Free Pattern Friday – Edisto Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing knitted shawl and facing away from viewer

Today, the Edisto Shawl in Bamboo Pop Sock (pattern link here).

Designer Rachel Brockman has once again channeled her love of nature into an inspiring design. This bright, warm-weather shawl took its name from beautiful Edisto Island.

No wonder – this breezy beauty would be the perfect accessory for a walk along a windswept beach.

Wool-free Bamboo Pop Sock is a great choice for this shawl – and just one ball of two colors is all it takes.

We love this shawl so much we made it in two colorways. The combination of 505 Tide Pool and 507 Breeze seen above…

…and the more subdued 502 High Tide and 503 Jetties shown here.

Both are stunning.

This is a lovely pattern, designed to make maximum use of your two balls of Bamboo Pop Sock. You’ll be knitting flat on US5/3.75mm needles (or whatever gets you gauge).

Then you’ll switch to US7 /4.5mm needles for the i-cord bind-off. It’s a tidy edge that adds extra polish to an already exquisite design.

Botany Bay beach at cloudy sunset, Edisto Island, South Carolina, USA. Nickolay Khoroshkov/stock.adobe.com

We hope your weekend is filled with natural beauty.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Marion Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman outdoors wearing silvery lace wrap knitted in Flax yarn

Today, the Marion Stole knit in Flax Lace (pattern link here).

Woman outdoors wearing silvery lace wrap knitted in Flax yarn

Ah, there’s nothing like linen for lace.

Woman outdoors wearing silvery lace wrap knitted in Flax yarn

It wafts with the wind, light and breezy, keeping you cool on a warm day.

Rear view of woman outdoors wearing silvery lace wrap knitted in Flax yarn

For this delicate lace stole, Aubrey Busek chose 100% linen Flax Lace. Just two hanks are required.

Image of six skeins of cool-toned Flax Lace yarn

Cast on, and knit end to end. The center and edge lace patterns are written and charted for your convenience.

Woman outdoors wearing silvery lace wrap knitted in Flax yarn

Perfect summertime lace in linen, just waiting for you to create.

Woman outdoors wearing silvery lace wrap knitted in Flax yarn

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Welkin

Woman wearing blue and white shawl knitted in Nymph. Text reads Free Pattern Friday - Welkin in Nymph

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing blue and white shawl knitted in Nymph

Today, Welkin in Rozetti Yarns Nymph (pattern link here).

If you’re wondering about the name of this week’s pattern, “welkin” comes from an old English word meaning the vault of the sky.

Rear view of woman wearing blue and white shawl knitted in Nymph

It’s an appropriate name for this shawl, with its cirrus-cloud stripes of white against the sky blue.

Woman wearing blue and white shawl knitted in Nymph

Graceful wings are formed by increasing from the starting tab on both right and wrong sides of the fabric, another nod to the lighter-than-air feel of this accessory.

Detail of lace edge of blue and white knitted striped shawl

And at the widest edge, lovely lace edged with crochet picot puffs resembling tiny clouds in a blue sky

Image of green ball of Nymph yarn showing texture

Knitting this shawl in soft, downy Nymph, gives the piece an even more cloudlike quality. Cotton blend Nymph has a chainette construction, with fiber blown through its center for a lighter weight fabric on US 7 (4.5mm) needles. The yarn has a beautiful fuzz that softens the lines of Welkin’s stripes.

Woman wearing blue and white shawl knitted in Nymph

It’s a beautiful look for the season. And don’t limit yourself to blues and white – perhaps your Welkin will be a field of violets, or an ocean wave about to break. There are limitless possibilities.

Woman holding blue and white shawl knitted in Nymph

Have a wonderful weekend, full of light and life.

Happy crafting!

Yarn Spotlight: Pix

Have you ever had that moment in a yarn store when you find yourself standing before a wall of stunning sock yarn? Solid-color or variegated – the colorful skeins just call your name. As you stand there, you think about the magic of sock yarn. Each skein boasts generous yardage, so a single skein is plenty for shawls, hats, mitts, cowls, and most obviously, socks! I could go on and on about the wonderful sock yarns we offer. We really have something for everyone, but today I wanted to focus on a perfect, potato-chippy, self-patterning yarn: Pix.

Pix in #108 Techno, pictured with the Happy Magic Scarf.

Pix features a classic sock yarn base: a blend of 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon. Both fibers are incredibly durable with just the right amount of bounce and memory. It is a smooth, worsted-spun 4-ply yarn that boasts crisp, well-defined stitches. These characteristics make Pix perfect for hard-wearing accessories. But what really makes this yarn stand out? Well, it’s a self-patterning yarn in a playful array of colors!

Pix Simple Sock shown in #103 Paisley (top sock) and #101 Citrus Slide (bottom sock).

The simplest and most straight-forward way to use Pix is for knitting socks. We prefer a nice vanilla sock because it allows the colorful patterns to shine. Many sock knitters have their own preferences and recipes for plain Stockinette stitch socks, but if you aren’t armed with one, we have you covered. The free Pix Simple Sock (pattern link) is knit in the round from the toe up. It features a classic K2, P2 Ribbed cuff.

Pro-tip: I prefer socks that are sisters and not twins, but if you want your socks to match perfectly you’ll need to wind off the skein so you start the second sock in the same section of the print.

Euphoric in Pix #108 Techno and Whisper Lace #111 Ebony

Socks aren’t the only way to play with this gorgeous yarn. Just take a look at the funky and fun Euphoric scarf (pattern link), designed by Amy Gunderson. This design cleverly pairs Pix with Whisper Lace in #111 Ebony for bold, high-contrast stripes to break up sections of color. The intarsia method is used to create an unexpected, staggered stripe effect. Cute twists of fringe decorate the long edges of this piece. Although it’s pictured with long sleeves above, I think this would be perfect to layer over a simple dress for springtime.

The Happy Magic Scarf in #105 Street Art

The Happy Magic Scarf (pattern link), designed by Heather Hill, magnificently displays how neat the color changes are when you throw in a chevron motif. The stitch pattern is soothing and is easily memorized, making this a great project for unwinding after a long day. This design has been well-loved in the office and by our customers for years now (it was published in 2015!). This one-skein wonder exemplifies just how far 459 yards will take you!

Pix features a palette of 8 fantastic colors – with combinations that include everything from bright and punchy to earthy, soothing, and warm. You’re sure to find a color you’ll love…and I’m sure you won’t stop at one! You can nab some Pix at your local yarn store or on our website. What will you make with it?


Free Pattern Friday – Atrium Shawl

Image of woman wearing scarf. Text reads Free Pattern Friday, Atrium Wrap in Penna

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing pink scarf-style shawl crocheted in Penna

Today, Atrium crocheted in Penna (pattern link here).

Penna is one of our newer yarns. We found it at a mill in Italy and just had to have it.

Closeup of ball of Penna yarn

See that halo? The suri baby alpaca in this yarn gives it the perfect fuzz to soften a silhouette. The extrafine merino keeps it soft and gentle. And the nylon gives it the strength you want in a beautiful finished object.

Closeup of stitch pattern in pink crocheted shawl

In Atrium, you can see how soft and romantic it makes this design feel. Designer Edie Eckman played to Penna’s strengths with this asymmetric piece. But then, that’s no surprise. We always feel lucky to have one of her designs in our yarns, like the recent free Piquilla Shawl crocheted in Wool Pop (pattern link here).

Woman wearing pink scarf-style shawl crocheted in Penna

But back to Atrium! This may look like a scarf when it’s artfully draped, but it’s really more of a shawl or wrap. It’s 72″ long and 18″ wide at the larger end, for a modern, asymmetrical feel to go with its natural romance. You’ll work this light and lofty accessory flat, from the wider end to the narrower one. Three balls of Penna makes this airy scarf, perfect for a breezy spring day.

What color will you pick for your Atrium?

closeup of row of pastel Penna yarn balls

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Sashay Cowl

Woman in knitted Fair Isle cowl. Text: Free Pattern Friday, Sashay Cowl Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sashay Cowl in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash (pattern link here).

This pattern was originally part of e-book Rustic and Refined, a collection of 13 patterns that are down-home yet sophisticated.

E-book cover featuring man and woman in gray Fair Isle sweaters

The collection really does have something for everyone – from glorious shawls like Drifting Hap

…to warm socks with beautiful shaping like Traverse.

Today, we’re setting one of the collection’s patterns free! Say hello to the Sashay Cowl.

Sashay, like all the items in the collection, uses Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash.

Ball of red Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash yarn

The tweedy flecks coordinate with each yarn, and give a nice rustic feel to projects. Here’s a closer look showing how well this works to give a softer look to the Fair Isle in Sashay.

Just peeking around the edges of the Fair Isle, in the solid bands of 418 Terracotta, you can see 3×3 cables that mimic the diagonals in the Fair Isle. It’s a great design element from creator Rachel Brockman.

Sashay starts with a provisional cast-on and is worked in the round (my favorite way to knit Fair Isle). Work it from one end to the other as a tube, then graft the ends together for a seamless, cozy cowl.

We hope you enjoy this gratifying project. Stay safe, and have a great weekend.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Anemone Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Rear view of woman wearing triangular shawl knit in Major

Today, the Anemone Shawl knit in Major (pattern link here).

Here at Universal, this time of year always leaves us feeling torn. On the one hand, the chill in the air lets us keep knitting with warm yarns, which is one of the joys of wintertime. On the other hand… we’re ready for spring! And spring is exactly what designer Aubrey Busek was thinking of when she created the Anemone Shawl.

Field of anemone flowers
Photo via https://www.dutchgrown.com/

The anemone shawl is named after the delicate anemone wildflowers that bloom spring and fall. What a wonderful way to bring some color inside!

This lovely triangular lace shawl is knit from the top down, starting with a garter tab. The lace sections are both written and charted for your convenience. The entire project will take just two balls of Major.

While Aubrey chose color 136 Caladium to mimic the spring greens and purples of the anemones, there are other floral tones you could use.

135 Toile has beautiful peach/apricot vibes with seafoam accents…

…while 128 Valentine is a glorious array of roses.

Regardless of your choice, this floral-inspired shawl is a perfect bridge between the seasons. We hope you enjoy it.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Frame

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Frame mitts in Rozetti Yarns Cinema (pattern link here).

Frame is named in part as a nod to the yarn used, and in part because it was originally a pattern in the “In The Spotlight” collection of designs in Cinema.

They’re all gorgeous – I really covet the Director sweater – but Frame was chosen to be set free because it’s a great first mitts project in a beautiful yarn.

Cinema is a bulky-weight single with wool, nylon, and just enough cashmere to give it maximum “squeezability,” which is a technical term that I just made up. Cinema comes in both multis and solids, so you can easily mix and match. I did this with the free Hoarfrost Scarf, and was very pleased with the results.

With Frame, though, you won’t need to mix and match, since it’s a one-skein pattern! Worked on US9 (5.5mm) needles, these twisted stockinette mitts are perfect for keeping your fingers free. Maybe free for more knitting? Hmm…

We hope you have a great weekend, and stay warm and dry.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Bouquet Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Bouquet Scarf in Deluxe Worsted Superwash (pattern link here).

You probably heard – the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter.

Bleak, Bill. Bleak. We prefer to think of it as six more weeks of working with beautiful cozy wool, while still looking with hope toward brighter days. Enter, the Bouquet Scarf.

This bright and beautiful scarf has has enough substance to keep you warm – especially in Deluxe Worsted Superwash wool – but also acts as a harbinger of spring. Check out the blossoms in the lace!

They remind me of tulips, which start to bloom in our area in mid-March. That’s just about the time the groundhog says we should be emerging from winter.

Multicolored field of tulips
Via https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/

The scarf uses 1×3 cable crosses and increase/decrease combinations to create definition around the lace elements. We’re classing this as an intermediate pattern. You’ll probably want to use markers around the repeats, just to help keep track. The final result will be well worth the effort.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, staying safe and warm, and doing things that you love.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Ambrosia Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Ambrosia Cowl in Odette (pattern link here).

“Subtle” is the name of the game here. Knitted in the round lengthwise from one edge to the other, two colors of Odette are worked in a simple slipped stitch rib to create vertical stripes on one side, and horizontal bands of color on the other.

The secret to the beautiful blending is in the yarn. Odette is a mix of alpaca and superwash fine merino, blown into a nylon tube for strength. The result is a set of tones that seem rimed with frost, like a kiss of ice on flowers or stones.

The special construction means you get loft and warmth without extra weight. A great way to stay warm without sweltering!

The Ambrosia Cowl is a simple, easy-to-knit design that only takes one skein each of the main color and contrast color. What would you pick?

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of warmth and cheer. Happy crafting!