Free Pattern Friday – Page 44 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

April 7, 2017May 10, 2021

Free Pattern Friday – My Poncho

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today’s pattern is My Poncho in Fibra Natura Radiant Cotton.

I will confess to having to fight a bias against ponchos. It stems mainly from having lived through the Bicentennial in 1976, when red, white, and blue crocheted acrylic ponchos were all the rage.

vintage red white and blue fringed crochet poncho — On the other hand, it does show how long acrylic lasts.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to those crafters who made such things. You just have to imagine a young girl decked out in these things in July in the South to understand my dismay.

Fortunately, both fashion and yarn have come a long way.

When this poncho showed up on my desk to photograph for Free Pattern Friday, my immediate response was, “mine.” This is the kind of poncho I can get behind. Or, more accurately, get in to.

“My Poncho” is made in Radiant Cotton (203yds/100g), a long-staple 100% Egyptian cotton that’s a delight to work with. Work it in two pieces from the bottom up, then seam at the shoulders.

I’m considering my color options here – Radiant Cotton has pastels, neutrals, and some very saturated tones. It’s hard to know which way to go, but I’m leaning toward 801 Crocus.

I suppose I could always make more than one.

Happy knitting!

March 31, 2017April 26, 2021

Free Pattern Friday – Box of Blocks

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Box of Blocks in Major.

Log cabin designs are classic for good reason. They’re simple but visually interesting, and they look great in self-shading yarns like Major.

For this little baby blanket, start at the middle, then pick up along the edge and work the next strip. Then pick up along the edge of what you’ve already made and knit the next strip. Keep going until… well, until you’re done!

We hope you enjoy this sweet and simple classic design.

Happy knitting!

March 24, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Augustine Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Augustine Scarf in Whisper Lace.

I was so excited to see this piece in our office. Fibra Natura Whisper Lace (440g/50yds) is one of my favorite yarns, and accessories like this, which are gorgeous but still very achievable to the novice lace knitter, are always welcome.

When the time came to photograph this, I brought a shawl pin from home. I picked up this JulDesigns shawl pin from an LYS here in Charlotte, and have been waiting for the perfect occasion to break it out. Jul’s designs are so beautiful, and I wanted to show what the right accessory can do for an already lovely garment.

We’re not affiliated with Jul. We just think her stuff is pretty.

But back to the scarf! The stitches are simple – knit, purl, yo, and ssk (slip, slip, knit). The 4-row pattern is written and charted. The scarf is knit on the bias, and once you’ve done a couple of repeats it’s easy to see what’s coming up next.

This is also a great example of what blocking can do for a scarf. Look at how wide it gets! There are plenty of options with a fabric this sheer. Spread it wide or gather it for a more casual look.

If you’re looking for something that’s simple but delicate, this is a great choice. We hope you enjoy it.

Happy knitting!

March 17, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – North Window Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the North Window Stole in Universe.

It’s a simple formula: sparkly yarn+ crochet = gorgeous.

The three row body repeat creates a striking fabric in our 10th anniversary yarn Universe (246yds/50g), a blend of cotton, linen, and glitter wrapped in a polyamide thread for greater durability.

Worked on a size C-2 (2.75mm) hook, this design features a pineapple edging with picots, adding to the elegance of the stole.

We hope you enjoy this gorgeous crochet lace piece.

Happy crafting!

March 10, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Sunday Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sunday Cardigan in Radiant Cotton.

Universal Yarn is headquartered in Harrisburg, NC, just outside of Charlotte. It was a balmy 72 degrees here yesterday. Let’s take a look at the forecast for the rest of the week, shall we?

So tell us: is it Spring? Is it winter? What’s a crafter supposed to do with this??

I think what we’ll choose to do this week is hit the LYS for any wool we need to finish cold weather projects, but also pick up some cotton because warm weather is coming, no matter what.

Enter the Sunday Cardigan in Radiant Cotton (203yds/100g). It’s a classic knitted lace sweater, perfect for the warmer weather we know is just around the corner.

This pattern is written and charted, and contains a schematic. It has the classic construction – knitted flat and seamed. Right twists give the Tight Braid pattern extra interest. This is a great everyday piece, or one that works to dress up a plain outfit on the weekends, as the name suggests.

I love this in the pale pastel of 807 First Bloom, but I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if you turned up the saturation a little bit, maybe with color 806 Calypso.

It’s going to be hard to go wrong with this design.

No matter what the weather is doing in your neck of the woods, we hope you enjoy this charming free pattern.

Happy knitting!

March 3, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Rising Tide Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Rising Tide Scarf in Major.

You’ve got to love the ones that are easier than they look.

This slip-stitch knit pattern is worked in two colors of our bulky Major acrylic. Because this yarn comes in big 200g/328yd skeins, you only need one skein of each color. Even though it’s a wide scarf, it’s made on a size 10 1/2 (6.5mm) needle so it goes pretty quickly.

It’s always gratifying to see the next color come up in a pattern with self-shading yarn, isn’t it? The travelling slipped stitches mean the color carries up into the next row, even though each section only uses one color of yarn at a time. Knit it lengthwise, add the fringe, and voila! A lovely accessory.

We hope you enjoy this project and your weekend.

Happy knitting!

February 24, 2017February 24, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Chapel Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Chapel Stole in Radiant Cotton.

Depending on where you are, either it’s warm enough for Spring projects, or you’re dreaming that it’s warm enough. It’s time to get a little headstart with this beautiful lace wrap.

Knit on US Size 7 (4.5mm) needles in Radiant Cotton (203yds/100g), it’s a generous 84″ (seven feet!) as shown. It would be easy to lengthen or shorten – just add or remove a repeat or two from the central section. The crocheted picot edging is applied after finishing the piece.

This lovely sampler also comes in a narrower scarf version at about half the width.

There are some really bright Spring colors in Radiant cotton that would look lovely with this. Maybe 819 Sky Blue?

Or maybe something lighter and more delicate, like 807 First Bloom.

It’s a good feeling to be spoiled for choice.

Happy knitting!

February 17, 2017February 17, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Whirlpool Throw

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Whirlpool Throw in Major.

There are little whirlpools…

There are big whirlpools…

And then there is this.

The 52″ Whirlpool Throw is crocheted with two balls each of two shades of Major (328yds/200g), colors 115 Stonewall and 114 Coastal. Start at the center with an adjustable ring and work out, alternating colors every row.

This is not a difficult pattern, being primarily double crochet, but the results are dramatic. There are quite a few color combos you could choose. I like 101 Verdant and 102 Underwater for a green “fairy ring” kind of feel. It’s hard to go wrong.

We hope you enjoy this beautiful crochet pattern.

Happy crafting!

February 10, 2017March 17, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Suddenly, Gradiently!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, it’s Suddenly, Gradiently! in Deluxe Bulky Superwash.

We loved the way this simple color-changing scarf looked, so we knitted up several options to see how it looked in different colors. It was no hardship. The pattern is easy enough for a beginner and is worked on US size 10 1/2 needles in our Deluxe Bulky Superwash wool.

I’m a sucker for blues and greens, so the five-color version in those tones really speaks to me. Those who want to go bolder might try the six-color version, shown in purple, pink, and green. And those who want something classic and understated can knit the three-color version in shades of white and gray.

We’re not kidding when we say the welting pattern on this is easy. It’s a four row repeat knitted flat which goes: knit a row, purl a row, purl a row, knit a row. Great for beginners, or for those who want a project to knit that doesn’t require their full attention. (I still haven’t gotten to see the latest season of Sherlock; this would be ideal for that!)

As I look at this scarf, I also wonder how it would look with a couple of different colors of a self-shading yarn, like Poems Chunky. I’ve been searching for the perfect project for our newest color.

Hm. I think my queue just got longer.

Happy knitting!

February 3, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Pomtastic Hat and Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Pomtastic Hat and Scarf in Major.

We like this combo for two reasons.

First, it’s a neat example of how to work the same stitch pattern flat or in the round. Row one is the same on both, but of course when you’re working in the round things are a bit different because you’re never reversing directions. In row 2, stitches are knitted for the flat back-and-forth of the scarf, but purled in the round for the hat.

The second reason to like this set:

It’s pretty cool what you can do with a pom-pom maker and a self-striping yarn like Major. You can plan out the colors, or just go with the flow. This little half-and-half topper happened organically.

Plus, let’s face it, what isn’t improved by the addition of pompoms?

We rest our case.

Happy knitting!