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!
Hi fiber friends, and happy Friday to you! It is officially spring and, we have a precious pastel blankie fit for the season. The Hugs and Kisses Blanket, designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre, is a crochet cutie that you can whip up in a flash.
This blanket uses simple double crochet and chain stitches to create an X’s and O’s stitch pattern throughout. It’s worked flat from the bottom up, then a double crochet border is added around the edge. If you are new to crochet, or just want a palette cleanser between projects, then this sweet blankie is for you! Give it as a gift, or keep it for your own little one. Wherever it lands, it’s sure to be a cherished keepsake for years.
This project features two skeins of Major in the color 124 Mermaid. This yarn is Oeko-Tex 100 Product Class 1 certified against harmful chemicals and substances, making it safe for your home and health. It’s a bulky weight yarn made of 100% acrylic, making it machine washable and easy to care for, and packs 328 yards per 200g skein. Major is available in 41 self-shading colors, each with depth and vibrancy suitable for any project!
I hope you enjoy this week’s Free Pattern Friday! Now through Sunday, March 24th at 11:59 PM EST, get 20% off Major. You can grab two skeins of any color for the Hugs and Kisses Blanket, or any other project you can dream up! Let us know in the comments what you’ll create with Major!
That’s all for now. Happy Stitching! Ashley Jane McIntyre
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.
Hi friends, and happy Friday. This is the last Friday of January, 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 the Forest Slipper Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman.
These slippers combine Bamboo Pop Sock Solids and Minou for a wonderfully warm combination for your tootsies. Bamboo Pop Sock Solids comes in 100g balls made of 37% cotton, 55% bamboo, and 8% pbt. It’s available in 22 shades, some of which match perfectly with the featured, fuzzy carry-along. Each 50g ball of Minou is made of 40% baby alpaca, 8% merino wool, 52% nylon and is available in eight bespoke colors. Both yarns called for are held together through the whole project to create the fur-like texture.
The Forest Socks Slippers are knit from the cuff-down, in the round, with a heel flap and gusset. The heel is shaped using short rows and stitches are grafted together for the toes to finish the project seamlessly.
To get the Forest Slipper Socks 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, 1/28.
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!
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
This holiday season, we are celebrating makers of all kinds with new kits from Rico Design. If you’re curious about cross-stitch, excited for embroidery, or if you’re experiencing a bit of Macramé mania, then you’re in for a treat! Each kit has various holiday themes, ranging from traditional to yuletide so there is truly something for every maker.
The embroidery kits, as seen above in the Rico Design Christmas Roses Embroidery Kit, all come with pre-drawn fabrics and the materials needed to create the perfect picture. This includes the pre-printed fabric, embroidery thread, frame, embroidery needle, and instructions. This is a wonderful way to dive into a new skill if you haven’t tried embroidery before. Or, if you are already an embroidery enthusiast, this kit is a great option for some quick gift-making for friends or loved-ones.
The counted cross stitch kits have instructions for a decorative motif in various winter designs, like this adorable small house. Each one includes a unique frame, as well as the embroidery thread, needle, counting fabric, and instructions for creating the motif. The one shown here is the Rico Design Small House Cross Stitch Kit, which also comes in medium and large sizes! To create the image, you line up your ‘counting fabric’ in the frame, which will have small perforations in a grid. You will then follow the instructional guide to count over to specific locations in the grid to place your crisscross stitches. If tracking placement and counting isn’t your thing, keep an eye out for the “pre-drawn” note on the listings for the embroidery versions of these cozy Christmas homes (small, medium, large). Embroidery does use different stitches, which will have a final appearance distinct from cross stitch, but the overall image will capture the same holiday cheer.
The macramé kits are all made to explore simple techniques to create ornament or gift tag-sized pieces, like the above Rico Design Fir Trees Macramé Kit, which uses simple knots and angled trimming to create this trendy tree tag. Some other adorable projects to try include a using a wrapping technique in the Candy Canes Macramé Kit, more intricate knots in the Elf Macramé Kit, placing knots around a frame in the Star Macramé Kit, and lastly, combining knots, trimming, and a bead accessory to make the sweet Angels Macramé Kit. Each kit offers ways to learn new skills while making home accents or gifts for friends and family to cherish.
Which kind of crafting kit will be right for you? Let us know in the comments! Happy Making! Ashley Jane
Happy Friday, friends! This week is our special “Flash Pattern Friday,” a promotion that comes on the last weekend of the month, where a normally paid pattern is completely free for a limited period of time. Today, we are gifting the Rosewood Shawl from the Free Spirit Collection.
Rosewood Shawl in Cobblestone
This shawl is a crochet take on brioche that is truly double-sided! Normally, crochet brioche alternates two colors with front post stitches to create a mimicked brioche look. However, this shawl alternates both front and back post stitches to form the color contrast for each side. Because of the post-stitching along with simultaneous shaping, we ranked this as an advanced piece. However, if you feel good with post-stitch work, I’m sure you can tackle it beautifully!
Dark side of the shawl.Light side of the shawl.
This shawl features Fibra Natura, Cobblestone, a luxurious 100% superwash merino wool yarn that boasts an impressive 612 yards per ball. This yarn comes in 16 beautifully twisted, double-ply shades where one solid strand is plied with a second, color shifting strand for a handspun appearance that creates exciting statement pieces. Cobblestone is 20% off this weekend, so stock up today through Sunday 10/29!
Fibra Natura, Cobblestone
To get the Rosewood Shawl 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 Sunday, October 29th.
I hope you are just as excited about this free pattern as I am. What color combinations will you try out? I’m excited to see it! Be sure to share your creations with us by tagging us on Instagram.
That’s all for today, happy stitching! Ashley Jane McIntyre
Now that we are in the midst of our summer plans and festivities, many of us are starting to look forward to fall. With colder weather on the horizon and fiber festivals to attend, this is a great time to start planning and making the perfect sweaters for the season. We have compiled a few favorites to help get you started with your selections!
Up first, Designer and Marketing Lead, Aubrey Busek is highlighting the brilliant cardigan, Virtuoso, designed by herself! Here is what she has to say about why she loves this piece so much for fall.
“Virtuoso is my favorite fall sweater because of the vibrant colors that I associate with autumn. Juicy yellows, dark pinks, and oranges reflect the changing colors of the foliage throughout the season. The way that our Colorburst yarn shifts in the stripes reminds me of a sunset and reflects the earlier darkening of the sky during the autumn season. Also, the practicality of the garment itself makes it my favorite. In the autumn season, you often deal with warm days and chilling mornings and nights. A long cardigan is perfect for layering and easy to change in and out to suit the quickly shifting temperatures.” – Aubrey.
This sweater calls for the solid yarn Deluxe DK Superwash combined with our self-shading Colorburst for this stunning striping effect. Deluxe DK Superwash is made of 100% superwash wool and is available in 50 colors, all of which have the potential to pair up with Colorburst for a unique and special garment. Some of these colors are currently on sale, so be sure to stash up before they are gone! Colorburst is made of 65% superwash fine merino wool and 35% acrylic and is available in 16 different shades to suit any maker.
Next up is a pick from Robert, our Social Media Marketing Assistant, who is currently learning to knit! He selected Lumber, designed by Amy Gunderson, and shares why, below.
“My favorite sweater would have to be Lumber. Using just one color of Deluxe Worsted (non-superwash), Lumber highlights reliability over flash. As a guy who wears jeans often, I need a sweater that will help me sport a well-rounded outfit. And since I am always cold, the yarn choice of Deluxe Worsted is bound to keep me warm.” – Robert.
As he shares, this sweater uses Deluxe Worsted, which is 100% non-superwash wool, and it’s springy fibers do keep makers warm and cozy! There is an astonishing 90 colors to select from, so you are sure to find a favorite hue to make this sweater the one for you.
Rachel Brockman, our Creative Lead, shares Peri, which she designed and plans to make for herself for autumn!
“This year, the autumn sweater I’m itching to cast on is Peri. The knit-purl centric design of this sweater is simple, which is perfect because lately, I’ve been craving soothing, rhythmic knits. The striped seed stitch texture looks phenomenal in two beautifully heathered shades of our cotton/cashmere blend, Truva. This blend is ideal for southern autumns because it stays pretty warm here year-round. As a perpetually chilly person, though, the roll neck and cozy sleeves of Peri are just what I need! Even though this is my design, I will probably modify the body length a bit because I’m a fan of a slight crop paired with high-waisted skirts or pants. Because this sweater is knit seamlessly from the top down, achieving the perfect body and sleeve length will be a breeze. Although I usually like to shake up colors from the original design, I don’t think I’m switching it up this time! The shades used in the sample, 108 Crocus and 107 Mandarin, are my favorites in the palette. Fans of blues might love pairing 102 Stormcloud with 104 Harbor, and I think 103 Chambray and 105 Aegean look lovely together, too (check out the Spearmint Tee to see for yourself!).” – Rachel.
Peri is made with Truva, a luxurious blend of 50% cashmere and 50% cotton that is perfect for every season. It comes in a bespoke offering of eight heathered and marled shades which are all as refined as the yarn itself.
Lastly, I’ll be sharing my pick! I’m Ashley Jane, a Design Associate here at Unversal Yarn. Below is a bit about why I love this sweater, the Hanasaku Yoke, designed by the UY Design Team.
“The Hanasaku Yoke is my pick for fall because of the combination of rich textures and colors that interplay throughout the sweater creating lots of room for fun and intrigue. The Bamboo Bloom varies in thickness throughout, making even simple stitches look deceptively intricate, while the color shifts of Colorburst offer potential for tonal or contrasting enhancement. All of this is set on a complimenting solid backdrop of Deluxe Worsted Superwash letting each of these yarns shine in their own way. I love how much potential there is to make this sweater over again in varying colors for this season and beyond!” – Ashley Jane
This sweater callsfor three different yarns. Deluxe Worsted Superwash is the slightly thicker version of the above mentioned Deluxe DK Superwash (used in Virtuoso). It also contains 100% superwash wool, but this yarn is available in 57 dazzling colors, giving you slightly more to choose from! Bamboo Bloom Handpaints is arguably one of our most unique yarns with its thick and thin, matte and shiny qualities throughout. It’s made of 44% wool, 48 rayon from bamboo, and 8% acrylic available in 15 soothing shades to choose from. Lastly, these yarns combine with Colorburst (also used in Virtuoso) to create the show-stopping combination seen in the Hansaku Yoke.
I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring some of these Fall Favorites! Will you try out any of these sweaters for yourself or someone you love? Don’t forget to share all your beautiful creations with us on social media!
That’s all for now! Happy Stitching, Ashley Jane McIntyre
Today, we released the Ocean Wonder collection, which captures the awe and majesty of the deep sea across seven knit and crochet patterns. Let’s take the plunge and explore the beautiful mysteries of the deep through these inspired designs!
Abyss designed by Aubrey Busek
Abyss, designed by Aubrey Busek, is a captivating shawl which twists and undulates like the tendrils of an ethereal deep-sea creature, but its colors are buoyant and bright like glimmers of light on the sea surface. When I first saw this piece, it immediately captured my interest and pulled me in to explore more. I love how the crescent shawl shape creates curls at its corners, and that the lace detailing enhances the rippling stitch pattern throughout. This shawl is knit flat from the top down and uses solid Cotton Supreme to frame the vibrant Cotton Supreme Waves.
Below, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre
Next up is Below, designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. The collection inspiration was the deep sea, which feels both beautiful and a little scary. There’s no better way to ward off the fear of the unknown then by wrapping yourself up in a cozy, handmade blanket. This piece features a deep, rich background with swirling ribbons of colorwork in Cotton Supreme, each bordered by bold stripes of colorful Cotton Supreme Speckles. It’s worked flat from the bottom up and uses tapestry crochet in the colorwork sections. The effect mimics the continuous movement of seawater found below the ocean’s surface.
Current, designed by Yonca Ozbelli
Current captures the ebbs and flows found throughout the sea. Waves on the surface, kelp that winds and twists through habitats, and deeper currents of water below. The entire ocean is teeming with movement and life, all captured in this beautiful piece. It’s knit flat from side to side in two rectangles which are joined together using the three-needle bind-off to create the top. No seams required! Three colors of Cotton Supreme are worked in rhythmic, striping waves throughout bringing the life of the ocean rippling into your wardrobe.
Drift, designed by Patty OlsonFloat, designed by Patty Olson
Drift (left) and Float (right), both designed by Patty Olson are cowls filled with texture and movement. Side by side, these complimenting accessories capture the oceans shifting personality from soothing and calm, to intrepid and strong. Both cowls use Cotton Supreme and are knit flat from the bottom up, then seamed at the neck. However, they each have unique stitch patterns and details that set them apart from one another.
Fade, designed by Amy Gunderson
Fade, designed by Amy Gunderson, captures the unpredictability of the sea. Slants of eyelets lean and travel like a billowing haze on the water’s surface. Sections of stockinette interrupt the movement like choppy waves, or roiling waters that fade into a smooth calm below. This top is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down, with bands of lace and staggered sections of plain stockinette. A single color of Cotton Supreme is used, allowing the stitch definition and texture to tell this story on its own.
Surge, by Patty Olson
The power of the ocean is not always for the faint of heart. The ever-moving water erodes almost anything in its path over time, but strong networks of coral and underwater communities band together in breathtaking underwater worlds, creating a latticework of strength and endurance against the swelling currents below. Surge, designed by Patty Olson, paints a picture of this vigor through its interlocking mosaic pattern, texture, and vibrant colors. This wrap is knit flat from the bottom up, and uses just one color per row. Both Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Waves work in harmony to capture the resilience, warmth, and magic of the ocean and its creatures.
I truly hope you’ve enjoyed reading through my review of each beautiful piece in the Ocean Wonder collection. I find them all captivating in their own ways, and kept finding myself in awe at each new detail I’ve noticed along the way. Was there a particular piece that captured your interest too? Tell us about it in the comments below!
One last note – to celebrate this release, we are offering a discount! The full ebook, individual patterns (on Ravelry), and the Cotton Supreme Family of yarns used are all 20% off, from today – Sunday 6/11. No discount codes are required!
