accessory – Page 21 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

September 8, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Pipping Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Pipping in Little Bird (link here).

First things first: how’s everybody doing? Currently, the projected path of Hurricane Irma is moving west of us, so it looks like Universal Yarn here in NC will miss the worst of it. But we’re worried about all of you, in the midst of fire and flood. Please stay safe.

For those wanting to take their mind off things, we offer this crochet shawl in Little Bird (100g/346yds), a lightweight acrylic that’s cottony soft. Pipping is a sweet crochet confection – a bit of normalcy that we all could use right about now.

This asymmetric shawl starts on its longest edge and decreases along one edge. Cut the ends after each color change, and work them in as you go to save time in finishing.

This is an easy pattern to customize with your own colors – you’re not locked in to just three. Use as few or as many as you want. The pattern is both written and charted for your convenience.

We hope you have a safe and restful weekend. We’re thinking of all of you.

Happy crafting!

August 28, 2017

E-book Color Fusion at a glance

Have you seen it? Amy Gunderson and Tori Gurbisz have released an e-book of seven colorful patterns designed for Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash.

Color Fusion is available on Ravelry as an e-book or individual patterns.

Take a look!

E-book Color Fusion collects 7 knits in Deluxe Worsted Superwash Tweed that play with color.

Ainsley is a pullover that doubles as a stitch sampler.

Ainsley uses four colors to create harmonious blocks.

Knit in pieces and seamed, the pattern calls for intarsia work on the sleeve, but no cable needle for the twists.

Caitrin is charted, using just one ball of each color in Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash.

Work Caitrin in the round from the bottom up, using Fair Isle for the colorwork.

Fia is the most popular pattern in this collection!

All of Fia’s color changes are slip stitch. Just one color per round.

Work Fia top-down in the round. The sleeves are knitted flat and seamed.

A stylish blend of poncho and sweater, Fia will keep you warm while turning heads.

The Kenzy Ruana is a surprisingly easy knit!

Work it flat, then bind off and cast back on to create the split.

Lines of contrasting color are woven through to create the opposing stripes.

The Kenzy Scarf has the same stitch style as the ruana. A sophisticated project that works regardless of gender.

Leave the ends hanging and tie them off for easy fringe!

Maisie is a top-down raglan sleeved cardi with a rustic look.

The hood is pretty and functional. Toggles accent the design.

Maisie’s colorwork uses the mosaic method – only one color per row!

Sileas uses slipped stitches for its colorwork. Easy peasy.

Work the body in one piece, then add the sleeves and seam.

August 24, 2017June 3, 2022

Bamboo Bloom Handpaints – Limited Edition 329 Fugu

New and beautiful this season…

We had such a great time with our last limited edition Bamboo Bloom Handpaints that we decided to do it again. This time, it’s 329 Fugu.

Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish. One minute it’s sleek and streamlined…

The next minute it’s quite a bit bulkier!

So it is with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints, transitioning from smooth and silky to fluffy puffs and back again. And given the cool blue ocean tones of this color, we thought it was appropriate.

When I got my hands on this, my immediate thought was, “this would make a beautiful Hanasaku Cowl.” It led to a lot of joy, sorting through our stock of Poems to see what would pair well. In the end it came down to two choices.

Poems 616 Chevron looks great with it, and I was curious to see how that yellow would interplay with the greens. In fact, Yarn Bazaar in NJ has kitted up this combo!

In the end I went a different way.

I liked the darkness and overall violet-blue of Poems in Arles 601, and am pleased with how this turned out.

I still may go back and make one in the other combo. Honestly, these slip-stitch cowls are fun and quick to make. It’s a great go-to project for something colorful and impressive-looking.

The Hanasaku Cowl is available for sale on Ravelry – but if you hit your local yarn shop, they can download it for free for you. You might want to grab a skein of Fugu while you can, too.

Happy knitting!

July 28, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Hibiscus Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Hibiscus Scarf in Garden 10.

It’s summertime, but that’s no reason to skip the pretty accessories! This scarf calls for two balls of Nazli Gelin Garden 10 mercerized cotton, using one of the variegated shades in that yarn. The colors in this cotton are rich and saturated.

The body of this shallow shaped scarf is knitted at the same time as its border. As with all stockinette, this scarf will curl some, allowing bits of the lace to peek through depending on how you wear it.

This is a lovely lightweight piece that won’t sit heavy on your lap as you work it.

We hope you have a great weekend. Happy knitting!

July 9, 2017

Free Pattern – Dulcet Wrap

It’s Free Pattern… Sunday?

Sure, why not?

Today. the Dulcet Wrap in Bella Cash.

We couldn’t stop with just one Bella Cash pattern this week. The Dulcet Wrap is over six feet long, with a drapey fabric on size 5 needles. Bella Cash merino/cashmere/nylon gives it a lovely wispiness.

In order to knit the single stripes of the body, you’ll want circular needles. Knit a row in one color, then slide your stitches back to the end of the needle and knit a row in the second color. It gives a lovely effect. The wide mesh lace is a 4-row repeat. End it with Jenny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off for a nice elastic edge.

We hope you enjoy this charming, fine-weight shawl pattern.

Happy knitting!

June 30, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Vane Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Vane Shawl crocheted in Cotton True Sport.

Summertime can lead to a bit of crafting doldrums. We may not feel like covering our lap with a huge in-progress blanket when the days are long and warm. But there’s no reason to put down the hook and needles – there are plenty of great warm-weather yarns and projects out there!

Take today’s for instance. The Vane Shawl calls for an E-4 (3.5mm) hook and 6 balls of Cotton True Sport, a light 100% Pima cotton that practically radiates “cool.” The pattern itself is my favorite kind of shawl – worked from the top down. Fewer repeats on rows as you get to the final point means that progress gets faster as you go.

The fringe is a fun, summery detail. A nice touch on a pleasant project that won’t weigh you down.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend.

Happy crafting!

June 23, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Skylark Capelet

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Skylark Capelet in Radiant Cotton.

A few days ago we had someone on Facebook point out (correctly) that we’ve been offering more knit than crochet patterns, and that we need to be sure to show our crocheting friends some love. It’s a point well-taken, and I was delighted that we had something coming up so quickly that fit the bill!

The Skylark Capelet calls for three hanks of Radiant Cotton, a smooth 100% Egyptian cotton with a light sheen somewhere between mercerized and matte. It’s a pleasure to work with.

What I love about this capelet is that just by varying the number of buttons and where you choose to fasten them, you could easily turn this from a capelet into a buttoned cowl, or really into any shape you wish. The edging lends itself particularly well to buttoning.

There’s no limit to what you can do with this versatile crochet piece.

We hope you have a great weekend, and take time to make something just for you!

Happy crafting!

May 26, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Rivulet Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Rivulet Scarf in Universe.

It’s not hard to see how this got its name. Crochet rivulets ripple the width of this scarf, glittering in Universe like sunlight on the water.

We use three shades of Universe for bands of color to provide additional interest, but you can use as many or as few shades as you wish.

The scarf is knit in two halves from the center out for symmetry, with the rivulet pattern written and charted.

We hope you enjoy this sparkling crochet piece.

Happy crafting!

May 5, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – BFF Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the BFF Scarf in Uptown Bulky and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

We’re calling this the BFF scarf because there are so many elements that play together as friends here. First, there’s the blend of multi-hued Bamboo Bloom Handpaints held together with solid Uptown Bulky.

Second, there’s the combination of two big yarns and US Size 17 (12 mm) needles, so the whole thing knits up fast.

And third, there’s the designer, Sandy Harris. A talented crafter and knitting teacher, she’s always been a friend to Universal, designing beauties like the One Side Cowl in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

Put it all together and you have a pattern that’s fun, quick, and easy. It’s a home run.

Happy knitting!

April 28, 2017May 2, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – KISS Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the KISS Scarf in Cotton Supreme Splash.

A while back, we had a request for a super-simple lace scarf for a beginner. Well, it doesn’t get much simpler than this. The KISS Scarf is a few rows of garter stitch, followed by a one-row k2tog,yo repeat with a garter stitch border on the edges. It’s fully reversible, and it only takes one half of a ball of Cotton Supreme Splash (100g/180yds) meaning it won’t take forever, even for a beginner.

(Edit: I was so excited about this pattern that I accidentally wrote k2, yo instead of k2tog yo*. The pattern was right, but the article was wrong – it would have led to a dramatically increasing row every time. Thanks to all of you eagle-eyed knitters!)

This pattern would work well with any of the yarns in the Cotton Supreme family. Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Batik both have the same yardage per ball, so they could be used interchangeably here. Go down a needle size for a slightly skinnier scarf (or just cast on more stitches in an even number) and use Cotton Supreme DK or DK Seaspray.

The remaining half a ball of Cotton Supreme Splash is sitting on my desk right now, tempting me. I could knit another… or I could use it to teach someone else to knit. Decisions, decisions.

Happy knitting!