Is there anything better than a good sock yarn accessory? Today’s two-ball shawl features subtle shaping that lets it sit gracefully on the shoulders. It also has beautiful lace, made even more striking through unexpected color changes that ebb and flow.
We call these color changes unexpected, because it’s such a departure from how the color runs look in the smaller circumferences that we see in socks! In little projects, Wacki Saki is bold and wild.
But when seen in larger circumferences, the shades shift smoothly across the broader canvas, creating long bands of color that accent your work.
We love this shawl so much that we made it in two colors. Shown above is Wacki Saki 406 Kooky Meadow…
…and here it has more of a desert sunset feel, with Wacki Saki 405 Crazy Tiger.
I hvae a friend who can’t get enough of pink, and for her I’m going to suggest color 401 Bonkers Bouquet. Its vivid tones match her bright personality!
No matter your choice, we think you’ll love this brilliant, flowing accessory.
The scarf was originally released as part of the Desert Dreams collection, featuring these six desert-inspired designs to knit and crochet in Unity and Unity Beyond.
This fabulous artisanal texture comes from Unity Beyond’s unique blend of cotton, wool, linen, and bamboo. It gives all the benefits of plant fibers, with just the right amount of bounce!
To get the Atacama Scarf free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page linked here. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase, and click “apply.”
Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of Sunday 8/28 and we’ll get you taken care of.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of joy and beauty.
Do you love lace? Then today is for you! Rachel Brockman uses allover lace stitches on the body of this pullover to add extra elegance.
A lace body is offset by bracelet-length stockinette sleeves, and a boat neck enhances the piece’s overall vintage vibes. But this is a luxurious sweater with a secret!
This lacy delight is actually an affordable, easy care project, thanks to Uptown Baby Sport 100% anti-pilling acrylic! I have to tell you, I used to be a yarn snob, but the Uptown yarns converted me. They’re so soft! When I compare Uptown to the acrylics I used as a young crafter just starting out, it’s like night and day. And it’s hard to argue with results like this gorgeous project!
Absolutely beautiful. I think my queue just got longer again.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of inexpensive treats and priceless joy.
Hi everyone! My name is Robert Ferrel, and I am a new employee here at Universal Yarn. In May of 2022, I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Go Niners), and a week later I started my role here as the Social Media Marketing Assistant! In college, I majored in marketing and wanted the opportunity to grow my skill set and I have found that at UY.
Picture of me (Robert) in Uptown Charlotte (Photo Credit: Zachary Allred Photography)
I have greatly enjoyed my first few months here and have learned so much about the industry. Growing up, you never would have found me knitting or crocheting, and I didn’t know many people who did, but I have grown to appreciate the art. I have created content for so many yarns already, so it may be hard for me to pick just one as my favorite, so instead, I will list my top 3.
Clean Cotton is one of my favorite yarns here at UY. One of the things I love about this yarn is the fact that it is environmentally friendly, with the fiber contents being 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled polyester. This yarn is very affordable and is perfect for making useful kitchen accessories. As a recent college graduate, the Mosaic Dish Towels and Fresh Air Washcloths can help keep my kitchen appliances clean… and maybe convince my mother that I am no longer an unorganized college kid. “Love you, mom.” It is great for any season because it is so versatile in the types of projects it can create, and there are plenty of colors to choose from, including neutral, but also some bolder and brighter colors.
Mosaic Dish Towels using Clean Cotton
Another favorite of mine here at Universal Yarn is Deluxe Stripes. I’m not going to lie, when I first saw the Deluxe Stripes skeins, I was a bit intimidated by all the different colors, but when worked up, this yarn created a lot of beautiful garments and accessories. I don’t have the patience to hand wash my clothes or accessories, so the fact that it is machine washable makes it much easier to care for. The 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon mix make it great for socks. The Deluxe Socks is a free pattern and if you’re anything like me, wearing socks around the house has become a must. With 9 different colorways available, it’s hard to pick what I want on my feet, but you can’t go wrong with any of these colors.
Deluxe Socks using Deluxe Stripes
Lastly, I will give a shout-out to Bella Chenille. This yarn has been my favorite from the time I started here. It is incredibly soft and there are 29 different solid colors to choose from. My favorite has to be 117 Red Apple because it literally reminds me of an apple, which is one of the most delicious fruits. There are plenty of fun patterns to try with Bella Chenille, but my favorite is Peanut Butter and Jelly. These stuffed bears are an excellent creation to have by your side day and night.
Peanut Butter and Jelly in Bella Chenille
I can’t help but feel blessed to be a part of the Universal Yarn team, and I look forward to learning more about yarn, knitting, crocheting, and everything in-between!
Thanks to its loose fit and elegant waterfall silhouette, it’s easy to make a statement with the stylish Peony Vest.
How pretty is this texture? It’s a simple slip stitch pattern, but in cotton/silk Papyrus it adds a lot of depth.
It’s got such a rich, almost nubbly look and feel. The added sheen of silk adds to the complexity of the yarn.
The Peony Vest is worked in three pieces – back, left front, and right front – and then seamed. This comfortable and elegant design includes thoughtful details like twisted ribbing at the bottom, and a tidy I-Cord edging to complete the look.
All together, the Peony Vest is a wonderful warm-weather accessory that will serve you well.
How clever is this? I love the way designer Ashley Jane McIntyre used the self-striping nature of Deluxe Stripes to create little accents between the shells, breaking up the fields of color with complementary tones.
Deluxe Stripes a great yarn for this project. The stripes change crisply, and the 75% wool/25% nylon content means this blankie is machine washable and will last a long time. Deluxe Stripes is also Oeko-Tex 100 Product Class 1 certified, for the safety of the ones you love!
Sunny Shells is worked flat, from the bottom up. After finishing the body, you’ll go back and apply that lovely border in joined, unturned rounds.
Tip: As shown, this project took almost every bit of seven skeins of Deluxe Stripes. You might want to get another skein, just as insurance.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of brightness and joy.
Tori Gurbisz designed Aoyagi for our Bloom in Color collection of designs in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints. There are plenty of colorful designs in this collection – how could there not be, with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints? – but as you can see, Aoyagi made the cover!
Aoyagi combines two favorite yarns, Bamboo Bloom Handpaints and Deluxe Worsted. While the original color of Deluxe Worsted used in the shawl is now retired, we recommend two others: 12188 Heather or 14007 Indigo. We’ve put them side by side with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 318 Emperor above, and you can see how well they blend. Of course, with 90 shades in Deluxe Worsted, it’s not going to be hard to find a combination that works for you!
To get Aoyagi free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page linked here. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase, and click “apply.”
Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of Sunday 7/31 and we’ll get you taken care of.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of color that’s every bit as vibrant as you are!
Talk about summertime style! Aubrey Busek’s versatile textured beauty features contrast-colored accents, a cozy fit, and easily doubles as a tank.
As is standard with our designs, Tincture is size-inclusive, running from XS to 5X. It uses my favorite construction: bottom up, in the round. And that texture!
It’s an eight row repeat that’s very rhythmic and easy to get into, and it makes such a beautiful fabric! And the choice of yarn for this really makes that fabric glow.
Vireo is made of 80% plant-based Tencel and 20% wool. The Tencel helps it stays cool in the summer, and gives it fabulous drape and stitch definition. The wool gives it a touch of springiness that’s just right for this piece.
I love this in the original 113 Macaron and 114 Jade Necklace. Just looking at the colors cools me down.
clockwise from top: 109 Featherlight, 107 Apricot Tart, 108 Marmelade
But Vireo has a lot of possibilities. A combination of any of these tones, Vireo colors 107 through 109, would look great. It reminds me of summertime peaches!
No matter what you choose for your Tincture, we know you’ll have a great time knitting it.
As knitters and crocheters, we sometimes overlook the summer stitching season or wish away the heat in favor of sweater weather. Of course, that’s understandable considering we all spend so much time lovingly making sweaters, hats, shawls, and other cozy projects. But we don’t need to wish away the long, sunny days. We can beat the sweltering heat by choosing yarns perfect for the height of summer. So, although back-to-school is around the corner and fall will come in the blink of an eye, I still want to celebrate our staff picks for our favorite summer yarns.
Aubrey
“My favorite summer yarn is going to be a classic: Cotton Supreme. 100% cotton that is buttery soft means that anything you make is going to be comfortable to wear when the days are hot. And we all know how hot it gets here in the south! The matte look of this yarn makes it perfect for any project, dress it up or dress it down, and the extensive color palette offers so many options. I’ve wanted to design a knit dress, and this could be the perfect summer option.“
Ashley Jane (AJ)
“My favorite summer yarn is Truva. The marled and heathered look is so unique and its cotton/cashmere blend is soft and lightweight to work with. I love the idea that even a simple summer garment, like a tank, will undoubtedly turn out looking and feeling luxurious. I also can’t get over the colors! There may only be eight to choose from, but I still can’t pin down a favorite. Each one has a little something special to it that keeps me falling in love over and over again.”
Heather
“This may be an obvious choice since *everybody* loves this yarn, but I think my favorite warm weather yarn is Bamboo Pop. It’s so cool and smooth! Of the projects that I’ve made in this yarn, my personal favorite is the Maya Scarf. I’m friends with designer Amy Gunderson, and she was kind enough to help me pick out some good cool tones. It was an easy pattern to get into the rhythm of, and the yarn was so refreshing to knit with. I love the drape of the plant fibers and the sheen that the bamboo gives my projects! It’s easy to see why Bamboo Pop is so popular.”
Yonca
“Mine is Flax. With the perfect color palette from brights to pastels – Flax gives me lots of color options. I love the crisp sense of it while I am working with it and love the fact that it will get softer over time. It is perfect for keeping me cool during hot Carolina summers while still looking sharp. I am hoping to knit another summer top with it this summer. “
Rachel
One of my favorite things about Universal Yarn is the strong lineup of summer options. We honestly have such an amazing range of yarns perfect for warmer climates in a variety of fabulous fibers. It’s so challenging to choose a favorite – but since I asked everyone else to choose, I must also choose! My favorite summer yarn has to be Magnolia. This blend of modal and cashmere is one of the loveliest yarns I’ve had the pleasure of working with. It’s silky smooth, lightweight, and has perhaps the best drape of any yarn out there. I really mean that! The color palette is so juicy and fresh – with excellent options for neutrals. For a splash of color, don’t miss our gorgeous Sunkissed Summer collection!
And there you have it, folks, our favorite summer yarns! I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing a little bit about what makes each of these yarns special to us, and why we love working with them. What are your favorite summer yarns? Let us know in the comments!
Summer means kids in constant motion! And today’s free pattern is perfect for keeping young ones comfortable as they play.
I’ll sit down, but I’m not tired!
Aubrey Busek’s Playground Hoodie is sized for kids two to twelve. It’s shown here in the four-year-old size. We’re happy to report that it met with the model’s seal of approval.
Okay, playtime again!
Perfect for warm and cool weather alike, the practical hood and kangaroo pocket will allow your little one to ward off any breeze in the air. Machine washable 100% Cotton Supreme Waves creates a breathable fabric that’s practical spring through fall.
So many colors!
Color 910 Equator is used in the hoodie. It stripes up solidly, but there are also options that stripe up with a more speckled, variegated effect, like 916 Ice Cream that’s facing forward in the group of future WIPs above.
Did someone say ice cream?
Pro tip: Cotton Supreme Waves is a self-striping yarn. To ensure your project looks as close to the sample as possible, when breaking and rejoining yarn, be sure to visually match the point at which you’re rejoining. You might need to wind off some yarn. We promise the results are worth the effort!
Do I hear the ice cream truck over there?
The Playground Hoodie is a sunshiney, practical kid project that looks good, feels good, and is fun to knit. What a perfect summertime treat!
We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of imagination and fun times.
