This is part 12 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
Well, somehow it’s already Day 12 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection! We’ve had so much fun sharing our annual collection of wintry kits with you, and we’re finishing things off with a fabulous little cowl designed by the wonderful Edie Eckman. To sweeten the deal, this kit comes with a pattern for both a knit version and a crochet version, too! You heard me right – whether you’re a knitter, crocheter, or both – this kit is perfection!
Left: Crochet Sugarplum Cowl; Right: Knit Sugarplum Cowl
The Sugarplum Cowls are created using lavish Fibra Natura Dona in colors #130 Steely, #111 Sweet Pea, and #134 Glacier. Dona is a yarn comprised of 100% extra fine superwash merino wool. This yarn boasts superb stitch definition and is an absolute joy to work with.
Crochet Sugarplum Cowl
If you’ve been following us for a while, you may recall that we asked for Edie’s contribution to our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection last year, too. Her Forest Garland also featured a knit and crochet version and was a hit. This year, I presented her with a similar challenge and asked her to share a bit about her design process with me. Here is what she had to say:
“Little design challenges can be good. If we let them, they can stretch our thinking and spark creativity.
A little design challenge is what Universal Yarn presented me with when preparing for this year’s 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection:
· Use three colors · Use no more than one ball each color · Create an accessory with both a knitted version and a crocheted version · Keep it to advanced beginner level skills
Knit Sugarplum Cowl
Having parameters like this makes me have to think more carefully. How can I incorporate and balance the colors, when I can use no more than one ball each? How can I make both a knitted and crocheted version so that they look similar? How do I keep it simple enough for beginners, but interesting enough for more experienced crafters? And maybe most importantly, how I can I make it attractive and wearable?
Left: Crochet Sugarplum Cowl; Right: Knit Sugarplum Cowl
Of course, having a beautiful yarn like Dona helps a lot. Those icy-winter colors and the smooth texture of the yarn enhance stitch definition, no matter what stitch you use. It’s such a great choice for so many types of projects!
For these Sugarplum Cowls, I settled on a chevron pattern, a classic for both crocheters and knitters. The increases and decreases that make the zig-zag pattern keep you on your toes just enough to maintain your interest, but not so much to cause frustration once you get the pattern established. And because it’s made in the round, there are no annoying seams to deal with!
Whether you choose to knit or crochet, I hope you enjoy making your Sugarplum Cowls. I certainly enjoyed the little design challenge.”
Crochet Sugarplum Cowl
I hope you enjoyed hearing about Edie’s design. We love working with her, and you can find even more of her patterns in some of our other yarns on our website.
We sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed following along as we’ve highlighted each kit in the collection. Remember, you can find the Sugarplum Cowls and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you.
This is part 11 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s already Day 11 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. Time is flying by, and we’re all feeling the holiday spirit. Today we’re revealing a beautiful project: the Inkberry Shawl, knit in soft, plush Donnina. This shawl uses low-contrast, semi-complementary colors #215 Purple Beet and #227 Balsam for a beautiful effect.
This shawl was designed by the talented Jennifer Sadler. She has such a knack for creating designs that are welcoming for knitters of all skill levels, and this shawl is no exception. It’s a soothing project full of garter, simple stripes, and airy eyelets. I asked Jennifer to share a bit about her inspiration and design process. Here is what she had to say:
Garter stripes balance out the blocks of color on each end of this lovely shawl.
“When it comes to knitting during the holidays, I enjoy projects that allow me to knit while watching a holiday movie or enjoying a cup of hot tea or coffee while visiting with family. I wanted to design something that fit that bill, while also being a very cozy and wearable finished object. The Inkberry Shawl is perfect knitting for watching TV or chatting. The long sections of garter stitch are the best for zoning out a bit while still being productive!
We love the generous size of this scarf.
While I love garter stitch, I wanted to add in a bit of texture for both visual and knitting interest. The garter lace stitch I chose is an easy to memorize 4-row repeat. And to make it easier to continue to zone out while knitting this shawl, there are no purls at all!
The asymmetrical triangle shawl shape is hands down my favorite shawl shape. I find it to be the easiest to wear, and a shape that requires hardly any adjustment throughout the day because it lays so nicely. The lovely Donnina yarn, made up of 100% superwash extrafine merino, gives the shawl a bouncy and squishy feel. The finished shawl would make a wonderful gift, or a lovely addition to any wardrobe. My hope is that you enjoy knitting Inkberry while staying cozy this holiday season!”
Wrap the shawl snugly around your shoulders for extra warmth and comfort.
We’re so glad that Jennifer contributed her lovely design to this kit collection. She certainly achieved the goal she set out for when she created this design. I’d love to knit one for myself, and a mindless knit sounds perfect given the crazy year 2020 has been. Despite its generous size, it would knit up surprisingly fast thanks to the simple stitch work.
This is part 10 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s Day 10 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 4! Today is all about a nice throw to keep you warm and cozy all winter long. Say hello to the Lantern Throw. If snuggling up under a thick blanket with a cup of cocoa and a good book sounds like the perfect winter evening, you won’t want to miss this plush project!
The generous size of this blanket is perfect for sharing and is sure to cover your toes.
Chunky projects seem to be all the rage, and it’s no wonder, because projects made with super-bulky yarn work up satisfyingly fast. That’s certainly the case with the Lantern Throw. Blanket projects, even when knitting with worsted weight yarn, can be a big undertaking with progress that feels somewhat slow. However, add in some nice, thick yarn and it’s as though you’ve hit fast-forward. That’s why I chose to use Be Wool for this design. I love just that you can get such a large blanket out of less yarn than it takes to make most sweaters.
Snuggle up to this cozy blanket – it’s irresistable!Be Wool is a super soft, bouncy blend of 60% acrylic and 40% wool. It’s perfect for homewares because it’s machine-washable and easy to care for. We suggest US Size 17 (12 mm) needles for this yarn in order to create a fabric that isn’t too dense and has just the right amount of drape without sacrificing structure.
Chunky braided cables add to the beauty of this otherwise simple design.
The Lantern Throw is decorated with oversized cables throughout. The specific type of cables are Braided Cables in a motif in which each cable mirrors another. If you haven’t knit braided cables before, or if you are completely new to cable knitting, fear not because I’ve got your back. I’ve created a thorough tutorial where I show you exactly how to knit the cables used in this pattern.
I hope you enjoyed that tutorial and that it gets you on the right track for knitting your own Lantern Throw. Remember, you can find the Lantern Throw and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you.
This is part 9 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s already Day 9 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 4! Time is passing so quickly and we’ve been having so much fun sharing each of the projects in this collection with you. Today we’re highlighting the beautiful Tinsel Stole designed by the talented Adrienne Larsen.
The Tinsel Stole is knit in Merino Mist in #102 Chamomile.
The Tinsel Stole is knit in Merino Mist, a blend of 60% viscose, 20% superwash fine merino, and 20% acrylic. The result is a yarn that is lightweight, feather-soft, and features a gorgeous halo and soft shimmer. It boasts great stitch definition, which can clearly be seen in the lace motif of the Tinsel Stole.
The stitch definition of Merino Mist is evident in the intricate lace of the Tinsel Stole.
I asked Adrienne to share a little about her design, and here is what she had to say:
“It’s hard to predict where a pattern is going to end. This started out as a mission to find a nice lace for a sweater. I found a stitch pattern I mostly liked in “The Japanese Knitting Bible” that I wanted to tweak. So, I transferred the chart into Excel and made some adjustments. Depending on the difficulty of the stitch pattern, I usually have a pretty good idea of what it will look like knit up. This one was pretty complex though, so it took a bit more fussing than usual. I probably knit and frogged the pattern five or six times.
Originally, the lace pattern wasn’t going to have the breaks in it. It was just going to be the alternating triangles butted up next to each other over the whole body of the sweater. It was just visually too much that way though; the complexity of the stitch work got lost. So, I stole an idea from past me. I had liked the interrupted effect in my Slate Shawl, so I thought I would try that again here. And it worked! It worked so well that I thought, “It doesn’t need to be a sweater at all.” It was special enough to be the zazzle on the edges of a scarf. And the Tinsel Stole was born!”
It’s always fun to learn about the process for a design, and we are so honored to have Adrienne’s contribution once again this year. Remember, you can find the Tinsel Stole and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you.
This is part 8 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
Happy Day 8 of our 12 Days of Winter celebration! When I first started sketching up ideas for designs for this year’s kits, I knew I wanted to create a non-wearable project that would challenge me as a designer. Enter Coco, the loveable, snuggly bunny friend you can make up for someone you love (or for yourself).
Coco in Uptown Worsted 376 Umber, 303 Cream, 374 Beet, 324 Black
I love stuffed animals. Always have, always will. Although I don’t have anything close to a ‘collection’, the ones I do have all hold special meaning to me. Amigurumi are all the rage in the crochet world, but I wanted to knit up a larger stuffed animal that was ultra-snuggly. Uptown Worsted is our 100% anti-pilling acrylic yarn, and it was the obvious choice for Coco. Whether he is in little hands, a dog’s mouth, or just sitting on your desk (as he is mine now), Uptown Worsted is easy to care for and very soft. I chose colors for Coco that went with our palette for this year’s collection, and got to work!
Coco’s legs, arms, head, and ears are knit flat, while his body, the hat, and scarf are knit in the round. Little pom poms are made for his hat and tail, while his face is embroidered on as the final step. Small fringe are added to the scarf ends after seaming the tube together.
Look at that little tail!
I wanted Coco to be very cute and be able to sit on his own, so his feet are far bigger than the rest of his legs. Uptown Worsted has some ‘stick’ to it, which makes for easy putting together of Coco’s pieces. While he has lots of shape, all you need to know how to do to make Coco is increase, decrease, knit in the round, and use mattress stitch.
Coco is ready to be your new BFF.
Aren’t those floppy ears just irresistible? I just had to make them extra long. If you’re interested in how I embroidered Coco’s face, watch the video below! But feel free to make Coco your own, and embroider his face however you like! After all, he is your new buddy.
I hope Coco brings as much of a smile to your face as he does mine. You can grab the kit at your LYS! Click here to find a shop near you.
This is part 7 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s Day 7 of our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, and we’re over halfway there! Cables are a knitwear design staple for garments and accessories alike. I grew up in ballet lessons, so legwarmers were an essential item throughout my young years. In fact, they were the very first thing I knit! I’ve long left the pointe shoes life behind, but I was sparked with the idea to make some ultra-cute lounge legwarmers for this year’s kit collection.
The Forest Fir Legwarmers in Deluxe Worsted Superwash
The Forest Fir legwarmers are knit using Deluxe Worsted Superwash. The machine washable version of our Deluxe Worsted yarn is made of 100% superwash wool. It is available in a broad color palette, and will always keep you warm! The Forest Fir legwarmers are knit in the round, worked from the bottom up. An interlocking cable pattern decorates the front, while the back is reverse stockinette stitch. I imagine I’d wear these legwarmers while watching movies with my family during the holidays.
Once you reach the top, you work a row of eyelets, and then the final ribbing. Deluxe Worsted Superwash has excellent stitch definition, so all of your hard work is sure to shine! After your legwarmers are done, you will proceed to making the I-Cord tie. I wanted to design this feature not only to look very cute, but also for function! The tie helps them stay up on your leg, just like very old school socks had.
If you’ve never worked an I-Cord before, don’t fret! It has a bit of ‘magic’ to it, but it is a really simple process. Just watch the video below, and I’ll guide you through the process step by step.
Don’t forget that the 12 Days of Winter Kits including the Forest Fir legwarmers are available at your LYS. Click here to find an LYS near you. Happy Knitting!
This is part 6 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s Day 6 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 4. Today, treat yourself to a warm and inviting accessory set knit in luxurious Cashmere Lusso.
Personally, I think hats and mittens are excellent projects for building your skillset. They’re small and manageable but have endless possibilities. If you’re looking for a small project with intricate details, I’m sure you’ll love the Sugar & Sage Set.
The small cables in this pattern consist of ten different types of cables, ranging between two and three stitches wide. They’re easy to work, but it certainly takes some concentration to make sure you’re working the right stitch in all the right places. Don’t let that deter you, though, because the results are well worth the effort.
The cable pattern in both the hat and the mittens includes charts and written instructions. I know some knitters are intimidated by charts, but I encourage you to try and get comfortable with them. Especially in more complex patterns, they can help make things easier to read and to memorize. I think of charts as maps for knitting. Because charts are visual tools, they can help you conceptualize what your fabric will look like as you knit. I shared some useful tips and tricks for staying on track with charts in this blog post (link). Undulating cable panels decorate each mitt.
Each side of the cable panel featured on the hat mirrors the other. I love the way that it looks, but when I was designing the mitts I didn’t want them to replicate the motif perfectly. Instead, I broke the cable motif into two parts, split right down the center. Then I took each half and applied it to the mitts, so the Right and Left mirror one another, too. The result is a coordinating set of sisters in this accessory set.
Each edge of the mitts are worked in K1, P1 Twisted Ribbing.
Knit in Cashmere Lusso, a blend of 50% virgin cashmere and 50% recycled cashmere, the Sugar & Sage Set is decadent. The yarn is incredibly soft and it has excellent stitch definition. This is a yarn shines however you work it: cables, lace, or colorwork, you just can’t go wrong. This kit would be an excellent gift for the knitter in your life who is truly special – that could be you, or it could be a friend!
Crown view of the Sugar & Sage Hat
This kit has three options available: the Sugar & Sage Set (enough yarn for both patterns), the Sugar & Sage Hat, or the Sugar & Sage Mitts. Remember, you can find each version of the Sugar & Sage Kit and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you. Happy knitting!
This is part 5 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
Few things are more comforting than cuddling up with a good book while warmed by the heat of a fireplace. Growing up, I spent so many winter days doing just that. I would devour book after book, with the pages illuminated by the light of the fire, and it’s something I miss dearly about my childhood home. For the fifth installment of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, I wanted to create a design that conjures the comfort of the days when I could sit by the fire. The result? The Chimney Socks.
The Chimney Socks are cozy house socks that feature graphic colorwork and a knit-purl texture to match. The socks are knit using two colors of 100% wool, Deluxe DK Superwash. I chose #848 Coral Heather and #839 Smoke Heather to emulate billows of smoke emerging from a brick chimney.
The cuff features tidy twisted ribbing in grey. It is followed by a pretty stranded colorwork motif that reminds me of little houses. Then, the same motif is transformed into a textural pattern for the foot. The toes are knit using the contrast color to balance out the cuff and leg of the pattern.
The Chimney Socks are knit from the cuff down. They feature an Eye of Partridge heel flap and gusset, creating a sturdy sock with a perfect fit. I love how quickly these socks knit up. As someone with second sock syndrome, heavier socks are perfect for me because they knit up quickly. They also make great beginner socks for the very same reason. Plus, they are just ridiculously cozy. I have multiple pairs of DK-weight socks and I get so much wear out of them during the winter.
These socks feature an Eye of Partridge heel with a gusset.
You know what else is great about this kit? It includes enough yarn to knit two pairs of socks! Simply reverse the main color and contrast color for a coordinating set. It’s perfect for giving a gift to yourself and to a loved one!
Remember, you can find the versions of the Chimney Socks Kit and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you. Happy knitting!
This is part 4 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s Day 4 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection! Today I’m excited to share a fun and festive design knit in luxurious and lightweight Bella Cash. Say hello to the Holiday Lights Shawl!
A sampling of stripes and textural stitches make this project an addictive knit!
If the name didn’t give it away, the shawl was inspired by strings of holiday lights that are so abundant during the season. I think festive lights are something we can all appreciate. Whenever I pass by a home brilliantly illuminated with thousands of little lights I feel such a childlike sense of awe and wonder. It just feels so magical to me!
The Holiday Lights Shawl features a semi-circular shape.
There are three elements that remind me of lights in this fun pattern. Slip stitches and texture to create the effect of dappled lights throughout the first section of the shawl. Following the first section of “lights,” addictive-to-knit stripes incorporate garter stitch for a graphic and bold effect.
You can wear this shawl wrapped bandana-style around your neck. This is my favorite way to style shawls.
The second set of lights adorn the border of the shawl and use a touch of lace, twisted stitches, and one of my favorite decorative stitches: the lifted knot stitch. Before I move onto the final string of lights (can you guess what that might be?) I want to share a little tutorial for working the Lifted Knot Stitch (LKS).
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and that it makes things a bit easier as you knit. Now, the final touch: the mini fringe across the bottom edge. Soft and festive, the fringe reminds me of little gleams of lights during winter nights.
Peppermint-colored mini fringe decorates the bottom of the shawl.
Remember, you can find the Holiday Lights Kit and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you. Happy knitting!
This is part 3 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
Warm, neutral colors are essentials in my wardrobe, especially for Winter. I find those warm tones make the typically gray weather feel brighter, and they also tend to be flattering on all. I wanted to design a matching hat and scarf set for the 12 Days of Winter kits this year that felt elegant and still fun. Looking at colors of our Adore yarn, I was immediately struck by the combination of Sand (129) and Powder (104), and how it reminded me of my favorite winter beverage. So I designed the Chai Latte Set!
I’m a spicy food girl. The hotter the better, and one cuisine I adore is Indian. The depth of flavor, richness of the food, and variety always appeal to me. This decadence in spice doesn’t just apply to food in India, it also applies to beverages. A warm chai latte, to me, is like the essence of winter time. Delicious spices meld with tea and milk to make a cozy drink I cannot live without. Below, you’ll find a recipe for a homemade chai latte that is sure to warm you up during the cold months!
Image from BBC
Makes about 4 mugs of Chai
What you need:
cinnamon sticks – 2-3
cardamom pods (whole)- about 8
4 whole cloves
1 star anise
sliced ginger – 1 piece
3 black tea bags – Assam or English Breakfast tea works well
Your milk of choice
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
Using a dry skillet, toast the spices until they are fragrant, watching them carefully so they do not burn.
Add the spices, ginger, and tea bags to a small pot with 4 cups of filtered boiled water, and leave to infuse for approx. 10 mins (or longer if you want it strong).
Heat milk with brown sugar and stir. Once the sugar is dissolved, use a milk frother or whisk to lightly foam the milk.
To serve, use a strainer to strain the spices, ginger, and tea bags from the tea. Add the sugared milk, leaving the froth. Stir to combine. Finally, spoon the froth on top and you are ready to enjoy!
Once you’ve made yourself a nice mug of Chai, sit down with the Chai Latte Set kit and get to knitting! This set features a stranded colorwork snowflake on the front and back of the hat, each end of the scarf, and a lovely snow flurry-esque motif on the scarf body. The scarf is knit as a tube, so you never have to worry about seeing your floats when you wear it. A lovely pom pom adorns the top of the hat, and fringe is added to the scarf.
Adore is a blend of superwash fine merino and acrylic. It is a super-soft yarn, with a saturated and varied color palette. I ‘adore’ Adore, because it really is a luxurious yarn in a very affordable skein. Plus, it is easy to care for, so it makes an excellent choice for garments and accessories that will be worn often.
I hope you all enjoy your Chai Lattes, and knitting the Chai Latte Set! Remember, you can find the kit, along with the other 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find the one closest to you.
