Free Pattern Friday – Summer Leaves Cloths

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Cotton Supreme Washcloths horizontal_blogToday, the Summer Leaves Cloths in Cotton Supreme.

Blue washcloth blogThese patterns come to us by special request from Jackie in Customer Service, who asked if we could add another one-ball project in Cotton Supreme (180yds/100g).

“The yarn is so soft!  When people touch it, they fall in love with it.  If we had another small pattern for it, then when I send kits as little prizes to our stores and customers, they’d get a chance to work with it and love it too.”

Mustard washcloth blogJackie’s wish is our command.  Voila, three lovely washcloths using leaf motifs.  One is an all-over lace pattern, the second is four leaves rising from a central column, and the third is a single leaf in the center of a field of reverse stockinette.  All three leaf lace patterns are charted, and all three cloths can be made from just one hank of Cotton Supreme.

Orchid washcloth blogWhen I look at these cloths, I can’t help but feel that they’d also make great afghan blocks, perhaps in Uptown Worsted or Deluxe Worsted Superwash on slightly larger needles.   There’s nothing wrong with re-envisioning a design for your own purposes.

Thanks for the great suggestion, Jackie.  We can always use another quick-to-knit pattern in our library.

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Knit and Crochet Market Bags

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Good Adorn Both Market Bags blogToday, the Knit and Crochet Market Bags in Good Earth Adorn.

Good Earth Adorn Red Market Bag blogSomething for all of our needlecrafting friends today!  We chose Good Earth Adorn (204yds/100g) because the cotton/linen blend holds up well and isn’t going to felt with repeated rubbing as you carry it around. Each pattern takes just two hanks.

First up, the knitted bag, in 302 Adobe.  It’s a simple four-row repeat for the eyelet mesh, then basic knitting with some k2tog shaping for the edges and handle.

Good Earth Adorn Green Market Bag blogThe crochet bag in color 303 Lettuce uses a very basic double crochet mesh.  You’ll make both sides, sew them together, then add the straps.

There’s actually a little sneak peek hiding in the green bag photographed – two new colors of Good Earth Adorn on the far right, never before seen, that we’ll be adding to the line next season.  We’re very excited at all the new samples coming in and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Happy crafting!

Good Adorn Market Bag with new colors blog

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Ladders Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Ladders Tee front_blogToday, the Ladders Tank in Flax.

Two crochet Free Pattern Fridays in a row?  Well, we’re cheating just a little bit with this one – the edging at the neck, arm, and hem are knit.  Crocheting purists are of course free to work their magic with an alternate trim.  Those of us (like me) who are still polishing their crochet skills may stick with the edging as written.  Someday I’ll be able to wing it, though!

The top is made in Flax (50g/137yds) which, as the name implies, is 100% linen.  The ladder pattern combined with the flax fiber makes this a perfect tank for summer.  Things I love about this piece: the Flax (which I’ll take any excuse to work with), the fact that it’s sized from Small to 3X, and the shaping, which of course you can customize to your own tastes.

We hope you’re having a great summer, and that you’re beating the heat.  As for me, I’m going to make some fruit and yogurt ice pops and then cast on for a cool project.

Happy crafting!

 

Ladders Tee back_blog

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Firework Blankie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Blanket 1 blog

Today, the Firework Blankie crocheted in Little Bird and Little Bird Colors.

Blanket 2 blogThe 4th of July is almost upon us, making this a particularly appropriate free pattern.  The Firework Blankie is crocheted in Little Bird Multi with rows of contrasting solid Little Bird (344yds/100g) every few rows for a bigger burst of color.  And check out those adorable pom-poms on the points – like an extra little kapow!

We put together another couple of combinations of colors that could work, depending on whether you wanted to go bold or… slightly less bold.

LBird Colors 201 Stroll Combo_blog

Two different directions with the same multi colorway (201 Stroll), The one on the left is paired with 106 Go-Go Coral – the picture does not do justice to how almost neon-bright it is.  The one on the right is paired with 111 Chinos, to tone it down a little but still be a contrast.  Normally I’m in favor of subtlety, but with the Firework Blankie, I might go with the one on the left.  This blanket says “playtime.”

LBird Colors Other combos_blogTwo more combos, both appealing to me since I favor cool tones.  On the left is 204 Summer Story paired with 105 Wee Violet.  I can easily see that thrown over a chair in a kid’s room.  At right, 203 Grass Stain paired with 110 New Leaf.  I’m imagining sitting out on the lawn with that green baby blanket spread out, toddler in a sunhat happily playing.  No worries about the blanket on the grass – Little Bird is machine washable!

With gray as an increasingly popular color for baby projects, we also  think 112 Ghostie Gray would be a good combination with pretty much any of the multis.

…You know, I thought I could make it through the whole post without saying it, but I just can’t.

baby you're a firework

Happy crocheting!

Blanket 3 blog

 

Free Pattern Friday – Sprout Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Universal_FrillyTop2_blog

Today, the Sprout Tank in Cotton Supreme DK.

Frilly top flat blogHot enough for ya?  It’s hot enough for most anyone, but that’s no reason to stop knitting.   When little ones still want to get out and enjoy the day, we have the perfect match of pattern and temperature.

The Sprout Tank is knit in two pieces from the bottom up, then seamed.  Pick up stitches around the armhole and knit the ruffled shoulder straps.  The mock cable eyelets around the bottom are both written and charted.  It’s a sweet detail that also gives a little more ventilation.

Universal_FrillyTop1_blogThe suggested yarn is Cotton Supreme DK (100g/230yds), part of our popular Cotton Supreme family of yarns.  It’s machine washable, soft, and long-lasting; a good choice for a kid on the go.

The whole tank takes just 2-3 hanks on US size 5 (3.75mm) needles.  Knit it, pop it on your little one, then sit in the shade while they enjoy the sandbox.  Don’t forget the hat and sunscreen for both of you – it’s a scorcher out there!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Crosshatch Baby Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Bella Blanket with bear blog

Today, the Crosshatch Baby Blanket in Bella Chenille.

Bella Chenille (131yds/100g) is a favorite for baby and kid knits because it is soft and fuzzy, and because it is machine washable.  I myself have knitted a sample, washed it, and laid it flat to dry.  It looked just as good as when it was first knitted.

Bella Blanket with bear detail blogThis pattern itself is a twelve row repeat that’s charted, along with a basic garter stitch border, giving you a sweet 40″ x 40″ square.

This blanket is soft and huggable.  It’s resting beside my desk right now as I write this, and I keep reaching out to touch it.  This would be a good one to make and have on hand for the inescapable surprise baby shower we’re all occasionally hit with.  It would be nice to have a little security blanket nearby until it needs to be given away.

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Refracted Lace Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday… again!

RefractedLaceShawl_Back_WhisperLace_blog

This afternoon, the Refracted Lace Shawl in Whisper Lace.

We once had a popular pattern called the Refracted Light Shawl in a discontinued yarn called Swiss Mohair.  Alas, when Swiss Mohair went away, so did the pattern.  But it was one of those patterns that kept being passed around from crocheter to crocheter, in a “have you seen this?  It sounds like just what you’re looking for” kind of way.

RefractedLaceShawl_Front_WhisperLace_blogWell, you can’t keep a good pattern down, so here it is, back again.  This time, it’s in Whisper Lace (440yds/50g), our wool/silk blend from the Fibra Natura line.

Front and back post crochet create an open, airy fabric that can fan out across your back or twist artfully at the shoulder or front.

We hope you enjoy this classic, available once more for you to enjoy.

Happy crafting!

RefractedLaceShawl_Back_WhisperLace_detail_blog

Free Pattern Friday – Planetary Shawl

Let’s have a double Free Pattern Friday today!

PlanetaryShawl_Back_Universe_blogThis morning, we just have to highlight the Planetary Shawl in Universe.

We were going to wait just a little longer to share this heart-shaped top-down shawl, but it got such a great reception at the TNNA Fashion Show last weekend that we couldn’t help ourselves.

Universe samples for social mediaUniverse is the very special yarn we designed to celebrate Universal Yarn’s 10th anniversary.  It features combed cotton, linen, glitter, and a classic black thread holding the whole glorious package together.   We haven’t seen anything else quite like it.

Expect Universe to hit shelves later this summer,  We love this yarn and we think you will too.

PlanetaryShawl_Front_Universe_hires

We’ll be back later today with another another yarn and another free pattern – this time for crocheters.  Happy crafting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Summer Poncho

It’s Free Pattern Friday!Flax_SummerPoncho_alt_blogToday, the Summer Poncho in Flax.

We’re on the road to Columbus, OH right now for the annual summer National Needlearts Association trade show, but we still had to share this absolute beauty.

Susan at TNNAThe Summer Poncho is designed by Susan Whitmore, the owner of Rainy Day Creations yarn shop in Pineville, NC.  To the right you can see Susan snuggling with Suzy the Cuddlebunny at a previous year’s show in the Universal Yarn booth.

She has just closed her shop and is enjoying a richly deserved retirement.  We miss her welcoming shop, but we’re so glad that she’s taking time to enjoy herself.  And we’re doubly glad that she shared this lovely design with us before hopping on her motorcycle and vrooming off into the sunset!

Flax_SummerPoncho_blogKnit in FibraNatura Flax linen yarn in two pieces and seamed, this oversized poncho will fit a variety of sizes and is easy to adjust simply by seaming more or less of the sizes and neck.  It’s a simple written pattern and contains a schematic for assembly.  Such a great piece for summer!

We hope you enjoy this piece, and that you pull a page from Susan’s book and take time to enjoy life.

Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Swim Cover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Alana Coverup main_blog

Today, the Swim Cover in Alana.

This is a timely design.  Why?  Take a look.

Weather Map Heat WaveYep, that’s next week.  Hot.  Hot hot hot.  Hard to believe it’s only May.  So maybe this is a good moment to cast on for something to help you stay cool.

Alana Coverup alt 2_blogStart off this long weekend by casting on for the knitted Swim Cover in Alana (158yds/100g).  Be ready to chill by the pool or on the beach with a sun hat to keep you in the shade and some flip-flops to keep your feet off the scorching ground.

Pictured is the small size of this cover-up, which took exactly five hanks.  In the pattern we call for six, just in case you want to grab an extra hank for safety.  We do factor in a little extra yarn for swatching purposes, but surely you wouldn’t skip your swatch, would you?

This simple Alana Coverup alt 3_bloggarment is knitted flat, with some nice reversible stripe stitch detailing at the hem, pictured right.  The whole cover-up is just two rectangles seamed together at the sides.  This lets you make the armholes as long or as narrow as you wish.  We call for 9-11″ for the armholes, so you’ve got plenty of room to lift your arm dramatically to your brow while calling for a mint julep from your lounge chair.

Next week, stay cool, make sure your pets (and you!) have plenty of water, and keep crafting.

Happy knitting!

Alana Coverup alt 1_blog