Special Flash Pattern – Abyss Shawl

Hello Everyone!

It’s a Special Flash Pattern release! This means that we give a normally paid pattern away for free for the weekend!

Starting today, Saturday, 8/31, you can get the Abyss Shawl pattern for free on Ravelry using the code FLASH. This offer runs through Monday, 9/2.

In addition, you can shop the Abyss Kit, which includes the yarn and pattern, for 30% off during our So Long, Summer Sale!

This colorful shawl, designed by Aubrey Busek, uses both Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Waves, a lightweight 100% cotton yarn, and Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme, a medium-weight 100% cotton yarn.

Cotton Supreme Waves is a soft yarn that sports beautiful self-striping colorways and pairs great with the solid colors of the Cotton Supreme yarn.

This is a top-down semi-circle shawl that begins with just a few stitches and rapidly grows as you work sections of the Wavy Lace stitch pattern, mixed with simple Garter stitch rows. Your finished shawl will be lightweight yet warm with a lovely drape.

The Wavy Lace stitch pattern is both written out and charted for your convenience.

You can create even more color combinations by pairing self-striping Cotton Supreme Waves with the solid shades of the Cotton Supreme.

Here are some of my favorite combinations. Tell me in the blog comments which color options you prefer.

The Abyss Shawl is a beautiful addition to your wardrobe, you will want more than one colorway!

Knit and Enjoy!

Andi

Free Pattern Friday – Musubime Bag

There is a woman on the left posed holding a yellow knitted bag. Text in the center reads "Free Pattern Friday. Musubime Bag. Knit in Universal Yarn Clean Cotton." The bag, by itself, appears on the right side of the image.

Hi friends, and happy Friday to you! This week we have a fun freebie, the Musubime Bag, designed by Afifa Sayeed.

This adorable bag dresses up a classic Japanese Knot Bag with a moss stitch texture and brilliant color. It’s perfect for toting around smaller projects, like socks or a hat, or just for bringing along your daily essentials in style. The best part is it only takes 2 skeins of our Clean Cotton yarn to make!

Clean Cotton is a blend of 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled polyester (totaling 100% eco-conscious!), and comes in 21 cheery colors. It’s perfect for homewares and accessories, like this weeks bag, and is highly affordable, at just $3.25 per skein. This weekend, save and extra 20% off from Friday, 8/9 – Sunday, 8/11!

Which color will you make the Musubime Bag in?

That’s all for today, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

Flash Friday – Tempera Socks

An image of colorful socks is modeled next to text that reads "Flash Pattern Friday. Tempera Socks knit in Uni Merino."

Hi friends, and happy Friday to you!

This is the 4th Friday of the month, so it’s Flash Pattern Friday, meaning that we give a normally paid pattern away for free for the weekend! Starting today, Friday, 7/26, you can get the Tempera Socks pattern for free on Ravelry with the code FLASH. This offer runs through Sunday, 7/28!

These vibrant socks use three colors of Uni Merino, a super fine 75% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon blend. This yarn comes in over 50 colors in a 100g put up, and its counterpart Uni Merino Mini is available in the same shades, but in smaller 25g skeins, making this yarn an ideal choice for colorwork projects! This family of yarn also includes Uni Merino Neons and Uni Merino Mini Neons, each with 5 brilliant hues to choose from. For this weekend only (7/26-7/28), take 20% off of any of these yarns – no code needed!

The Tempera Socks are knit from the cuff down in the round and feature a heel flap and gusset. There is also a fun zig-zaggy lace motif adorning the front side of these socks, along with some criss-crossed colorwork at the cuff. Altogether, this is a punchy project that will keep you excited the whole way through!

Which colors of Uni Merino do you think you’ll try out for the Tempera Socks? We can’t wait to see all of the variations that are made!
That’s all for today, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

Free Pattern Friday – Sunshine Throw Worsted

This Free Pattern Friday we bring you a lighter-weight version of our fan-favorite Sunshine Throw. Meet the Sunshine Throw – Worsted designed by Rachel Brockman.

Just like it’s cousin, the Sunshine Throw, the Sunshine Throw – Worsted uses our smooth and sumptuous Cotton Supreme yarn, the difference being that the first uses the yarn held doubled for a heavier weight throw. In comparison, the second uses the yarn held single for a lighter-weight throw perfect for warmer weather. Machine washable and dryable, this easy-care yarn is the ideal choice for any project that will see a lot of attention.

This weekend only, get 20% off Cotton Supreme through Sunday, June 23rd. What color will you choose for this elegant throw?

Keep on crafting on!

Afifa

Free Pattern Friday – Striated Shawl

A woman stands wearing a trendy outfit with a shawl draped around her shoulders. The caption reads Free Pattern Friday, Striated Shawl knit in Rico Design, Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK

Hello There! This week, we have a pattern that’s as sweet as sorbet. Introducing the Striated Shawl, designed by Afifa Sayeed. The self-shading hues of Rico Design’s Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK bring to mind the tasty treat, or the swirling striations of rock formations, for which it gets it’s namesake.

This petite shawl is knit from the bottom up, utilizing increases and decreases to create the edging shape. Stockinette is used throughout most of the project to showcase the beautiful tones and flecks of tweed in the yarn. Why go over the top with a complex stitch pattern when you can let the yarn do the talking?!

the Striated Shawl maximizes the use of 2 balls of Rico Design, Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK. This gorgeous yarn has a breezy chainette construction and is made of 47% cotton, 43% acrylic, 7% polyamide, and 3% viscose. The shading blends and shifts softly, like a watercolor painting, and is enhanced with the sprinkling of tweed throughout. While each ball is just 50g, there is a whopping 202 yards packed in each one – a testament to the lofty, lightweight tubular construction that makes this yarn perfect for most seasons.

The Striated Shawl will look great in any shade of Rico Design Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK! Which color do you think you’ll choose? This weekend only (today – Sunday 6/16) save 15% on this lovely yarn.
That’s all for today, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

Free Pattern Friday – Fleetwood

Happy Friday, friends!
This week we have a flowy and fun crochet duster called Fleetwood, designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. It’s named for Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, whose iconic, bohemian style includes all kinds of flowing garments like this one.

The pattern includes both a long version (pictured here) and a short version, that falls to about knee length. The main fabric is a crochet mesh that maximizes yardage, while creating an airy and summery vibe, and the whole thing is framed with cheery crochet granny square flower motifs.

The duster is made of Magnolia, a fingering weight yarn composed of 95% modal and 5% cashmere. The resulting fabric is silky smooth and boasts excellent drape. This yarn also excels at showing off gorgeous stitch definition! Check out our Sunkissed Summer collection, featuring five projects in Magnolia to see just how stunning this yarn is.

The flower motifs are made of Rico Design’s Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton. This dk weight yarn is made of 46% acrylic, 49% cotton, and 5% polyester. It’s spun with a solid ply and a variegated ply to create a sensational spectrum of color. I’ve paired three colors together to create flowers in inverse shades of each other which alternate around the duster – you can choose any that you like!

Fleetwood is free to download and is written in three, batched sizes which span from XS – 9X. The first size range includes XS-M, the second includes L-2X, and the third includes 3X-5X. Get your copy today, and be sure to pick up Magnolia and Rico Design’s Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton – both of which are 20% off their listed prices this weekend only!

That’s all for today, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

Free Pattern Friday – Whirligig Cardigan

A woman is posed on the left side, facing backwards showing the rear of a knit cardigan. the center of the image reads "Free Pattern Friday, Whirligig Cardigan knit in Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Speckles." The left side of the image shows the woman facing forward and showing a different angle of the knit cardigan.

Happy Friday, Friends!

This week we are releasing the Whirligig Cardigan, designed by Afifa Sayeed, which captures all of the whimsy and colors of spring! Two bold shades of Cotton Supreme collide with two punchy colors of Cotton Supreme Speckles to create swirly pinwheels all over.

Cotton Supreme is a ridiculously soft, worsted-weight, 100% cotton yarn. It’s available in a whopping 45 colors and is a dream to work with and wear, but its versatility is the real kicker. It’s suitable for homewares like baby blankets, washcloths, stuffed toys, and more. However, Cotton Supreme truly is most popular for garments and accessories worn close to the skin. It’s an approved yarn for sensitive skin types, and is used by many for chemo caps, like the Hope Hat.

Cotton Supreme Speckles is the variegated counterpart to Cotton Supreme. It has the same 100% cotton base and weight, and comes in 6 zippy colors, which can pair with their solid sisters in fun and exciting ways. The Whirligig Cardigan, and the Below blanket show off these complimenting abilities beautifully. If you’re unsure of which colors to pair up, rest assured that Cotton Supreme Speckles looks fabulous as a stand-alone-stunner. Check out the free Wildflower Tee pattern for inspiration!

We love all of the ways you can pair these yarns, and are so excited to feature them in this week’s Free Pattern Friday. The Whirligig Cardigan is an Easy pattern, suitable for adventurous beginners. It’s constructed of 52 individual squares that are knit on the bias. Once completed, they are sewn together based on a schematic, and finished with picked up stitches for sleeve hems and edging. I personally love projects that assemble from smaller pieces – they are so transportable! This is a great cardigan to make on-the-go.

So, what do you think you’ll make with Cotton Supreme or Cotton Supreme Speckles? Get both for your stash with our weekend sale! Today through Sunday 4/21 both of these yarns are 20% off on our website. Share your projects with us here in the comments, or send photos on social media – we love to see what you’re working on!

That’s all for now, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

Our 2024 Crafting Goals

We hope you accomplished all the crafting goals that you set out for in 2023, but if not, 2024 is a new opportunity! Our team has gathered together to come up with exciting personal crafting goals for the new year, and we want to hear yours as well. We invite you to take a peek below to check our teams aspirations for the year ahead!

Aubrey: “In 2024, I hope to get back into doing more hand embroidery on knitwear and ready-to-wear clothing! I loved designing the Verbena Pullover and getting to do the hand embroidery on that sample, so it would be exciting to expand my knowledge of hand embroidering on knits this year. We have some yarns in our line that will work fabulously for this, like Magnolia. This fingering weight yarn is delicate enough to show off complex embroidery designs and has a silky-smooth finish. Embroidery adds a touch of uniqueness to your projects or your everyday clothes, and the customization element makes them feel extra special and artistic.”

Ashley Jane: “I am a crocheter, but I have been taking on more and more knit projects. This year, my big resolutions are to try some new projects that would help me grow my knitting skills! First up, I want to try out the Forager Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman. They feature some beautiful lacework, which I have yet to try, so I am very excited about them. These socks call for Filly, which is a blend of 46% cotton, 33% superwash merino, 12% polyamide, and 9% PBT. It comes in 6 self-shading hues that are perfect for springtime. I think the color choices, along with the open lace design will make for a perfect warm-weather pair.

The other skill I want to try is cables, so I want to make myself the Carillon sweater, designed by Aubrey Busek Gray. I adore the twisting design on the front, and the overall elegance of this piece, which is enhanced by the 100% wool yarn, Deluxe Worsted. This yarn is available in over 80 colors, some of which are natural, undyed marvels. While the cabling may be a new challenge for me, I think the hardest part of this sweater will be choosing a favorite color!”

Afifa: “I knit my very first pair of socks last year and am now obsessed and want to hone my sock-knitting skills. I am excited to work on the Tempera Socks designed by Aubrey Busek. I love the combination of stripes and lacework in this pattern. The pattern is designed for Uni Merino, a blend of soft superwash merino wool and nylon, perfect for socks. With the wide range of shades available, the potential color combinations are endless. Here’s to having a drawer full of hand-knit socks by the end of the year!”

Robert: “As someone who never crafted much before my time here, 2023 was full of trying new things. As 2024 continues, I would like to take more time to weave and crochet, as I find these crafts relaxing. Universal Yarn has a beautiful display of yarns, but I am eyeing Zesty Sock for a few squares on the Zoom Loom.”

Zesty Sock

We want to hear from you! What are your crafting goals for 2024? Let us know in the comments below.

We love to see customer projects! Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see the creativity that exists in the crafting community. Plus, use #universalyarn when using our yarn for a chance to be shared in stories or on our feed!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert

12 Days of Winter – 2023 Kit Collection

Assortment of Knits with text "12 Days of Winter, the 2023 Kit collection"

Hello, December! It’s that time of year again, when we present to you our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. And, with bittersweet news, this is our last kit collection of this type. Join me today as I reflect on year’s past and share the exciting refreshed and new kits we are offering for 2023.

The cover from our very first edition of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, from 2017.

In 2017, when I first began working at Universal Yarn, we conceived the exciting idea to create twelve wintry accessories featuring a variety of our yarns to support our local yarn stores through the gift-giving season. These kits were designed to be beautiful, thoughtful finished objects to give a loved one, or to be a present for your best fiber friend. The designs were all centered around winter, and primarily meant to be useful beyond the holiday season. We dreamt of frozen lakes, snowy forests, the warmth and crackle of the fireplace, and twinkling lights. Then, we took that imagery and created a collection of twelve designs to inspire.

Top Left: Series 1 Snowflake Mitts / Top Right: Series 2 Mistletoes
Middle Left: Series 3 Mountain Pines / Middle Right: Series 4 Chai Latte Set
Bottom Left: Series 5 Crochet Cinnamon Swirl Stole / Bottom Right Series 6 Hubble the Winter Wolf

Pictured above are some of the highlights our the past six years of 12 Days of Winter. In those years, we have published a total of 76 knitting and crochet patterns to celebrate the season. From mitts and hats to scarves and stuffies, we truly have something for everyone in these collections. As we reflected on which of these patterns were best loved for Series 7, we wanted to rekindle the joy they brought you. With that said, we are so proud to share our latest 12 Days of Winter Kit collection, which features old favorites and new patterns alike.

The Cover of our 12 Days of Winter 2023 Kit Collection

First, let’s talk about some of the oldies but goodies. Eight of the patterns in this collection were revisited from previous years. We’ve refreshed them with exciting new yarns. Take Aspen, for example. This beloved classic cabled scarf was a hit during our third year of the kit collection. It’s intricately winding cables are impressive, but easier to achieve than one might expect. This year, we’ve paired it with a yarn destined to shine in cables: Yarn Vibes Cliffs of Moher. Its rustic, plump hand gives the cables such a warm and woolly texture.

The popular Forest Garland, which has both a knit and crochet version, was reimagined using our Cotton Supreme and Cotton Gold yarns held together. The shimmering sequins of Cotton Gold make it look just like twinkly lights or beautiful bulbs decorating a Christmas tree.

New yarns are just part of revisiting our previous years of patterns. As you can see so far, we’ve been swapping colors as well. That’s the case for each of these patterns, and I especially love how it worked out for the Blue Spruce Socks and Snow Day Set. We opted for unexpected yarns and icy shades to maximize the wintry impact. The Blue Spruce Socks use two strands of Uni Merino together, and the Snow Day Set takes Rico Design’s Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed on a frosty adventure!

Originally from Series 2, We Three Hats and Snowfolk were especially favored among our in-house team and our customers. We kept the yarn for We Three Hats the same, but played around with cool shades of sugarplum and icy blues. This outstanding kit is like three in one, because you’ll have enough Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash to make all three hats and enjoy a sampling of fun techniques! Similarly, one kits gets you all three Snowfolk, lovingly named Agnes, Dorothy, and Maureen. This year, these ladies got a makeover with all new accessories in best-selling Uptown Worsted to keep cozy on a cold winter’s day.

Although all of the kits we’ve revisited so far were featured in previous 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections, not all of those from this year are. In fact, we’ve taken two stunning kits from discontinued yarns and gave them new life! The Holiday Stockings and the Illuvia Shawl were once part of our Dona color kits. Their techniques made them a perfect fit for the collection. The stranded Holiday Stockings, now knit in Rico Design Baby Dream DK Uni are a joyful home décor project just waiting to be stuffed with little trinkets. The colorful Illuvia Shawl, now knit in Wool Pop, features a sampling of exciting stitches that will delight you as you knit, and impress your giftee!

Finally, we’re happy to introduce some brand new patterns to you! The last four kits I’ll touch on were designed to round out this year’s collection. The first two, Mini Marshmallow and the Twilight Socks, are special because they combine different yarns for impact. Mini Marshmallow is actually a tiny version of his big brother, Marshmallow, from Series 5. This little best friend would make the sweetest gift for your little one. I can easily see their little body popping out of the aforementioned Holiday Stockings on Christmas morning, just waiting to be hugged! Mini Marshmallow is knit using plush, soft Bella Chenille, and their stylish sweater is knit with colorful Rico Design Creative Melange Chunky.

The Twilight Socks are the advanced sock knitter’s dream. The intricate motif combines twisted stitches and mosaic knitting, and the results couldn’t be more jaw-dropping. Here, we’ve paired the variegated marls of Cobblestone with the saturation of Uni Merino into one amazing pair of socks.

The next two accessories will keep your neck and shoulders toasty and warm all season long! Crochet enthusiasts will absolutely adore Milky Way, a cozy cowl featuring the brilliant self-shading hues of Colorburst. The spike stitches blend the colors together and create a finished piece as impressive as the galaxy we call home. Unlike the kaleidoscope of colors seen in Milky Way, the knitted Snowstorm scarf looks a bit more neutral in Kingston Tweed. Gray and navy tones in a mosaic colorwork pattern will remind you of a nighttime blizzard, and the soft pink edges bring to mind rosy cheeks out in the cold.

There you have it – our designs for the final edition of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections. We deeply appreciate all of your enthusiasm for these patterns and kits over the years. We hope each one has filled you with warmth and holiday cheer. And if these collections were something you looked forward to each year, fear not – we promise we will have many more festive treats in store for you in the years to come!

Be merry, my fiber friends, and have a wonderful holiday season!
-Rachel

Flash Pattern Friday: Peri

It’s Flash Pattern Friday! On this holiday weekend, we’re sharing Peri (link), knit in our sumptuous Truva yarn.

Peri is part of our On the Line pattern collection, available at this link. This top-down, seamless pullover with raglan shaping has gentle bishop sleeves that are gathered at the wrists. The yoke is dotted with striped seed stitch to create textural interest. Purl ridges divide the seed stitch from the rest of the sweater, which is worked in stockinette stitch and K1, P1 ribbing using solid colors.

Like I mentioned earlier, Peri is knit using our 50/50 cashmere/cotton blend, Truva. This yarn is easily one of my favorites for its heathered hues and soft hand. The blend also makes it a wonderful choice for garments worn Autumn through Spring. For a yarn with so much depth in color, its smooth structure lends itself to excellent stitch definition, so we love it in patterns with simple texture. You can see this in Peri, but also in each of the other pieces in the On the Line collection.

To get Peri for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer runs through Monday, November 27th.

The deals don’t stop there, though! In addition to getting Peri for free, you can pick up any of the patterns you’ve been eyeing in our Ravelry store for 50% off, no code needed. And while you’re sorting out your pattern queue, stock up on yarn, needles, and notions on our website, where we’re holding a sale! Take 30% off yarn, kits, and muud products, and 15% off ChiaoGoo products. All of these deals last through Monday, November 27th. We’re thankful for you, and you deserve these savings!

What do you plan to cast on this weekend? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Happy stitching,
Rachel