Happy Friday, friends! Our newest free pattern is a sweet, small piece designed with little ones in mind. This week, we bring you the Elijah cardigan made with Deluxe Worsted Superwash!
Deluxe Worsted Superwash is a wonderful yarn for a child’s garment. It’s made of 100% superwash wool, so you can machine wash it in cold water, and even tumble dry it on a low setting. It comes in 67 different colors, so there are endless combinations you can create to express the perfect palette for a budding personality. This pattern calls for (1) skein each of #709 Lime Tree, #718 Dusty Blue, and #760 Indigo for all sizes. You could opt for more rosy hues, something adventurous, or even go off pattern and get multiple colors to rainbow your way through each striped section! No matter what you choose, this cardigan will be a treasured gift for someone else, or a little one of your own.
Another detail that adds room for whimsy, quirk, polished-ness or pizazz is buttons! We love getting to add a touch of personality to top off any project with a good button. For this sample, we used the Prism buttons by Katrinkles, which kind of resemble a compass. It’s a touch of adventure that reminds us of those magical moments where kids will play outside imagining that they are explorers trekking through trees and bushes to fantasized lands.
This easy-rated pattern is worked from the bottom-up in one piece using a subtly textured stripe-sequence. The body is worked flat, then the fronts and back are separated at the armholes and worked separately. The shoulders are joined using the three-needle method, then the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. The button bands and neck edging are picked up and worked flat to wrap the whole thing up. The pattern has schematics to help guide you through the assembly. This is a great project if you’re looking to try a garment for the first time, or want a quick make between other complex pieces, and have a little one in your life to celebrate.
We can’t wait to see your version of the Elijah cardigan! Be sure to share it with us on social media. Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.
Happy Free Pattern Friday! Today we bring you the Cobbled Cowl (pattern link). This simple accessory works up quickly and has a lovely texture featuring a hazy halo of fibers from the yarn, Nymph.
Cobbled Cowl made with Nymph in color 110 Lichen.
Nymph is an irresistibly soft DK weight yarn with a cotton chainette construction and nylon fibers blown through, creating an ethereal effect. It comes in 50 g balls, is made of 84% cotton and 16% polyamide, and is machine washable for easy care. The palette is soft, yet earthy, with a hue to please everyone. To make way for new products, we are saying farewell to Nymph, so be sure to grab it while you can at a deep discount!
Rozetti Yarns, Nymph.
The cowl is worked flat from the bottom-up then seamed. The texture is a basic crochet stitch pattern called the Cobbled Stitch, which inspired name for the piece. It’s created by alternating single crochet (sc) and double triple crochet (dtr) across one row, then just single crochet for the next row. The soothing repetition, and no-brainer construction makes it accessible for beginners, and fun for experienced crafters wanting a Netflix-and-stitch project.
Close up view of the cobbled stitch texture featured in the Cobbled Cowl.
I hope you love this weeks Free Pattern Friday! Of course, I know that not all readers of this blog crochet, but don’t fret! There are plenty of knit patterns using this beautiful Nymph yarn. The Rosette Cowl is another freebie featuring a simple stitch repeat, or you can kick of 2023 with a larger project, like the January Sweater. Whatever you choose, be sure to share it with us – we love seeing your projects! Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.
Crocheting into a magic circle makes evenly placing your starting stitches a snap! This technique offers a way to place as many stitches as you need into a perfectly circular shape with the tug of some yarn.
Using a magic circle takes away the guesswork involved with a different method of creating a circular base, where you create a chain, then slip stitch to form a ring. Because this other method with a starting chain has a fixed circumference, it may leave a gap in the center if you make it too big, or be impossible to work into if it’s too small. With the magic circle being adjustable, these sizing problems while starting a project magically disappear!
One thing that can be a bit tricky is that not everyone calls this method a “magic circle” as seen in the Paradise Pouch. When getting started with a pattern, you may also read “adjustable ring,” as seen in the Cotton Candy Swirl, or a blend of both called a “magic ring.” It can also be called a loop, as in “magic loop” or “adjustable loop.” Lastly, you may see it represented visually in a chart, denoted by a swirled shape before any stitches start, like in the Spice Market Shawl. Now that you know what to look for, let’s take a look at how to do it! There are just 6 simple steps to do to create a magic circle.
Step 1: Create the circle.
Create an initial loop by laying flat, if it helps, or held in your hand. Place the tail behind the working yarn, and pointed to the left. Pinch yarn where it overlaps to hold the loop in place while you work.
Step 2: Insert hook.
Reach your crochet hook into the loop.
Step 3: Yarn over.
It may feel strange to tension the yarn while pinching the circle. You may try holding it as seen above or switch to holding the circle with your thumb and middle finger to tension with your pointer finger. I have a habit of starting like this then switching my grip when I begin chaining and stitching as normal (as shown, beginning in step 5).
Step 4: Pull through.
Pull the working yarn through the loop with your crochet hook.
Step 5: Chain, then stitch into the middle of the circle. The pattern you are following will indicate how many chains, then stitches to create.
Here I chain 3, then double crochet 4 times into the loop to demonstrate the technique. But you can do this with any number of, or type of stitches!
Step 6: Close the circle.
Release your hold on the circle, and pinch the tail of the yarn.Pull the tail of the yarn until the circle is completely closed.
It’s as easy as that! From here, you continue following the pattern as normal, and will weave in the tail along with any other ends as a finishing step. I hope you find this tutorial helpful, and that you feel inspired to try a new project in the round!
That’s all for now, and Happy Stitching! Ashley Jane
It’s the last Flash Pattern Friday of the year! This weekend only, we have a special treat that is completely free!
The Blue Spruce Socks are a blend of sophisticated, rustic, and cozy with their cute design, subtle textural elements, and tweedy nubs throughout.
On the last Friday of the month, we temporarily make one of our paid patterns free! Today, we’re getting snuggly with the Blue Spruce Socks, made in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash (Ravelry link here).
Make a statement that will never go out of style with this classic yarn and colorwork combination.
Originally, this pattern was published as part of the 2017 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 1. This inaugural collection launched a beloved tradition of pattern releases for the winter season, which is now running 6 years strong. Of the 12 patterns from the first year, the Blue Spruce Socks have the highest amount of projects made on Ravelry, and we love them all. In fact, we hope to see many more made, now that the pattern is free for the weekend!
Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash comes in 20 dazzling different colors.
The yarn called for is our Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash, a soft and springy yarn with a classic look. It’s made of 90% superwash wool, 3% viscose, and 7% acrylic, making it easy to care for and durable. This yarn is a wonderful choice for the Blue Spruce Socks – but it’s also a lovely choice for any project! Some other popular makes are the Moor hat, or pieces from the Rustic and Refined collection.
With such thoughtful details, like the band of colorwork before the toe, and seamless finish, these socks are set to be a favorite for both comfort and style.
What better way to kick off the new year, than with a sweet pair of socks? As you bid farewell to 2022 and let new resolutions guide you into 2023, try out a project that will keep your feet comfy and cozy as they walk you through this next chapter.
That’s all for now friends, Happy Stitching! Ashley Jane McIntyre
This is part 4 in a four-part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition.
The features from our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, may be coming to a close, but with so much inspiration, hopefully your project planning is just beginning. It’s always so thrilling to review comments on this blog, or see projects line up in queues on Ravelry. From the looks of it, we may see some beautiful holiday projects in the works! Before you commit though, check out our final three days from the 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition, the Holiday Stroll hat and scarf set, the Snow Globe Stocking, and the Holiday Elf Socks.
This year’s crochet project was designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. Once I saw our mood board, I knew I had to use Bamboo Bloom Handpaints in the color #324 Steven Befabulous. It even has “fabulous” in its name! It’s made of a blend of 44% wool, 48% rayon from bamboo, and 8% acrylic. This is all spun together for a unique thick and thin, matte and shiny quality that stands out in any piece. I paired it with complimenting solids in Deluxe Bulky Superwash, made of 100% superwash wool, to create a warm and cozy project for the season. The vibrant combination inspired the perfect set for taking a stroll to look at holiday lights.
The Holiday Stroll Set livens up any outfit, whether you stick to neutrals, bright colors, or both!
The best thing about the scarf is that it has pockets! It’s made modularly from the bottom up in sections, alternating between rows of a granny stitch stripes pattern with granny squares that are seamed together. Once the whole scarf is complete, the edges are folded up, then seamed to create pockets. The hat is also constructed modularly: you create a ring by sewing granny squares together, then you work directly into them for the crown and brim. The hat is finished with a nice fluffy pom pom for a final touch of fun! In case you need some tips with a pom pom maker, we have a great pom pom video tutorial on our Tik Tok, found here, and a wonderful photo-tutorial on our blog, found here.
Pockets on the Holiday Stroll scarf.Pom pom on the Holiday Stroll hat.
The Snow Globe Stocking, designed by Aubrey Busek, is a quirky take on a holiday classic. Rico Design Creative Bubble, and Rico Design Creative Bubble Print, both made of 100% polyester, are used as carry-along yarns to add some extra sparkle to the base yarn, Deluxe Bulky Superwash, made of 100% superwash wool. Can you just imagine how sweet it will look on your mantle filled with treats? You’ll find new special details each time you look at it. With the twinkle throughout, the overall effect is truly just as magical as a snow globe!
The sparkle from Rico Design Creative Bubble adds some magic to the Snow Globe Stocking.
I really enjoy the color combinations in this stocking. The cuff blends from red to a cool minty green, then to a creamy white with dots of stranded colorwork that look like sprinkles. Then, there are wonderful pops of color at the heel and toe. The heel is added after the rest of the sock is complete using a technique called an “afterthought heel,” which sounds complicated, but it’s actually not so bad! If you are in doubt, there is a helpful photo-tutorial blog post about the method, which you can review to feel prepared to make this fantastic stocking.
Whether you fill it with treats, or simply hang it for decoration, the Snow Globe Stocking is sure to spice up your mantle this season!
The last kit in this year’s collection is the Holiday Elf Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman. These socks just tickle me! I love the way that they mirror each other with their bright colors. It’s just what I imagine a jolly North Pole Elf would wear – a bit mischievous, and dazzlingly bright, with tiny festive trees. They are made with Uni Merino, a blend of superwash merino wool and nylon, perfect for a snuggly and soft pair of socks.
These happy socks are “sisters, not twins,” although they can be made to match instead of mirror, if you prefer!
They are made cuff-down with a heel-flap, and use stranded colorwork to make the adorable mini trees and surrounding design. The toe is seamless, using a Kitchener stitch to graft the live stitches together. I have recently started making socks, and have been using this method on every pair so far. At first I found it intimidating, but now I love it. The end results are so worth it, and we have a tutorial at this blog post which includes step-by-step photos that is incredibly helpful. Once you finish, you’ll have a pair of wacky holiday socks without any pesky toe seams to comfortably wear for years to come!
If you look closely, you can see where the toes are completely seamless!
I hope you have enjoyed looking at patterns from the 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 with me today. If you missed Part I, Part II, or Part III be sure to go read through them! You’ll hear thoughts from the other designers of the collection, Aubrey and Rachel, and get more tips and tricks for techniques that you’ll encounter in the designs!
Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with a printed version of the pattern, the yarn required to make itn. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!
This is part 1 in a four-part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition.
No matter which holiday you celebrate, winter is filled with gift giving of all kinds. Each year, our design team comes together to envision what projects will embody the spirit of the season, and creates kits that are exclusively sold at Local Yarn Shops. For this 12 Days of Winter, it’s all about bright and festive cheer! From the twinkling of snow and lights, to the bold colors of candies and toys, 2022 is a year for joy.
The Partridge Cowl is a beautifully colorful piece, designed by Rachel Brockman. It’s knit seamlessly in the round and uses stranded colorwork throughout. Since you are working with multiple colors of yarn throughout the whole project, we have labeled the difficulty as intermediate, and we have a blog post to help you navigate this technique at this link. It begins with a provisional cast-on which is unraveled and then grafted to the opposite end with the Kitchener stitch for a true seamless look when finished. The yarn in this kit is Rico Design Baby Dream DK Uni, paired withRico Design Baby Dream DK. Both the solid and multi versions of this yarn are made of 50% polyacrylic and 50% polyamide, making for an ultra-soft cowl that’s perfect for bundling up this winter.
Partridge Cowl by Rachel Brockman.
My favorite part about this design is how the birds alternate their direction throughout the cowl. They were described as “dancing” in one of our newsletters, and I fell in love! Every time I see them now, I start humming the classic Christmas carol and envision the detailing near their beaks as notes of a birdsong twinkling to life.
Partridge birds singing and dancing in the Partridge Cowl.
Candy Cane Lane, by Rachel Brockman, is a jovial hat featuring a quintessential Candy Cane design, with a peppermint swirl at its crown. It’s knit in the round from the bottom up and uses stranded colorwork to create the swirls and motif. Made with just two balls of Fibra Natura Donnina (100% superwash merino wool), this sweet and smaller kit makes a wonderful stocking stuffer for a loved one, or a fun, compact WIP for holiday travels.
Candy Cane Lane hat by Rachel Brockman.
Hats are such a wonderful seasonal accessory – especially when you get to tell people “Thanks, I made it myself!” With the bold contrast of the red and white colors, the Candy Cane Lane hat is a head-turner, so get those compliment responses ready!
The cheery peppermint swirls and candy cane motifs of the Candy Cane Lane hat.
Last, but not least, we have the Swiss Meringue Slippers, by Aubrey Busek. These snuggle-worthy slipper boots are worked flat in two parts, first the foot, and next the cuff, which is sewn on later. Some of the seaming involves using the Mattress Stitch, which we have a handy blog tutorial for, found at this link! Buttons of your choice are added after seaming, for the final touch of winter cheer. Three colors of Universal Yarn Deluxe DK Superwash are used in alternating stripes with subtle detailing to create a rich texture on the feet, while swirled cables dance up the cuffs. It’s a great project for those who want a colorful piece, without doing stranded colorwork, as these slippers feature a mosaic colorwork technique where you only use one color at a time. The 100% superwash wool makes for plush, yet durable slippers for season-long wear.
Swiss Meringue Slippers by Aubrey Busek.
Booties, as I like to call them, are an absolute must-have for cold weather comfort. The colors are fantastic, making them as dazzling and decadent as the cookie puffs they’re named for. This project is a wonderful take on the normal “Holiday Classics,” and I will shamelessly be working on this kit for myself before I even think about their gift-giving appeal!
Close-up view of the textures and twists in the Swiss Meringue Slippers.
Thank you for reading along as we explore the first three beautiful designs from the Series 6 edition of our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. Join us tomorrow for three more designs, and what makes each of them so special and unique. Do you have a favorite from what has been shared so far? Let us know in the comments below or on social media. Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.
Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, and a printed version of the pattern. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!
This week, we bring to you the Poinsettia Stockings (link here), a simple but beautiful home accent available in both knit and crochet versions! Rachel Brockman and Ashley Jane McIntyre (that’s me!) teamed up to bring you this festive duo inspired by the quintessential holiday flower, the poinsettia.
Left to Right: Poinsettia Stockings knit and crochet versions.
Here’s a bit of fun history that you can take along to holiday parties! The poinsettia flower is native to southern Mexico. There, it is called the Flor de la Noche Buena, meaning, Flower of the Holy Night. This name was actually given to it due to its resemblance to the renowned Star of Bethlehem. This perennial shrub can grow 10 to 15 feet tall in the wild, and flowers during the winter season. I learned this from Almanac.com, and you can read more about its various uses, popularity, and lore there. For now, let’s get back to our inspired stockings!
Clockwise from top: Deluxe Stripes in 309 Crayon Box, 311 Tie Dye, 310 Poinsettia
Deluxe Stripes comes in 9 different self-striping colorways which are perfect for giving simple projects an effortless bit of wow-factor. We decided to use color 310 Poinsettia as our guiding star for the design, leaning in to its classic holiday shades. This worsted weight yarn comes in 100g balls (218 yards) and is made of 75% super wash wool and 25% nylon. The bit of elasticity from the nylon was specially chosen by our design team to make this an ideal yarn for fast and cozy self-striping socks, like the Deluxe Socks. However, you can go beyond socks and make anything, like the Azelea Shawl, Art Class Cardigan, or of course, the Poinsettia Stockings.
Deluxe Worsted Superwash in 774 Mistletoe
Accenting the stocking as a complimentary color is our Deluxe Worsted Superwash in 738 Christmas Green, which matches a shade of green from the Deluxe Stripes used as the main color in the stocking. This yarn is made of 100% superwash wool and comes in in 100g balls (218 yards). It has a whopping 68 colors to select from, making it one of the ultimate stash staples, and is perfect for finding perfect matches to multi-colored yarns.
Poinsettia Stocking – Knit
My favorite thing about this pattern is that you have access to either a knit version or a crochet version. It’s always so wonderful to be able to include both skills for the same piece! How many of you will try out both of them? If you know how to knit and crochet, this could be a great way to incorporate different fabric textures for a way to make your stockings stand out uniquely in addition to mixing and matching color options.
Poinsettia Stocking – Crochet
Whichever version you choose, be sure to share photos of your work on social media, and tag us in the post! Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn. We can’t wait to see all of the beautiful festive creations that our fiber friends come up with.
We are back with our second edition of the Fibertini Series! This time, we are pairing our wonderfully soft Minou yarn, with a fall favorite – the Hot Toddy.
As the chill of the coming season creeps into our lives, so do thoughts of sitting by a fire, with a warm beverage in hand. We can’t help it! It is the ultimate cozy-cold-weather daydream. Whether to pass time curled up with a book or a project is the only thing to ponder. For me it’s project – no question!
We recently released the Minou collection Soft Simplicity, which perfectly captures the vibe of our Fibertini pairing. My main inspiration for this pairing comes from the Forest Slipper Socks, pictured above, for obvious reasons as the photo features a beautiful tea cup. This made me crave the wonderfully warm cocktail selected for this post – the Hot Toddy. This simple classic is made by mixing hot water, bourbon, honey, and lemon juice – although I like to steep some spiced tea in mine for a special seasonal flavor!
According to Sip Awards, there are two versions of how the Hot Toddy came about. One theory is that it was originally started in India in the 1610’s, during a time of British control. A Hindi word “taddy,” was used to describe a drink made with fermented palm sap, which was later adapted in 1786 as an alcoholic drink made with hot water, spices, and sugar. Another variation of the drink’s history, is that an Irish doctor named Robert Bentley Todd, prescribed patients a mixture of hot brandy, water, cinnamon and sugar to relieve symptoms. The article referenced even proposes that perhaps this good doctor came across the original “taddy,” and revamped it a bit to make his own concoction. With the historical view that this drink can cure the common cold, it doesn’t seem far-fetched that a doctor helped to push its popularity!
Minou is the obvious pairing for a drink which elicits such warm and happy feelings. This yarn is spun in Italy and made from a blend of 40% baby alpaca, 8% Merino wool, and 52% nylon. The delicate strands of fiber tuft out of a thread base to create a sophisticated take on an eyelash yarn. When worked as a project, Minou creates a featherlight fabric that feels soft and luxurious. Or, when held with other yarn, like in the Silverbirch Cardigan, it adds a perfect halo of texture and warmth without being too avant-garde, as some novelty yarns are wont to be. Simply put, it’s a must-have in this season’s cold-weather stash.
After researching the history of the Hot Toddy, and how distinctive it is, I feel that it is truly the perfect match for a yarn as unique as Minou. Both Minou and Hot Toddies bring about feelings of warmth and coziness. I hope you’ve enjoyed this second pairing in the Fibertini series! What would you pair up next, and what project will you make in Minou?!
This week we released the bright and flirty Sunkissed Summer collection! It features five summery projects to knit and crochet, and trust me – you’ll want to make all five.
Sunkissed Summer: the Magnolia spring collection
This collection highlights our light and luxurious Magnolia yarn. Its modal and cashmere blend makes for projects that are silky, smooth, and perfect for the warm weather of the season. Some fiber friends have shared that it’s hard to stay motivated to work on projects when it’s warm, but it’s actually the perfect time to set aside wool and welcome in this lighter alternative. It is a delight to work with, and finished projects boast a beautiful sheen and incredible drape. Plus the colors are all so juicy and fun. With names like Dreamsicle, Brunch, and Key Lime, you feel like you’re indulging in all the best parts of summer while you work!
Magnolia
The first project I’d like to feature is the crocheted Paradise Pouch – my own design! This was a joy to create and I’m thrilled to have the chance to share a bit about it. The bag features two identical panels with a vibrant central mandala that is rhythmic to create. You’ll explore post-stitch work along with texture-rich rounds to make this mesmerizing accessory. For added intrigue there are colorful tassels that frame your work with fun!
Paradise Pouch designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre
Next up, lets take a look at Sunburst by Aubrey Busek. Its design captures the radiance of a rising sun with curved sections reaching like rays towards the burst of fringy tassels along the edge. The lace and bold colors create dynamic lines and shapes that can spice up any outfit you choose. When you drape this piece around you, you’ll feel transported to a breezy beach which you can carry with you wherever you go.
Sunburst Shawl by Aubrey Busek
Lastly, lets check out Sailfin, a striped stunner by Rachel Brockman. This colorful scarf is inspired by the glorious stripes of the saltwater sailfin fish. The scarf’s eye-catching colors and pattern are just as captivating as its underwater muse. The smooth texture allows for the colors and drape of Magnolia to stand out and shine. Pair this accessory with your favorite summer outfit and be ready to receive joyful compliments all day!
Sailfin by Rachel Brockman
There are still two other projects, the Painted Sunset shawl and the Seagrass top, yet to explore in this collection. Which one is your favorite? If you’re like me and you are having a hard time choosing, then get them all! The collection bundle is just $20 compared to $6 for each accessory pattern, and $7 for the Seagrass top. Until Friday 5/13 there is even more savings on our Ravelry page. To celebrate this collection release, you can snag an extra 15% off – no code needed!
Painted Sunset shawl and Seagrass top
That’s all for now, friends. Happy Stitching! Ashley Jane
The latest releases from Muud are some of your tried and true favorites – only better. The Denmark based company creates products with crafters in mind, blending functionality with beautiful designs. Traditionally all of their pieces come in classic black and whiskey colors with understated and practical hardware, but this release offers a chic makeover.
One of the standout elements is the gold zipper and hardware, adding a luxe feel to the attention and detailing of each piece. Right away, these bags and accessories project “designer” vibes but don’t actually come at the cost. The largest price difference comes with the coveted Saturn XL, normally $165, you can snag (or should we say steal!) the limited release for just $30 more at $195. With all of the pieces barely bumping above the norm, we won’t be surprised to see the full collection shipping out!
Another thoughtful touch is the addition of a printed liner sporting the brand name in an adorable blush pink. I’m so thrilled about this because it truly sets this limited collection apart from the standard Muud line. It’s one of those details that is eye-catching in a fun peekaboo way that will delight you every time you unzip your bag to reach for your project!
If you’re starting to feel in the mood for Muud (see what I did there?) but want to start small, look no further than the Hee needle/hook case! One of the wonderful final features of this gorgeous collection is that the selection of pieces is offered in a range of sizes and price-points to fit the needs of all crafters!
There is something available for everyone – for now. Hurry and grab your Limited Edition Muud piece today before it’s gone! That’s all for now – Happy Stitching, y’all! Ashley Jane McIntyre