Universal Yarn Creative Network – Page 94

October 16, 2014October 16, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Celebrate Autumn Flora with Deluxe

It’s Throwback Thursday!

We’re not throwing back that far today, just a couple of years. But it’s the perfect time of year to highlight the free e-book Autumn Flora with Deluxe.

This e-book features eight patterns perfect for staying toasty, all using the Deluxe family of 100% wool.

All the patterns below are part of this cozy collection of colorwork and cables. Enjoy!

Pattern: Wraparound Leaves Beret and Mitts

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12176 Teal Viper – 1 ball (MC)

• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (CC)

Pattern: Sheaves of Wheat Reversible Scarf

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 3704 Gold Spice – 2 balls

Pattern: Poplar Beret

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12182 Gold Spice – 1 ball (A)

Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted LP

• 06 Harvest – 1 ball (B)

Pattern: Felted Leaf

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 1 ball will make multiple felted leaves

Pattern: Big Leaf Mittens

Yarn: Renew Wool (Substitute Deluxe DK Superwash)

• 101 Sand – 1 ball (MC)
• 107 Cedar – 1 ball (CC1)
• 113 Garnet – 1 ball (CC2)

Pattern: Stranded Seed Pillow

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 91901 Oatmeal Heather – 2 balls (MC)
• 3749 Forest – 1 ball (CC)

(There’s a gorgeous cabled edge on this one!)

Pattern: Autumn Leaves Cap

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 71601 Blue Ombre – 1 ball (A)
• 12501 Oatmeal Heather – 1 ball (B)

• 3649 Forest Green – 1 ball (C)
• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (D)
• 91477 Red Oak – 1 ball (E)
• 12188 Heather – 1 ball (F)
• 12180 Eggplant – 1 ball (G)
• 12282 Hunter Green – 1 ball (H)
• 12181 Bronze Brown – 1 ball (I)

October 13, 2014October 14, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Sixteen

Block Sixteen is live!

Building on our last mitered block, Miter Mayhem takes the opposite approach from Block 15. Instead of increasing outward, we’re decreasing at two corners to create the U shape.

Amy Gunderson uses a centered decrease to keep the corners nice and tidy. Here, she demonstrates how to “slip 1, k2tog, psso.”

I like the idea of using the removable stitch marker to keep track of where your decrease should be worked. Unfortunately, my stitch markers tend to disappear to wherever second socks go, so I often find myself short one when I need it. Well, if I must visit my local yarn store again, I suppose I must!

Please do share your thoughts and work with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group. We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with a new block and a new technique!

October 10, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Dive Into Fall Jacket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, something for the wee ones! The Dive Into Fall Jacket is sized for kids 12-18 months. This garment has a lot of stretch, so parents of fast-growing toddlers should be able to get a fair amount of use out of it.

Kat Koeller and Linda Ridder designed this jacket in our Uptown Bulky 100% anti-pilling acrylic. In addition to being exceptionally soft, it’s machine washable. Anyone who has ever had to wipe down a toddler after a trip to Ben & Jerry’s will appreciate the practicality of this choice.

The jacket is knit in one piece from the top down – first the collar, then the raglan sleeves go on holders while you make the body, then you come back and add ribbing to the ends of the sleeves. Interestingly, the fabric is fully reversible!

We hope you enjoy this beautiful weather. Knit something for a little one in your life – but be sure to make something for yourself, too!

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014

Plaid, Part Two

A few weeks ago, Katie started on her plaid blanket using 6 different colors of Deluxe Worsted Superwash. After weaving 3 identical panels, sewing them together along the selvedges, and blocking, here is her reward:

After blocking, each panel measured about 12″ wide x 48″ high. The finished blanket is 36 x 48, a perfect size for a couch throw or even a baby blanket.

Just 8 balls of Superwash and a few hours of weaving later, and Katie gets this awesomely colorful throw for her living room.

Katie, greys and greens and blues would look great in my house…hint hint. Kidding!

Next time, join me as I incorporate some beads and felting into my weaving!

October 7, 2014October 15, 2014

Free Pattern – Wee Pumpkins

Okay, it’s not Free Pattern Friday yet, but we just couldn’t resist sharing this free pattern.

These are the Wee Pumpkins. We’re sharing them now so you have plenty of time to work one up by Halloween! Or what about Thanksgiving ? Wouldn’t these look great on a dining room table?

They’re made in self-shading Poems 100% wool, which has some great fall colors. The purple/green one on the left is 577 Bramble and the orange-toned one is 585 Autumn.

The pumpkins are knit sideways, with short rows making up the wedge sections. Take a look at the bottom and you can see how it all comes together.

Never done short rows before? This is a great project to get your feet wet. Amy Gunderson shares a video in how to do the wrap and turn.

Also of interest in there is the SSP (slip, slip, purl). I’ve made things with short rows before, and inevitably had one side look seamless and one side marred with a big bump. I’m delighted to learn a technique to make both ends of my short row look smooth.

Often, we’ll loan our knits to local yarn stores for them to share in trunk shows, but it’s going to be hard to part with these. They’re just so pretty!

Happy knitting!

October 3, 2014October 3, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Go-Go! Hats

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Or should we say Free Patterns Friday? Because today, we have a quartet of toppers: the Go-Go! Hats.

Four different styles in one yarn, Uptown Worsted 100% anti-pilling acrylic. You can see how well the yarn lets the stitch patterns show through.

What really makes these hats, though, is the colorful fluffball topper on each of them. Those are our Luxury Fur Pom-Poms. They’re very handy for finishing off a garment that may need something a little more polished than a yarn pom-pom. Each pom-pom has a string attached to let you tie it right on to your work. Easy-peasy!

I’m not sure which of these is my favorite. I guess it partially depends on whether I’m in the mood for knit or crochet. For myself, I’m leaning toward the Lace Beanie on the lower right. Then again, the Honeycomb Ski Cap (with the pink pom-pom) would also be fun to make. Decisions, decisions.

Which one’s your favorite?

October 2, 2014

Throwback Thursday – A Walk in the Woods

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, a beautiful cool-weather knit, A Walk in the Woods. Originally knit in Eden Silk, this lightweight cardi would look great in either Uptown DK 100% anti-pilling acrylic or Deluxe DK Superwash wool.

I’ve been knitting a lot with Deluxe DK Superwash lately (I just need to bind off my ribbed Katrina top!) so for this, as a personal choice I think I’d go with the Uptown DK. I’ve been making a long cowl in Uptown DK Colors, the striped version of the yarn, and have been very impressed with how soft it is (and yes, it really is not pilling). I like the idea of an entire garment that luxurious.

This cardi is knit flat in the traditional style – back, then fronts, then sleeves. The textured stitch in the pattern is written and charted and is fairly easy to “read” in your knitting as you go – it’s the same few rows, staggered by a few stitches.

We hope you’re able to bring your projects outdoors and enjoy this beautiful weather. Happy knitting!

September 29, 2014September 29, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Fifteen

Block Fifteen is live!

Behold The Mighty Miter!

This block starts in one corner and increases along the center line, using the backward loop cast-on to grow outward. For many of us, the backward loop was the first cast-on that we learned. Others picked it up in the course of making buttonholes or adding stitches at the underarm of a sleeve.

If you haven’t learned it yet, here’s your chance. Amy shows us how!

Easy as pie, eh?
The center stitch in this block is slipped on every right side row, creating that clean elongated line running through the center of the block. It’s a nice touch for this diagonal block.

As always, you can share your thoughts and work with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group. Check back in two weeks for a new block that builds on this technique!

September 26, 2014September 26, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Goldfish School Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, a “pay” pattern set free! Michael del Vecchio’s Goldfish School Cowl appears in Bamboo Bloom Book 1: Backyard Blooms. When we brought it to a knitting retreat the participants were so taken with it that we decided it should be released into the wild.

Michael has wisely used a simple pattern to let the yarn shine. A basic 1×1 rib looks very striking in the thick/thin matte/shiny Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

We’re glad that last weekend’s knitters were so enthusiastic. They were right. This pattern needs to be shared!

Thanks for your hospitality, Baskets of Yarn. And keep knitting!

September 25, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Turtle Neck Cape

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, we feature Thanh Nguyen’s Turtle Neck Cape. This was originally knit in Contessa, a bulky-weight acrylic/mohair/nylon/polyester (whew!) blend. We’re simplifying it a little by suggesting Uptown Bulky, our 100% anti-pilling acrylic as a good substitute. Uptown Bulky has greater yardage than the original yarn, making it a better knit in terms of your budget, too.

Front and back are knit separately, then the collar is made and the whole shebang is stitched together. From a color standpoint, I like this as a solid, but I can also see it with perhaps a few wide stripes for a dramatic, modern look. Maybe something with a great deal of contrast? I say, knit big or go home!

Happy crafting!