Ready to accessorize in style this summer? Today is the day! With July soon to be upon us, our Design Team is excited to release a gorgeous red, white, and blue shawl to match the season. Firecracker Shawl, designed by Aubrey Busek, is today’s Free Pattern Friday!
Firecracker is a one-skein-wonder in our variegated Sugar Saki, released last fall. This accessory is knit flat from the top down, beginning with a garter tab. As you work with this yarn, you will see the gorgeous red, white, blue, and purple shades of color 505 Popsicle come to life, giving you an accessory perfect for summer!
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, don’t fret. This project is an excellent option for knitters of all skill levels. Firecracker features a rhythmic eyelet lace pattern that is easy to memorize and fun to work. Plus, with a single skein project like this, there’s plenty of room for you to make this shawl in several different colorways, thanks to our exciting palette in Sugar Saki, seen below!
This weekend, indulge in a deal as sweet as the yarn itself. Sugar Saki is 20% off Friday through Sunday. This yarn is a blend of superwash merino wool, bamboo, and nylon, perfect for garments and accessories, but we know you will love using it for shawl and sock projects in particular!
Twice a year, Universal Yarn launches lots of exciting new yarns, colors, and patterns to our customers. We bring our sales reps together for the first look, and shortly after we present you with all of these sweet surprises! (By the way, if you want some insight on a day in the life of a yarn sales rep, check out this blog post featuring one of our reps.) You may have noticed some new colors of some of our staple yarns at your local yarn store, or on our website. To go with these lovely new colors we’ve published some wonderful free patterns. Shall we dive in and explore these goodies?
Our bestselling yarn, Bamboo Pop, features six gorgeous neutrals inspired by the diversity of our skin tones. These colors were created for doll projects, as seen in our Bamboo Pop Dolls released last week, and for Knitted Knockers, which are soft, comfortable knit prosthetics for breast cancer survivors. Bamboo Pop is one of our approved yarns for these prosthetics. However, it’s a super versatile yarn that’s great for garments and accessories, too. These new neutral hues work well individually or paired with our other solids and multis. To demonstrate this, Ashley Jane McIntyre designed the Espresso Bandana, shown below.
If neutrals aren’t your favorite, but colors make you sing, you’ll love our fresh new shade of Colorburst. This self-shading yarn features a variety of fun colors, but 120 Lollipop might be my new favorite. This colorway features creamy white as well as vibrant red, yellow, and turquoise.
We have plenty of patterns to support this yarn (check them out here), but how could I resist a sugary sweet new sweater? Ceres is a relaxed turtleneck that will keep you cozy and warm when chilly weather approaches. It features thoughtful details like a rolled hemline, texture on the lower body, and plush ribbing on the sleeve cuffs and neckband. The construction is bottom up, in the round, with options for seamed or seamless sleeves. It’s a great pattern for a first sweater, or any knitter looking for a satisfyingly simple project.
Kingston Tweed, our soft yet rustic blend of 50% wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose has long been one of my favorites. I love the subtle tweed and earthy palette, inspired by minerals and gemstones. It’s also the yarn featured in one of our most popular patterns: the Jay Sweater. This yarn is well suited to a variety of techniques including colorwork, lace, and textural motifs.
Starling SetBlake
To celebrate new colors of Kingston Tweed, we’ve published two brand-new patterns. For those craving a coordinating accessory set, look no further than the Starling Set, designed by Aubrey Busek. This beginner-friendly project is knit using soothing slipped stitches and a touch of ribbing for tidiness. The hat and cowl are each knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up. This project makes great use of yarn, requiring just one skein of each color!
Blake is a wardrobe essential. Classic, squishy Shaker Rib and colorful stripes make this an easy layering piece whether your office is perpetually frigid, or you want something ideal for autumn and winter. The knitting in this pattern is pretty simple throughout – the body is knit flat from the bottom up in one piece, and the sleeves are also knit flat. There is minimal shaping, except a little increasing at the sleeve cuffs to create the bishop sleeve effect. The stripes make it potato-chippy, so you’ll want to keep stitching away for the next color, and the next!
Next, we have another bestseller: Major! This plush, soft acrylic yarn is self-shading and each colorway is sensational. Like Bamboo Pop, Major has been a staple of the Universal Yarn line for years and nearly 900 people have projects featuring this yarn in their Ravelry notebooks. We have loads of patterns that use this yarn, from the ever-popular Pineapple Peacock Shawl to the entrelac Woven Sky Throw and many more – we know you’ll find something you love. For the launch of our six new shades we’ve introduced two new patterns: the knitted Hedgerow wrap and crocheted Loch scarf, shown below.
LochHedgerow
Crocheted in 145 Feather and designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, Loch is warm and cozy. Beginners looking to elevate their skills will relish the Herringbone Half Double Crochet motif throughout the fabric. This one-skein project is gentle on your wallet with impressive results. It’s also a quick project, making it great for a last-minute gift (well, as last-minute as you can handle with something handmade!).
Aubrey Busek pairs the popular neutral 115 Stonewall with 141 Greenhouse in Hedgerow to create another stunning slip stitch pattern. My favorite element of this piece is how lavishly textured the fabric is. It delicately balances subtle drape with a fabric dense enough to ward off frosty winter air. Thoughtfully placed tassels make this wrap a statement piece that is guaranteed to win you major style points!
Bonus! Fans of Uni Merino will love this new shade of green: 151 Pistachio. A blend of soft superwash merino and sturdy nylon make Uni Merino an excellent match for sock knitters, but it’s also ideal for fingering-weight sweaters, shawls, hats, and more. We don’t have a sample to show this color off yet, but we promise we will soon and your patience will pay off. In the meantime, find inspiration in projects like the crocheted Spice Market Shawl and the knitted Party Flag Socks.
Now that you’ve seen our selection of new colors and patterns, let us know which ones inspire you. Will you make one of our designs, or try something different? It’s always exciting to see what our customers create with our yarns, so stay in touch. You can always email us at patterns@universalyarn.com and we encourage you to tag us on Instagram (@universal_yarn).
Have you ever crocheted an amigurumi before? Well, the wait is over! Free Pattern Friday presents… the Bamboo Pop Dolls! This new crochet pattern features six individual amigurumis that make the perfect gift for a loved one in your life. Plus, each one of these dolls uses one of our six new colors of Bamboo Pop. Let’s learn more!
The Bamboo Pop Dolls, designed by Jacki Donhou, contain an exciting collection of seven individual patterns. One pattern gives instructions to make the doll’s body, which is the same for each doll, except for the colors of yarn used. Each one features a different shade of our six new neutrals released in Bamboo Pop. The remaining six patterns give instructions for each of the hairstyles, clothing, and accessories seen on each doll. All of the clothing and accessories are both removable and interchangeable, so you can create a doll as unique and special as you!
We loved these dolls as soon as we saw them and wanted to hear about what inspired the designer. Here is what Jacki had to say: “When I designed this Bamboo Pop doll collection, I wanted to incorporate a rainbow-like theme. Thinking about children and how unique each one is on the inside and the outside, I wanted to try and express that with color. From skin tones to clothing to each of their vibrant hairstyles, I wanted to show how different and beautiful children are.”
Bamboo Pop is a stash staple here at Universal Yarn, and now there are six more reasons for you to shop this favorite! Our design team recently released colors 143 Rosy, 145 Seashell, 148 Almond, 150 Penny, 151 Hickory, and 152 Chocolate to give more neutral options in this bamboo/cotton blend. We think these colors would look exceptional in any garment or accessory pattern. Check out the Espresso Bandana for a single skein project in color 152 Chocolate.
Now through Sunday, June 18th, you can save 20% off Bamboo Pop!
To stay connected, you can follow Jacki on Instagram and shop her adorable patterns on Etsy!
Today, we released the Ocean Wonder collection, which captures the awe and majesty of the deep sea across seven knit and crochet patterns. Let’s take the plunge and explore the beautiful mysteries of the deep through these inspired designs!
Abyss designed by Aubrey Busek
Abyss, designed by Aubrey Busek, is a captivating shawl which twists and undulates like the tendrils of an ethereal deep-sea creature, but its colors are buoyant and bright like glimmers of light on the sea surface. When I first saw this piece, it immediately captured my interest and pulled me in to explore more. I love how the crescent shawl shape creates curls at its corners, and that the lace detailing enhances the rippling stitch pattern throughout. This shawl is knit flat from the top down and uses solid Cotton Supreme to frame the vibrant Cotton Supreme Waves.
Below, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre
Next up is Below, designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. The collection inspiration was the deep sea, which feels both beautiful and a little scary. There’s no better way to ward off the fear of the unknown then by wrapping yourself up in a cozy, handmade blanket. This piece features a deep, rich background with swirling ribbons of colorwork in Cotton Supreme, each bordered by bold stripes of colorful Cotton Supreme Speckles. It’s worked flat from the bottom up and uses tapestry crochet in the colorwork sections. The effect mimics the continuous movement of seawater found below the ocean’s surface.
Current, designed by Yonca Ozbelli
Current captures the ebbs and flows found throughout the sea. Waves on the surface, kelp that winds and twists through habitats, and deeper currents of water below. The entire ocean is teeming with movement and life, all captured in this beautiful piece. It’s knit flat from side to side in two rectangles which are joined together using the three-needle bind-off to create the top. No seams required! Three colors of Cotton Supreme are worked in rhythmic, striping waves throughout bringing the life of the ocean rippling into your wardrobe.
Drift, designed by Patty OlsonFloat, designed by Patty Olson
Drift (left) and Float (right), both designed by Patty Olson are cowls filled with texture and movement. Side by side, these complimenting accessories capture the oceans shifting personality from soothing and calm, to intrepid and strong. Both cowls use Cotton Supreme and are knit flat from the bottom up, then seamed at the neck. However, they each have unique stitch patterns and details that set them apart from one another.
Fade, designed by Amy Gunderson
Fade, designed by Amy Gunderson, captures the unpredictability of the sea. Slants of eyelets lean and travel like a billowing haze on the water’s surface. Sections of stockinette interrupt the movement like choppy waves, or roiling waters that fade into a smooth calm below. This top is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down, with bands of lace and staggered sections of plain stockinette. A single color of Cotton Supreme is used, allowing the stitch definition and texture to tell this story on its own.
Surge, by Patty Olson
The power of the ocean is not always for the faint of heart. The ever-moving water erodes almost anything in its path over time, but strong networks of coral and underwater communities band together in breathtaking underwater worlds, creating a latticework of strength and endurance against the swelling currents below. Surge, designed by Patty Olson, paints a picture of this vigor through its interlocking mosaic pattern, texture, and vibrant colors. This wrap is knit flat from the bottom up, and uses just one color per row. Both Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Waves work in harmony to capture the resilience, warmth, and magic of the ocean and its creatures.
I truly hope you’ve enjoyed reading through my review of each beautiful piece in the Ocean Wonder collection. I find them all captivating in their own ways, and kept finding myself in awe at each new detail I’ve noticed along the way. Was there a particular piece that captured your interest too? Tell us about it in the comments below!
One last note – to celebrate this release, we are offering a discount! The full ebook, individual patterns (on Ravelry), and the Cotton Supreme Family of yarns used are all 20% off, from today – Sunday 6/11. No discount codes are required!
The first Friday of June has arrived, and we have the perfect summer garment for you today! The Zesty Tank, designed by Rachel Brockman, is now available to download for free on our website. Using our thrilling Zesty Sock yarn, this beautiful tank top is full of fun colors that will come to life as you knit!
The Zesty Tank features simple twisted stitches that create a textured cable rib pattern throughout the garment. The tank is knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, and the front and back are separated at the underarms and worked flat. The silhouette of this garment is contemporary, and the lightweight fibers of our Zesty Sock yarn have gorgeous zips of color in each skein to give this garment a unique look.
The pattern offers inclusive sizing of Extra Small through 5X, and all that’s left is to pick your favorite shade of Zesty Sock and get started! Each color option of Zesty Sock has different shades of zips throughout – so you can customize this garment to your liking. Try out color 106 Iceberg if you are a fan of beautiful blues, or try 102 Sunset for warm summer shades. Check out the picture below, which shows all six colors of this exciting yarn!
Friday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 4th, you can save 20% off Zesty Sock! This yarn is a super fine-weight blend of superwash merino wool and nylon, giving it a soft and springy feel, perfect for socks, garments, and accessories. We have four free patterns already available in Zesty Sock – so you can stock up this weekend and add a couple of new patterns to your queue!
Can you believe the final Friday of May is upon us? It feels like just yesterday we were turning the calendar to 2023… Today we have an exciting Flash Pattern Friday and the start of our Start of Summer Sale! The Gradiate Tank, designed by Amy Gunderson, is free from May 26th to May 28th with the use of the code: FLASH on Ravelry. Let’s learn more about this beautiful top!
Warm weather calls for an enticing summer project, and that’s just what the Gradiate Tank is. Using our 100% linen Flax yarn, this garment will be a staple for summer days on the beach, at the park, or a night out with friends. Grab your knitting needles and your four favorite colors of Flax to get started!
This project uses a variety of engaging stitches to create a stunning lacy hemline, and with a swingy A-line shape, you can wear the Gradiate Tank with just about anything in your closet. Above, you can see two different color samples of this garment, but with Flax, there are many colors to choose from, so you can make just what you desire!
Head to Ravelry and click “add to cart” or “buy it now” to get to checkout. Once in checkout, click the “use a coupon code” hyperlink and enter the code “FLASH” and click “apply” and your discount will be added!
As mentioned in the opening paragraph, our Start of Summer Sale is here! We have a couple of exciting offers we want to share with you. Friday, May 26th through Monday, May 29th, when you buy two regular-priced yarns, you will get a third yarn of your choice for free (you must add three skeins of yarn to qualify – lesser or equal value deducted at checkout). Plus, continental USA orders of $25 or more before tax will receive free shipping during this sale – shop today and save!
This an excellent time to stock up on regular-priced Flax so you can knit your Gradiate Tank today!
Summer is swiftly approaching, and as the weather warms to peak sunny season we are sure projects like tank tops, hats and lacework are on your mind. If you haven’t had a chance to find patterns for your queue, then fear not! We have some gorgeous summer yarns and projects for you to try out today.
MagnoliaSailfin in Magnolia
Magnolia is a luscious blend of 95% modal and 5% cashmere. Modal is a bio-based material made from beech tree cellulose. It’s typically considered a more eco-friendly alternative to cotton because the amount of water these trees require is 10-20 times less than cotton. You can read more about the process of creating modal here. We love this yarn for more than its environmentally conscious origins though – it has excellent drape and feels silky soft with the kiss of cashmere blended in.
One of my favorite projects using Magnolia is the Sailfin wrap, designed by Rachel Brockman. This standout pattern is one of five from our Sunkissed Summer collection from Spring 2022. It’s my favorite because it features so many buoyant, joyful colors of magnolia and shows off the radiance of the yarn so well. Simply put, it just makes me happy every time I see it!
Seastar in Cotton SupremeCotton Supreme
Summer crafting would feel lacking if you didn’t have cotton in the mix. Cotton Supreme is our buttery soft, 100% cotton yarn available in a wide array of colors. This worsted weight yarn is wonderful for any project ranging from garments and accessories to blankets and homewares. In fact, this yarn is so popular that we offer it in a variety of options. Our fun, multi-colored Cotton Supreme Speckles is a complimentary worsted weight yarn with dashes of fun colors throughout. Or, if you’re looking for a lighter weight version, our Cotton Supreme Waves is a beautifully blended self-striping dk weight option. While supply lasts, we also have Cotton Supreme DK in solid options, but act now! This yarn is being discontinued and won’t be around much longer.
The Cotton Supreme Family, as we like to call this offering of yarns, gives so many fabulous options between weight and colors. So, of course we have created many beautiful designs to uplift them throughout the years. For any yarn above, you can scroll down below the color listings to view all of the patterns available. Take some time to browse around, then try to choose a favorite – it’s hard! I finally landed on featuring the Seastar sweater by Aubrey Busek. It combines many of my favorite attributes in a project. It’s made in panels then seamed, so it’s simple and easy to carry around without getting too heavy. It has lovely lace all the way up the sleeves, which remind me of ocean waves. Lastly, it uses intarsia colorwork to create the cutest starfish, ever!
FillyStormy Shores Shawl
Up next is Filly, one of our new yarns launched for spring of 2023. This super fine yarn is a special blend of 46% cotton, 33% super wash merino, 12% polyamide, and 9% pbt. It’s unique fiber content, eye-catching colors, and amazing yardage (492 yards per ball), make it your go-to summer grab.
Whip up a quick one-skein project like the crocheted Stormy Shores Shawl to start showing off this favorite, new yarn today. Not a crocheter? Check out the full pattern selection here, with knit options to try out too!
Lastly, I wanted to highlight a beautiful yarn from Rico Design, the Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton. This blend of 46% acrylic, 49% cotton, and 5% polyester is irresistible! It washes and wears well over time, it’s basic color is spun with a print ply for a bright variegated look, and it’s offered in everything from pastels to rich earthy tones. What more could you want!?
Rico patterns, which they call Compacts, are all paid-for, but each typically come with at least two designs! Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton has 6 Compacts to choose from, so you have a myriad of choices. My favorite Compact is number 1106, including a Sweater, a Top, and a Shawl. Each one is simple and lets the yarn shine!
I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring some of these summer yarn highlights! Check our Summer Yarns Collection to view even more options! Don’t forget to share all your beautiful creations with us on social media!
That’s all for now! Happy Stitching, Ashley Jane McIntyre
There’s nothing our pets love more than a treat, and this Free Pattern Friday, we have one just for your furry friend(s). The Best Bandana, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, features our staple Uptown Worsted yarn crocheted in two bright neon color options. Let’s take a closer look at this week’s free pattern!
The Best Bandana comes in sizes small and large, so you can make this for any pup in your life. This accessory is worked flat from the top down, starting with a magic circle. Once you have crocheted your magic circle, you will begin working row by row until you have a bandana you feel will fit your dog perfectly. To finish this piece, you will create a strap along with a 5-chain loop that will allow you to securely tie the bandana to your dog’s neck, just like a collar.
There are many reasons to love this project, including the fact that you will need just one skein of Uptown Worsted! This weekend, you can save 20% off with your purchase of this yarn, so if you have multiple dogs at home, you can make several for an affordable price. Uptown Worsted has a vast color palette and features machine-washable 100% anti-pilling acrylic, making it an excellent option for a pet project.
We hope you will enjoy this wonderful crochet project, and don’t forget to share all your finished creations with us on social media!
If you’ve never heard of muud, let us be the first to inform you! Located in Denmark, muud sells premium leather accessories specifically designed for the crafting community. Their brand features an extensive selection of bags, cases, clutches, and more for your crafting supplies. Let’s look at two unique products they offer that will add a touch of luxury to your next project!
The Danish company recently released a selection of bag bottoms for crocheters, and we’re excited to share them with you! The Duff and Dee make it easy for any fiber artist to craft a bag without worrying about the wear and tear your fibers would face from years of holding your belongings. The sturdy leather means you will have a durable, long-lasting bag with a luxurious look and feel. Both of these bag bottoms come in a regular (Dee approx. 4″ x 11″ | Duff approx. 8″ diameter) and XL ( Dee XL approx. 5″ x 14″ | Duff XL approx. 12″ diameter) version, as well as color options for black and whiskey.
Whether you use the Duff or Dee bag bottoms or not, you can top your bag with the Hudson and Hudson XL strap for a complete and polished look. We used the Hudson strap in black as a finishing touch to the free Kite Handbag crochet pattern, pictured below!
The Hudson straps are an incredibly convenient option for any maker. This product will allow you to pay full attention to the body of the bag you plan to knit, crochet, or weave without having to worry about a strap. Not only does that save you time, but it would bring a stylish look to your finished accessory! The Hudson strap is approximately 19 inches long, while the Hudson XL is about 25 inches. Depending on the size of your bag, you can choose accordingly, and as a bonus, these handles are completely removable, so you won’t be stuck with either one if it doesn’t work out with your accessory!
We hope you enjoyed learning more about muud and a glimpse of their products available on our website! There are so many gorgeous leather bags, cases, and more to explore through our muud Spotlight series. Check out our on-sale muud items for sensational savings, and please comment below if you have any questions about their offerings!
May seems to be flying by, so there’s no better time to introduce Blur, our Free Pattern Friday for today. Designed by Rachel Brockman, this beautifully simple shawl uses Bamboo Pop in multi and solid color options. Let’s look at the pattern details so we can get you on your way to your next project!
The sample shown uses colors 112 Black (solid) and 225 Geode (multi) in a color-blocked design. The entirety of this shawl uses simple garter stitch so you can focus on the construction of this pattern. You will start by increasing from two stitches with the color of your choice. Once you reach the center, you will change colors and then decrease to complete the shawl.
Bamboo Pop is a summery blend of 50% bamboo and 50% cotton, with excellent drape for garments and accessories. If you’re not a fan of the colors used, don’t worry. Bamboo Pop has 42 solid colors and 19 multis to choose from, so you can make the accessory of your dreams!
This weekend with your purchase of Bamboo Pop, you will get 20% off your order. This yarn is widely versatile and perfect for garments and accessories. It’s machine washable and easy to care for, so baby projects are a fantastic idea with Bamboo Pop. Shop today!
