Find Your Fluff

November 10, 2021November 10, 2021

Find Your Fluff

As the weather cools down I’m starting to plot all of the dreamy ways I can make an extra cozy sweater. I’ve really been liking some of the pieces I’ve seen that carry soft fluffy yarns along with a base, like this gorgeous sweater, Love Note, by Emily Wessel seen on the blog Tin Can Knits.

Just the thought of a soft halo of Mohair, or something equally as fluffy, brings a huge grin to my face. So, I’ve set out on a mission to find my perfect fluff! I already knew that our yarns Penna or Minou would be perfect place to start when experimenting. Both are a fine enough weight to carry along with any other weight yarn, and have their own unique textures and compositions that add something special to a project. The other piece to this puzzle is determining the base yarn. I chose Deluxe Bulky Superwash to have some fun with mixing and matching a big squishy yarn. I grabbed my size L/11 crochet hook and got right to it!

Deluxe Bulky Superwash is 100% superwash wool, and is already a can’t-stop-touching-it yarn. Giving it a bit of extra “oomph” is an easy choice albeit a bit unnecessary! Check out how it works up by itself. I really enjoy working with this yarn because anything you make with it feels quick and the stitches are so easy to see.

*Deluxe Bulky Superwash color 939 Burgundy*

The first combination I tried was mixing Deluxe Bulky Superwash with Penna. I was most excited to try this out because Penna is a luscious blend of 50% Suri Baby Alpaca, 28% Extra Fine Merino, and 22% Nylon. Holding a ball of it is like holding a teeny personal cloud!

This combination had exactly the feel I was hoping for, although visually it doesn’t have quite the impact that carrying with a finer weight yarn would have. To achieve both a soft feel and a billowy halo appearance, I think I would try this out again with a sport weight yarn like Donnina. Despite the larger base, there is definitely still an extra element of visual interest in my swatch along with the heavenly feel.

*Deluxe Bulky Superwash color 939 Burgundy + Penna 114 Bordeaux*

The next combination was to carry Minou along with Deluxe Bulky Superwash. This yarn is a lovely take on eyelash yarns, having all the fun texture elements while incorporating ridiculously soft materials. Minou is composed of 40% Baby Alpaca, 8% Merino Wool, and 52% Nylon. Holding this yarn is like hugging a cute lil’ kitten!

This combination definitely added some extra softness to the base, but I was most excited about the visual effect! The Minou added a cool, modern look to the swatch compared to the look of the Deluxe Bulky Superwash by itself.

*Deluxe Bulky Superwash color 939 Burgundy + Minou color 108 Tanager*

When it’s all said and done I love all of it! It’s really hard to say which combination I would use for my big fluffy dream sweater. I like the Penna combination most for it’s overall feel, but I really like the Minou for it’s look!

*Left to right: DBS + Penna, DBS + Minou, DBS by itself*

What combination would you try out? Aside from the obvious texture decision, what about colors? Would you try out mixing, or matching like I did? There are SO many fun possibilities when trying to find your fluff!

That’s all for now – Happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021

Free Pattern Friday – The Kobuk Cowl

Today, the Kobuk Cowl (pattern link here).

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 13, 2021October 13, 2021

Spooky Ricorumi!

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?

That’s all for now, Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane

September 15, 2021September 15, 2021

Rico Spotlight: Fashion Light Luxury in Crochet

Hello there, Welcome back my second installment of “AJ’s Crochet Corner!”

I’m slowly swatching my way through various yarns and infiltrating our knit-heavy office to inspire envy and the desire to switch skills amongst all I meet! Now that you know my evil plans to motivate my coworkers to share my craft, you can help give me feedback on what types of yarn and patterns I should try out and show off next!

Today I tried out Fashion Light Luxury by Rico Design, which is a wonderful brand that we recently started to distribute. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the chance to incorporate their yarns into our pattern collections just yet, but keep an eye out later in the year for new patterns from us featuring Rico Design yarns. This blog post felt extra special, because I was the first one in the office getting to swatch some stitch patterns in Fashion Light Luxury! This particular yarn is made from 74% Alpaca, 22% Wool, and 4% Nylon. It is ultra fluffy so you have a lot of room to play with techniques, gauge and texture.

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury in Powder 009*

For example, our site notes that a recommended hook or needle size is a US 10 or 6mm, to accommodate the fibers as a bulky weight yarn. However, I wanted to get funky and see if I could work up some visible texture, so I scaled down to a US 6 or 4mm hook. It still worked well, as the base yarn housing the fluffy fibers is quite fine.

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury in Light Blue 018*

I worked up a swatch in a Honeycomb stitch, which turned out lovely! The smaller hook wound the fibers into the stitches more and helped to create a unique texture. I would definitely recommend a metal hook for this, as the yarn was a bit grippy when I tried a wooden hook. The overall effect was worth it though! Between the color, the swirls of the pattern, and the bouncy material I’m reminded of sea foam on the shore of a stormy ocean.

I mentioned earlier though how this yarn is meant to be treated as a bulky weight. When you size up your hook, you have more room for the intended airy halo, and get a satisfying drape to boot. Check out the Crochet Cardigan and Shawl designed by the Rico Design Team below!

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury Cardigan in Pastel Green 024*

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury Shawl in 7 various colors*

Here you can see that the fabric made is not as dense as my swatch, and that there is a bit of a cozier quality overall. Ultimately I feel that Fashion Light Luxury is really versatile for the different looks you can manipulate, and for the adaptability of its blend. It’s extremely lightweight, yet very warm, and the nylon gives it enough strength to handle making garments.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this experiment with gauge and a unique yarn! Let me know what you think you’d try to make out of it! Please also drop a comment if there are any specific yarns, or techniques that you’d like to see in crochet.

That’s all for now!

Happy Stitching, Ashley Jane

September 8, 2021September 8, 2021

A Crocheter’s take on Elevated Essentials

Hello There!

This week I’m taking a look at our fabulous Elevated Essentials collection. From the moment I saw the photos I instantly fell head-over-heels in love. In a word, the overall style is Luxe. With chic neutral tones and texture-rich detailing in each of the finished pieces, it’s easy to see why the descriptor used in the collection name was “Elevated.”

Carillon in Deluxe Worsted Color 40002 Millet

The yarn used for each of these looks is our Deluxe Worsted and Deluxe Worsted Naturals, which are 100% Wool and come at the affordable price point of $8.25 per skein. Based on the natural composition and budget-friendly qualities, this yarn is deemed the essential yarn to have in your stash.

My favorite sweater is the Eilhart pullover, which gives me some serious craft envy when I see all of the gorgeous cables. Crochet has some ways to mimic this iconic look but when I consider this particular pattern I just don’t think it would compare.

Eilhart in Deluxe Worsted colors 40001 cream, 40003 Musket and 12180 Eggplant

The pattern has a hypnotic flow to it, creating a sleek silhouette drawing the eye down, while intertwining in the center and sides perfectly. The other design element that I love is the deep contrast in color for the sleeves and neck. I would normally think of this style as playful like a baseball tee, but instead it stripped away notions of playtime and had me ready to grab some needles and get to work. The ribbing is enough to be interesting but doesn’t compete with the stunning bodywork. In fact, I feel it further frames the intense center detailing with the drastic color change and subtle texture.

Compare the cables seen above with the crochet ones below. It just wouldn’t quite do the trick.

Image: Blog Post “How to Crochet Cables + Good Beginner Crochet Patterns”by Heather Mann on We Crochet

Let’s not get too caught up in the could you/couldn’t you debate though, and instead continue on to appreciate another marvelous piece.

Moria in Deluxe Worsted 12502 Smoke Heather and 1900 Ebony

The Moria Cape – the name alone stirs up my nerd-brain into a fantastical frenzy, but the design is simply breathtaking. The play on color creates a unique optical illusion that feels as whimsical as its namesake, and don’t event get me started on the perpetual Cable-Envy that this collection offers.

Well that’s all for now. The next time I’m back it may very well be to announce that the Crochet Corner is being abandoned for a Novice Knit Nook!

Happy Stitching Y’all, Ashley Jane

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021

AJ’s Crochet Corner – Pick Three

Hello there!

My name’s Ashley Jane, also known as AJ here at Universal Yarn. I’m avid crocheter, lover of dogs and all things outdoors, drinker of teas, and the newest member to the design team! My first few weeks here have been a whirlwind of learning our product line, organizing and revamping our Trunk Show Program, and making the cutest ever sample of our Ricorumi Kits!

While settling into my new role, I have had the chance to stitch and swatch a few of our yarns to get to know them. I narrowed down my selection to Bella Cash, Ravello, and Penna. I wanted a chance to play around with some of our softer yarns while seeing what types of texture and feel I could produce with crochet. I loved my results – keep reading on to see my take on these fabulous fibers.

Sample Pennants in Bella Cash 116, Ravello 115 and Penna 106

Bella Cash: Grippy on the hook, and springy to the touch. Using a 3.75 mm hook, I tried out the Lemon Peel stitch to see what type of texture I could get while working with it and wasn’t disappointed. Made from 60% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, and 30% Nylon, this fine-weight yarn has great structure and stitch definition. Plus it feels nice and soft, and the hook size I used created a thick but malleable fabric. Bella Cash is easily one of my favorites to work with so far and would be fantastic in a full sweater with some texture and fine detailing, like the Bellissima Cardi, or the Holiday Lights Shawl.

Ravello: Smooth to work with, and wonderful for making textures that have a nice light fluff to the finished piece. Using a 3.75mm hook for this fine weight yarn, the fabric has a delightful drape, and a soft airy quality to it. I played around with petal and reverse petal stitches for the pennant below. I loved it so much that I’ve decided to make my first Universal Yarn pattern from it, so be on the lookout for the Petal Shawl, coming soon! With a blend of 75% Cotton, 16% Extra Fine Merino and 9% Recycled Cashmere this yarn is lovely for summery tops like the Riviette Tank or the Lorelei sweater.

Lastly, Penna: Fluffy and Fun! This lace weight yarn is quite fine with lots of airy soft fibers, made from 50% Suri Baby Aplaca, 28% Extra Fine Merino, and 22% Nylon, so the stitches stand out in almost a ghostly fashion. Each twist and turn of your stitch can be seen through the fluff which I find looks beautiful with basic stitches, so I chose to whip up a simple pennant of Half Double Crochet’s using a 3.75 mm hook. An easy way to incorporate Penna into a piece is to hold it with another yarn like the Ariosa pattern suggests. This adds just the right amount of softness for that cozy, can’t-stop-touching feel. By itself, this is a standout yarn for lacework as seen in the Pluma stole.

All in all, these yarns are unbeatable for their quality and price points. I look forward to experimenting with more yarns and trying them out with crochet and other crafts.

That’s all for now – Happy Stitching!

Ashley Jane