Author: Afifa Sayeed

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Yarn Spotlight: Bella Pom Pom

Hi there, fellow crafters! As we enter the season of shorter days and cooler weather, here at Universal Yarn, we are always thinking of ways to add some cheer to our projects. With this in mind, we are excited to announce the addition of a brand-new yarn to our lineup. Drumroll please….introducing Bella Pom Pom!

Bella Pom Pom is the perfect carry-along yarn to add trendy pops of neon color to your project. This yarn features a variegated thread with tiny pom poms scattered along it. It is comprised of 78% polyamide and 22% polyester, making it soft and durable. Each pom pom is a fun little pop of color in neon shades of orange, yellow, pink, and blue.

This yarn comes in 50g balls of approximately 334 yards each, perfect for adding a special touch to your smaller projects or as an accent to larger ones. Being a huge fan of neons, I fell in love with this yarn the moment I saw it in person. It opens up so many possibilities to liven up just about any type of project. Speaking of projects, we have a couple of free patterns to give you a chance to try out this delightfully fun yarn.

First up are the Sprinkle Mittens, designed by Rachel Brockman. Rachel designed these cozy mittens using one skein of our smooth, supple Uptown Bamboo DK, in 506 Apricot, held together with Bella Pom Pom. These mittens feature a twisted rib cuff for added texture and come in two sizes! They are a quick and easy knit and are the perfect accent to brighten up your outfit of the day.

Second, we have the Confetti Scrunchie, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre. Scrunchies are back in a big way! And why not? They’re better for your hair, they can dress up or dress down any outfit, they’re harder to lose and they make a cute accessory for your wrist! This cute scrunchie is crocheted using our luscious Bella Chenille carried along with Bella Pom Pom. You work around an elastic hair tie in beginner-friendly half double crochet. Why not make one for yourself and one for a friend?

With neon colors taking center stage this winter season, Bella Pom Pom is the perfect way to incorporate this bold trend into your handmade pieces. I am super excited to use it in a simple cowl to add some extra color and texture. What would you do with it?

Keep on knitting on,

Afifa

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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