Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
Have you seen it? Amy Gunderson and Tori Gurbisz have released an e-book of seven colorful patterns designed for Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash.
Color Fusion is available on Ravelry as an e-book or individual patterns.
Take a look!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Boxtop in Garden 10 (pattern link here).
Sometimes simple is good. That’s what we have here, a simple, boxy pullover, perfect over a tank top. Â The asymmetrical placement of the neck causes the hem to hang lower in the back than the front.
As shown, it uses Garden 10 mercerized Egyptian Giza cotton thread, loosely knitted on a US size 4 (3.5mm) needle. We think this piece would also look great in Flax Lace. Â Plant fibers provide a breathability and drape that work well with this sideways-knit top.
The body is knitted as a big rectangle, using intarsia for the color changes. Â Seam together the edges of the color blocks to create armholes. Â Easy work that’s good for knitting while chatting, but those color changes help keep things from getting dull.
This would be a great top to personalize with your own color choices. Â Black and blue? Â Peaches and cream? Â The sky’s the limit.
Happy crafting!
New and beautiful this season…
We had such a great time with our last limited edition Bamboo Bloom Handpaints that we decided to do it again. This time, it’s 329 Fugu.
Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish. Â One minute it’s sleek and streamlined…
The next minute it’s quite a bit bulkier!
So it is with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints, transitioning from smooth and silky to fluffy puffs and back again. Â And given the cool blue ocean tones of this color, we thought it was appropriate.
When I got my hands on this, my immediate thought was, “this would make a beautiful Hanasaku Cowl.” Â It led to a lot of joy, sorting through our stock of Poems to see what would pair well. Â In the end it came down to two choices.
Poems 616 Chevron looks great with it, and I was curious to see how that yellow would interplay with the greens. Â In fact, Yarn Bazaar in NJ has kitted up this combo!
In the end I went a different way.
I liked the darkness and overall violet-blue of Poems in Arles 601, and am pleased with how this turned out.
I still may go back and make one in the other combo. Â Honestly, these slip-stitch cowls are fun and quick to make. Â It’s a great go-to project for something colorful and impressive-looking.
The Hanasaku Cowl is available for sale on Ravelry – but if you hit your local yarn shop, they can download it for free for you. Â You might want to grab a skein of Fugu while you can, too.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Hidden Treasure Poncho in Major (link here).
There’s actually not much hidden about today’s pattern. There is, however, a lot to treasure. Â This poncho uses self-striping Major, which comes in ginormous 200g balls. Â Here’s a picture – Amy Gunderson for scale.
This yarn is a favorite because it’s easy to get a substantial project out of very few balls. Â Today’s design, for instance, calls for just three.
On size 10½ (6.5mm) needles, make two rectangles, then seam at the shoulders.  Pick up and knit around for the ribbed collar, and you’re done.  The stitch pattern is both written and charted, and doesn’t require a cable needle.
Last step: wear and treasure your work.
We hope you enjoy this gem of a poncho.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Java Jive Mug Rugs in Java (click for pattern page).
These are a knitting trifecta – quick, easy, and practical. Â Wouldn’t they make a great housewarming gift?
100% hemp Fibra Natura Java is sturdy enough for this very usable home dec project, as well as being machine washable.
The pattern is a basic two-row slip stitch repeat that only uses one color per row. Â Simple, but it gives a sophisticated, almost woven look.
While only four coasters are pictured, you can get a set of eight out of the required yarn – more if you do the fringe in a different color. Â Like we say – quick and easy!
We hope you have a great weekend.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Darcy Vest in Bella Cash.
This is a great transitional piece for the cool weather that’s coming up. Â (Cool weather is coming up, right? Â Because here in the South, we’re very ready.)
This vest is worked traditionally, from the hem up in pieces. Â The Lovely Lace pattern lives up to its name – simple, but pretty. Â It’s written and charted, and the pattern contains a schematic.
We’re big fans of Bella Cash here, as you may have gathered from recent Free Pattern Fridays like the Dulcet Wrap. Â The yarn is a lightweight fine merino/nylon/cashmere blend that’s pleasant to work with and looks beautiful knitted or crocheted up.
We hope you enjoy this free pattern. Â Have a great weekend, and happy knitting!
Attire to Adore isn’t only the name of our recent Spring 2017 ebook, it’s also what we hope you think of it! The six knit garments in this collection run the range from vest to pullovers to cardigans. All projects are knit in one of our newer yarns, Adore.
Adore is a blend of superwash merino and anti-pilling acrylic. The anti-pilling acrylic component is the key in a garment that is easy to care for and still looks great after wearing and washing. Adore is a great basic – it has both a luxurious and a practical side, is fantastic to work with, and doesn’t break the bank.
Let me walk you through the projects, all designed by Tori Gurbisz and myself (Amy Gunderson):
Sienna Vest is the quickest knit in the book because – no sleeves! If you ever get worn out by a full sweater project by the time the body is done, a vest might just be the garment for you.
The lower hem is split in the front and a cable starts twisting up the center front like magic! Okay, it’s not magic, but it’s cool. This same cable eventually diverges at the neckline, maintaining the same ribbing as the cable. This ribbed edging that is worked at the same time as the shoulders means there is no need to work an additional neck edging.
 
Aurelia Peplum is a sweet little raglan pullover shaped through the inherent nature of dense cables.
This sweater is knit from the bottom up. The peplum portion of the sweater could easily be made a bit longer if you prefer to wear this with leggings.
A short-row curved hem and traveling cable panels are the defining features of Crisanta.
Slightly oversized, you’ll want to snuggle the day away in this cozy sweater. A fun little detail is the traveling cable which is echoed in the folded turtleneck collar.
Willow Cardigan has the benefit of set-in sleeves without the actual setting in part.
This sweater is knit seamlessly from the top down using Barbara Walker’s method of simultaneous set-in sleeves. If you’ve never tried this technique before you’re going to love it – trust me!
A nondescript cable running up each sleeve brings subtle interest to Jora.
Jora is knit from the bottom up in pieces and seamed, making it a great travel project. This raglan sweater is another wardrobe staple that’s easy to throw on with just about any outfit.
The collection’s second cardigan, Sorrell rounds out the group.
The drop shoulder design incorporates two lace patterns for easy knitting without the stress of much shaping in pattern. Who doesn’t love a lace cardigan, particularly one you can throw in the washing machine?
