Today, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at an upcoming design and gush about one of our lovely new yarns: Penna.
Penna in 110 Dovetail.
You might have noticed Penna pop up in your local yarn store recently. This lace-weight yarn is light as a feather, ridiculously soft, and has a beautiful halo. It is a blend of 50% baby Suri alpaca for a hazy effect, 28% extra fine merino for softness, and 22% nylon for strength. This yarn is a great alternative to laceweight mohair yarns, to which some people are more sensitive. The palette contains sixteen gorgeous colors.
Plume Cowl, shown in 111 Whisper, 112 Rose Kiss, & 113 Raspberry Tart.
One reason we brought this yarn in is because of its versatility. You can hold it as a single strand or as a carry-along with another yarn. If you’re holding it single, we recommend using a large needle for a loose, airy gauge. That’s what really makes this yarn shine. Take the Plume Cowl, for example. Knit at a gauge of 16 stitches over four inches with a suggested needle size of US 8 (5 mm), this accessory is like a cloud for your neck and shoulders. It’s as simple as can be – just seed stitch in the round, with a few color changes to create a nice gradient.
Penna in 113 Raspberry Tart placed on top of the Plume Cowl.
Personally, one thing I love about this yarn is that it pairs well with other yarns. I think it would look beautiful to add a halo to stash staples like Deluxe Worsted, but I wanted to see what Penna was like when held together with a self-shading or self-patterning yarn. We have quite a few of those, but the one that struck me as the most suitable match for Penna is Whisper Lace. Both yarns are so fine, the fabric they create together will still be lightweight. A blend of wool and silk, Whisper Lace is great for warmer weather and the transitional seasons – add the warmth and haze of baby Suri alpaca to that, and you can create perfect projects for autumn and winter.
That brings me to the original point of this post. I’m working on a design that pairs Whisper Lace and Penna. I’ve chosen Whisper Lace in 213 Cool Ripples – a blue and grey multi, with Penna in 110 Dovetail – a soft, warm grey. I love the way Penna and Whisper Lace are playing together. Solid-colored Penna softens the transitions from one color to the next in the Whisper Lace.
The beginnings of a crescent-shaped shawl knit in Whisper Lace and Penna.
You can see the humble beginning in the photo above. I decided a shawl would be the perfect project. Lately, I’ve been really into crescent-shaped shawls, so that is the shape I’ve chosen for this design. Four stitches are increased on each edge every right-side row, and two stitches are increased on each edge every wrong-side row. This is what creates the dramatic curve. I’m letting the yarn speak for itself here: nothing more than simple Stockinette stitch for most of the shawl. I plan to finish this project with an applied lace border. I’m undecided on whether I should use a solid, contrasting color for the border, or if I should stitch to stick to the pairing used throughout the rest of the shawl. Only time will tell, but I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let me know in the comments below.
Ah, endless summer. In our neck of the woods, it means cicadas, fireflies, and clothes that let us enjoy the outdoors without combusting. Enter: Sandpiper, and Cotton Supreme Waves.
Waves has been a popular yarn since its recent introduction.
Wound into a cake, its long, harmonious color repeats make it simple to create pleasing and colorful garments and accessories.
Some are solids, and some are speckled. But each ball is designed to blend to make beautiful projects.
Sandpiper uses the sand and sky tones of 905 Saltwater. It’s a great choice if you want something subdued and calming.
Simple ribbing gives the naturally relaxed cotton definition in this piece.
We’re imagining wearing this while dipping our toes into the edge of the surf, watching them sink into the sand as the water moves back out.
We hope you have a safe and relaxing weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Lemon Drop Socks in Bella Cash (pattern link here).
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Bella Cash is the unsung hero of socks. I’ve knit myself several pairs in Bella Cash, and they’re still soft and good-looking even though I just toss ’em in the washer and dryer. Which is why I’m so happy to see a brand new pattern using Bella Cash today!
The Lemon Drop Socks are knit in the round, cuff-down. Colorwork is Fair Isle stranded.
They feature an afterthought heel, so-named because you’ll be putting the stitches on either side of the heel on waste yarn, then knitting the rest of the sock, then coming back to work the heel as an afterthought. Amy Gunderson shared a tutorial on this technique on our blog a while back – you can find it here.
This pattern is sized from toddler on up to adults, so it’s easy to make sets for anyone in the family! Matching tootsies, anyone?
A big “thank you” to our Design Lead Rachel Brockman for being willing to stand on her toes and model these for us. She’s talented in so many ways. 🙂
PS – if you like these, check out the free Bunny Got Back socks. Super fun!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Piquilla Shawl crocheted in Wool Pop (pattern link here).
How beautiful is this?
This two-color crochet pattern was named after piquillo peppers, a sweet variety that won’t burn those of us with more delicate taste buds (by which I mean me).
There’s a sweet bit of shaping at the front there, too. The arrangement of stitches along the neckline can give a neat collar effect…
…or simply help it to lie flat and be more comfortable around the neck.
Three skeins of the MC and two of the CC in wool/bamboo Wool Pop makes a lovely shawl with great drape. It’s a fun yarn to work with, too!
We hope you have a safe and fun weekend. Happy crafting!
We know warm summer weather is in full swing for most of us. Even though we’re trying to beat the heat, we still want fun things to knit! So today, we set Crystal Coast free.
Crystal Coast uses Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray and Cotton Supreme DK with a welt and slip stitch pattern to create a graphic and fun texture. Inspired by the Cape Lookout Lighthouse along the Crystal Coast of NC, this design features the light shining at one end, with the waves of the sea flowing along the other. The cotton will keep you cool, so you can proudly wear this scarf through the summer!
Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray is now on sale, so why not pick your favorites and make one Crystal Coast scarf for you, and one for your bestie? With everyone spending a lot of time at home these days, a handmade gift in the mail is a much appreciated treasure.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Little Patriot in Bamboo Pop (pattern here).
Here in America, tomorrow is the 4th of July! Well, technically it’s the 4th of July in many countries, but here it’s significant because that’s when we celebrate our Independence Day!
USA! USA! USA!
In honor of the holiday, we’re making the formerly pay-only Little Patriot pattern in Bamboo Pop free!
This cute summertime tee is sized from 1-12 years. Work it flat, seam it up, then add the star appliques. Voila! Warm-weather adorableness!
We hope you have a socially distant, safe, and happy Independence Day!
Happy crafting! Are you quite done?
Perfect Summer Tote!
Happy Free Pattern Friday everyone! Today, we have a fun accessory for you: the Midsummer Tote. You can find the pattern here.
Tote bags are a summer essential, and why not make your own? The Midsummer Tote is crocheted using Yashi, our 100% raffia yarn. We recently released new colors in Yashi, so you can pick your new favorites for this project. We think the color combination in this bag would look fantastic with any summer outfit.
The Midsummer Tote is crocheted seamlessly in the round, with a mesh pattern nestled between sections of single crochet. We love how these textures work together in the finished bag!
Now where’d I put my keys?
Whether you decide to use this as a handbag, beach bag, or grocery bag, you really can’t go wrong with the Midsummer Tote.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Daisy Cardi in Cotton Supreme Sapling (pattern link here).
How cute is this little darling?
Sized from 3-6 months to 18-24 months, this adorable little sweater is made in Cotton Supreme Sapling, perfect for the cusp of warm and cold weather.
Work it flat, then pick up for the button band and collar. Pick out some sweet buttons to take it to the next level!
On US 10 1/2 (6.5mm) needles, this one works up quickly and takes only 2-3 skeins of Cotton Supreme Sapling. A great, quick gift for any “quarantine babies” that may be coming this winter!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Flouncy Fringe Tank in Luxor (pattern link here).
Everybody say hi to Talya!
Hi, Talya!
Talya is the daughter of Yonca, our sales director here at Universal Yarn. When Talya spotted a ready-to-wear top in a shop, she asked her mom for one. But not just like it. With this change, and that change… pretty soon, it’s a new pattern!
Yonca used Fibra Natura Luxor, a sleek mercerized 100% Egyptian Giza cotton.
The bright colors make details like the stripe at the neckline and side seam really pop!
And that fringe is so cute!!
Really, the only thing better than a handmade gift is making a gift for someone who really appreciates it. And Talya does!
We hope you have a great weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Fresh Air Washcloths in Clean Cotton (pattern link here).
Simple and sweet! That’s how we’d describe these quick and easy cloths in our Clean Cotton.
This is actually a picture of Clean Cotton Multi, the speckled companion to solid Clean Cotton. I just think it looks super fun in a simple project like this. We call it Clean Cotton not because it’s great for dishcloths and home dec projects (which it is!) but because it’s 100% reclaimed fibers – the lightweight cotton (and a little polyester) fluff left over from making other yarns, which otherwise would have gone to waste. Clean Cotton is cleaner for the environment by keeping it out of the waste stream.
The cloth itself is a great beginner’s knit. It’s a simple two-row repeat of just knits and purls.
The I-cord border is added in finishing, for a neater edge and to create a nifty hook for hanging. Beginners, this technique is spelled out in the pattern, and it’s easier than you think!
We hope you have a safe and productive weekend. Happy crafting!
