Jocelyn Re-Launch

Each year, hundreds of new designs are worked up to support our wide variety of yarns. Some of these die out when a yarn is discontinued or the design itself is not fashionable any longer, or for a number of other reasons. But others live on because they are beautiful and timeless.

Jocelyn revised hi-resJocelyn lace panel 2B blog

 

The Jocelyn stole in Flax is just one of those pieces. Flax is such a great choice for a warm weather wrap. Linen breathes and doesn’t feel hot against the skin, and it softens beautifully with wear and wash. Originally released in 2007, this rectangular stole features 4 different lace patterns. The original version of this pattern included written text for the stitch patterns only, and did not contain charts. We also felt it was tough to tell from the single photo in the pattern what the lace stitches actually looked like.

Yonca, our sales director adores this piece. We often find her wrapped up in it here in our too-cool office during summers. She made a sales call to The Speckled Sheep in Pennsylvania last month, where owner Laurel fell in love with the Jocelyn stole as well. Laurel began making a store sample when she ran into some trouble with the pattern. After communicating with Laurel, we discovered that there were no outright errors in the pattern, but the way the text instructions were written was a little confusing.

In this updated version of Jocelyn, you will find three things that are different: 1) The text for each stitch pattern has been clarified and adapted to our current standard method of writing out repeating pattern stitches. 2) Each stitch pattern has been charted. 3) There is a photo in the pattern that clearly shows each stitch pattern, and is marked with the name of each stitch pattern.

We hope you love Jocelyn as much as we do. You can find the updated version of this pattern available for download now on our website.

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Ladders Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Ladders Tee front_blogToday, the Ladders Tank in Flax.

Two crochet Free Pattern Fridays in a row?  Well, we’re cheating just a little bit with this one – the edging at the neck, arm, and hem are knit.  Crocheting purists are of course free to work their magic with an alternate trim.  Those of us (like me) who are still polishing their crochet skills may stick with the edging as written.  Someday I’ll be able to wing it, though!

The top is made in Flax (50g/137yds) which, as the name implies, is 100% linen.  The ladder pattern combined with the flax fiber makes this a perfect tank for summer.  Things I love about this piece: the Flax (which I’ll take any excuse to work with), the fact that it’s sized from Small to 3X, and the shaping, which of course you can customize to your own tastes.

We hope you’re having a great summer, and that you’re beating the heat.  As for me, I’m going to make some fruit and yogurt ice pops and then cast on for a cool project.

Happy crafting!

 

Ladders Tee back_blog

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Sprout Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Universal_FrillyTop2_blog

Today, the Sprout Tank in Cotton Supreme DK.

Frilly top flat blogHot enough for ya?  It’s hot enough for most anyone, but that’s no reason to stop knitting.   When little ones still want to get out and enjoy the day, we have the perfect match of pattern and temperature.

The Sprout Tank is knit in two pieces from the bottom up, then seamed.  Pick up stitches around the armhole and knit the ruffled shoulder straps.  The mock cable eyelets around the bottom are both written and charted.  It’s a sweet detail that also gives a little more ventilation.

Universal_FrillyTop1_blogThe suggested yarn is Cotton Supreme DK (100g/230yds), part of our popular Cotton Supreme family of yarns.  It’s machine washable, soft, and long-lasting; a good choice for a kid on the go.

The whole tank takes just 2-3 hanks on US size 5 (3.75mm) needles.  Knit it, pop it on your little one, then sit in the shade while they enjoy the sandbox.  Don’t forget the hat and sunscreen for both of you – it’s a scorcher out there!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Crosshatch Baby Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Bella Blanket with bear blog

Today, the Crosshatch Baby Blanket in Bella Chenille.

Bella Chenille (131yds/100g) is a favorite for baby and kid knits because it is soft and fuzzy, and because it is machine washable.  I myself have knitted a sample, washed it, and laid it flat to dry.  It looked just as good as when it was first knitted.

Bella Blanket with bear detail blogThis pattern itself is a twelve row repeat that’s charted, along with a basic garter stitch border, giving you a sweet 40″ x 40″ square.

This blanket is soft and huggable.  It’s resting beside my desk right now as I write this, and I keep reaching out to touch it.  This would be a good one to make and have on hand for the inescapable surprise baby shower we’re all occasionally hit with.  It would be nice to have a little security blanket nearby until it needs to be given away.

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Refracted Lace Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday… again!

RefractedLaceShawl_Back_WhisperLace_blog

This afternoon, the Refracted Lace Shawl in Whisper Lace.

We once had a popular pattern called the Refracted Light Shawl in a discontinued yarn called Swiss Mohair.  Alas, when Swiss Mohair went away, so did the pattern.  But it was one of those patterns that kept being passed around from crocheter to crocheter, in a “have you seen this?  It sounds like just what you’re looking for” kind of way.

RefractedLaceShawl_Front_WhisperLace_blogWell, you can’t keep a good pattern down, so here it is, back again.  This time, it’s in Whisper Lace (440yds/50g), our wool/silk blend from the Fibra Natura line.

Front and back post crochet create an open, airy fabric that can fan out across your back or twist artfully at the shoulder or front.

We hope you enjoy this classic, available once more for you to enjoy.

Happy crafting!

RefractedLaceShawl_Back_WhisperLace_detail_blog

Free Pattern Friday – Planetary Shawl

Let’s have a double Free Pattern Friday today!

PlanetaryShawl_Back_Universe_blogThis morning, we just have to highlight the Planetary Shawl in Universe.

We were going to wait just a little longer to share this heart-shaped top-down shawl, but it got such a great reception at the TNNA Fashion Show last weekend that we couldn’t help ourselves.

Universe samples for social mediaUniverse is the very special yarn we designed to celebrate Universal Yarn’s 10th anniversary.  It features combed cotton, linen, glitter, and a classic black thread holding the whole glorious package together.   We haven’t seen anything else quite like it.

Expect Universe to hit shelves later this summer,  We love this yarn and we think you will too.

PlanetaryShawl_Front_Universe_hires

We’ll be back later today with another another yarn and another free pattern – this time for crocheters.  Happy crafting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Summer Poncho

It’s Free Pattern Friday!Flax_SummerPoncho_alt_blogToday, the Summer Poncho in Flax.

We’re on the road to Columbus, OH right now for the annual summer National Needlearts Association trade show, but we still had to share this absolute beauty.

Susan at TNNAThe Summer Poncho is designed by Susan Whitmore, the owner of Rainy Day Creations yarn shop in Pineville, NC.  To the right you can see Susan snuggling with Suzy the Cuddlebunny at a previous year’s show in the Universal Yarn booth.

She has just closed her shop and is enjoying a richly deserved retirement.  We miss her welcoming shop, but we’re so glad that she’s taking time to enjoy herself.  And we’re doubly glad that she shared this lovely design with us before hopping on her motorcycle and vrooming off into the sunset!

Flax_SummerPoncho_blogKnit in FibraNatura Flax linen yarn in two pieces and seamed, this oversized poncho will fit a variety of sizes and is easy to adjust simply by seaming more or less of the sizes and neck.  It’s a simple written pattern and contains a schematic for assembly.  Such a great piece for summer!

We hope you enjoy this piece, and that you pull a page from Susan’s book and take time to enjoy life.

Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Swim Cover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Alana Coverup main_blog

Today, the Swim Cover in Alana.

This is a timely design.  Why?  Take a look.

Weather Map Heat WaveYep, that’s next week.  Hot.  Hot hot hot.  Hard to believe it’s only May.  So maybe this is a good moment to cast on for something to help you stay cool.

Alana Coverup alt 2_blogStart off this long weekend by casting on for the knitted Swim Cover in Alana (158yds/100g).  Be ready to chill by the pool or on the beach with a sun hat to keep you in the shade and some flip-flops to keep your feet off the scorching ground.

Pictured is the small size of this cover-up, which took exactly five hanks.  In the pattern we call for six, just in case you want to grab an extra hank for safety.  We do factor in a little extra yarn for swatching purposes, but surely you wouldn’t skip your swatch, would you?

This simple Alana Coverup alt 3_bloggarment is knitted flat, with some nice reversible stripe stitch detailing at the hem, pictured right.  The whole cover-up is just two rectangles seamed together at the sides.  This lets you make the armholes as long or as narrow as you wish.  We call for 9-11″ for the armholes, so you’ve got plenty of room to lift your arm dramatically to your brow while calling for a mint julep from your lounge chair.

Next week, stay cool, make sure your pets (and you!) have plenty of water, and keep crafting.

Happy knitting!

Alana Coverup alt 1_blog

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Water Ski Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Seaspray Tassel Scarf 1 blogToday, the Water Ski Scarf in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray.

We featured Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray  not too long ago in the popular Color Block Scarves, but it’s so perfect for the season that we couldn’t resist sharing it again.

Seaspray Tassel Scarf 2 blogI love this yarn, and I love this scarf.  The pattern is knitted flat (obviously) and both written and charted.  Lace on US size 6 (4mm) needles goes quickly, and the tassels make this such a fun and kicky piece.

Cotton is great for summer, of course, and the pastel tones of Seaspray go great with the current bright trends.  We put together a couple of fantasy outfits below that would look great with the scarf.

Seaspray Scarf outfit 1

 

First, toss on a tank and your keds and you’re ready to go, no fuss no muss.  You could use pretty much any pastel top and then just a pop of whatever color you’ve made your scarf in at the bottom to pull it together.

Seaspray Scarf outfit 2

 

Next, dress it up a little!  Neutral sandals keep it from being too matchy-matchy.  You could even do a nice braided leather bracelet, although I do like the melony orange accent with the gold here.  The purse and turquoise/blue earrings bring it together.

We hope you enjoy this free pattern, and that you always feel fabulous in your handmades wherever you go.

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Guadalupe Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!CS Sequins Lite Crochet Shawl 1_blogToday, the Guadalupe Stole in Classic Shades Metallic.

CS Sequins Lite Crochet Shawl 2_blogI love this loose and airy crochet shawl.  It’s long and luxurious, and the Classic Shades Metallic gives it just the right amount of sparkle in the light.  Of course, if you’re not a glam kind of person, Classic Shades works up to exactly the same gauge, so you can still get the great color shifts without the bling.

This stole is comprised of 18 Motifs that are joined as you go on round 3.  Amy used almost all of four balls of Classic Shades Metallic for this, so you may want to grab another ball just for safety.

If I were pairing this shawl up with an outfit, I think I might try to pull out the lavender as an accent color.  Actress Minka Kelly (photo from denimology) has a good base outfit here that many of us could also pull off.  Top it with this shawl, maybe pick up another color with some cute earrings, and you’re ready to turn heads.

Happy crocheting!

 

CS Sequins Lite Crochet Shawl detail_blog