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

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

June 8, 2021June 8, 2021

Pattern Inspiration to Celebrate World Ocean Day

It’s World Ocean Day! The ocean is our planet’s life source. Covering about 70% of the Earth’s surface, our oceans produce more than half of the world’s oxygen, absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and are home to at least a million species, though we don’t really know the true number. We can all agree that a resource so vital to our well-being should be cared for and celebrated. So, in honor of World Ocean Day, we’re sharing some sen-sea-tional patterns inspired by our oceans and a few tips on simple actions you can take to help preserve this precious resource.

Did you know that sea stars can live up to 35 years? Amazing! These colorful invertebrates are one of the most recognizable sea creatures, so it’s no surprise that so many designers have created patterns inspired by them. In fact, we have three super cute patterns where starfish are the star of the show.

Our own Aubrey Busek took inspiration from these aquatic creatures when she designed Seastar (pattern link) for our Seaside Supreme ebook. This graphic sweater is a statement knit featuring intarsia and lace. It is knit using our popular Cotton Supreme yarn. I love that this pattern is written with both long and short sleeve options, making it easier to personalize.

As fiber artists, we have the power to create many long-lasting, durable items that are inherently less wasteful. For example, that handmade sweater is destined to last much longer than any sweater you buy in a department store. It’s an heirloom piece that you can wear for years and pass down, minimizing some of the waste created by fast fashion. Is there a sweater in your wardrobe you don’t wear often anymore, or perhaps that doesn’t fit the way you imagined? Instead of taking that sweater to the thrift store, consider unraveling it and recycling the yarn for another project. You can even make dryer balls from old sweaters and non-superwash yarn, like our Deluxe Worsted.

If you want something a little more whimsical that’s a nice complement to your collection of seashells, consider making the cute and free Seahorse and Starfish set (pattern link) by Michele Wilcox. Like Seastar, this pattern uses Cotton Supreme. One skein will take you very far with this pattern. I think it would be adorable to string several of them together to create a garland or mobile to decorate your home, reminding you of the ocean even if you live far from it!

Looking for a cute scrubby pattern for yourself or a loved one? Look no further than the Starfish and Shell patterns (link) by Rico Design using Creative Bubble. This yarn is perfect for creating scrubbies that are more durable and eco-friendly than disposable rags or sponges. They work as well for scrubbing your countertops as they will for exfoiliating your skin. Plus, your little one will love these projects as bath toys!

Narwhal & Seal from the Ricorumi Wild Wild Animals book.

I’ve always been fascinated by the Arctic. It amazes me that life can exist in parts of the world so frigid and seemingly barren. Yet, some creatures have evolved to be perfectly equipped to brave the harsh climate. With a knack for creating charming patterns, Rico Design pays homage to polar-dwelling seals and narwhals in the Wild Wild Animals pattern book (link). Both of these crochet amigurumi projects use Ricorumi Cotton DK. The Narwhal pattern is even available as a kit! Eco-conscious tip: instead of using poly-fil for your stuffed animal projects, try using scrap yarns and fabric instead!

One of my favorite books as a young child was The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. This cute storybook about sharing mesmerized me with its beautiful illustrations. Perhaps thanks to that book, I’ve always been excited to spot a fish in any body of water and had a fishtank of my own growing up. I still love visiting the aquarium to marvel at their colors, shapes, and sizes. With that inspiration in mind, I designed the free Betta Swetta Set (pattern link) in Adore. This duo was inspired by all of the fishies in the ocean.

The Atlantic Ocean, as seen on a rainy November day at Daytona Beach.
If you want to learn more about World Ocean Day, you can explore the website here (link).

Many of the species these patterns celebrate are threatened, and it’s our responsibility to do what we can to preserve the health of the ocean. You can create reusable bags for carrying the grocery items that will allow you to say “goodbye” to plastic bags for good. As I mentioned earlier, many of the handmade washcloths, towels, and other home items are more durable than store-bought or disposable options. Plus, you probably have the skills to mend your handmade items (and store-bought items) on your own, making them last even longer! If you’re looking for more inspiration, don’t miss my recent blog post about our most eco-friendly yarns and accompanying patterns.

I hope you’re feeling inspired to honor the ocean today, and every day! Do you have any tips you’d like to share on how to make your crafting more environmentally friendly? Do you have a favorite type of project that helps eliminate waste? We’d love to know!

May 12, 2021May 12, 2021

Granny Square Love

With everyone practicing social distancing and staying at home over the past year, we’ve seen a tremendous growth in crochet and knitting. Whether you’re new to the crafts or not, you probably already know how comforting the rhythm of creating stitches with your yarn and weapon (hook or needle) of choice can be. The art of making has always influenced ready-to-wear trends, but we’re seeing the influence more and more. Trends like “cottagecore,” “grannycore,” and “soft retro” are popping up in ready-to-wear fashion. One way these trends have been expressed has been through granny squares, and it has us all inspired to crochet beautiful projects!

**Square Crochet Cardigan via Anthropologie**

Too often when people refer to crochet patterns I hear “this is not your grandma’s crochet,” but in truth, it is your grandma’s crochet with a modern twist and there is no doubt that it should be celebrated! Just take a look at some of the statement pieces pictured above. Each of these garments contains granny squares, though some are infused with knit and fabric accents. My favorite is definitely the Flower Stripe Crochet Sweater by Farm Rio. It’s bright, bold, and beautiful! This trend embraces delicate floral motifs with soft pastels and vibrant pops of color with more traditional motifs alike.

*Yonca is working on some delightfully colorful granny squares to create a crochet cardigan of her own. She’s using* Wool Pop in an assortment of fun colors, all accented with cream.

As I mentioned earlier, everyone in the office is currently drooling over these unique designs. Yonca, our amazing sales director, was so inspired by the crochet pieces she noticed at Anthropologie that she decided to start her own. I always love Yonca’s designs and admire her ability to improvise when designing. She does this stuff on the fly and it’s so impressive. By contrast, I tend to plan and write most of my patterns in advance because I’m usually not the person actually knitting or crocheting my designs. Although, when I get to make them myself, I definitely improvise a bit!

This cute little square features a circular center in colors that remind me of a gorgeous, sunny day. She’s creating these motifs in a variety of colors of Wool Pop. The colors in the square pictured here are 602 Cream, 624 Blueberry, and 621 Dijon.

While we patiently await Yonca’s completed design, let’s take a look at a couple of patterns we offer that feature glorious granny squares.

Cove in Unity 105 Wolf and Unity Beyond 205 Coral Wash

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a crochet expert, but granny squares are my favorite thing to crochet. They’re so quick and satisfying and are perfectly portable for when you’re on the go. When we were working on designs for our Lakeside Retreat collection in 2019 I knew I wanted to play with granny squares. One of my favorite pieces in the collection is the Cove cardigan worked in Unity and Unity Beyond. Generally speaking, crochet pieces add interest to any ensemble, but the yarn used in this design takes it a step further. The thick-thin, slightly nubby characteristics of Unity and Unity Beyond create texture that can really elevate simple pieces.

Simple, solid granny square motifs in two colors make up the lower portion of this design. A lacy motif decorates the shoulders and tops of the sleeves, allowing you to enjoy the breeze. The edging and sleeves are worked in double crochet. If you’re looking for the perfect spring cardigan, there is no doubt that Cove is for you!

Another personal favorite is the Mod Tiles Cardi, worked using Deluxe DK Tweed. This design is perfect for autumn. Sure, it may be spring, but it’s never too early to get a kick-start for cool weather. Plus, this would be perfect for chilly evenings throughout the spring and summer.

The classic collar, button-front, and floral motifs definitely give this design a retro vibe, but cropped sleeves and drop shoulders transform it into a modern piece. Deluxe DK Tweed features flecks of tweed and offers a rustic appeal. However, if you favor a brighter, bolder color scheme, you might enjoy the saturated hues of Dona instead. The cardigan requires six colors – one main color and five contrasting colors. If you’re feeling really playful, pick an even larger palette of colors – the options are endless!

While I wanted to focus specifically on garments today, I couldn’t let the opportunity to share a few other granny square patterns pass. A great, lightweight accessory is the Rita Cowl in Donnina. This mobius design features three neutral colors in beautiful motif – it’s lightweight and loose-fitting, making it great for rainy spring days. If garments and accessories aren’t your thing, the Oasis Blanket in Adore will surely sate your desire to make granny squares. Finally, Jennifer Olivarez created the clever Roundabout Bag using Yashi. I love how her color pairing and the way the striped squares wrap around the sides of the bag. This is a modern and sophisticated bag – what’s not to love?

Are you feeling inspired to create your own granny-square projects? We’d love to hear which of these lovely projects are your favorites!

Happy crocheting!