Spotlight: New Colors & New Patterns

June 21, 2023June 16, 2023

Spotlight: New Colors & New Patterns

A graphic with the words "Spotlight: New Yarns & New Patterns". Four images of a model are to the left of the text. She is wearing assorted knitted and crochet garments.

Twice a year, Universal Yarn launches lots of exciting new yarns, colors, and patterns to our customers. We bring our sales reps together for the first look, and shortly after we present you with all of these sweet surprises! (By the way, if you want some insight on a day in the life of a yarn sales rep, check out this blog post featuring one of our reps.) You may have noticed some new colors of some of our staple yarns at your local yarn store, or on our website. To go with these lovely new colors we’ve published some wonderful free patterns. Shall we dive in and explore these goodies?

Bamboo Pop

Our bestselling yarn, Bamboo Pop, features six gorgeous neutrals inspired by the diversity of our skin tones. These colors were created for doll projects, as seen in our Bamboo Pop Dolls released last week, and for Knitted Knockers, which are soft, comfortable knit prosthetics for breast cancer survivors. Bamboo Pop is one of our approved yarns for these prosthetics. However, it’s a super versatile yarn that’s great for garments and accessories, too. These new neutral hues work well individually or paired with our other solids and multis. To demonstrate this, Ashley Jane McIntyre designed the Espresso Bandana, shown below.

This asymmetrical bandana is lightweight and perfect for warm weather thanks to Bamboo Pop’s smooth 50/50 blend of bamboo and cotton. It is crocheted flat, beginning at the tip and increasing to the widest edge. Slanting clusters and extended single crochet come together to create the richly textured Boxed Bead Stitch used throughout the fabric. We recommend wearing this accessory on your next trip to the café – you’ll enjoy your latte while receiving compliments from all around!

Colorburst

If neutrals aren’t your favorite, but colors make you sing, you’ll love our fresh new shade of Colorburst. This self-shading yarn features a variety of fun colors, but 120 Lollipop might be my new favorite. This colorway features creamy white as well as vibrant red, yellow, and turquoise.

We have plenty of patterns to support this yarn (check them out here), but how could I resist a sugary sweet new sweater? Ceres is a relaxed turtleneck that will keep you cozy and warm when chilly weather approaches. It features thoughtful details like a rolled hemline, texture on the lower body, and plush ribbing on the sleeve cuffs and neckband. The construction is bottom up, in the round, with options for seamed or seamless sleeves. It’s a great pattern for a first sweater, or any knitter looking for a satisfyingly simple project.

Kingston Tweed

Kingston Tweed, our soft yet rustic blend of 50% wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose has long been one of my favorites. I love the subtle tweed and earthy palette, inspired by minerals and gemstones. It’s also the yarn featured in one of our most popular patterns: the Jay Sweater. This yarn is well suited to a variety of techniques including colorwork, lace, and textural motifs.

To celebrate new colors of Kingston Tweed, we’ve published two brand-new patterns. For those craving a coordinating accessory set, look no further than the Starling Set, designed by Aubrey Busek. This beginner-friendly project is knit using soothing slipped stitches and a touch of ribbing for tidiness. The hat and cowl are each knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up. This project makes great use of yarn, requiring just one skein of each color!

Blake is a wardrobe essential. Classic, squishy Shaker Rib and colorful stripes make this an easy layering piece whether your office is perpetually frigid, or you want something ideal for autumn and winter. The knitting in this pattern is pretty simple throughout – the body is knit flat from the bottom up in one piece, and the sleeves are also knit flat. There is minimal shaping, except a little increasing at the sleeve cuffs to create the bishop sleeve effect. The stripes make it potato-chippy, so you’ll want to keep stitching away for the next color, and the next!

Major

Next, we have another bestseller: Major! This plush, soft acrylic yarn is self-shading and each colorway is sensational. Like Bamboo Pop, Major has been a staple of the Universal Yarn line for years and nearly 900 people have projects featuring this yarn in their Ravelry notebooks. We have loads of patterns that use this yarn, from the ever-popular Pineapple Peacock Shawl to the entrelac Woven Sky Throw and many more – we know you’ll find something you love. For the launch of our six new shades we’ve introduced two new patterns: the knitted Hedgerow wrap and crocheted Loch scarf, shown below.

Crocheted in 145 Feather and designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, Loch is warm and cozy. Beginners looking to elevate their skills will relish the Herringbone Half Double Crochet motif throughout the fabric. This one-skein project is gentle on your wallet with impressive results. It’s also a quick project, making it great for a last-minute gift (well, as last-minute as you can handle with something handmade!).

Aubrey Busek pairs the popular neutral 115 Stonewall with 141 Greenhouse in Hedgerow to create another stunning slip stitch pattern. My favorite element of this piece is how lavishly textured the fabric is. It delicately balances subtle drape with a fabric dense enough to ward off frosty winter air. Thoughtfully placed tassels make this wrap a statement piece that is guaranteed to win you major style points!

Uni Merino

Bonus! Fans of Uni Merino will love this new shade of green: 151 Pistachio. A blend of soft superwash merino and sturdy nylon make Uni Merino an excellent match for sock knitters, but it’s also ideal for fingering-weight sweaters, shawls, hats, and more. We don’t have a sample to show this color off yet, but we promise we will soon and your patience will pay off. In the meantime, find inspiration in projects like the crocheted Spice Market Shawl and the knitted Party Flag Socks.

Now that you’ve seen our selection of new colors and patterns, let us know which ones inspire you. Will you make one of our designs, or try something different? It’s always exciting to see what our customers create with our yarns, so stay in touch. You can always email us at patterns@universalyarn.com and we encourage you to tag us on Instagram (@universal_yarn).

Happy stitching!
-Rachel

March 17, 2023March 16, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Shamrock Dishcloths

It’s Friday, and it’s St. Patrick’s Day! Hopefully you’re wearing green, avoiding pinches, and feeling extra lucky! It’s in this festive spirit that we bring to you this week’s Free Pattern Friday, the Shamrock Dishcloths!

These cute, clover cloths are made primarily with intarsia colorwork, and with a bit of stranded colorwork in the center of the motif. The pattern calls for 2 hanks of Cotton Supreme in colors 502 White, and 612 Emerald. One of each color is enough for you to make both cloths, so make one for yourself and a friend to spread some extra cheer!

Cotton Supreme is a 100% cotton, worsted weight yarn that’s undeniably smooth and soft. It’s wonderful for garments and accessories, but versatile enough for home wares as it’s machine washable and dryable. It comes in 100g/180 yard hanks, and is available in 45 brilliant colors for you to mix and match. You even can pair Cotton Supreme with the recently released Cotton Supreme Speckles for some pops of color, perfect for spring!

I hope you enjoy this charming pattern and have fun making it for St. Patrick’s Day. Share your work with us by tagging us on social media, we love sharing the joy of your creations!

Happy Stitching, y’all!
Ashley Jane

February 10, 2023February 9, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Broomstick Lace Scarf

It’s Friday, so you know what that means – it’s time for a free pattern! This week, we have the Broomstick Lace Scarf, an elegant crochet scarf with eye-catching Broomstick Lace detailing.

*Broomstick Lace Scarf using Noelle in the color 304 Calypso*

Broomstick Lace is a unique type of lace that requires a large crochet hook, which you pull loops of yarn onto across an entire row, with the use of your smaller hook. These loops are gently pulled off the large hook in sets, then single crochet is worked through them to go back across the row again. These single crochet stitches twist the loops so they lay flat, creating the swirled effect of the lace. It’s a technique that seems intimidating at first, but is actually quite simple, and even repetitive, once you get the hang of it. The resulting pattern is stunning and well worth the effort!

*Close-up view of the Broomstick Lace detailing in the scarf.*

The lace and simple half double crochet fabric in this week’s pattern accentuates the glistening properties of the yarn, Noelle. This DK weight, Italian yarn features a shimmering hollow core with fibers blown through, creating an ethereal effect. It is available in 50g skeins, in four bespoke colors, and is composed of baby alpaca, merino wool, polyester, and nylon. To make sure your shimmering stitches last, hand wash your work in cold water and lay it flat to dry.

I hope you feel inclined to make the enchanting Broomstick Lace Scarf, or to stock your stash with beautiful Noelle. If crochet isn’t for you, you might find other inspiration browsing the Subtle Glow collection, featuring 5 scintillating patterns to knit or crochet. Share your work with us by tagging us on social media, we love sharing the joy of your creations!

Happy Stitching, y’all!
Ashley Jane

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023

Tutorial – Magic Circle

Sample Swatches of crochet stitches lay in an arrangement next to three crochet hooks. The heading "AJ's Crochet Corner, Tips and Tricks" is present.

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 ho*lding 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

December 15, 2022December 14, 2022

12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition, Part IV

A stuffed wolf toy sits in front of a stack of folded accessories from the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 6.

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.

Holiday Stroll Set

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 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.

Snow Globe Stocking

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!

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!*

Holiday Elf Socks

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!

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

December 9, 2022December 9, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Poinsettia Stocking

Happy Friday to all, and to all a Free Pattern!

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.

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.

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.

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

November 11, 2022November 11, 2022

Free Pattern Friday! – Spice Market Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman crouched on one knee wearing Spice Market Shawl crocheted in Uni Merino

Today, the Spice Market Shawl crocheted in Uni Merino (pattern link here).

This morning, our Design Team was discussing this week’s free pattern, and our Creative Lead mentioned how much she loves a pretty blanket shawl. This one is very pretty indeed!

Rear view of woman wearing Spice Market Shawl crocheted in Uni Merino.

Designer Ashley Jane McIntyre chimed in that she loves this stitch pattern. She combines a unique blend of double crochet and a double extended single crochet stitch in a four row repeat, for a project that’s interesting to make, but also rhythmic and relaxing.

Standing woman wearing Spice Market Shawl crocheted in Uni Merino.

It’s easy to find a comfortable groove to get into as you make this beautiful accessory. Ashley Jane cleverly uses rows that overlap each other, to create bands of color interrupted by the solid background. The result is a striking and harmonious fabric.

For this design, she chose one of our newest yarns, Uni Merino. We love it for socks, but it’s also divine in bigger projects like this week’s shawl. The palette of colors is designed to play well together, making it ideal for colorwork, in knitting, crochet, and weaving. Superwash Uni Merino is superfine weight, working up on a US Size F/5 (3.75 mm) in this project. It makes a shawl that’s drapey, but still very cozy!

Woman wearing Spice Market Shawl crocheted in Uni Merino

We hope you enjoy this week’s free pattern, with its autumnal open-air market feel. Have a fantastic weekend, and be sure to treat yourself well – maybe by starting something new and wonderful!

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

April 13, 2022April 13, 2022

Projects Perfect for Easter

Hi there, crafters! We’ve entered one of my favorite times of year: spring. Flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, the days are longer, and the air smells sweeter. This is a great time to break out the warm weather yarns and start a new project! Easter is just around the corner, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some patterns that I think are perfect for the holiday and the spring season.

I couldn’t mention patterns for the season without first sharing Easter Earl. Designed by Rachel Brockman, Easter Earl is an adorable stuffed chick that is knit using Ricorumi DK Cotton. Easter Earl is approx 8″ tall, perfect for decorating a dresser or desk, and his body is knit in the round from the bottom up. The wings, feet, and bow tie are worked separately and sewn to the body. If you’re a knitter looking to make a stuffed toy, Easter Earl is a great place to begin! Ricorumi Cotton DK is designed for amigurumis and other small projects. It is a soft, yet durable cotton and holds structure for projects like these. Whether you make Easter Earl to fill a gift basket, or for yourself ‘just because’, he is a fun project that will get you in the mood for the season!

The Lunaria Socks, designed by Allison Lutes, were our free pattern Friday release last week. Made using two colors of our Bamboo Pop Sock, I can guarantee these will become your favorite warm weather socks. Bamboo Pop Sock is a stretchy blend of bamboo, cotton, and PBT that is cool and breathable. They are worked from the cuff down with a heel flap & gusset construction. Allison added a sweet floral motif, tiny bobbles, and a cute picot edge to the cuff for this design. As a girly-girl who loves anything floral, I absolutely love these spring-y socks! I’d make mine using the colors 606 Valentine and 603 Dandelion.

Everyone loves a one-skein-wonder project! If you have somewhere to go for Easter or another event this spring, consider making the Cotton Candy Swirl shawl. Crocheted using our 100% superwash extra fine merino yarn, Cobblestone, Cotton Candy Swirl is an easy level pattern that uses treble crochet stitches to create a lacy fabric. Cobblestone boasts over 600 yards per skein, so one will make up this entire accessory. Perfect for throwing over your shoulders for an event (a spring wedding, perhaps?) or just for going out and running errands, the Cotton Candy Swirl shawl is a piece of cake.

In the mood to make something whimsical? I love the Bunny Got Back knit socks, designed by Amy Gunderson. These ankle socks feature an adorable colorwork pattern of little bunny backs, and a pom pom on the ankle. You can sport your own bunny tails now! Using a soft color palette of our Bella Cash yarn, it keeps them wearable for every day. Bella Cash is a blend of superwash fine merino, cashmere, and nylon that is currently 50% off on our website! This fine weight yarn makes a great choice for delicate garments and accessories, kids projects, as well as socks. It is easy to care for, but has a luxurious feel due to the cashmere fiber content.

The last pattern I wanted to mention is the Pierpont sweater, designed by Melissa Leapman for our Perennial Knits pattern collection. Knit using cotton/extra fine merino/cashmere blend Ravello, this sweater is lacy and dramatic in all the right ways. My grandmother was a super stylish lady, and she loved interior decorating. This sweater reminds me of the little ceramic apricot color bunnies she always decorated with for Easter, which is why I wanted to share it in this post. I think it would be a perfect garment to wear for any event you have this spring, or just for your Easter family brunch. Ravello’s fine weight combined with its fiber content make it perfect for the spring season. It is light and breathable, but will keep you warm if there is a chill in the air. If peach tones aren’t your thing, don’t fret. Ravello comes in a widely varied color palette with something for everyone.

Comment which of these spring projects you’d want to make first! Stay tuned this week for even more Easter fun coming to our website!

Happy Crafting,
Aubrey

February 16, 2022February 16, 2022

Comfy Day Crafts

Here at Universal Yarn, we are gearing up for a big day of “Comfy-ness” this Sunday for National Comfy Day! With the holiday season behind us, we are now in the full spring-swing of preparing some amazing new designs and collections to share with everyone! It’s always exciting to keep looking ahead, but it is also important to take a day to slow down, get super cozy, and unwind. I plan to do this by staying in my coziest lounge clothes and enjoying some Combo Cuppa-Crafty time. (If you caught Aubrey’s focus on Pinterest trends in her recent Blog Post, you know that I’m a fan of a nice Cuppa Tea!) Now, the only problem with setting a whole day aside to craft, is I don’t know what to make yet! Read along and help me pick a project!

My first pick is the By the Fire Slippers by Rachel Brockman. I have recently picked up knitting again and my main desire has been to make myself socks and slippers! This design is from our 12 Days of Winter – Series 5, which starts each season as an LYS exclusive kit offering and releases to the public after the holidays. As luck would have it – this collection just released over Valentine’s Day! I think these slippers would be a fantastic cozy cast-on for National Comfy Day, don’t you?

The yarn used in these slippers is our popular Deluxe Worsted Superwash. It has a robust palette, leaving me with plenty of options to choose from if I wanted to go off book and choose my own colors. It’s also machine wash friendly, so I get the best of both worlds with a springy soft feeling for my feet combined with easy care after walking around. Granted, I may not do much walking in them – does a Netflix marathon count as exercise?

My second pick is the Asher Set by Aubrey Busek. It’s another knit project, and would stretch me a bit outside of my comfort zone with knitting a hat to match the beautiful shawl, but I do love a challenge! Even though I’m ready to relax, I think it could be nice to have a calm headspace to learn some new techniques.

The yarn used in the Asher Set is our plump and perfect Posh Alpaca. This blend of wool, super fine alpaca, and acrylic makes for a thick roving style yarn that sets the stage for minimal and texture-heavy patterns alike. I love the idea of having a go-to piece for wrapping up and snuggling indoors, or for grabbing attention while I’m out and about.

My last choice is the Pothos Cowl by Courtney Mulcahy. While the idea of “comfy” inspires pieces that make me want to sink into the sofa and sip my tea, I also can see myself using my Comfy Day to start preparing for warmer weather! With spring around the corner, I’m starting to get excited for some live music out by the water, and sunsets at the park with my pup. This cowl could be the perfect accessory for any activity! Plus it’s crochet, which is already my preferred craft. I could probably do this as a fun one-day project!

It’s made with our new, silky-soft Vireo, a blend of Tencel and wool that is both sustainable and season-appropriate for the warmer days I’m envisioning. The palette reminds me of berry bowls and ice cream – I just can’t pick a color, they are all so sugary and delightful. If I can land on a color choice, this may be the project for me after all – or maybe I should just make a few of them?

Pothos Cowl, By the Fire Slippers, Asher Set

So which should it be? You tell me! I can’t wait to hear what project you think I should try, and what project you’ll be crafting on National Comfy Day on Sunday!

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

February 4, 2022February 4, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Peanut Butter and Jelly!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, meet Peanut Butter and Jelly, crocheted in Bella Chenille with a shirt in Deluxe Worsted Stripes (pattern link here).

Best bear buds! Peanut Butter and Jelly are crocheted in soft, snuggly Bella Chenille. They’re a full 12″ (30cm) tall – the perfect size for hugs!

Jelly has chosen to model his favorite top today, because it’s National Sweater Day, and Jelly is all about style.

The removable top is crocheted in colorful Deluxe Stripes, a worsted weight self-striping version of our popular Deluxe line. The sleeves are worked in the round, while the body is made flat and them seamed.

Peanut Butter, on the other hand, is going with bear arms today (get it?). Peanut Butter loves to joke around. In fact, here’s Peanut Butter’s favorite joke:

Q:What did the teddy bear say after dinner?
A: I’m stuffed!