On the last Friday of the month, we take a beautiful paid pattern and set it free for a limited time on Ravelry. Today, it’s Calm Cardigan in Dona (Ravelry link)!
This yummy design was released as part of the Elegant Ease Collection, a set of seven cozy projects perfect for mornings in and evenings out.
Worked with two strands of 100% superwash extrafine merino Dona held together, this duster-length cardigan is luxurious, warm, and incredibly comfortable.
A wealth of thoughtful details, like pockets, belt with belt loops, and coordinating solid colored cuffs and edging make this a perfectly polished design.
To get the Calm Cardigan 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 the end of 10/31 and we’ll get you taken care of.
We hope you have a safe and festive weekend. Happy crafting!
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!
This is a fun and fast project that you can work up in a matter of hours! Using our super chunky Be Wool and Be Wool Multis always leads to full, soft, and quick work.
I recommend this as a great beginner crochet project! This cowl features V stitches, and a faux ribbing created using front and back post work. If you haven’t tried these stitch techniques a go before, definitely jump in. They are easy-peasy but look somewhat complex. It will be sure to have your friends asking the fun question “Oh my gosh, did you make that!?”
The Kobuk Cowl is named after the Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska. The natural colors featured in this design reminded us of the cool blue waters, arctic chill, and rusted golden landscape seen in this majestic place. The second I tried in on I, was itching for some colder weather adventure. Granted, I may not make it all the way to Alaska this season, but I’ll be dreaming about it when I hike around the beautiful mountains in North Carolina!
Well there you have it! Have you ever been out to a National Park? Which one? I’d love to hear about your experience! That’s all for now, Happy Stitching! AJ
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a moment to recognize the toll that this disease has taken, and continues to take. According to cancer.org, about 1 in 8 U.S. women and about 1 in 833 men will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetimes.
This means most of us know someone who has been affected. For me, it was my friend Pat. She was a fellow crafter, and a beautiful person. She had an easy smile and big laugh. I still miss her.
But while I miss my friend, I still take hope. She passed a long time ago, and survival rates for women over 50 have steadily increased every year since 2000. The increase is partly due to advances in treatment, and to greater awareness leading to early detection. We’d like to do our part to raise awareness by sharing this new design.
Rachel chose Cotton Supreme for this stunning stranded hat. Along with Cotton Supreme DK, it’s an approved yarn for chemo caps, because it’s very soft on sensitive scalps. Its machine washability also makes it a great choice, because if you’re dealing with cancer, or caring for someone affected, you may not want to spend your time and energy handwashing. We love Rachel’s choice of three harmonious shades of pink: 628 Super Pink (A), 510 Magenta (B), and 512 Hot Pink (C). They work very well together!
Because there have been so many advances in the field of breast cancer care, the guidelines for screening can be difficult to keep up with. Personally, I take this as a hopeful sign that we continue to improve our understanding day by day. To help you make your best decision, here is a pdf that the Centers for Disease Control has put together, sharing screening recommendations from six well-respected organizations, to help you decide what’s right for you.
Women of different ethnicities have different considerations as well. For instance, Black women have higher rates of breast cancer mortality in the USA, so a desire for earlier screening may play a role in your health care decisions. The bottom line is, we all need to stay educated, and to take control of our health.
Happy crafting, friends. We wish you good health for many years to come.
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?
Rachel Brockman’s latest design is destined to be a wardrobe staple. The Riverstone Sweater is comfortable and casual, but can still be dressed up for effortless elegance.
Rachel made excellent use of Wool Pop’s crisp stitch definition and beautifully coordinating colors. Plus, Wool Pop’s composition makes it a great three-season yarn. This sweater can easily carry you through those days when the weather starts out cool but ends up warm.
The combination of stripes and color blocking is on trend. Ribbing at the edges moves beyond plain K1,P1 to continue the “practical and pretty” vibe. It’s a great blend of form and function.
We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of beautiful things. Happy crafting!
Hello crafters! As we’re entering the autumn season, all of us at Universal Yarn are thinking about cool weather projects, and the cozy yarns we want to make them in. We recently brought in Creative Melange Chunky from German brand Rico Design, and I thought today was a great opportunity to give a bit of a spotlight to this new and colorful yarn.
Creative Melange Chunky is a plump yarn packed full of stunning color that self-shades as you knit, crochet, or weave. Comprised of virgin wool and acrylic, this yarn is incredibly soft thanks to the springy wool and plush single-ply construction. Quite pleasant to work with, it is well suited to both complex and simple stitch patterns, and makes for unique garments and accessories you’ll treasure for years to come.
This yarn comes in 50g skeins priced at $8.00 each on our web store, making it a great choice for smaller projects like hats and cowls in addition to adding variety for colorwork projects! I must admit, I fell in love with this yarn when I first saw it. The possibilities are virtually endless; there are so many different ways to incorporate a self-shading yarn into a design and create very unique projects! In fact, I am already planning a design of my own for Creative Melange!
Sweater 952 – free pattern from Rico Design
For a free pattern option, we have this downloadable PDF for Sweater 952 (shown above)- a ribbed stitch pullover with balloon style sleeves. Although Rico Design may not have the most *creative* names for their patterns, they always make fashion-forward designs that still feel extremely wearable. I love how this sweater’s shape shows off the yarn’s ability to retain structure, but still look soft and cuddly. Since the yarn self-shades as you work, a simple design like this is often the best way to enhance the yarn’s naural beauty.
Triangular Shawl 768
For accessory knitters, this paid pattern for Triangular Shawl 768 is stunning. The textural stitch pattern really shows off the stripes the yarn makes as you knit. A wide, triangle-style shawl like this is perfect for styling in many different ways. This shawl is quite wide (about 90″), so it is a perfect design for wrapping around your neck and snuggling up on cold days, and since Creative Melange is chunky weight, it works up quickly!
Jacket 781
The last of our new pattern options for Creative Melange Chunky is Jacket 781. This outerwear design is perfect for layering, and the cables on the sleeves show off the incredible stitch definition that this yarn has. You can also see from this pattern to the previous ones just how broad the available color range is! We currently have 20 colors in stock, everything from a grayscale to bright options like this one pictured (#058) featuring green and blue shades. Although I love bright colors and typically fall for pinks and reds, some of the more dark and earthy tones we have (see below photo) really catch my eye. They are beautiful in a different way than the brighter colors, but would also pair quite easily with other autumn and winter wardrobe staples.
The other amazing news is that Creative Melange Chunky is a fabulous substitute yarn for our now discontinued Classic Shades Frenzy! For favorite patterns like the Abari Pullover, simply substitute Creative Melange where Classic Shades Frenzy is called for. Do be mindful when substituting that Frenzy came in 100g skeins, while Creative Melange comes in 50g skeins, so you’ll need to adjust the required amount of yarn for the difference.
Closeup image of the Abari Pullover, where Creative Melange could be substituted for discontinued Frenzy
Do you like self-shading yarns like Creative Melange Chunky? Tell me what you’d make with it for the coming winter season!
Here’s another beautiful and practical sweater from Yonca Ozbelli! We called this Grand Day Out because of how versatile it is, ready to be dressed up or down for your next great adventure!
Yonca loves to knit and crochet. She’s the head honcho here at Universal Yarn, but she’s not officially part of the Design Team. That means when Yonca designs something, it’s because she wants to make something for herself, or someone in her family. Then we here in the office see it, and love it, and Yonca graciously agrees to share her design with us.
It’s no wonder Yonca wanted to create this. Grand Day Out is the slouchy, timeless pullover we all need. It’s worked in Cinema, a soft single with a touch of cashmere. (Tip: Cinema is currently on sale on our site!)
Can’t you just feel it? This is a super soft sweater, worked in the round from the bottom up, with A-line shaping at the waist.
Raglan shaping ensures a smooth fit on the sleeves. When you’re making this sweater, we recommend choosing a size that’s two to three inches greater than your natural bust, for a relaxed silhouette.
Such a great pullover to wrap yourself up in.
We hope you have a fantastic weekend. Happy crafting!
