Pattern – Page 37 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

February 6, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Mary Layering Tee

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Mary Layering Tee in Merino XF Superwash.

Mary Layering Tee_back_blog There’s an old song by George M. Cohan called “Mary.” It’s all about how these days, some girls named Mary might change their names to Marie to be cutting edge, but there’s something reassuring about sticking with Mary and having the confidence to know that you’re a classic.

That’s what we have in the Mary Layering Tee. It’s worked from the bottom up in pieces, with short row shaping at the hem. The front henley placket is decorative rather than functional. Overall, this design is sweet and simple, like the name Mary in the song.

Also sweet and simple is the called-for Merino XF Superwash. Very soft, but also practical in its ability to be machine washed. I did a swatch in this last February and can tell you that it is very pleasant to work with.

We hope you make time to appreciate the sweet and simple things in your life this weekend.

Happy knitting!

February 5, 2015February 6, 2015

Bamboo Pop Adult

It’s here! Our new e-book Bamboo Pop Adult is finally available for download from Ravelry and Craftsy. Patterns are also available individually.

Bamboo Pop is one of our most popular yarns. Our e-books Bamboo Pop Kids and Bamboo Pop Dolls were well-received, but we had a lot of people requesting grownup designs. Here they are!

The Boho Tank is an A-line top worked from the bottom up. Sandi Rosner provided the embroidery detail, showing once again that what designer Charles Eames said is true – “The details are not the details. They make the design.”

Craftsy Dewdrops1

The crochet Dewdrops Tank is worked in two pieces and seamed. While I love the bright contrasting colors Amy Gunderson chose for the “dewdrops,” this would be a great piece to customize. Just use your favorite colors as accents!

The Drape-Front Cardi above may be a candidate for “most wearable design.” The flow of the fabric flatters a range of frames.

Here’s my favorite – the Hospitality Tee! Down South, the pineapple is the symbol of hospitality, so as a native Southerner this feels like a very welcoming design to me. As a knitter, I appreciate details like the corrugated ribbing at the sleeves and hem and the pink applied crochet chain stripe that gives it an extra pop of color.

Love love love. The dramatic Staggered Shawl has the graphic styling that is so popular, and it’s so easy to knit. No purling – just garter stitch!

The Steeple Pullover has been an early favorite on Ravelry. Work it bottom-up in the round, then separate for the armholes. The pattern is written and charted, like all patterns in Bamboo Pop Adults (except the super-simple Staggered Shawl). Sized from extra small to 3X, this is a great breezy design to dress up or down when the weather has just a hint of chill.

Craftsy Surf1

Surf ‘n Stripe is a simple eyelet design accented with bands of color. Knit in two pieces and seamed, this slouchy and comfortable dolman-sleeved top strikes me as great vacation knitting!

Craftsy Tennis1

The Tennis Vest is a classic design. The twist cable and rib pattern is quite stretchy, making it a perfect layering piece. I hate feeling like a stuffed sausage when a sweater over a shirt doesn’t breathe with me – this is a great vest for looking as cool as you feel.

Craftsy ColorworkCardiHat2

From the cover, the Colorwork Cardi and Colorwork Hat featured on the cover are two super-cute coordinating patterns. The cardi is a top-down seamless sweater (with pockets!) and the hat can be customized to be taller or shorter as you wish by adding or subtracting pattern repeats.

I’m not sure what I’m going to knit first. I’m thinking maybe the Staggered Shawl. I’ve been wanting a very modern accessory, and that looks fabulous. We’d love to see what you make!

Happy knitting!

January 30, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Raglan Tee

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Raglan Tee in Ariana.

As I was writing this post, our sales manager Yonca came in and saw the tee and smiled. I wanted to share what she said.

“This is the design that made me want to have this yarn. I saw a tee knit up and fell in love with the look and feel. It’s just perfect.”

So there you have it: this is the tee that inspired the yarn. The yarn in question is Ariana (100g/91yds), a smooth, sleek knitted tube that looks quite polished, especially in this ribbed tee.

The Raglan Tee is knit from the bottom upon circular needles. Separate at the armholes for the raglan shaping, then add the sleeves (knit separately). K1 p1 ribbing is very stretchy, and on US size 10 1/2 (6.5mm) needles this will go quickly.

It’s a great example of a simple design that doesn’t go out of style.

Happy knitting!

January 8, 2015January 9, 2015

Warm It Up!

Confession time! When it’s cold outside, sometimes we break into the trunk show garments.

But come on! How could we resist? We are so fortunate to be surrounded by so many beautiful yarns and garments, and as knitters and crocheters we truly appreciate them. The happy knitter above is me, Heather. I’m wearing my own hat in Poems (1 ball of color 590 Sakura, US size 8/5mm needles, 84 stitch caston).

The cowl and mittens are part of Sandi Rosner’s Rose Quartz Set in Deluxe Worsted 100% wool. There’s a hat, too, but mine matches so well I stuck with it.

Sandi’s Rose Quartz set is available as a single pattern or part of the Walk in the Woods e-book, full of gorgeous colorwork and felted designs in Deluxe Worsted and Deluxe Chunky. It’s perfect for this time of year.

Also in Deluxe, I spotted our Design Lead in this stunning sweater the other day. Valentina is one of my favorites. It uses Deluxe Chunky 100% wool. The pattern is written and charted with design features like lovely saddle shoulders to show off the cables. It comes in sizes from 34″ to 54″ bust, and – believe it or not – is a free pattern. Home run!

Our Sales Manager can frequently be found in designs by Yumiko Alexander like Braided Fog, recently made available online as a download or as part of Yumiko Warm Earth Book 3. It also uses Deluxe Worsted. Are we wearing a lot of Deluxe? That’s not surprising – it’s great for cold weather. I suspect, however, that our sales manager wears this not because it’s warm but because it looks fabulous.

The best thing about being surrounded by these designs is that it’s inspirational. We find that seeing beautiful things awakens a desire to create something beautiful ourselves. We hope you find inspiration and happiness in your crafts throughout this new year.

Happy knitting!

December 19, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Totem Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Totem Scarf in Jubilation Kettle Dye Worsted.

I love the way the variable length bands of daisy stitch are broken up by rows of garter to keep things interesting. It’s a good technique for helping make sure the pattern isn’t overwhelmed by variegated Jubilation Kettle Dye (shown here in color 101 Rejoice). Jubilation is a pretty yarn, and it works in harmony with the pattern here.

Happy knitting!

December 18, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Santa Hat

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, the Holiday Santa Hat by Michael del Vecchio!

Originally designed for Classic Worsted Holiday, this would look great in any worsted weight yarn. Naturally you’re not limited to red and white – be a psychedelic Santa if you want! – but we do have recommendations in our solid color worsted weight yarns.

Uptown Worsted has 312 Racecar Red and 302 White Glow.

Deluxe Worsted has 3691 Christmas Red and 12270 Natural.

Deluxe Worsted Superwash has 738 Christmas Red and 728 Pulp.

This pattern is designed to be knit flat, handy for those who aren’t comfortable with circular needles.

I love Michael’s use of bobbles in this pattern to give texture. Make a provisional cast-on and knit the bobbled brim, then attach the red to the cast-on edge and knit the rest of the hat. A festive pom-pom finishes it off. I’m still backed up on my holiday knitting, so I might just use a Luxury Fur Pom-Pom to save time rather than making my own.

Wishing you a festive holiday season – and happy knitting!

December 12, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Frog Hoodie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, a great project to leap into the new year with. The Frog Hoodie in Bella Chenille!

Bella Chenille (131yds/100g) is a fuzzy polyester chenille that’s very soft and easy to work with. I used this for a Sunday Swatch a while back, and I can tell you from firsthand experience that it machine washes well. This is a great yarn choice for a kid project.

Knit the sleeves in the round and put them aside, then work the body and attach the sleeves. Work upward to the neck and hood, then add the frog eyes. The coordinating buttons are nice and big for little hands to fasten.

Happy knitting!

December 11, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Felted Polar Bear

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, the Felted Polar Bear by Michele Wilcox.

We were inspired to release today’s pattern by a note in Vogue Knitting’s latest KnitNews e-mail. They polled the staff to see what they were gift knitting, and one responded, “I’m hurriedly knitting a toy with Universal Yarn’s Deluxe Worsted wool, for a new baby in my family—he was adopted, so I didn’t have much notice!”

That combined with the adorable knitted cat in Cotton Supreme Batik that a customer sent to us via Facebook got us thinking about stuffed animals. And as usual, Michele Wilcox comes through!

The Felted Polar Bear was originally part of a pattern collection for Shepherd’s Own, which is now discontinued. However, it looks perfect in Deluxe Worsted color 40001, Cream Undyed Natural. There are a number of undyed Deluxe Worsted Natural colors that would work if you wanted a traditional teddy rather than a polar bear.

This bear is made in pieces and stitched together, then lightly felted to make it a little more fuzzy and snuggly. Sew on an appropriately adorable expression and stuff it, and you have a squeezable friend to cozy up to. Too cute.

We wish you beary happy knitting!

December 5, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Insulate Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Insulate Cardigan in Superwool.

Insulate Cardigan back blog Yesterday on the blog we were talking about how slowly knitting could go with tiny needles and tiny yarn. This, on the other hand, could not go faster. The cardigan is actually knit as one rectangle. That’s it. Knits and purls, worked straight from end to end, then folded and seamed, creating this neat swallowtail hem. If you’re looking for a quick and easy project, we’ve got you covered.

Insulate Cardigan mannequin_blog Superwool (100g/66yds) is a super-bulky, springy wool blend that stretches and moves with you. This is a great project to wrap yourself up in, nice and cozy.

Our sales manager Yonca designed and knitted this cardigan, and we passed it around the office modeling it. Our accounting manager tried it on upside down, and guess what – it still looked great! Here it is “upside down” on a mannequin. Pretty versatile for one long rectangle.

Happy knitting!

December 4, 2014December 4, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Knitted Motor Scarf

It’s Throwback Thursday!

TT Motor Scarf

Today, we’re throwing way back. A century back. Let’s look at the Knitted Motor Scarf from 1909.

I love to look at old craft magazines for inspiration. This week, I turned to a special Christmas edition of the December 1909 Woman’s Home Companion and decided to try one of their gift suggestions.

Womens Home Companion Dec 1909 Gifts — Hey, $1.75 for a pair of shoes is a really good deal.

The photos aren’t that great, what with it being near the dawn of the 20th century, so it’s hard to see exactly what’s the finished objects look like. But smack in the middle of the page is a picture of “A Knitted Motor Scarf for the Man With an Automobile.” Well, I know a man with an automobile, so that sounds like a winner to me.

First obstacle in the pattern: “made of motor silk in a medium shade of gray.” I have no idea what motor silk is, and for once Google has failed me. If any of you know what motor silk is, please write in. I’m dying to find out.

However, what I do have is Saki Bamboo (230yds/50g). This is a blend of superwash wool, nylon, and rayon from bamboo. The bamboo should provide a good silky sheen and the nylon will give the durability that my giftee will need when he’s out on the open road in his Model T. I’m always happy to have a chance to knit with Saki Bamboo – it’s very smooth and even, and has a medium gray (Color 211 Steel Grey) that should fit the bill nicely.

Second obstacle: “worked loosely with a pair of No. 12 steel knitting- needles, or for a tight knitter, a pair of fine bone knitting-needles.” Here, the internet does not fail me. Fibergypsy’s site says that No. 12 needles back then would translate to 2.25mm/US Size 1 needles today. Great, perfect for my Saki Bamboo! There’s no gauge given, but I decided to cast on and hope for the best.

So I started to knit. And knit. And knit. Actually, I’m quite enjoying this pattern, but… it’s 60 stitches wide on tiny needles. How the heck was someone receiving this magazine in winter supposed to obtain motor silk (?) and find time to knit this before Christmas? Don’t get me wrong, this is a good pattern, but given all the other knitting I have to do, I probably will not be polishing this off in the next 21 days.

Nonetheless, it’s rather elegant and quite easy! The dice pattern is fully reversible, an excellent choice for a scarf. So we’ve written it up in modern terms and shared it, along with the original version. Please enjoy the Knitted Motor Scarf by Helen Marvin from the December 1909 Woman’s Home Companion. The magazine was originally 15 cents, but the pattern is free to you.

Happy knitting!