Aubrey – Page 57 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

July 13, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Cirrus Cotton

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Cirrus Cotton.

I know, we just did Free Pattern Friday in Cirrus Cotton (50g/109yds), but I found it inspirational! The multis and the solids in this light and fuzzy yarn coordinate so well that it got me thinking about color work. A baby blanket in a bulky and soft yarn seems like a good combo.

Based on this color selection, I’m thinking about a landscape – a variegated green grass with a blue sky and creamy clouds. Maybe add a yellow sun with an embroidered face for extra charm. Something bright and sunny for the nursery!

Happy crafting!

July 11, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Ladder Scarf in Cirrus Cotton

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

When is it okay to drop a stitch? When you’re making today’s free pattern, the one ball Ladder Scarf in Cirrus Cotton!

Cirrus Cotton (50g/109yds) is a soft, fuzzy cotton with a unique construction that makes it downy soft. Its extreme “touchability” makes it a favorite for baby projects, but we love it for grownup crochet and knit garments, too.

In this pattern, working some stitches through the back loop locks them into place, so that when the stitches are dropped to create the horizontal ladders, the scarf keeps its structure. Drop those stitches without fear!

Happy knitting!

July 10, 2014July 10, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Spring Snowflake Cardi

It’s Throwback Thursday!

This little cutie is wearing the Spring Snowflake Cardi.

Originally, this took about 300 yards of Morning Glory Cotton (a cotton/acrylic blend) on a size 6 needle. We’re recommending several other machine washable options for this charming baby and toddler cardi.

Lightweight Little Bird, Bamboo Pop, and Uptown Baby Sport would all be good matches. These yarns also have greater yardage per ball than the original yarn, making this sweater potentially a great one ball project!

Uptown Baby Sport has some really great pastels and kid-friendly color options. You might even try doubling up Little Bird or Bamboo Pop solid and multi for an interesting color color combo. Hmm… I feel a Sunday Swatch idea coming on.

Happy knitting!

July 7, 2014July 7, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Nine

Block Nine is live!

How are we doing, gang? I loved cables, but I’m rarin’ to go on a new technique!

This time, Amy introduces knitting in the round! Today’s counterpane block “Best Buds” goes from the center out, using the lace techniques and M1 increases we’ve already learned from previous blocks.

Amy shares this helpful video on starting your square on DPNs (double-pointed needles) and increasing as you work out. It’s not something we’ve done before in this afghan, but it’s a very useful trick! We’ll also be sharing videos this month on weaving in ends, and on other ways to work center-out. I’m grabbing my DPNs and casting on. It’s so exciting to move in a new direction – literally! See you next time!

July 6, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Llamalini

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Llamalini color 106 Lotus.

Yes, it looked like a smiley face, so I had to take a picture of it like that because I am a big old dork. But I can’t help it, I’m smiling too. I got to knit with Llamalini! This particular swatch is the stitch pattern from this week’s Throwback Thursday, the Zig Zag Lace Scarf. It worked up nicely on US Size 7 (4.5mm) needles and was quite an easy pattern to keep track of.

Llamalini (50g/109yds) is a blend of linen, royal llama, and silk bourette that’s just as decadent as it sounds. The linen gives it a little drape, and the silk bourette provides a tweedy texture for added visual interest. The royal llama is there for extra fabulousness.

Llamalini is featured prominently in our Contrarian Shawls e-book, but I also want to show off a free pattern designed for it. The Diagonals Tee is a popular design with an interesting yoke. The only sewing is stitching up the underarms, which you can see are quite short. Raveler Nytate (real name, Latisha) did a great version of this top (pictured right), and in fact is doing a KAL/class on it at her local shop, Sheep’s Clothing in Kennewick, WA. Nice work!

Have a great weekend, and happy knitting!

July 4, 2014July 4, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Inspired Dolman

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

For the 4th of July, how about something with a little sparkle? Today, we feature the Inspired Dolman in Cotton Gold and Garden 5.

Cotton Gold (25g/200yds) is a lace weight yarn with plenty of pizzazz. Strung with a generous number of sequins, it’s great for dramatic projects that really catch the eye. Here it’s paired with Garden 5 (50g/175yds) cotton thread in a similar color so that it knits up easily into a more substantial garment. Several rows in the pattern repeat are knitted just with Cotton Gold, though, for an almost lacy texture.

This top is meant to fit with a few inches of positive ease and is sized from a 34″ to a 54″ bust. The stitch pattern is a snap. All in all, it’s a great piece to add some sparkle and punch to your wardrobe.

Happy Independence Day to all our American friends – and happy knitting every day to everyone!

July 3, 2014July 31, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Zig Zag Lace Scarf

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, we feature the Zig Zag Lace Scarf. Originally in Fibra Natura Seasong, we’re recommending a couple of medium weight alternatives here.

First, Llamalini (50g/109yds), another member of the Fibra Natura family. It’s a decadent blend of royal llama, silk bourette, and linen. In fact I’ve picked Llamalini for an upcoming Sunday Swatch, mainly so I have another excuse to knit with it!

Next, Deluxe Worsted Superwash (100g/220yds), our very popular superwash version of Deluxe Worsted. There’s no plant content here, so the scarf will have a little more “spring” with this choice. There’s a great range of colors here, so there are many opportunities to customize your scarf.

The pattern itself is very simple – just a series of yarn overs and decreases staggered to make a zig zag design. This is an easy pattern to read in your stitches, meaning once you’ve done a repeat you can see how to continue without too much referring back to the pattern page. This is a classic pattern that we’re glad to share again!

Happy knitting!

June 29, 2014June 29, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Whisper Lace

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Whisper Lace colors 110 Lemongrass (solid) and 206 Amber Trinket (variegated).

This is one of my favorite yarns in the Fibra Natura family. Whisper Lace is 70% wool/30% silk and soft as a cloud. And at 440 yards per 50 gram ball, it goes a long way.

One thing that I like about Whisper Lace is how well the solid and the variegated tones match. They look great paired as in the lace sample above, or in Adrienne Ku’s Pescadito shawl shown at right. Colors 104 Fog and 208 Orchid Dream make a great barely-there contrast that doesn’t obscure the lace pattern – light and breezy and gorgeous.

What’s to become of today’s Sunday Swatch? It’s already been claimed by a young person in my house – apparently it will look just fabulous on some lucky doll.

Happy knitting!

June 27, 2014June 27, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Four Leaves Pillow

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, it’s the Four Leaves Pillow in Uptown Bulky.

Thick and quick are the words of the day! Machine washable Uptown Bulky (100g/87yds) is a great choice for this home decor project. Its 100% anti-pilling acrylic is the perfect pick for a piece that’s going to be on display. Just two balls on size 13 needles and boom, you’re done!

The pillow is worked in one piece. It starts in the front, is worked from the center out to the edges, then decreases around the back. Start with DPNs (double pointed needles), then switch to a circular needle, then when the project is too small for circulars again go back to your DPNs.When you’re about 3/4 of the way done, you’ll slip a 12″ pillow inside and work around it. Finish up seamlessly for a polished look.

We hope you enjoy this, the perfect project to curl up on the couch with.

Happy knitting!

June 26, 2014June 26, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Tea Party

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, the Tea Party sweater!

Awww! I love a cute kid in a cute sweater. Of course, this pattern is from 2008, so to fit this moppet now you’d have to knit the largest size!

Regardless of when it was first published, the pattern remains adorable. Originally meant for discontinued Bellagio, we’re recommending Cotton Supreme (100g/180yds) as a substitution. While Cotton Supreme won’t have quite the same sheen as the original yarn, it is soft and machine washable, making it a great choice for kid knits. And on size 7 needles, the gauge should work out just fine.

Tea Party is knitted flat and seamed, with the lace pattern both written and charted. All in all, a great knit for any little tyke.