Yarns – Page 7 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

December 9, 2021December 8, 2021

Day 9 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 9 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition

Hello there! As we inch closer and closer to the end of the Holiday Season, you are likely on the go non-stop with errands like shopping, running to the post office, sprinting for groceries and more. With that in mind, this project is the perfect way to stay creative while staying moving. Winterworld is a crochet table runner (or beautiful accessory!) that is made from many small twinkling snowflake motifs assembled as a statement piece that you’ll cherish for years to come.

The snowflakes are made using Bella Cash and Universe held together. I love this combination so much, the Bella Cash is made from Merino, cashmere and nylon making it ultra soft, yet very sturdy to work with. The Universe is made from cotton, linen, polyamide and glitter creating a blend that has depth and a bit of sparkle.

Some techniques you’ll explore working on this project are:

Working with 2 yarns held together
Working in the round
Using a picot to create a motif

The end result makes beautiful snowflakes with an understated twinkle – perfect for bringing the magic of the season into your home.

*Snowflake motif up close with Bella Cash and Universe held together.*

The finished piece also makes for a very fun wrap or stole if you’re looking to add some festivity to your look!

*Winterworld used as a beautiful and cozy stole.*

Winterworld was intentionally designed so that you can work on it anywhere and everywhere! Bella Cash and Universe are each wound into 50 g balls which are the perfect size for stashing into a small project bag with your crochet hook. With each snowflake being made individually, you only have to worry about 1 of each yarn at a time being with you, and making little snowflakes is quick and easy no matter where you are!

For getting out and about with yarn, I’m obsessed with some of the muud handcrafted leather products that we carry! For this project specifically, I recommend the Hope crochet box or the Heaven bag. Hope is perfect for tucking in to a larger bag as it has a sleek shape, room for the 2 balls of yarn, and an elastic band for up to 6 hooks. It is compact, tidy, and just what you need for bringing a project along to any occasion.

*Bella Cash and Universe in the project box, Hope*

Heaven is my personal favorite. It comes with a strap to turn this project case into its own bag! Don’t worry about tucking and transferring a project bag into a tote, and just make this your all-in-one project purse! The two sides zip fully open to reveal compartments suited for small projects like Winterworld, as well as your daily essentials. With fiber in mind, the bag was designed to have holders for hooks or needles, as well as interior zip compartments and pockets.

*One side of the bag, Heaven, used for the Winterworld kit*

*One side of the bag, Heaven, used for daily essentials*

There are plenty of options for having your Winterworld project with you as you navigate holiday parties, shopping and more. Tell us in the comments, what are your favorite places to bring your on-the-go projects!?

*Heaven and Hope, size comparison for on-the-go projects*

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Warmly, Ashley Jane McIntyre

December 8, 2021December 7, 2021

Day 8 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 8 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.

I love the winter season because of many things; seasonal drinks and items come back, joy seems to fill the air, and I always have fun shopping for holiday gifts! Another thing that I look forward to each season is winter-themed decorations! From driving by houses that shine brightly with different lights and figurines, to seeing what special and unique decorations each person sets up or creates, it’s clear to me that you can never go wrong with adding a little bit of spice and flair into your home with decorations for the season. Our Trio of Trees designed by Aubrey Busek is the perfect way to add seasonal décor to your home!

Let’s take a closer look: the Trio of Trees are made up of three elegant and timeless patterns that can be recycled year after year (which is such a huge plus!). The trio features a Linen Stitch Tree, a Striped Tree, and a Slipped Ornaments Tree. Each tree brings its own unique character to the table and can easily become a staple decoration in your home for the season. Featuring our Cotton Gold yarn as well as our Dona yarn, these two yarns held together and worked up create some magic to get you ready to jump into the winter season!

Each tree uses a different stitch pattern, which is fun because you are getting a “stitch sampler” with each tree you make! The Slipped Ornament Tree is my personal favorite, because it reminds me so much of a classic winter tree that we so often see during this time of the year. In this pattern, a special stitch called a Long Stitch is used. The yarn is wrapped twice around the needle, giving a “draped” effect throughout the tree. The delicate sequins strung through our Cotton Gold yarn creates a gorgeous shimmer that, when incorporated with the saturated colors of Dona, will have your guests do a double take and stop to admire this miniature forest in your home!

You know those winter decorations that your family brings out year after year, no matter how “old” it gets? That is exactly what I think about when I see the Linen Stitch Tree. This specific tree instantly sends me back to sweet memories in the winter seasons spent with my family, decorating our home and getting ready for the upcoming events. The minimalist Linen Stitch tree offers a mix and match vibe to your holiday décor. You simply work knit stitches and slip stitches with yarn held in front to create a woven effect and provide texture to the tree.

Look at how it subtly glistens! The Striped Tree features a stockinette stitch pattern worked all the way up the body. A strand of each Dona and Cotton Gold are held together throughout the tree, and the Dona colors (Blue Hint, Balsam, Alabaster) are changed every four rows. The glimmer from Cotton Gold creates a dream-like aura of snow falling from the sky, which is fitting for the season! Although they are all effortless to make, the Striped Tree is the most minimalist pattern in my opinion because it is just stockinette stitch the whole way up! It is the perfect final addition to the Trio, because it adds the right amount of sophistication while still looking simple.

These trees are each knit in the round from the bottom up. A picot edge is picked up and worked after finishing to create ‘skirts’ on the bottom of each tree edge, and the tree tops are stuffed with poly-fill before finally placing around the Styrofoam bases. Remember to check your gauge! It is so important for accuracy and so it fits in the styrofoam cones properly. They are the perfect addition to your home for this winter season, and will be for years to come! These trees will make your friends, family, and guests feel welcomed in your home, in the holiday spirit.

Cheers!

Talya Ozbelli

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021

Day 6 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 6 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.

There’s something about the winter season that immediately brings my mind to cuddly stuffed animal friends, perfect for gifting during the holidays. Last year for the 12 Days of Winter, I designed Coco, a bunny with a removable hat and scarf knit in our popular Uptown Worsted yarn. We recently released a new member of our Bella Chenille yarn family: Bella Chenille Big Glimmer. This slightly shimmery version of our Bella Chenille Big yarn immediately brought to mind the idea of a snowy stuffed animal for this year’s 12 Days of Winter kits. I quickly got to work designing, and soon enough, Marshmallow the polar bear was born.

Marshmallow says ‘Hello new bestie!’ – Knit using Bella Chenille Big Glimmer in color 601 Drift. Marshmallow’s sweater is knit in Bella Chenille colors 121 Indigo and 125 Oatmeal

Techniques you’ll explore in the Marshmallow pattern are:

Knitting small circumferences in the round
Increasing and decreasing often to create small 3-dimensional shapes
Embroidery
Casting on stitches and joining pieces after working

Designing a small (ish) item using such a chunky yarn like Bella Chenille Big Glimmer has its challenges indeed. Even more than that, chenille yarns can be a bit fiddly to work with, especially when you want things to look precise. So, I’ve decided to give you some tips for working with chenille yarns like our Bella Chenille and Bella Chenille Big Glimmer, so that the process of making Marshmallow or any other chenille project is tons of fun!

Bella Chenille Big Glimmer skeins, and a chip shot so you can see the lovely metallic glimmers!

My first tip for working with chenille yarns would be to keep your gauge tight, to stop ‘worming’ and help prevent inconsistencies in the fabric. Worming happens when the strand of yarn coils back on itself, creating loose-looking loops in the fabric. For making a stuffed toy a tighter knit gauge is ideal, so that the finished friend is firm and well stuffed all around! Remember that the needle size listed on the yarn ball band is just a suggestion, and you should opt to use whatever needle size will achieve a gauge that matches what the pattern calls for. In Marshmallow’s case, gauge is very important. Not only will keeping a tight gauge aid in making the stitches look uniform and help prevent worming, but this pattern also uses nearly the entire skein of Bella Chenille Big Glimmer. So, you will need to be extra mindful while you work!

It is no secret: chenille yarns fray. Once you cut the end of yarn, you will notice that the polyester fibers tend to want to come loose from the thread base. This can be frustrating, messy, and leave you with a less than ideal yarn tail for weaving in ends. My top tip for fixing this is to secure the end of the yarn with something that will stop the fraying! My favorite method for this is using a fabric sealant product like Fray Check, which I use very often when I am sewing fabrics that unravel easily. This liquid creates a coating on whatever it is applied to, preventing the fibers from being able to unravel. Make sure to use these types of products in a place with adequate ventilation, as they do tend to have smelly fumes, and let it dry completely before you work with it.

My next tip for working with chenille yarns is using the right type of needle. Everyone has preferences in types of needle materials, whether you like plastic needles, wooden needles, or metal. In my experience, mixing a plastic needle with a synthetic fuzzy yarn like chenille can result in difficulty sliding stitches, more ‘sticky’ feeling knitting, crampy hands, and hot, sweaty feeling yarn. A smooth wooden or slick metal needle is a more ideal choice for yarns like chenille. The stitches will glide much more easily as you work and be easier to manipulate. The Marshmallow pattern requires a consistent amount of increasing and decreasing as you go along to create the 3D shapes, so having a needle that easily works over 2 or more stitches at a time is necessary. Marshmallow is knit in the round, beginning with his legs. Whether you choose to use double pointed needles, or a magic loop method is entirely up to you! Magic loop is surprisingly easy to master, and we have a tutorial for it! Click this link to learn how to knit in the round using Magic Loop.

My final tip for working with chenille is using an angled tapestry needle with a large eye for embroidery and weaving in ends. I like these Tapestry needles from Clover for yarns like chenille. It’ll pass through the stitches more easily , you’ll be able to see the needle amidst all of the chenille fluff, and it’ll offer more control with the yarn and stuffing. Last year during the 12 Days of Winter, I made a video tutorial for embroidering Coco’s face. The same principles apply to Marshmallow, just on a more ‘jumbo’ scale. In fact, I used scrap Uptown Worsted yarn for Marshmallow’s face embroidery. Here is a link to the video where I give tips on embroidering a stuffed animal face.

There you have it – some of my top tips for working with chenille yarns! These aren’t the only tips and tricks, of course. The more you work with chenille yarns, you’ll discover what works best for you. If you have any other tips you’d like to share, feel free to leave them in the comments below, we’d love to hear!

Our exclusive 12 Days of Winter kits like Marshmallow can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer! Kits not in stock at your local yarn store? Ask about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

December 5, 2021December 3, 2021

Day 5 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 5 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition

Hello there! I’m so thrilled to bring you our 5th day piece, the Cinnamon Swirl Stole. It’s made with ultra-soft Nymph, and is available in both a crochet version and a knit version , so it feels extra special. Nymph is a blend of Cotton and Polyamide and is genuinely one of the softest yarns I have worked with in a long time! The finished project feels cozy and luxurious – the perfect item to treat yourself. As an extra bonus each of these kits comes with a bonus project bag and stitch marker!

I had the opportunity to design this as a crochet piece first, serving as the inspiration for the knit kit. We will spend some time in this post talking about a special technique involved for crochet – how to join panels as you work.

Before we do that though, can we just take a moment to “Ooh!” and “Ahh!” over the knit companion to this piece!? It’s stunning! this knit version is all worked in one panel using an Intarsia technique for the colorwork, while the crochet version makes one panel at a time, but they attach as you go.

To accomplish the crochet join technique, you’ll execute what the pattern calls a “Slip Stitch Sequence” at the end of every other row. This will connect the new panel to the existing one with a practically invisible effect. It lets you achieve the same look as intarsia, while being able to focus on one set of pattern repeats at a time.

The pattern works from the bottom up, and you add new panels on the right hand side of existing ones. To do this, you join the new yarn at the bottom right corner of an existing panel, with the right side facing you, then chain the amount needed for the new one. you’ll turn the row like normal and work back towards the existing panel, then slip stitch to it to finish the row, and slip stitch one row up before turning to start the next row.

*Swatch of the Panel Join from our tutorial*

To make sure we don’t leave anybody hangin’ on this technique, we have recorded a tutorial for you! To follow along you’ll want to start out with a swatch of 15 sc sts x 16 rows, using an H/8 (5.0 mm) hook and the yarn Nymph. Have the second color handy along with your hook and press play. This will be a wonderful opportunity to try out this sequence before diving into the pattern.

Tutorial of the Panel Join “Slip Stitch Sequence”

I hope that this tutorial has been helpful to you, and I can’t wait to see how your beautiful Cinnamon Swirl Stoles turn out! Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!
Warmly, Ashley Jane McIntyre

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

Day 3 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 3 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.

Do the evenings of winter inspire you to knit more? It’s certainly the case for me. I’ve always loved the magic of a starry night. I know the shorter days can cause some to feel weary, but I find a special type of comfort in the longer, colder nights. I love how early you’re able to see the glittering stars decorate the winter night sky. It’s so fun to point out beautiful constellations and cross your fingers in hopes of catching sight of a shooting star in the cool, crisp air.

The wintry skies of the north were my inspiration for the third installment of this year’s 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, the Polar Nights Cowl, which I’m thrilled to share with you today!

In this kit, you’ll get to explore the following techniques:

knitting in the round
stranded colorwork
slipped stitches

As I mentioned earlier, I have always loved the starry skies of the winter. But more than that, I’ve also had a lifelong fascination with the polar regions of the world. Yep – it’s a dream of mine to visit both the Arctic and Antarctica and this year I came so very close. So close, in fact, that I’ve been able to tick the Northern Lights off my lifetime bucket list when I visited Alaska in September.

I was so lucky to see the Aurora Borealis. Here are two photos I took near Healy, Alaska.

The experience of seeing the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, is one I’ll treasure forever. The trip, in general, was so impactful and special to me for so many reasons, and I was inspired to design something to remind me of it. Our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection was the perfect fit for this design!

The Polar Nights Cowl uses three gorgeous yarns: Fibra Natura Donnina and Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk held together as one and Rico Design Ricorumi Lamé DK held on its own. Donnina and Loves Silk held together in a deep, dark navy serve as the background. On their own, each yarn is incredibly soft, but when combined it truly creates a world of magic – Donnina’s plump, soft extrafine merino is pillowy soft, and the feathery mohair and silk blend of Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk adds an ethereal halo. The Ricorumi Lamé DK in a glistening gold is used to create the stranded colorwork motif that’s inspired by beautiful Norweigian Marius sweaters – yet another nod to the polar regions of our world.

I love the contrast between the gold and blue in this cowl. As the light hits the stitches, the shimmering effect is simply stunning. Dare I say this cowl is almost as breathtaking as a starry sky? It’s up for debate, but what certainly isn’t is how much you’ll love knitting this kit!

Happy crafting!

November 10, 2021November 10, 2021

Find Your Fluff

As the weather cools down I’m starting to plot all of the dreamy ways I can make an extra cozy sweater. I’ve really been liking some of the pieces I’ve seen that carry soft fluffy yarns along with a base, like this gorgeous sweater, Love Note, by Emily Wessel seen on the blog Tin Can Knits.

Just the thought of a soft halo of Mohair, or something equally as fluffy, brings a huge grin to my face. So, I’ve set out on a mission to find my perfect fluff! I already knew that our yarns Penna or Minou would be perfect place to start when experimenting. Both are a fine enough weight to carry along with any other weight yarn, and have their own unique textures and compositions that add something special to a project. The other piece to this puzzle is determining the base yarn. I chose Deluxe Bulky Superwash to have some fun with mixing and matching a big squishy yarn. I grabbed my size L/11 crochet hook and got right to it!

Deluxe Bulky Superwash is 100% superwash wool, and is already a can’t-stop-touching-it yarn. Giving it a bit of extra “oomph” is an easy choice albeit a bit unnecessary! Check out how it works up by itself. I really enjoy working with this yarn because anything you make with it feels quick and the stitches are so easy to see.

*Deluxe Bulky Superwash color 939 Burgundy*

The first combination I tried was mixing Deluxe Bulky Superwash with Penna. I was most excited to try this out because Penna is a luscious blend of 50% Suri Baby Alpaca, 28% Extra Fine Merino, and 22% Nylon. Holding a ball of it is like holding a teeny personal cloud!

This combination had exactly the feel I was hoping for, although visually it doesn’t have quite the impact that carrying with a finer weight yarn would have. To achieve both a soft feel and a billowy halo appearance, I think I would try this out again with a sport weight yarn like Donnina. Despite the larger base, there is definitely still an extra element of visual interest in my swatch along with the heavenly feel.

*Deluxe Bulky Superwash color 939 Burgundy + Penna 114 Bordeaux*

The next combination was to carry Minou along with Deluxe Bulky Superwash. This yarn is a lovely take on eyelash yarns, having all the fun texture elements while incorporating ridiculously soft materials. Minou is composed of 40% Baby Alpaca, 8% Merino Wool, and 52% Nylon. Holding this yarn is like hugging a cute lil’ kitten!

This combination definitely added some extra softness to the base, but I was most excited about the visual effect! The Minou added a cool, modern look to the swatch compared to the look of the Deluxe Bulky Superwash by itself.

*Deluxe Bulky Superwash color 939 Burgundy + Minou color 108 Tanager*

When it’s all said and done I love all of it! It’s really hard to say which combination I would use for my big fluffy dream sweater. I like the Penna combination most for it’s overall feel, but I really like the Minou for it’s look!

*Left to right: DBS + Penna, DBS + Minou, DBS by itself*

What combination would you try out? Aside from the obvious texture decision, what about colors? Would you try out mixing, or matching like I did? There are SO many fun possibilities when trying to find your fluff!

That’s all for now – Happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

November 3, 2021November 3, 2021

Natural Dye Series: Goldenrod & Deluxe Worsted Naturals

Hi everyone! It has been a while, and by that, I mean literal years since I’ve shared some of my adventures in natural dyeing. In the past, I’ve shared posts about dyeing with lichen, marigold, and even azaleas (link to other posts in our Natural Dye Series), but today we’re going to take a look at one of my favorite sources for natural dye: goldenrod!

In my happy place – gathering goldenrod along the roadside on a gorgeous day.

I recently learned that goldenrod is often mistaken for ragweed, a plant guilty of causing brutal allergies. It’s interesting because the two look dramatically different in my opinion, but apparently the confusion exists! I’ve heard this from our own AJ, and just over the weekend, a friend of mine told me the same thing. That’s too bad because goldenrod is a beautiful plant that attracts pollinators, and it deserves all of the love. The sight of these yellow flowers along the roadside always brings me joy and gives me the itch to dye yarn. Our office happens to be extremely close to some fields of goldenrod that bloom in late October, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity to cut some flowers and play!

Unlike my previous posts about natural dyeing, this time I wanted to try something different, so I opted for our 100% non-superwash wool, undyed Deluxe Worsted Naturals. A woolly classic, this yarn comes in five gorgeous natural shades – from light cream to deep brown. Their heathered appearance got me wondering how neat would it be to see how they compare when dyed together. I certainly wasn’t disappointed!

Although 40001 Cream would make a great base for dyeing, it’s pretty similar in color to our Ready to Dye selection and I really wanted to try something different. So for this experiment, I chose 40002 Millet, 40003 Musket, and 40004 Pewter. I figured these shades would yield the most interesting results thanks to their heathered appearances. They work well together as a gradient undyed, and the natural dye made that gradient all the more magical!

I’m not going to get into a tutorial today, because I followed the same steps I used for marigold dyeing. You can see that post for instructions here (link). I will say the primary difference is that I left some of the greenery on the plants, created the dyebath, and strained it before adding the yarn. Since I dyed three skeins or 300 grams, I needed at least 300 grams of goldenrod to ensure the dye would be saturated enough to have an effect.

Honestly, I’m so smitten with the results. I can’t believe how beautifully they turned our – er, I can, but I’m still awestruck! I want to drop everything and knit a beautiful scarf, cowl, or shawl that takes advantage of the gradient. They make such a beautiful trio. Let’s take a look at how each skein compares to its undyed counterpart.

Starting with the lightest we have 40002 Millet. This will always be one of my favorite shades of Deluxe Worsted. It took the dye like I expected. It is the brightest of the bunch and most closely resembles the goldenrod blossoms.

Next, we have 40003 Musket. I think I prefer this result over the Millet – it just has a bit more depth to it that I find very interesting. The gold reminds me of whole grain dijon mustard (yum!) and I’d love to see this knit up into some plump cables.

Finally, we have what must be my favorite: 40004 Pewter. I mean, wow! This was the hue I was most unsure about. I wondered whether the dye would really show up at all. To my pleasant surprise, it certainly took and created a color that reminds me of antique brass.

Top to Bottom: 40002 Millet, 40003 Musket, 40004 Pewter

And there you have it – the results of my exploration in dyeing with goldenrod and Deluxe Worsted Naturals! Which color is your favorite? How would you knit or crochet them? Let me know in the comments!

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021

Knitflix: Halloween Edition

Happy Halloween, folks! We have a few days left of what is the official spooky season. No October would be complete without movie marathons. Whether you’re into feel-good Halloween flicks from your childhood or classic horror, I’m sure you have plans to watch something festive this weekend. I know those of us at Universal Yarn certainly are! So, today we wanted to share what we’re watching and some yarns and projects inspired by those flicks. Our design team – Aubrey, AJ, Heather, and I – are ready to share some of our favorites with you!

Aubrey

“Although I can happily admit I don’t love horror movies, I DO love film and television that has a dark or spooky undertone to it. Combine it with comedy, and I am sold. The Addams are a satirical take on the idealized 20th-century American family, and arguably the best part about them is that they are very much unconcerned with the fact that people find them bizarre or scary. Growing up, I would watch the television show with my parents, and Morticia Addams quickly became an icon of mine for various reasons. She’s stylish, passionate about her family, independent, and confident in herself, which are all qualities I admire. Also, this femme fatale was a knitter! Remember the 3 legged romper?

The 1993 film Addams Family Values is one of my favorites to watch around Halloween, and so I thought I’d share a couple of knitting patterns that I think will help anyone channel their inner Morticia. A dramatic silhouette I could see Morticia loving would be a cape. For our Elevated Essentials collection, I designed the Moria Cape, knit using 100% non-superwash wool Deluxe Worsted.

This cape was a lot of fun to design, and the black and gray color-blocked panels give it a very modern touch. It has a trapeze shape, with an open front and armholes that make it easy to wear out and about. I believe everyone deserves some statement outerwear pieces in their wardrobe, and this cape is meant to be exactly that! Pair this with a billowing blouse or dress and you have a very Morticia-esque silhouette. This pattern combines cable work and shaping, so it is on a more intermediate level. It is worked in pieces and seamed to ensure it lasts for years to come.

Though we might not design our patterns with characters in mind, it is so much fun to think about a character you love and what they might enjoy making and wearing. Morticia Addams certainly seems like the type of woman who would love to make herself some FABULOUS knitted sweaters and accessories!”

“I have watched Hocus Pocus every year for Halloween since I was a kid. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other movies that I love for the season, but this film feels like tradition at this point. My household has watched it enough that my husband and I will spout off goofy quotes like “Dead Man’s Toe!” to each other year-round for absolutely no reason. I know – I’m weird. So anyway, that’s why I love this adorable Witch Legs Scarf pattern by Chelsea Roberts! It has an iconic style spotted in movies like The Wizard of Oz and in Hocus Pocus that just screams “Witch!”

A great yarn to use is our Uptown Worsted, which comes in plenty of vibrant colors and is made in an Anti-Pilling Acrylic that is ultra-soft and super easy to care for. Because of the price-point and variety of color options, this makes for a great gift to thank hosts of Halloween parties, or simply a fun quick project to whip up and wear while passing out candy year after year. I myself received this scarf as a gift during my Craft Guild Fall Gift Exchange, and I wear it for our October Guild Meeting for a bit of quirky costume fun!”

Heather

“I tend to spook easily, so I’m not a big fan of scary movies. However, I have to tip my hat to a classic B-grade horror flick from 1962 called The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. I stayed up watching the late-night creature feature at a friend’s slumber party after everyone else went to bed. A mad scientist keeps his fiancee’s head – and just her head – alive after a car wreck.

You’d better believe this blew my tiny mind. Even now, when I see people in thermal hoods, I think of it. However, this movie did kindle a love of truly awful movies in me, so I thank it for that. For the Brain that Wouldn’t Die, I keep wanting to make a balaclava, for obvious reasons! But to keep it from creeping me out, I think I’d turn the idea on its head (pun intended!) and go with Picklehead by Suzen Statz, designed in Uptown Worsted!”

Rachel

I think I may be the only one here that LOVES horror films. So does my mom, so that’s probably the reason behind it. I’ve been watching horror films since I was probably a bit too young to handle some of them. Even if they were off-limits, I remember sneaking behind the sofa in the living room to take a peek while my mom enjoyed them. I watch scary movies all year on a regular basis – rewatching favorites and savoring the new ones, regardless of whether they’re ridiculous or legitimately good (don’t even get me started, there are too many to name!). My pick for this Halloween is an absolute classic: Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Everything about this movie is great – the visuals and cinematography, ominous music, pace, and the psychological and supernatural tension throughout.

Regarding visuals beyond the set, the costume design is chock full of excellent sweaters. I’ve wanted to recreate several of the sweaters donned by Jack and of course, we can’t overlook (oh yes, the Overlook) Danny’s Apollo 11 sweater. (Take a look at this excellent project by Sabrina Magazine).

However, one of the most iconic images in the film is the carpet. It’s eye-catching, graphic, and unforgettable. So thank goodness The Shining blanket by Kraftling exists. This is described as a beginner-friendly pattern which is great because I know my crochet skills aren’t polished yet. The moment I spotted this pattern I knew it had to go on my “to-make” list – perhaps by next Halloween? For the blanket, I’d use Deluxe Worsted Superwash. Although normally I’m a non-superwash gal, I have to say that I like my homewares easy to care for. You can wash and dry this yarn on low heat without the concern of felting. Easy peasy!

So that’s it for our Halloween movie picks this year! Do you indulge in spooky movies each Halloween? What are your favorites? Do you have any projects recommendations to go along with them? Let us know in the comments!

Have a safe, spooky, and fibery Halloween!

October 6, 2021October 6, 2021

Yarn Spotlight: Rico Design Creative Melange Chunky

Hello crafters! As we’re entering the autumn season, all of us at Universal Yarn are thinking about cool weather projects, and the cozy yarns we want to make them in. We recently brought in Creative Melange Chunky from German brand Rico Design, and I thought today was a great opportunity to give a bit of a spotlight to this new and colorful yarn.

Creative Melange Chunky is a plump yarn packed full of stunning color that self-shades as you knit, crochet, or weave. Comprised of virgin wool and acrylic, this yarn is incredibly soft thanks to the springy wool and plush single-ply construction. Quite pleasant to work with, it is well suited to both complex and simple stitch patterns, and makes for unique garments and accessories you’ll treasure for years to come.

This yarn comes in 50g skeins priced at $8.00 each on our web store, making it a great choice for smaller projects like hats and cowls in addition to adding variety for colorwork projects! I must admit, I fell in love with this yarn when I first saw it. The possibilities are virtually endless; there are so many different ways to incorporate a self-shading yarn into a design and create very unique projects! In fact, I am already planning a design of my own for Creative Melange!

Sweater 952 – free pattern from Rico Design

For a free pattern option, we have this downloadable PDF for Sweater 952 (shown above)- a ribbed stitch pullover with balloon style sleeves. Although Rico Design may not have the most *creative* names for their patterns, they always make fashion-forward designs that still feel extremely wearable. I love how this sweater’s shape shows off the yarn’s ability to retain structure, but still look soft and cuddly. Since the yarn self-shades as you work, a simple design like this is often the best way to enhance the yarn’s naural beauty.

For accessory knitters, this paid pattern for Triangular Shawl 768 is stunning. The textural stitch pattern really shows off the stripes the yarn makes as you knit. A wide, triangle-style shawl like this is perfect for styling in many different ways. This shawl is quite wide (about 90″), so it is a perfect design for wrapping around your neck and snuggling up on cold days, and since Creative Melange is chunky weight, it works up quickly!

The last of our new pattern options for Creative Melange Chunky is Jacket 781. This outerwear design is perfect for layering, and the cables on the sleeves show off the incredible stitch definition that this yarn has. You can also see from this pattern to the previous ones just how broad the available color range is! We currently have 20 colors in stock, everything from a grayscale to bright options like this one pictured (#058) featuring green and blue shades. Although I love bright colors and typically fall for pinks and reds, some of the more dark and earthy tones we have (see below photo) really catch my eye. They are beautiful in a different way than the brighter colors, but would also pair quite easily with other autumn and winter wardrobe staples.

The other amazing news is that Creative Melange Chunky is a fabulous substitute yarn for our now discontinued Classic Shades Frenzy! For favorite patterns like the Abari Pullover, simply substitute Creative Melange where Classic Shades Frenzy is called for. Do be mindful when substituting that Frenzy came in 100g skeins, while Creative Melange comes in 50g skeins, so you’ll need to adjust the required amount of yarn for the difference.

Closeup image of the Abari Pullover, where Creative Melange could be substituted for discontinued Frenzy

Do you like self-shading yarns like Creative Melange Chunky? Tell me what you’d make with it for the coming winter season!

Happy Crafting!

September 22, 2021September 22, 2021

Pattern Spotlight – Pebbled Pathways

Have you seen our recently published free pattern, the extra special Pebbled Pathways in Cobblestone? Well, today we’re going to give it some well-deserved spotlight!

Pebbled Pathways (pattern link) has been in the works since late Spring, and I am so excited to finally be able to reveal this unique, gorgeous pattern! It is designed by Gabi van Tassel, who is known for her stunning pin loom designs. Her work has been published regularly in weaving publications, including Little Looms and Handwoven magazines. We touch base on a semi-regular basis, and she always has wonderful things to say about our yarns and is such an enthusiastic fiber artist. As soon as we received Cobblestone, I knew I wanted to partner with her for a truly special project. I essentially sent her yarn, asked for some kind of wrap, and this colorful stole is the result! But, in addition to asking her to create this design, I asked her to write a guest post for our blog. So enough of what I have to say…let’s hear from Gabi herself!

From Gabi:

“It was a thrill when I received a small package from Universal Yarn a few months ago, with some brand-new Fibra Natura yarn and the question “Would you like to weave something with this?” I sure would!

But let me quickly share with you how we got here: Among other crafts, I like to weave hexagons on pin looms. My first design using Universal Yarn was a Grape Table Topper, published in Easy Weaving with Little Looms 2018. I used Universal Yarn Classic Shades [now discontinued, but Colorburst is a great substitute] at the time, which provided the perfect color run to express grapes.

Other projects have followed since then, including the recent Raffiametry placemats in Easy Weaving with Little Looms Summer, 2021 using Yashi and Yashi Iro, the best raffia yarns that I’ve seen so far.

Back to the package that I received: The yarn was a sample of the new Cobblestone yarn, which hit me like a rocket with inspiration. The name reminded me of the old streets in Germany, where I grew up. I always loved the calming geometry of those streets, and I often thought about how each of these stones was carefully put in place by skillful crafty hands. I wanted to capture that meditative thought in a shawl with the new yarn.

In case you are not familiar with pin loom weaving, it is a form of weaving where the crafter uses a small handheld loom to create shaped fabric pieces. Traditionally, pin looms wove 4” squares, but today there are many shapes, including rectangles, triangles, diamonds, and hexagons, in multiple sizes.

Just because these looms are small, doesn’t mean that you can’t craft serious projects. Pin loom weaving is modular weaving. Join the smaller woven units to make any item that you can imagine … for example, Pebbled Pathways!

The shawl is designed to make the best use of two balls of Cobblestone. The put-up is a generous 200-gram ball boasting 612 yards of 2-ply, 100% merino wool. The project requires one ball each of colors 103 Mardi Gras and 104 Tulip, with about 1 oz of each left over in the end. You can choose any other two colors of course. I recommend that you pick colors with contrast, to maintain the cobblestone characteristics in the design.

Weaving is easy. All of the hexagons are plain weave, worked on the Original TURTLE Loom™ in “F-fine sett”. The vivid color changes of the variegated yarn make each hexagon unique. The colors are well-curated and distributed in a way that the hexagons blend in with each other to make a smooth fabric.

The yarn is a delight to weave. It is soft and glides well while pin loom weaving. It has just the right amount of elasticity, not stiff and not too stretchy. The light twist is perfect to gently bloom into a nice, soft fabric with a good drape.

Crafters sometimes hesitate the task of joining pin loom woven shapes. However, hexagons are actually easy to join because they have smooth edgings. The sides are short enough to hold by hand: just match up two hexagons by their sides and sew them together with about 10-12 whip stitches.

If you would like some help with joining hexagons, check out the video “Joining 101: Sewing Two Hexagons Together” (https://youtu.be/PuD2wv1DdIo). Or, if you are interested in the mattress stitch, see the joining part of “Making an Elf Basket”.

If you don’t feel like weaving through two whole balls of Cobblestone, let the modular character of pin loom weaving come to the rescue! You can make a slimmer wrap by weaving only four rows instead of six (blue marks).

You can shorten or extend the length of the shawl by easily adding or subtracting a repeat of three hexagon columns (green marks).

Or – if you wish to make a small project at first – you can make a cowl, two rows high and nine hexagons in the round (yellow marks). Now, if you decide to make a cowl … and you like it … make another one for a friend … make a few as holiday gifts … Did I mention that there is a rabbit hole here?

Universal Yarn Universe — Sparkle Windows woven scarf by Amy Gunderson

Many of Universal’s yarns are well-suited for weaving, and the Pebbled Pathways wrap just might be the beginning of more “oh, look what you can make” weaving projects. There is already Amy Gunderson’s beautiful Sparkle Windows shawl in Universe.

Next, Bamboo Pop is a popular yarn in the rigid heddle looms community because of its ease to weave, the lovely drape, and the stunning color effects. Then, there is also Ravello for a project with a touch of luxurious cashmere. Or, you could try the very practical Rico Design Creative Bubble that inspires pin loom woven kitchen and bath accessories.

Got a loom? Let’s weave! “

Me again (Rachel)! I’m so glad Gabi was able to share not only this beautiful design, but her thoughts on the inspiration, our new Cobblestone yarn, and even more yarns to explore weaving with! We have a small, square pin loom here in the office, and I am pretty tempted to start playing with it. The idea of a fringed scarf or cute cowl is awfully tempting!

I hope you love Pebbled Pathways as much as we do. Have you woven before, or are you now inspired to? Let us know in the comments!