Free Pattern Friday – Page 14 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

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

July 8, 2022July 15, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Seacoast Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Smiling woman wearing white cowl speckled with blue knitted in Bamboo Pop Yarn

Today, the Seacoast Cowl knitted or crocheted in Bamboo Pop (pattern link for both versions here).

It’s just the right time for this lightweight, breezy accessory in Bamboo Pop, and Rachel Brockman has outdone herself on the design! She’s created a knitted version, shown above…

…and a crocheted version, shown here! Both feature elongated stitches against a simple background, ornamented with eyelets…

…and both use just two balls of Bamboo Pop, our 50/50 cotton/bamboo blend. Rachel chose speckled color 305 Ocean Dots, but there are also solid and variegated selections, to match whatever your taste may be.

Three balls of Bamboo Pop yarn — From left: 209 Jungle Life, 205 Brilliant Blues, and 210 Orchid Smash

For msyelf, I might pick one of the variegated colors shown here. I’m a sucker for those bluish tones.

We hope you enjoy this sweet little warm-weather accessory, no matter which craft speaks to you most. Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

July 1, 2022July 1, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Lucy Tote

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Image of blue crocheted tote holding bouquet of white flowers

Today, the Lucy Tote crocheted in Clean Cotton Multi (pattern link here).

We’re sharing this easy, practical, and lovely pattern today because it’s just perfect for summer.

The Lucy Tote is perfect for your next trip to the beach. Toss in your sunglasses, sunblock, and summer reading – you’re good to go!

Crocheted in our Clean Cotton or Clean Cotton Multi yarn, this accessory is quick to work up, sturdy, and durable – a tote to stand the test of time!

We hope you have a safe and joyful weekend.

Happy crafting!

June 24, 2022June 23, 2022

Flash Pattern Friday – Serafina

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 Serafina, knitted in Fibra Natura Ravello (Ravelry link here).

Serafina was designed by Rachel Brockman as part of the Perennial Knits collection, showcasing five timeless patterns in Ravello. We love this design so much we put it on the cover!

And what’s not to love? There’s a delicate, lacy hem with a touch of stranded colorwork…

…bordering a simple stockinette body, with raglan sleeves and constrating edging. All together, Serafina is graceful, polished, and beautiful.

Light green ball of Ravello yarn sitting on knitted lace

The gorgeous stitch definition and depth of color come from the yarn, Ravello. This 50% cotton/50% cashmere blend feels like a dream and works up smoothly and easily. This is one of my favorites from our Italian mill, because it is so versatile in warm weather, and because of the faint haze that the cashmere gives to the cotton. True luxury.

With its inclusive sizing and seamless construction, this pattern will appeal to a range of knitters. It certainly appeals to me. My queue continues to grow!

To get Serafina 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. Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of Sunday 6/26 and we’ll get you taken care of.

Have a safe and fun weekend.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

June 17, 2022June 17, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Delilah

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Delilah knitted in Flax (pattern link here).

Lightweight, lacy, and perfect for summer, Delilah is a linen luxury that’s tailor-made for warm weather.

This design comes to us from Aubrey Busek. If you know her work, it’s easy to see her creative touches: she always brings a certain flair to her designs, as with the bohemian tassels adorning this asymmetrical triangular shawl.

Aubrey chose Flax 100% linen yarn for this design, and no wonder: when it comes to summer fashion and comfort, you really can’t go wrong with linen.

Closeup of hanks of Flax linen yarn in shades of blue

Delilah is a perfect topper to any outfit you choose. We’ve paired it with a long summer dress here, but it’s simple to style any number of ways. Its 50″ length looks great wrapped over the bodice, draped loosely at your neck, or artfully thrown over one shoulder.

Delilah’s lace repeat is easy to memorize, and a great match for its soothing stockinette center. This shawl is just as fun to work up as it is to wear.

This is definitely a design to bump to the top of the queue.

We hope you have a cool and relaxing weekend.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

June 10, 2022June 10, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Exhilarate Revisited

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Exhilarate Revisited, in Bamboo Pop Sock and Bamboo Pop Sock Solids (pattern link here).

The “Revisited” in this pattern’s name is because it is a re-imagining of an existing sock yarn shawl, Exhilarate. We loved the way it used panels of varying widths in self-striping yarn to create different lengths of stripes. It led us to think, “hmmm… this would look great in Bamboo Pop Sock!”

(L-R) Bamboo Pop Sock colors 506 Rip Tide and 503 Jetties

Bamboo Pop Sock has plenty of options for stripe combinations. We went with 506 Rip Tide and 503 Jetties for the color band sections, bordered with bluish-gray Bamboo Pop Sock Solids 620 Moondust for the borders. It’s a cool, beachy combo with bright pops of purple!

Perfect for a confident beginner, Exhilarate Revisited uses garter stitch and lets the color do the work. Looking to build your skills? We’ve implemented a touch of intarsia for a colorful effect sure to turn heads. The tidy edge is created by an i-cord bind-off. It’s a handy tool to have in your knitter’s bag of tricks!

This shawl is worked modularly in 4 sections. A diagram is included to help you visualize the construction. You’ll create the stripes, then pick up stitches to add the solid border along the two shorter sides.

This accessory is so lightweight and drapey in wool-free Bamboo Pop Sock – it’s perfect for summer.

We hope you have an exhilarating weekend!

Happy Crafting!

-Heather Hill

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Leaf Lace Dress

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Light green sleeveless children's dress with lace skirt

Today, the Leaf Lace Dress knitted in Magnolia (pattern link here).

First, though, here is actual footage of me seeing this dress for the first time:

Teenage girl Anna from the movie Frozen squealing in excitement — Squeeeee!

So adorable. And such fun to knit! This raglan-sleeved project is worked largely in the round, beginning at the hem with gorgeous lace.

Look at this beautiful skirt! Designer Rachel Brockman has both written and charted this section to make it easy to follow. Rachel’s choice of Magnolia yarn for this design provides excellent drape and definition!

Three skeins of Magnolia yarn in shades of blue and green — Colors Left to right: 109 Brunch, 114 Citrus Leaf, and 110 Frayed Denim

Magnolia‘s blend of 95% plant-based modal with 5% cashmere makes it cool in warm weather, but also gives it an extra touch of luxury! The stitch definition is divine, for maximum impact in that leaf lace skirt. It’s a soft, smooth yarn with a beautiful sheen – one of our favorites for summer. And since Magnolia is machine washable, it will be fine for the baby or toddler who makes the inevitable mess!

Light green sleeveless children's dress with lace skirt paired with white top

Sized from newborn through 18-24 months, this charming short frock would be perfect for so many occasions – I’m thinking specifically of a summer wedding I’m going to this month, where this would not be out of place at all. I’m also imagining the look on a prospective mom’s face getting this at a baby shower:

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of fun projects!

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022

Flash Pattern Friday – Delphi Stole

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 Delphi Stole crocheted in Cotton True Sport (Ravelry link here).

Woman with light green filet crochet shawl draped over her shoulders

Amy Gunderson designed this as part of Contrarian Shawls 2, a collection of charming knit and crochet shawls designed in our Fibra Natura line of yarns. It’s a lovely filet crochet pattern. If you’ve never tried filet crochet before, this is your lucky day! When this pattern was first released, Amy shared blog posts on how to work filet crochet, and on how to create edging for this shawl.

For this design, Amy chose Cotton True Sport, a smooth, fine 100% Pima cotton yarn which lends itself well to knitting, weaving, and crochet.

The Delphi Stole is a great summertime accessory, and we’re delighted to make it free this weekend!

To get the Delphi Stole 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. Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of Sunday 5/29 and we’ll get you taken care of.

Have a safe and happy weekend.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

May 20, 2022May 20, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Daffodil Vest

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman facing away from camera. She is wearing a white blouse and a pale yellow knitted vest.

Today, the Daffodil Vest in Uptown Baby Sport (pattern link here).

Designer Aubrey Busek took her inspiration from a field of blooming spring flowers, creating a lovely lacy repeat in this spring popover.

Closeup of daffodil field — Daffodil fields at Parson’s Reserve

Uptown Baby Sport was the perfect yarn choice for Aubrey’s design. This 100% anti-pilling acrylic is machine washable, wears well, and is very soft. I’ll admit, I used to turn up my nose at acrylic, but the Uptown family of yarns has turned that attitude around. I’ve been delighted with the quality of everything I’ve made in Uptown yarns.

Woman in white blouse with rolled up sleeves, and pale yellow knitted vest.

Looking at the sunny, pale yellow field of flowers that roam across this vest, you can’t help but have your spirits lifted. It reminds me of the last stanza of a favorite poem by Wordsworth, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, in which the writer unexpectedly encounters a beautiful field of daffodils, and holds the memory of that sudden riot of color as a balm against dark days.

“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”

Smiling woman wearing white button-down top and pale yellow vest knitted in Uptown Baby Sport.

We hope you enjoy this sunny, uplifting pattern. Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy crafting,

Heather Hill

May 13, 2022May 13, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Triangles Throw

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Knitted chenille throw in aqua with triangles motif, draped over a white chair.

Today, the Triangles Throw in Bella Chenille (pattern link here).

So super snuggly! This sweet knitted throw uses fuzzy Bella Chenille to create a texture it’s impossible to stop stroking.

Skeins of aqua-toned Bella Chenille yarn stacked on top of one another. — Colors 126 Lapis (darker) and 128 Coastal (lighter)

Soft and plush, Bella Chenille is perfect not just for home decor and kid projects (hello, Peanut Butter and Jelly bears!), but for adult garments like the Roseate Cardigan, free on our site.

Closeup of knitted chenille throw in aqua with triangles motif.

The throw uses intarsia for the color changes at the border. While you could use intarsia for the triangles, we’d recommend doing them in stranded knitting instead, to decrease the number of ends you’ll need to weave in.

One light gray and one darker gray skein of Bella Chenille yarn. — Colors 119 Misty (lighter) and 118 Elephant (darker)

Now, as to colors. I absolutely love the original 126 Lapis and 128 Coastal that designer Rachel Brockman chose, because I’m all about cool tones. But you could also go monochrome, with 119 Misty and 118 Elephant shown above, for a low contrast palette. Make it more dramatic by swapping the darker gray for 112 Black, if that’s your vibe.

Stack of fuchsia and purple-toned Bella Chenille yarn with flowers. — Colors 122 Amethyst (darker) and 124 Boysenberry (lighter)

Or embrace the rich, saturated nature of this yarn, and try the darker 122 Amethyst and lighter 124 Boysenberry. There are just so many beautiful options in Bella Chenille!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, and that you find time to snuggle up – maybe with someone special!

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill