight, and comes in 6 zippy colors, which can pair with their solid sisters in fun and exciting ways. The Whirligig Cardigan, and the Below blanket show off these complimenting abilities beautifully. If you’re unsure of which colors to pair up, rest assured that Cotton Supreme Speckles looks fabulous as a stand-alone-stunner. Check out the free Wildflower Tee pattern for inspiration!

We love all of the ways you can pair these yarns, and are so excited to feature them in this week’s Free Pattern Friday. The Whirligig Cardigan is an Easy pattern, suitable for adventurous beginners. It’s constructed of 52 individual squares that are knit on the bias. Once completed, they are sewn together based on a schematic, and finished with picked up stitches for sleeve hems and edging. I personally love projects that assemble from smaller pieces – they are so transportable! This is a great cardigan to make on-the-go.

So, what do you think you’ll make with Cotton Supreme or Cotton Supreme Speckles? Get both for your stash with our weekend sale! Today through Sunday 4/21 both of these yarns are 20% off on our website. Share your projects with us here in the comments, or send photos on social media – we love to see what you’re working on!

That’s all for now, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

February 23, 2024February 22, 2024

FLASH Pattern Friday – Serra

Hi friends, and Happy Friday. This is the last Friday of February, so it’s time for a FLASH pattern! That means we are giving a normally paid pattern to our audience for FREE! Today we bring you Serra, designed by Rachel Brockman.

This beautiful sweater features Wool Pop, a gorgeous blend of 50% bamboo, 35% superwash wool, and 15% polyamide. It has a subtle sheen and a lovely drape when stitched. This yarn is a favorite for trans-seasonal garments and accessories, as the bamboo offers a soft, supple feel to the warm, springy wool.

This sweater is knit in the round from the bottom up, then the front and back are separated at the underarms and worked flat to create sleeve openings. The shoulders are joined with a three-needle bind-off before the sleeves are worked flat and sewn to the body. Stitches for the neck edging are picked up and worked in the round to finish off this elegant piece. The all-over cables and texture make for a timeless, sophisticated pullover that will take you from winter into spring!

To get the Serra pattern for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer is valid through Sunday, 2/25.

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

February 2, 2024February 1, 2024

Collection Spotlight: Precious Picnic

Spring is just around the corner and we are embracing it in a big way with our newest collection featuring eight adorable patterns for your little ones. Taking inspiration from nature’s sweet treats, the Precious Picnic collection utilizes the colors and imagery of fresh fruit in a variety of designs ranging from adorable stuffies, accessories, and garments to blankets in our easy-care Uptown Bamboo DK. Let’s jump right in and talk about each piece!

Dress your little one in an outfit as sweet as they are with the Bilberry Set, designed by me! The adorable romper is perfect for layering over long sleeves during a cool spring picnic and the bucket hat will protect their heads from the sun. We’ve chosen 522 Sailor and 525 Willow for our version, but let your favorite fruit serve as the foundation of this leaf-topped ensemble! The romper includes sizes for 0-18 months and the hat includes sizes for a newborn to a toddler. Both pieces are constructed from the top down with a simple stranded colorwork motif to create the leaf pattern.

My personal favorite – the Concord Wrap, also designed by me. A sweet little cardigan with adorable grape bunches adorning the front hem. The crossover design with buttons and I-cord ties makes it easy to dress a wiggly one. This layering piece is the perfect cocoon for any outfit, keeping your sweet babe cozy thanks to our soft, smooth Uptown Bamboo DK yarn. The sample shown uses 517 Lilac and includes sizes for 0-24 months. The Concord Wrap is constructed in pieces and seamed.

What’s more fun than a set of stuffed fruit? The Fresh and Fruity Set, designed by, you guessed it, ME, is just ripe for pretend play. This stuffed toy set includes varying colors and shapes, helping teach young ones about objects and colors in fun ways. The set features colorways 525 Willow, 505 Daisy, 514 Tomato, and 518 Mulberry. Each fruit is knit seamlessly from the top down and stuffed as you go.

What could be more fitting in a collection of fruit-inspired items for young ones than a gingham blanket? Rachel Brockman designed both a knit AND a crochet version of the quintessential picnic blanket. Both versions are constructed in a modular fashion, making them the perfect on-the-go project. The crochet version of the Gingham Blankie is shown in 502 Lily and 507 Peach and the knit version uses 502 Lily, 519 Bluebird, and 521 Chill

Keep the mess off those adorable outfits with the Juicy Bib Trio designed by Rachel Brockman – a collection of bibs decorated with apples, lemons, and pears bordered by an edging inspired by basketry, like a little picnic basket. Each bib is knit flat from the bottom up using a knit-purl texture to create the motifs. The bibs pictured above feature colors 514 Tomato, 505 Daisy, and 524 Lemongrass.

The Melon Seed Set, designed by Rachel Brockman, is refreshing and sweet. Its inspiration was the juicy summer treat. Vibrant 513 Flamingo and 526 Melon work playfully together in this easy stranded colorwork pattern, along with 538 Tuxedo. The sweater comes in a wide range of sizes starting from 0-6 months up to 6-8 years! The socks are available in sizes Baby through Youth.

The Strawberry Patch sweater, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, features a plump, juicy berry applique on the front with on-trend contrast color sleeves to keep this piece cool and casual for your little one. This sweater is crocheted seamlessly from the top down in turning rounds. The colorwork of the sleeves and body are created with intarsia in colors 502 Lily and 514 Tomato. The strawberry stem detail is worked with 524 Lemongrass. The pattern is available in a range of sizes from 3 months to 6 years.

Celebrate the release of this adorable collection with us this weekend with 20% off the Precious Picnic E-book through our website, that’s a value of $40 for just $20, PLUS 20% off Uptown Bamboo DK.

Keep on knitting on!

Afifa

December 29, 2023December 28, 2023

Flash Pattern Friday – Cladonia

On the last Friday of every month, we give away a paid pattern for free! It’s a always fun to grab a freebie, but this month is especially wonderful as it’s the LAST Flash Pattern Friday of the year! We are sending off 2023 with the festive Cladonia sweater.

The striking colorwork brings to mind holiday ornaments twinkling on a tree, and the rich burgundy color evokes a desire for sweet mulled wine by a fire. The yarn called for is Fibra Natura Kingston Tweed, a soft and warm blend of 50% wool, 25% alpaca and 25% viscose. It comes in 19 nature-inspired hues, spun up in 50g hanks of 194 yards each. This DK (light) weight yarn is perfect for texture and colorwork, creating items with a natural look and feel. For project inspiration, check out our collection of patterns featuring Kingston Tweed at this link.

Cladonia is knit in the round from the bottom up. The front and back are separated at the sleeves, where the sleeves are then picked up and worked in the round from the top town. Short rows shape the shoulders and neckline, which is designed to sit higher in the front than in the back, enhancing the femininity of the sweater.

To get Cladonia free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer is valid through Tuesday, January 2nd, to coincide with our Be Bright sale!

Enjoy more savings during the sale by purchasing the Cladonia Kit! From Friday, 12/29 – Tuesday, 1/2, we are celebrating New Years with 20% off of all kits and muud items. It’s the perfect time to have your pattern, and make it too!

That’s all for now, happy knitting!
Ashley Jane

December 1, 2023November 30, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – McKenzie

Happy Free Pattern Friday, folks!
Today we bring you McKenzie, a cozy, cabled crochet pullover designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre.

This sweater is crocheted in pieces, then seamed, and it’s made using a simple half double crochet stitch so that the cable panel is center stage. For the Front piece, you will begin by working a ribbed hemline, moving into a section of even length based on size, which then flows into the statement cable motif worked along the main body length, and finally creating the scoop neck shape. This neck shaping extends lines from the center cable up and over to each side so that the post stitches align with the ribbing to create a continuous flow of texture. All of the cabling and shaping is graded across multiple sizes and is also written and charted for your convenience. This thoughtful design was made with visual supports so that any adventurous beginner could approach this project with confidence.

The yarn featured in this design is called Offbeat, named for the irregular lengths of self-striping yarn which add a bit of intrigue and fun. It comes in eight heathered shades with quirky names like “Tubular,” “Wicked,” or “Far Out,” which is seen in this week’s sweater. Offbeat offers more than amusing colors, though. It’s super soft blend of 90% acrylic and 10% alpaca is a delight to work with and is suitable for an assortment of projects from garments to baby projects, and even home décor. It is easy to care for, as it’s machine washable, and it boasts 586 yards per 150g ball, making it an easy choice for one-ball-wonders or blankets.

Whether you feel called to crochet the McKenzie pullover, cast on the Log Cabin Blankie Kit, or to try a one-ball project like Snapdragon or Foxglove, you’ll want to stock up on Offbeat today. Shop now – Sunday 12/3 to get 20% off of this wonderful yarn!
That’s all for today, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

November 24, 2023November 20, 2023

Flash Pattern Friday: Peri

It’s Flash Pattern Friday! On this holiday weekend, we’re sharing Peri (link), knit in our sumptuous Truva yarn.

Peri is part of our On the Line pattern collection, available at this link. This top-down, seamless pullover with raglan shaping has gentle bishop sleeves that are gathered at the wrists. The yoke is dotted with striped seed stitch to create textural interest. Purl ridges divide the seed stitch from the rest of the sweater, which is worked in stockinette stitch and K1, P1 ribbing using solid colors.

Like I mentioned earlier, Peri is knit using our 50/50 cashmere/cotton blend, Truva. This yarn is easily one of my favorites for its heathered hues and soft hand. The blend also makes it a wonderful choice for garments worn Autumn through Spring. For a yarn with so much depth in color, its smooth structure lends itself to excellent stitch definition, so we love it in patterns with simple texture. You can see this in Peri, but also in each of the other pieces in the On the Line collection.

To get Peri for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer runs through Monday, November 27th.

The deals don’t stop there, though! In addition to getting Peri for free, you can pick up any of the patterns you’ve been eyeing in our Ravelry store for 50% off, no code needed. And while you’re sorting out your pattern queue, stock up on yarn, needles, and notions on our website, where we’re holding a sale! Take 30% off yarn, kits, and muud products, and 15% off ChiaoGoo products. All of these deals last through Monday, November 27th. We’re thankful for you, and you deserve these savings!

What do you plan to cast on this weekend? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Happy stitching,
Rachel

November 17, 2023November 16, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Laurel

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Autumn weather is well under way here in North Carolina. It is getting colder outside, the leaves are falling, and everything feels just a tad bit more cozy. So, it is only fitting that we release a beautiful pullover this week that will keep you warm as the temperatures continue to drop. Say hello to Laurel!

Laurel pullover knit using Fashion Light Luxury from Rico Design

Laurel was designed for us by Adrienne Larsen. You may recognize this designer’s name from previous patterns like the Aspen Scarf in our 12 Days of Winter kit collection. Adrienne’s designs have a touch of elegance that always makes me want to knit them, and Laurel is no exception!

This pullover is knit in the round from the bottom up, and separated at the underarms. You’ll create gussets for each sleeve, and then attach them to the body and work it as one piece. The sleeve edgings and turtleneck are both picked up and worked as the finishing steps. This pattern is written for sizes Extra Small – 5X, or 32″-64″ chest sizes, respectively. Laurel is a perfect pattern choice for the adventurous knitter looking to try something new!

To me, what makes the Laurel pullover stand out are the bold stripes and the beautiful texture of Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury. This yarn is a sumptuous blend of alpaca, wool, and nylon that has an on-trend brushed texture. Fashion Light Luxury is designed to be worked at a bulky weight gauge so that the brushed alpaca fibers fill looser stitches, creating a squishy soft fabric with stunning drape.

Fashion Light Luxury offers a color palette with options for anyone’s personal taste, so you can pick the pair that best suits your wardrobe. Personally, I’d make the Laurel pullover using colors 025 Purple and Light Blue 018.

The Laurel pullover would be perfectly suited to any upcoming holiday party, so why not grab your yarn and cast on now? You can get 20% off Fashion Light Luxury this weekend only.

Happy Crafting,
Aubrey

November 3, 2023October 30, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Carya Cardigan

Happy Free Pattern Friday, fellow crafters. Are you looking for a way to update your Fall and Winter wardrobe? Today we have just the pattern for you – the Carya Cardigan designed by Mary Stowe. From a fun stripe pattern to a super soft classic tweed yarn let’s learn more about the Carya Cardigan.

Carya is a quintessential cardigan with a twist. The different stripe patterns on the body and sleeves and the accent color on the edgings elevate this wardrobe staple to the next level. Carya is knit flat, in pieces and seamed. With button and neck bands picked up and knit after finishing. Thoughtful details like armhole and neck shaping allow for a comfortable fit that will have you wearing this piece on repeat.

The Carya Cardigan uses one of our favorite tweed yarns – Rico Design’s Fashion Modern Tweed Aran. This textured yarn with tweed flecks creates a tactile and comfy fabric perfect for cozy sweaters and snuggly accessories such as scarves, wraps, throws, or blankets. Spun in Italy, Rico Design’s Fashion Modern Tweed Aran is extremely soft and light, distinguishing it from conventional tweed yarns. The color palette includes 18 options in both classic and bold colors, as well as pastel shades. Carya takes full advantage of these color options by utilizing three of these delightful shades – Grey. Ecru, and Berry.

If you’re looking for another reason to try out this yarn and get started on this fab free pattern, how about 20% off through the weekend? Take advantage of these savings to select your favorite three colors of Rico Design’s Fashion Modern Tweed Aran and get a jump start on your cold-weather crafting. Which colors are calling your name?

Keep on knitting on!

Afifa

October 4, 2023October 3, 2023

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

September 29, 2023September 29, 2023

Flash Pattern Friday – Wanderer Pullover and Cardigan

Two free patterns are better than one, and that’s what we have for you this Friday! It’s time to get your autumn knitting underway with Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash and the Wanderer Pullover and Cardigan. Grab yourself a pair of knitting needles, a pumpkin spice latte, and that creative mind of yours, and let’s learn more!

Designed by Rachel Brockman, the Wanderer Pullover and Cardigan are the perfect set for fall. You can make one for yourself and one for a loved one! The classic look of our Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash yarn matched with colorwork makes this cardigan a wardrobe staple for autumn.

The cardigan version presents exciting details like set-in pockets, a double-layered collar, and a zippered front. The Wanderer Cardigan features sizes XS to 4X, so grab your three favorite colors of Deluxe DK Tweed and get started today!

The Wanderer Pullover includes the same, stunning colorwork as the Wanderer Cardigan, but is worked fully across the chest, as there is no zipper or sleeve placement. This unisex piece shows off cuffs and a collar with corrugated two-color ribbing and rolled stockinette edging. This sweater includes sizes Small through 4X.

To get the Wanderer Pullover and Cardigan for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Place one or both patterns in your cart and enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer runs through Sunday, October 1st.

Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash is 20% off this weekend, so stock up today! This yarn features a base of superwash wool with tweedy nubs made of viscose, and acrylic that we love for wearable creations. Knit yourself a beautiful sweater in your favorite hues, or crochet a baby blanket you can gift to a loved one! With 20 color options, Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash will inspire your next project!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert