Inspiration By Design
Whisper Lace two weeks in a row! Can you tell that’s one of our favorites here in the office?!
Today we’re sharing an “In Real Life” with Katie who works in customer service. She’s adorned with a scarf woven on a Schacht Cricket rigid heddle loom. She used both Llamalini and Whisper Lace for the warp, and just Whisper Lace for the plain-weave weft. It only took one ball/skein of each!
Thanks for sharing, Katie. Your scarf looks fantastic!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Varia Pullover in Llamalini.
I may have mentioned this before, but Fibra Natura Llamalini (109yds/50g) is a favorite around here. A blend of royal llama, linen, and silk bourette, it has a rich, heathered depth of color. I’ve got a hank of Mulberry on my desk right now that I snuck out of our samples (don’t tell!) just so I can look at it and think about what it wants to be.
Our sales manager Yonca clearly had bigger plans than me when she came up with this design. She’s got a good eye – we note that the upcoming Vogue Knitting has several solid cable sweaters with stripe detailing. This design is very on trend.
The garment is knitted in pieces and seamed, and the pockets are added afterward, so it’s easy to leave them off if you prefer. For myself, I love the bursts of color that they lend, breaking up the line in a way that’s flattering for those of us who might be wearing something, let’s say, a little bigger than the extra-small size.
This is a great transitional piece – the Llamalini is warm but not stifling, and the half sleeves would work well in Spring or Fall.
Maybe I should grab a few more skeins from our samples and dream a little bigger…
Happy knitting!
Ready for Spring?
So are we! We’re proud to present Cotton True Collection 1, our first collection of patterns for Fibra Natura Cotton True Sport.
Cotton True Sport (50g/197yds) is a new 100% pima cotton in our luxury Fibra Natura line. It’s light, smooth, and pleasant to work with. This is one we’ve been dying to knit with, so we were delighted when Amy Gunderson dreamed up these five beautiful designs!
The Chase is a classic vest, worked in pieces and seamed. The right and left twists require no cable needle and are charted. In addition to the lovely chase of designs along the front, there’s a twisted cable ribbing at the edges that provides a lovely finishing touch.
Key To My Heart is worked in pieces from the bottom up, with a sweet edging of lace leaves that’s written and charted. The lovely keyhole in the back is an eye-catcher.
Parting is aptly named for the back pleat that sets this top apart. The pleat in this A-line tee will naturally fold inward on its own thanks to strategically placed slipped stitches and a little reverse stockinette.
Rocked adds a little wow to your wardrobe. The mesh pattern is surprisingly easy, and front and back are identical. If you want a fantastic piece that you can knit with ease, this is the one. The button tab on the sleeve is a great touch. Very on point.
Stinger is very swingy and versatile in fit. Worked in pieces and seamed, the cardigan is has a great shape that looks stylish but still feels “at home.”
Download the designs via Craftsy or Ravelry, either as an e-book or as individual patterns.
And hey, you know what? We’re feeling so good about Cotton True Sport that we have a freebie for you.
The Lace Scarf is a free pattern, written and charted, taking just two balls of Cotton True Sport. That twisted ribbing border is a lovely accent to the columns of lace.
We hope you find something that sparks your imagination.
Happy knitting!
I am lucky enough to work with a great group of ladies here at Universal Yarn. We mostly consist of Yonca (sales manager), Heather (social media goddess), and Katie and Jackie (customer service wizards), me (Amy) the design person. We’re a small group of 5 women, but we all knit, crochet or both. There’s hardly a day that goes by where one of us is not wearing our handmade preciousness.
Thus begins a new series I am calling “IRL”, or In Real Life. Every day I come to work in a building that houses more yarn than you can imagine. It can be overwhelming to look at it all boxed up in the warehouse, sitting on shelves, or piled on my desk. It’s always calling to me, “knit me! make something out of me!” We sell yarn here, but we also love using and wearing it. I thought you might be interested in some of the things we make, so here goes.
I’ll start first:
I’m wearing a scarf I knit up last year made out of Whisper Lace. With just 2 balls of color 103 Harbor, I came up with a whopping 20″ x 60″ scarf/stole. It’s long enough that I can keyhole it, or when it’s really cold, double wrap around my neck like the photo above. The pattern is a modified Wisp by Cheryl Niamath, free on Knitty. I didn’t add buttons; I just cast on extra stitches, added a couple of random vertical garter stitch columns for interest, and knit until I ran out of yarn. For me, a person who almost exclusively knits garments, it was a refreshing change!
How about you, what Universal Yarn are you wearing today?
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Mermaid Tunic in Lumen.
We were actually going to wait for warmer weather to release this, but it got so much love at Stitches West that we just had to set it free.
This tunic is worked in pieces from the bottom up and seamed. The lace pattern is a simple six-row repeat – no cable needle needed for those twists.
It’s designed for Rozetti Lumen (134yds/50g), a chained cotton ribbon with shiny viscose stretches. Its vivid color is delicious. There’s a multi version, too.
We hope you enjoy this little burst of Spring in the midst of winter.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Sunblock Hat in Yashi.
We are looking forward to summer, partly because it gives us more excuses to use this great raffia yarn. Yashi (40g/99yds) has a papery texture, but is much softer and more pliable than others we’ve seen. It’s easy to work with and is proving a fast favorite around the office for crochet.
Because it’s so soft, with a project like this very wide hat, we’d suggest you crochet it tightly and maybe give it a little starching to stiffen the brim. You’ll start at the top and work your way out.
I can see myself lounging in a chair by the pool in this hat, reading a good book and sipping… uh… tea.
Happy crafting!
A few months ago, I sent a little care package to Denise over at Schacht, maker of our Cricket rigid heddle loom. It contained several different yarns, all completely different in composition and construction: Infusion Handpaints, Cotton Gold, Poems Silk Solids, and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.
The challenge for Denise was to take all these vastly different yarns and weave them up into something awesome. I didn’t make it easy for her, but I at least softened the blow by including coordinating shades in each different yarn. Well let me tell you, Denise passed this challenge with flying colors (so to speak, at least in greys and blues!).
Check out the Schacht newsletter for details on the finished project and a great how-to for repairing a float, or skipped warp thread.
How about a little summer in the midst of winter?
Romare Bearden (1911-1988) has a special place in my heart. He hails from my hometown of Charlotte, NC, just down the road from Universal Yarn. He moved to New York and contributed to Harlem’s vibrant arts scene in the 30’s and 40’s, often using imagery from his home state. Romare Bearden was that fortunate artist who gained respect and recognition in his lifetime, with his works displayed in important collections around the globe. If you’re ever in Charlotte, take a pleasant stroll through Romare Bearden Park – then come up the road and see us.
His use of color is inspiring.
The bright colors…
…with more natural tones.
So many choices. So many directions to explore.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Seabird Shawl in Good Earth and Good Earth Adorn.
This shawl is aptly named! The colors are reminscent of sea and sand, and the triangular shape makes you want to spread your wings.
It’s a warm-ish weather shawl, designed for our cotton/linen blends Good Earth (103 Desert) and Good Earth Adorn (304 Breeze). A look at the back shows how Adorn works up into subtle variegated bands. It’s a nice touch.
It goes without saying that this would be good beach knitting – light on your lap as you soak in the sun. I’m looking at this shawl and dreaming of warmer days.
Happy knitting!
How about a special birthday Knitspiration?
What I love about this picture – and about all of Norman Rockwell’s work – is that it tells a story. The eraser on the floor shows that her students wrote on her board in a rush and then had to scramble back to their seats. The eraser on the student’s head shows that maybe they’re not always little angels. And the fact that Miss Jones isn’t bothered that they’ve ruined all her multiplication problems shows that she’s the kind of teacher who values her children’s high spirits and appreciates their thoughtful intent.
Today is my birthday, and like Miss Jones, I recognize this as an opportunity to reflect on generosity and intention. I am truly fortunate to have the kind of co-workers here at Universal who will bomb my office with streamers and present me with the traditional Universal Yarn Birthday Tiara.
This is a time to be thoughtful and ask: what opportunities can I seize in my life to show un-asked for care to others? Am I showing generosity to myself as well as to others?
Today I will practice gratitude for the abilities that I have – to think, to craft, and to love. And I will be grateful, too, for those who appreciate those gifts.
What will you do today to bring joy to yourself or someone else? Whether you create a garment or a moment, know that what you do has value.
Happy knitting.