Free Pattern Friday – Page 13 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

September 16, 2022September 16, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Skill Builder Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Smiling woman holding the Skill-Builder scarf crocheted in Dona yarn.

Today, the Skill-Builder scarf crocheted in Dona (pattern link here).

Whether you’re an advanced crocheter looking for a fun sampler, or a beginner (like me!) who wants to practice your technique, this scarf is for you!

Close of stitch panels in Skill-Builder Scarf crocheted in Dona yarn.

You’ll advance your way through airy lace and terrific textures, each bordered with a cute, thin stripe of the Thicket Stitch. Some techniques will include post stitching, shells, back loops, and even working backwards!

Closeup of Dona yarn balls. — Dona’s soft feel and smooth look are beyond compare.

For this pattern, Designer AJ McIntyre used our Fibra Natura Dona. It’s a 100% superwash extrafine merino with a high twist that gives amazing stitch definition. When so much of the design revolves around standout stitches, Dona is the perfect choice!

This pattern is exactly what I need. I want to learn to crochet better, but I keep back-burnering it because I haven’t found quite the perfect project. This sampler will keep me motivated to continue on and try new things in easily accomplished blocks – especially since the end result is so pretty. I can’t wait to start!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of learning and love.

Happy crafting!
-Heather Hill

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Sedona Cardigan

Woman wearing knitted cardigan. Text reads Free Pattern Friday - Sedona in Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sedona Cardigan knitted in Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash (pattern link here).

Can’t wait for fall? Neither can designer Rachel Brockman! Rachel often takes her inspiration from nature. For this autumnal design, she drew from the geology of the southwest, with cables, twisted stitches, and seed stitch echoing the sandstone formations of the land near Sedona, Arizona.

With the fabric accented by the flecks in Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash, the design is the perfect encapsulation of the season.

For this design, Rachel chose one of our newest colors in Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash, 927 Ourangutan, the ball shown with the label in this picture. The yarn’s tweedy nubs are excellent at capturing the spirit of fall in any project. For me personally, because I’m all about the blue tones, I’m very drawn to 922 Great Lakes. It reminds me of skipping stones as a child along the Susquehanna river.

closeup of pocket in Sedona Cardigan — “Thanks, it has pockets!”

This design has great details to keep your interest as you knit. Seed stitch decorates the hem and placket, which is worked simultaneously with the body. A slipped stitch selvedge offers an especially tidy finish. And off course it has pockets. They’re essential for holding the little treasures you find as you walk through the woods!

We hope you enjoy this free pattern! If you still have a craving for tweedy fall projects, you can see more patterns using Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash on our site at this link.

Have a great weekend, full of cool weather and warm delights.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

September 2, 2022September 2, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Expressionist Shawl

Image of woman in knitted shawl. Text reads, Free Pattern Friday, Expressionist in Wacki Saki

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing semi-circular knitted lace shawl

Today, we share the Expressionist Shawl knitted in Wacki Saki (pattern link here).

Is there anything better than a good sock yarn accessory? Today’s two-ball shawl features subtle shaping that lets it sit gracefully on the shoulders. It also has beautiful lace, made even more striking through unexpected color changes that ebb and flow.

We call these color changes unexpected, because it’s such a departure from how the color runs look in the smaller circumferences that we see in socks! In little projects, Wacki Saki is bold and wild.

Wacki Saki as used in the Wacki Saki Simple Sock (free pattern link).

But when seen in larger circumferences, the shades shift smoothly across the broader canvas, creating long bands of color that accent your work.

We love this shawl so much that we made it in two colors. Shown above is Wacki Saki 406 Kooky Meadow…

…and here it has more of a desert sunset feel, with Wacki Saki 405 Crazy Tiger.

I hvae a friend who can’t get enough of pink, and for her I’m going to suggest color 401 Bonkers Bouquet. Its vivid tones match her bright personality!

Close up of ball of Wacki Saki yarn in color 401 Bonkers Bouquet

No matter your choice, we think you’ll love this brilliant, flowing accessory.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

August 26, 2022August 26, 2022

Flash Pattern Friday – Atacama Scarf

It’s Flash Pattern Friday!

On the last Friday of the month, we take a beautiful paid pattern and set it free for a limited time through Ravelry. Today it’s the Atacama Scarf, a breezy, bohemian scarf crocheted in Unity Beyond (Ravelry link here).

Collage of knit and crochet designs from the Desert Dreams pattern collection.

The scarf was originally released as part of the Desert Dreams collection, featuring these six desert-inspired designs to knit and crochet in Unity and Unity Beyond.

This fabulous artisanal texture comes from Unity Beyond’s unique blend of cotton, wool, linen, and bamboo. It gives all the benefits of plant fibers, with just the right amount of bounce!

Woman wearing scarf. Text below reads Atacama crocheted in Unity Beyond. Use code FLASH on Ravelry - ends 8/28.

To get the Atacama Scarf free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page linked here. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase, and click “apply.”

Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of Sunday 8/28 and we’ll get you taken care of.

Woman leaning against brick wall and wearing crocheted scarf

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of joy and beauty.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

August 19, 2022August 19, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Paper Flowers

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing lace pullover knitted in Uptown Baby Sport

Today, Paper Flowers knitted in Uptown Baby Sport (pattern link here).

Do you love lace? Then today is for you! Rachel Brockman uses allover lace stitches on the body of this pullover to add extra elegance.

A lace body is offset by bracelet-length stockinette sleeves, and a boat neck enhances the piece’s overall vintage vibes. But this is a luxurious sweater with a secret!

This lacy delight is actually an affordable, easy care project, thanks to Uptown Baby Sport 100% anti-pilling acrylic! I have to tell you, I used to be a yarn snob, but the Uptown yarns converted me. They’re so soft! When I compare Uptown to the acrylics I used as a young crafter just starting out, it’s like night and day. And it’s hard to argue with results like this gorgeous project!

Absolutely beautiful. I think my queue just got longer again.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of inexpensive treats and priceless joy.

Happy crafting!
-Heather Hill

August 12, 2022August 12, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Peony Vest

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing pink vest knitted in Papyrus yarn

Today, the Peony Vest knitted in Papyrus (pattern link here).

Thanks to its loose fit and elegant waterfall silhouette, it’s easy to make a statement with the stylish Peony Vest.

How pretty is this texture? It’s a simple slip stitch pattern, but in cotton/silk Papyrus it adds a lot of depth.

It’s got such a rich, almost nubbly look and feel. The added sheen of silk adds to the complexity of the yarn.

The Peony Vest is worked in three pieces – back, left front, and right front – and then seamed. This comfortable and elegant design includes thoughtful details like twisted ribbing at the bottom, and a tidy I-Cord edging to complete the look.

All together, the Peony Vest is a wonderful warm-weather accessory that will serve you well.

We hope you have a cool and relaxing weekend.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

August 5, 2022August 5, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Sunny Shells

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Multicolored crocheted small blanket draped over a chair.

Today, Sunny Shells crocheted in Deluxe Stripes (pattern link here).

How clever is this? I love the way designer Ashley Jane McIntyre used the self-striping nature of Deluxe Stripes to create little accents between the shells, breaking up the fields of color with complementary tones.

Deluxe Stripes a great yarn for this project. The stripes change crisply, and the 75% wool/25% nylon content means this blankie is machine washable and will last a long time. Deluxe Stripes is also Oeko-Tex 100 Product Class 1 certified, for the safety of the ones you love!

Sunny Shells is worked flat, from the bottom up. After finishing the body, you’ll go back and apply that lovely border in joined, unturned rounds.

Tip: As shown, this project took almost every bit of seven skeins of Deluxe Stripes. You might want to get another skein, just as insurance.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of brightness and joy.

Happy crafting!

July 29, 2022July 29, 2022

Flash Pattern Friday – Aoyagi

It’s Flash Pattern Friday!

On the last Friday of the month, we take a beautiful paid pattern and set it free for a limited time through Ravelry. Today it’s Aoyagi, knitted in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints and Deluxe Worsted (Ravelry link here).

Tori Gurbisz designed Aoyagi for our Bloom in Color collection of designs in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints. There are plenty of colorful designs in this collection – how could there not be, with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints? – but as you can see, Aoyagi made the cover!

Skeins of blue and purple Deluxe Worsted and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints yarn

Aoyagi combines two favorite yarns, Bamboo Bloom Handpaints and Deluxe Worsted. While the original color of Deluxe Worsted used in the shawl is now retired, we recommend two others: 12188 Heather or 14007 Indigo. We’ve put them side by side with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 318 Emperor above, and you can see how well they blend. Of course, with 90 shades in Deluxe Worsted, it’s not going to be hard to find a combination that works for you!

To get Aoyagi free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page linked here. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase, and click “apply.”

Graphic illustrating where to type FLASH code on Ravelry

Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of Sunday 7/31 and we’ll get you taken care of.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of color that’s every bit as vibrant as you are!

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

July 22, 2022July 22, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Tincture Vest

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Tincture Vest knitted in Vireo (pattern link here).

Talk about summertime style! Aubrey Busek’s versatile textured beauty features contrast-colored accents, a cozy fit, and easily doubles as a tank.

As is standard with our designs, Tincture is size-inclusive, running from XS to 5X. It uses my favorite construction: bottom up, in the round. And that texture!

It’s an eight row repeat that’s very rhythmic and easy to get into, and it makes such a beautiful fabric! And the choice of yarn for this really makes that fabric glow.

Vireo is made of 80% plant-based Tencel and 20% wool. The Tencel helps it stays cool in the summer, and gives it fabulous drape and stitch definition. The wool gives it a touch of springiness that’s just right for this piece.

I love this in the original 113 Macaron and 114 Jade Necklace. Just looking at the colors cools me down.

Three skeins of Vireo yarn — clockwise from top: 109 Featherlight, 107 Apricot Tart, 108 Marmelade

But Vireo has a lot of possibilities. A combination of any of these tones, Vireo colors 107 through 109, would look great. It reminds me of summertime peaches!

No matter what you choose for your Tincture, we know you’ll have a great time knitting it.

Have a great weekend, and keep crafting!

-Heather Hill

July 15, 2022July 15, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Playground Hoodie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Boy wearing striped knitted hoodie pullover with pockets

Today, the Playground Hoodie knitted in Cotton Supreme Waves (pattern link here).

Summer means kids in constant motion! And today’s free pattern is perfect for keeping young ones comfortable as they play.

Young boy seated in grass, wearing knitted striped hoodie and holding two toy airplanes — I’ll sit down, but I’m not tired!

Aubrey Busek’s Playground Hoodie is sized for kids two to twelve. It’s shown here in the four-year-old size. We’re happy to report that it met with the model’s seal of approval.

Young boy wearing striped hoodie knitted in Cotton Supreme Waves — Okay, playtime again!

Perfect for warm and cool weather alike, the practical hood and kangaroo pocket will allow your little one to ward off any breeze in the air. Machine washable 100% Cotton Supreme Waves creates a breathable fabric that’s practical spring through fall.

Image of skeins of Cotton Supreme Waves yarn with knitting needles and crochet hook — So many colors!

Color 910 Equator is used in the hoodie. It stripes up solidly, but there are also options that stripe up with a more speckled, variegated effect, like 916 Ice Cream that’s facing forward in the group of future WIPs above.

Closeup of young boy wearing v-necked striped hoodie — Did someone say ice cream?

Pro tip: Cotton Supreme Waves is a self-striping yarn. To ensure your project looks as close to the sample as possible, when breaking and rejoining yarn, be sure to visually match the point at which you’re rejoining. You might need to wind off some yarn. We promise the results are worth the effort!

Rear view of boy wearing striped knitted hoodie with the hood up. — Do I hear the ice cream truck over there?

The Playground Hoodie is a sunshiney, practical kid project that looks good, feels good, and is fun to knit. What a perfect summertime treat!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of imagination and fun times.

Happy crafting!
-Heather Hill