This week, we bring to you the Poinsettia Stockings (link here), a simple but beautiful home accent available in both knit and crochet versions! Rachel Brockman and Ashley Jane McIntyre (that’s me!) teamed up to bring you this festive duo inspired by the quintessential holiday flower, the poinsettia.
Left to Right: Poinsettia Stockings knit and crochet versions.
Here’s a bit of fun history that you can take along to holiday parties! The poinsettia flower is native to southern Mexico. There, it is called the Flor de la Noche Buena, meaning, Flower of the Holy Night. This name was actually given to it due to its resemblance to the renowned Star of Bethlehem. This perennial shrub can grow 10 to 15 feet tall in the wild, and flowers during the winter season. I learned this from Almanac.com, and you can read more about its various uses, popularity, and lore there. For now, let’s get back to our inspired stockings!
Clockwise from top: Deluxe Stripes in 309 Crayon Box, 311 Tie Dye, 310 Poinsettia
Deluxe Stripes comes in 9 different self-striping colorways which are perfect for giving simple projects an effortless bit of wow-factor. We decided to use color 310 Poinsettia as our guiding star for the design, leaning in to its classic holiday shades. This worsted weight yarn comes in 100g balls (218 yards) and is made of 75% super wash wool and 25% nylon. The bit of elasticity from the nylon was specially chosen by our design team to make this an ideal yarn for fast and cozy self-striping socks, like the Deluxe Socks. However, you can go beyond socks and make anything, like the Azelea Shawl, Art Class Cardigan, or of course, the Poinsettia Stockings.
Deluxe Worsted Superwash in 774 Mistletoe
Accenting the stocking as a complimentary color is our Deluxe Worsted Superwash in 738 Christmas Green, which matches a shade of green from the Deluxe Stripes used as the main color in the stocking. This yarn is made of 100% superwash wool and comes in in 100g balls (218 yards). It has a whopping 68 colors to select from, making it one of the ultimate stash staples, and is perfect for finding perfect matches to multi-colored yarns.
Poinsettia Stocking – Knit
My favorite thing about this pattern is that you have access to either a knit version or a crochet version. It’s always so wonderful to be able to include both skills for the same piece! How many of you will try out both of them? If you know how to knit and crochet, this could be a great way to incorporate different fabric textures for a way to make your stockings stand out uniquely in addition to mixing and matching color options.
Poinsettia Stocking – Crochet
Whichever version you choose, be sure to share photos of your work on social media, and tag us in the post! Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn. We can’t wait to see all of the beautiful festive creations that our fiber friends come up with.
Can you believe November is already coming to a close? It’s Flash Pattern Friday!
Our model, Bette, wears the Ardenne Shawl wrapped cozily around her shoulders. Her outfit is glittering and joyful – perfect for the holiday season!
On the last Friday of the month, we temporarily make one of our paid patterns free! Today, we’re *sparkling* joy with the Ardenne shawl in Noelle and Universe (Ravelry link here).
Two contrasting shades of Noelle and Universe look marvelous together.
Ardenne was originally published in 2021 as part of the ebook, Subtle Glow. This collection celebrates all things sparkly, with its focus on our soft, luxurious Noelle yarn. For Ardenne, I amped up the glow by adding stripes of our beloved Universe yarn. Mixing yarns is a fantastic way to incorporate interesting visual and textural effects into your craft. In some ways, Noelle and Universe seem opposite – Noelle features a chainette construction with baby alpaca and merino wool fibers blown through, creating a lightweight, fluffy, and airy yarn that is super warm and soft – perfect for winter. On the other hand, Universe is a sturdy yarn made from a blend of cotton and linen, making it especially ideal for the warmer seasons. Although both yarns are gorgeously glittery, their textures are so different that you might not expect them to pair well with one another. And yet – they work so well together, as demonstrated in Ardenne.
The original version of this shawl features Noelle in #304 Calypso as the main color, and Universe in #10-01 Paper as the contrast color. The palette in both yarns offers some beautiful alternatives, and I thought it would be nice to share my favorites. Pictured above is “Pretty in Pink,” an option that is monochromatic but with excellent contrast. I think this would be especially cute for Valentine’s Day! For a lower-contrast, yet playful take on the shawl, I recommend my “Warm & Whimsical” option. This option feels a bit more unexpected, and that’s what I love about it.
This detailed shot of Ardenne illustrates the scalloped edge of the lace border, the lovely drape of the fabric, and the eyelet rows that open up the body of the shawl.
With the holiday season and winter just around the corner, what better way to celebrate than with a shimmering pattern? Warm and cozy, yet drapey and lightweight, Ardenne is the perfect piece to wear over your holiday ensemble. Amplify the sparkle factor, as shown on our model, Bette, or dress up an otherwise understated outfit.
The asymmetrical shape of Ardenne is visible when worn draped over the back of the shoulders.
I love knitting shawls on the bias. The spiral of the draped fabric always looks so elegant, and they tend to be long enough to wrap around your shoulders easily. Plus, the asymmetrical shape adds a touch of modernity to them that I love. Ardenne features alternating stripes of Noelle and Universe, broken up with eyelet rows. It’s a rhythmic and enjoyable knit. It’s finished off with a decorative garter lace border – a lovely final touch.
Click the image to head to Ravelry and download your copy of Ardenne for FREE!
To get Ardenne free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter the coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase, and click “apply”. Not a Ravelry user? No problem! Simply drop us a line by emailing patterns@universalyarn.com by the end of Sunday, 11/27, and we’ll get you taken care of the week of 11/28. (Note – our offices are closed today, 11/25/22).
Use this graphic to guide you through the process of entering a coupon code on Ravelry, to get Ardenne for free.
Before I wrap up, I’d like to share a couple of special things with you that are relevant for this extended weekend. First – not only are we offering Ardenne for free, but we’re having a pattern sale on Ravelry through Monday, 11/28! That’s right, ALL of the patterns in our Ravelry store are 50% off, no code needed!
Finally, tomorrow is Small Business Saturday! If you’re doing holiday shopping, it’s a great time to visit your local yarn store (LYS) and stock up on your favorites from Universal Yarn. It’s the perfect compliment to our Ravelry pattern sale. You can find our stockists at this link.
We know some people don’t have a local yarn store nearby. If that’s the case, don’t worry, we’re also hosting a sale on our website. There are plenty of ways to stock up on yarns, patterns, and more this weekend!
We hope you enjoy this holiday weekend! Happy crafting! -Rachel
Today’s free pattern is the Ruby Shawl DK, which combines two colors of beautiful self-shading Colorburst with Deluxe DK Superwash. This is a dynamic shawl perfect for the chilly days ahead!
The Ruby Shawl DK was created based on the original Ruby Shawl pattern, which appeared in the e-book Noda Knits. The original shawl was a popular pattern, and we wanted to give it a fresh, lighter-weight update for the season.
The Ruby Shawl DK was designed by Amy Gunderson, and features a modular construction and bold stripes. This shawl is fantastic for a variety of skill levels, as the stripes worked use just garter and stockinette stitches. The modular construction will offer the beginner knitter a way to advance their skills, and will also keep any seasoned knitter’s interest.
Beautiful stripes created with self-shading Colorburst and Deluxe DK Superwash
What I love most about the Ruby Shawl DK is the gorgeous shifts in color throughout the piece. That is thanks to 65% superwash merino wool / 35% acrylic blend Colorburst. This single-ply yarn has long color shifts that create a stunning array of shades in any project. Two different colors, 106 Earth and Sky, and 119 Bursa were used to bring the Ruby Shawl DK to life. With over 600 yards in each skein, you’re guaranteed to have some leftover yarn. Perhaps you can create a matching hat to go with your shawl?
Colorburst is complimented by workhorse yarn Deluxe DK Superwash. This 100% superwash wool yarn is great for just about any project, and has excellent stitch definition, clearly evident in the Ruby Shawl DK. The warm tone of 841 Pomegranate Heather is lovely for the autumn season, but with an extensive color palette available, you can customize your shawl to best suit your wardrobe.
Ruby Shawl DK and muud Sara bag
The best thing about creating your own accessories is the infinite possibilities of wearing them. It is a great way to express your personal style, and show off something you are proud of creating. No matter how you choose to rock your Ruby Shawl DK, I am sure you will get compliments on your hard work!
We hope you have a fantastic weekend, and have fun picking out your favorite colors of yarn for this project!
We’re so thrilled to announce that we’re hosting a fresh knitalong featuring a fabulous new pattern! Join us from October 3rd to November 4th for the Party Flag Socks KAL!
Say “hello” to the Party Flag Socks in Uni Merino!
Why Join a KAL (Knitalong)?
There are lots of reasons to join a knitalong! It’s a great way to join other crafters and bond over the experience of working on the same project together. We’ll cheer one another on, share tips and tricks, offer support, and generally keep one another motivated. Plus, what could be more fun than gushing over your new favorite project with fellow fiber friends?
How to Join the KAL
It’s simple! Grab your yarn and the pattern, snap and share photos of your WIP (work in progress) and share them using the hashtag #PartyFlagSocksKAL on social media. We’ll predominantly be hosting this KAL on Instagram and Ravelry. Here is how you can join in:
Follow along on Instagram! Tag us @universal_yarn and the designer, Allison Lutes @fieldwonderful, and don’t forget to use the hashtag we mentioned above. Every Wednesday during the KAL, we’ll share your progress!
Join our Ravelry Group! We’ll open a Ravelry thread with information about the KAL, where you can chat, ask questions, and share photos with other participants and our staff throughout the KAL.
You can share on Facebook, too! Tag us @universalyarn and use the hashtag above.
We’ll be posting our progress periodically here on our blog, too.
Important Note: By tagging us and using the hashtag #PartyFlagSocksKAL, you are consenting to us sharing those photos on our Instagram and/or blog.
How Long is the KAL?
This KAL lasts from 10/3/22 – 11/4/22. That’s a little over one month to knock out a pair of socks. To be eligible for a special “sur-prize” you’ll need to share your FO (finished object) with us, but you don’t need to finish to join in on the fun. All are welcome and encouraged to participate!
Tell Me About the Pattern!
We’ve collaborated with the talented Allison Lutes for this design! As soon as we saw her concept, we simply fell in love. While there are many exciting sock patterns out there, we were just so charmed by the simple but unique motif decorating the entire sock. Plus, the contrasting heels, toes, and cuffs are irresistible! This pattern was specifically designed for our new yarn, Uni Merino & Uni Merino Mini. This 75/25 blend of superwash merino and nylon is perfect for cozy, soft, and durable socks. The palette features fifty colors, so you can mix and match to your heart’s delight!
Ready to prepare? Here is what you’ll need to get started!
Materials
YARN
You’ll need five different colors to make a version like those pictured in our sample. Does that sound like too much for you? No worries! Allison cleverly created four Party Flag motif charts for you to get your creative juices flowing – one chart that reflects the sample socks, two 2-color options (one dark background, one light background), and a color-your-own version! We recommend choosing two to five colors, but the truth is you could get playful and add as many colors as you wish!
Do you need to use Uni Merino? We recommend it, but you don’t have to use it to participate! Bamboo Pop Sock Solids and Multis are a great choice if you prefer a wool-free sock yarn. Feel free to reach out to us if you’d like guidance in choosing a different yarn from our offerings. We’re always happy to help!
To make socks that match our sample you’ll need the following:
131 Nautical (MC) – 2 mini skeins
114 Honeycomb (CC1) – 1 mini skein*
142 Romance (CC2) – 1 mini skein
132 Lighthouse (CC3) – 1 mini skein
112 Carrot (CC4) – 1 mini skein*
*Please note: due to supply chain issues, we currently do not have mini-skeins in stock for colors 114 Honeycomb and 112 Carrot. These colors are available in 100-gram skeins. If you prefer to use the mini skeins, we recommend substituting 113 Sundial for CC1, and 111 Oriole for CC4. We are also always happy to help you choose colors. Never hesitate to reach out to us!
NEEDLES
US Size 1 (2.25 mm) DPNs or your preferred needles for knitting small circumferences in the round or size needed to obtain gauge
US Size 2 (2.75 mm) DPNs or your preferred needles for knitting small circumferences in the round or size needed to obtain gauge
Remember, needle sizes are always a suggestion as every knitter’s tension is unique!
NOTIONS
Stitch markers (plus one unique marker to denote the beginning of each round)
Tapestry needle (for Kitchener stitch and weaving in ends)
Waste yarn (for the afterthought heel)
Anything Else?
The pattern will be available to download for free from our website on Monday, October 3rd. We’ll make this announcement publicly, so if you follow us, you won’t miss it!
Happy September! While I’m not one to wish away the summer, I cannot help but feel so excited about the things we’re sharing this autumn season. Even if it’s still hot out, the sun is setting earlier and even a few leaves are beginning to turn. These things signal what may collectively be a knitter’s favorite season: autumn! And what better way to celebrate than with a lovely new pattern collection? Say hello to Soft Simplicity!
The cover of our latest ebook, Soft Simplicity.
This collection features projects that make our gorgeous yarn, Minou, the star of the show. Minou is our take on eyelash yarns – and there are few yarns out there that can compare! This kitten-soft yarn features fluffy strands of baby alpaca and merino wool that jut gently out of the nylon thread base. The strands are just about 1/4″ long – just enough length to make a statement without being over the top.
Minou in shades 108 Tanager (red), 107 Heron (grey-blue/green), and 101 Borzoi (cream).
Because Minou is so fluffy and furlike, it’s a great choice for soothing, simple stitches. It’s a match for garter and stockinette stitch on its own, or as a carry-along with your other favorite yarns. You’ll see it featured as a single strand, held together with another yarn, and in stranded colorwork in this collection. Let’s take a closer look.
The Feathered Vest.
First up: the Feathered Vest. This vest is casual and cozy. In the early days of Autumn, wear it as a top that just hints at cooler days ahead. When it’s a bit chilly, it makes a fabulous layering piece. The knitted vest has made quite a resurgence in the past year or two, and we don’t see any reason that should change. I knew this collection wouldn’t feel complete without one. Rather than stick to a solid color, I opted for a pop along the hem and neckband. It’s just enough color to elevate this piece from drab to fab.
This vest is constructed seamlessly from the bottom up in one piece. The front and back are separated at the underarms and worked flat. Then, the shoulders are joined using the three-needle bind-off. Finally, stitches are picked up along the armhole and neckband for a tidy finish.
The Forest Slipper Socks.
The Forest Slipper Socks are a great addition to your sock drawer. Comfy and casual, you’ll love wearing these around the house on a Saturday morning. For this design, I actually did choose a stitch motif, and it’s faintly visible. That’s because its functionality is really what I was after. These slipper socks feature a garter rib that provides a bit of memory and stretch, which is what you want in a pair of socks. In this design, I’ve paired Minou with Bamboo Pop Sock Solids. Bamboo Pop Sock is a customer favorite, and its PBT content adds extra elasticity and helps your socks maintain their shape over time. Because you hold a strand of each yarn together throughout the project, these work up pretty quickly, too!
These socks are knit seamlessly in the round from the cuff down. They feature a heel flap and gusset. Simple shaping forms the toe, then the toe is closed using Kitchener stitch. It’s the most complex pattern in the collection, and it would be helpful if you are already familiar with basic sock techniques before diving in because it can be a little tricky to read your knitting (more on that later!).
The Pacific Cardigan.
Next up is my favorite piece in the collection: the Pacific Cardigan. This minimalist cardigan is open, features almost no shaping, and is just so easy to wear. I’m perpetually chilly indoors, so cardigans like this are perfect for me year-round. The silhouette is fairly boxy – with sleeves slightly more fitted at the upper arm, but are loose and open at the cuffs. Although it’s simple, Minou’s gorgeous color and texture take this cardi to the next level.
The body of the Pacific Cardigan is worked flat in one piece, beginning with the back hem and working up and over the shoulders. The left and right front are separated at the shoulders and worked separately. After sewing the sides of the body together, the stitches for the sleeves are picked up from around the armholes and worked in the round from the top down.
Speck Cowl – Version ASpeck Cowl – Version B
Finally, we have the Speck Cowl. A yarn like Minou simply begs to be worn around your neck – it’s just so lush and cozy! I wanted the design to incorporate low-contrast stranded colorwork, using Minou to make little specks of fluff to decorate the piece. Funny story, though, is that my very trusty sample knitter accidentally swapped the colors in the pattern. I noticed her sneak peek photo was more fluffy than my swatch, but I actually loved it. We chatted a bit and decided it would be great to show both options. So, two versions of this cowl were born! You can see both versions in the photo above – Version B (right) shows Minou as the non-dominant yarn, and the “speck” effect is more apparent. Version A (left) shows Minou as the dominant yarn – notice how much fluffier it is than Version B! I can’t choose a favorite – for the same pattern, the results are strikingly different.
The Speck Cowls are knit in the round from the bottom up. They incorporate a very simple stranded colorwork motif. The top and bottom border feature a few rows of garter stitch. This is probably the perfect “entry-level” Minou pattern. Speaking of “entry-level”, I’ve included some tips and tricks for working with Minou that are helpful whether you’re a newbie or a longtime fiber artist. I hope you find them helpful!
Tips and Tricks for working with Minou Most of the patterns in this collection are pretty easy, featuring little more than the foundational skills of knits, purls, color changes, and basic decreases. However, being so fluffy, it can be challenging to read your work while knitting with Minou. Counting rows and picking up stitches isn’t as easy as it is with a round, smooth yarn (such as our beloved Deluxe Worsted or Bamboo Pop, for example). Here are a few tips to ensure your project goes smoothly.
Work in bright light. This will make it easier to see your fabric, especially when picking up stitches or seaming.
Swatch! Yes – you need to do it, and not just because your swatch will determine your sweater fit. In the case of Minou and other eyelash yarns, a swatch will help you practice simply by getting a feel for what it’s like to work with the yarn.
When swatching, it can be difficult to count the number of rows and stitches you’ve worked. Take notes regarding the exact number of stitches and rows you knit, and measure the piece you knit rather than counting individual stitches or rows (see next tip!)
Use a row counter, especially when shaping the armholes or neckband. Often, our patterns tell you to work until the piece measures a specific length. We typically include a little buffer of even length to account for any differences with the row gauge. If you use a row counter, you’ll easily be able to track exactly how many rows you worked to achieve the specific length, and thus can ensure the sides and front/back of the piece are perfectly symmetrical.
If the pattern is knit flat, like the body of the Pacific Cardigan, use a removable marker to denote the Right Side and Wrong Side of the work. Because the yarn is fluffy, reverse Stockinette stitch and Stockinette stitch can end up looking very similar, so this tip is especially helpful.
Take your time! We all know knitting isn’t a speedy endeavor, but it’s especially important to slow down when working with eyelash yarns like Minou. This will help you process everything you’re doing more easily, and you’ll be less likely to make mindless mistakes. (Learn from me, I’m the queen of mindless knitting mishaps!)
If you make a mistake, take a deep breath. Although it can be difficult to see your stitches with Minou, the flip side is that it will also hide your mistakes very well. Now, I’m not advocating that we just ignore every knitting mistake we make – it’s good practice to fix your knitting. If you need to frog any part of your work, just take it slow and be careful not to rip back aggressively so as not to damage the yarn. With that said, it is alsovery much okay to embrace the imperfection and move forward.
Thanks for joining me today as I dished about our new collection, Soft Simplicity. I hope you enjoy each pattern and find the tips and tricks for working with Minou helpful. Be sure to check out all of the ways we’ve been using Minou, too! You can see all of our offerings at this link.
Hi everyone! My name is Robert Ferrel, and I am a new employee here at Universal Yarn. In May of 2022, I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Go Niners), and a week later I started my role here as the Social Media Marketing Assistant! In college, I majored in marketing and wanted the opportunity to grow my skill set and I have found that at UY.
Picture of me (Robert) in Uptown Charlotte (Photo Credit: Zachary Allred Photography)
I have greatly enjoyed my first few months here and have learned so much about the industry. Growing up, you never would have found me knitting or crocheting, and I didn’t know many people who did, but I have grown to appreciate the art. I have created content for so many yarns already, so it may be hard for me to pick just one as my favorite, so instead, I will list my top 3.
Clean Cotton is one of my favorite yarns here at UY. One of the things I love about this yarn is the fact that it is environmentally friendly, with the fiber contents being 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled polyester. This yarn is very affordable and is perfect for making useful kitchen accessories. As a recent college graduate, the Mosaic Dish Towels and Fresh Air Washcloths can help keep my kitchen appliances clean… and maybe convince my mother that I am no longer an unorganized college kid. “Love you, mom.” It is great for any season because it is so versatile in the types of projects it can create, and there are plenty of colors to choose from, including neutral, but also some bolder and brighter colors.
Mosaic Dish Towels using Clean Cotton
Another favorite of mine here at Universal Yarn is Deluxe Stripes. I’m not going to lie, when I first saw the Deluxe Stripes skeins, I was a bit intimidated by all the different colors, but when worked up, this yarn created a lot of beautiful garments and accessories. I don’t have the patience to hand wash my clothes or accessories, so the fact that it is machine washable makes it much easier to care for. The 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon mix make it great for socks. The Deluxe Socks is a free pattern and if you’re anything like me, wearing socks around the house has become a must. With 9 different colorways available, it’s hard to pick what I want on my feet, but you can’t go wrong with any of these colors.
Deluxe Socks using Deluxe Stripes
Lastly, I will give a shout-out to Bella Chenille. This yarn has been my favorite from the time I started here. It is incredibly soft and there are 29 different solid colors to choose from. My favorite has to be 117 Red Apple because it literally reminds me of an apple, which is one of the most delicious fruits. There are plenty of fun patterns to try with Bella Chenille, but my favorite is Peanut Butter and Jelly. These stuffed bears are an excellent creation to have by your side day and night.
Peanut Butter and Jelly in Bella Chenille
I can’t help but feel blessed to be a part of the Universal Yarn team, and I look forward to learning more about yarn, knitting, crocheting, and everything in-between!
This week we released the bright and flirty Sunkissed Summer collection! It features five summery projects to knit and crochet, and trust me – you’ll want to make all five.
Sunkissed Summer: the Magnolia spring collection
This collection highlights our light and luxurious Magnolia yarn. Its modal and cashmere blend makes for projects that are silky, smooth, and perfect for the warm weather of the season. Some fiber friends have shared that it’s hard to stay motivated to work on projects when it’s warm, but it’s actually the perfect time to set aside wool and welcome in this lighter alternative. It is a delight to work with, and finished projects boast a beautiful sheen and incredible drape. Plus the colors are all so juicy and fun. With names like Dreamsicle, Brunch, and Key Lime, you feel like you’re indulging in all the best parts of summer while you work!
Magnolia
The first project I’d like to feature is the crocheted Paradise Pouch – my own design! This was a joy to create and I’m thrilled to have the chance to share a bit about it. The bag features two identical panels with a vibrant central mandala that is rhythmic to create. You’ll explore post-stitch work along with texture-rich rounds to make this mesmerizing accessory. For added intrigue there are colorful tassels that frame your work with fun!
Paradise Pouch designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre
Next up, lets take a look at Sunburst by Aubrey Busek. Its design captures the radiance of a rising sun with curved sections reaching like rays towards the burst of fringy tassels along the edge. The lace and bold colors create dynamic lines and shapes that can spice up any outfit you choose. When you drape this piece around you, you’ll feel transported to a breezy beach which you can carry with you wherever you go.
Sunburst Shawl by Aubrey Busek
Lastly, lets check out Sailfin, a striped stunner by Rachel Brockman. This colorful scarf is inspired by the glorious stripes of the saltwater sailfin fish. The scarf’s eye-catching colors and pattern are just as captivating as its underwater muse. The smooth texture allows for the colors and drape of Magnolia to stand out and shine. Pair this accessory with your favorite summer outfit and be ready to receive joyful compliments all day!
Sailfin by Rachel Brockman
There are still two other projects, the Painted Sunset shawl and the Seagrass top, yet to explore in this collection. Which one is your favorite? If you’re like me and you are having a hard time choosing, then get them all! The collection bundle is just $20 compared to $6 for each accessory pattern, and $7 for the Seagrass top. Until Friday 5/13 there is even more savings on our Ravelry page. To celebrate this collection release, you can snag an extra 15% off – no code needed!
Painted Sunset shawl and Seagrass top
That’s all for now, friends. Happy Stitching! Ashley Jane
This week we released our newest collection, Tiny Textures, which is truly the cutest little gathering of knitwear items I’ve seen all spring! There are five easy projects to knit up and give to a baby or toddler in your life – whether for your own munchkins, or as a gift for others in your life, each design is sure to be a cherished keepsake for years to come.
Tiny Textures Collection
All of the projects are made with our Uptown Worsted Hues yarn. It’s the newest addition to the Uptown line of yarns, featuring beautifully blended pastel colors that look great in any piece! From baby items, to adult garments, accessories, and homewares, this yarn is a wonderful way to bring a burst of color into the mix. Uptown Worsted Hues anti-pilling, 100% acrylic composition and Standard 100 certification by Oeko-Tex made this yarn an easy choice for a kids collection though. It can handle the rough-and-tumble nature of kiddos well, as it is fully machine washable and easy to care for.
Uptown Worsted Hues
One of my favorite pieces to come out of this collection is the Peyton cardigan. It has such a playful take on a sophisticated “grown up cardigan” by featuring squiggly lines, made of cable cross stitches, where one may expect to see more typical cables. Plus there’s room for more unexpected fun by incorporating buttons! You may choose to go with a clean look by using cohesive, round wooden buttons from Katrinkles, like we did. Or you could get quirky by browsing some of her more eccentric options, or by sourcing some from wherever you’d like! No matter where they are from, buttons are always a great way to make a piece feel truly unique and special.
Peyton Cardigan
The other teeny temptation creeping onto my make-list is the Elouise set. The hat and cowl have sweet little details that make them look quite polished for being so small. The hat features a little cinched gathering at the brim that hints at old-glam style, while the cowl sports a button closure, leaving room for more of that individual refinement we talked about above. The slip stitch pattern worked on both the hat and cowl has just the right amount of texture to give this set a certain je ne sais quoi that would simply lack if it were done in a smooth stockinette. Wouldn’t you agree?
Elouise Set
Be sure to check out all 5 of the tiny textured pieces, and start plotting which ones you’ll make today! Which one do you think you’ll make first? That’s all for now, Happy Stitching y’all, Ashley Jane
Hi there, crafters! We’ve entered one of my favorite times of year: spring. Flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, the days are longer, and the air smells sweeter. This is a great time to break out the warm weather yarns and start a new project! Easter is just around the corner, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some patterns that I think are perfect for the holiday and the spring season.
Easter Earl, a stylish little bird
I couldn’t mention patterns for the season without first sharing Easter Earl. Designed by Rachel Brockman, Easter Earl is an adorable stuffed chick that is knit using Ricorumi DK Cotton. Easter Earl is approx 8″ tall, perfect for decorating a dresser or desk, and his body is knit in the round from the bottom up. The wings, feet, and bow tie are worked separately and sewn to the body. If you’re a knitter looking to make a stuffed toy, Easter Earl is a great place to begin! Ricorumi Cotton DK is designed for amigurumis and other small projects. It is a soft, yet durable cotton and holds structure for projects like these. Whether you make Easter Earl to fill a gift basket, or for yourself ‘just because’, he is a fun project that will get you in the mood for the season!
Lunaria Socks
The Lunaria Socks, designed by Allison Lutes, were our free pattern Friday release last week. Made using two colors of our Bamboo Pop Sock, I can guarantee these will become your favorite warm weather socks. Bamboo Pop Sock is a stretchy blend of bamboo, cotton, and PBT that is cool and breathable. They are worked from the cuff down with a heel flap & gusset construction. Allison added a sweet floral motif, tiny bobbles, and a cute picot edge to the cuff for this design. As a girly-girl who loves anything floral, I absolutely love these spring-y socks! I’d make mine using the colors 606 Valentine and 603 Dandelion.
Cotton Candy Swirl Shawl
Everyone loves a one-skein-wonder project! If you have somewhere to go for Easter or another event this spring, consider making the Cotton Candy Swirl shawl. Crocheted using our 100% superwash extra fine merino yarn, Cobblestone, Cotton Candy Swirl is an easy level pattern that uses treble crochet stitches to create a lacy fabric. Cobblestone boasts over 600 yards per skein, so one will make up this entire accessory. Perfect for throwing over your shoulders for an event (a spring wedding, perhaps?) or just for going out and running errands, the Cotton Candy Swirl shawl is a piece of cake.
Bunny Got Back Socks
In the mood to make something whimsical? I love the Bunny Got Back knit socks, designed by Amy Gunderson. These ankle socks feature an adorable colorwork pattern of little bunny backs, and a pom pom on the ankle. You can sport your own bunny tails now! Using a soft color palette of our Bella Cash yarn, it keeps them wearable for every day. Bella Cash is a blend of superwash fine merino, cashmere, and nylon that is currently 50% off on our website! This fine weight yarn makes a great choice for delicate garments and accessories, kids projects, as well as socks. It is easy to care for, but has a luxurious feel due to the cashmere fiber content.
Pierpont Sweater
The last pattern I wanted to mention is the Pierpont sweater, designed by Melissa Leapman for our Perennial Knits pattern collection. Knit using cotton/extra fine merino/cashmere blend Ravello, this sweater is lacy and dramatic in all the right ways. My grandmother was a super stylish lady, and she loved interior decorating. This sweater reminds me of the little ceramic apricot color bunnies she always decorated with for Easter, which is why I wanted to share it in this post. I think it would be a perfect garment to wear for any event you have this spring, or just for your Easter family brunch. Ravello’s fine weight combined with its fiber content make it perfect for the spring season. It is light and breathable, but will keep you warm if there is a chill in the air. If peach tones aren’t your thing, don’t fret. Ravello comes in a widely varied color palette with something for everyone.
Bamboo Pop Sock yarn
Comment which of these spring projects you’d want to make first! Stay tuned this week for even more Easter fun coming to our website!
It’s that time of year where we welcome the new season, and immediately start seeing new collections, inspiration, and beautiful projects that we want to create. But if you’re like me, you may feel guilty pouncing on all the tempting newly-released offerings – like our Spring Magic collection in Vireo, or our sinfully smooth yarn Magnolia – before using up your current stash. So, let’s take a look at some fun quick projects that may help you clear out some room to make way for all of the new yarns that you’re sure to acquire.
First, lets check out the recently released freebie Color Blocked Scarf. It’s made using just three balls of Minou in colors 106 Panther, 105 Squirrel, and 104 Kitten, and has that coffee shop chic look that can transition to spring in that effortlessly cool kind of way. Even with it being a fluffy yarn, it’s so lightweight and soft, made of 40% Baby Alpaca, 8% Merino Wool, and 52% Nylon, that it’s not overwhelming enough to be a strictly cold-weather piece. It can also be fun to do this one mixing and matching with other colors in your stash to create some truly unique pieces!
Cotton Candy Swirl Shawl by Universal Design Team
Next up, lets look at the Cotton Candy Swirl shawl. This one-ball-wonder uses a 200g ball of our Cobblestone in the color 107 Cotton Candy. The yarn is made of 100% merino wool and has a lovely handspun feel to it, using one solid ply and one variegated ply to create a stunning color effect when worked up. It’s the kind of yarn that gives any project that “wow” factor, even when the pattern is ridiculously easy like this one! This is a wonderful pattern if you are a beginner to crochet, or just want that quick/mindless project to work through because it’s a simple stitch working increases along one side. You’ll have this one done in a snap – having a sweet accessory to show off while you shop for new yarns to replenish your stash, of course.
The Edisto Shawl is sure to be an addictive go-to for using your sock yarns if you aren’t in the headspace to make socks. It’s made with two balls of Bamboo Pop Sock, a wool-free yarn perfect for summer made of 37% cotton, 55% bamboo, and 8% PBT. We love this pattern so much, we made it in two versions, one in colors 505 Tide Pool and 507 Breeze (version 1), and the other in 502 High Tide and 503 Jetties (version 2). Named for Edisto Beach in South Carolina, these colors bring to mind the quintessential coastal sand, shells, water, sunsets and cottages of the town. You can of course use any color that your stash holds – perhaps your project will represent your ideal vacation destinations for the season! I personally will use up my stash of 401 Overcast and 407 Muscadine – Wine Tour anyone!?!
Lastly, lets consider the Talya vest made with 3-7 balls of Posh Alpaca, depending on the size you make. This one is a size small, using 4 balls in color 103 Wolf. You may think it’s a strange suggestion to make a plush vest for a Spring Cleaning project, but what’s so fun about a popover piece is that you can opt to wear it on its own as a top instead of layered as a vest! The yarn is made from 45% wool, 30% acrylic, and 25% superfine alpaca, and it’s roving style spin makes the most plump, beautiful stitches. This versatility takes this project from your fall/winter wardrobe well into the early months of spring when there is still a touch of chill in the air. This is again an easy and fast project to make, working from the bottom up seamlessly to the underarms, when you separate and work flat to join the back and front at the shoulders.
