Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Linen Stitch Clutch in Java.
So cute! This little envelope purse is made in Fibra Natura Java (219yds/100g), a 100% hemp yarn. Fast-growing and vegan, hemp is a natural fiber that’s easy on the environment. It works beautifully in this quick-to-knit project.
The clutch is worked flat, then seams, edging, and a button loop are added in single crochet. No lining is needed.
We hope you enjoy this stylish little free project.
Happy knitting!
The Summit Scarf from our Colorful Commute e-book features triple knotted fringe. It is an easy way to add a lot of visual interest to your project. It may look complicated, but it’s really quite simple and doesn’t take much more time or effort than plain fringe. Today I’ll show you how to do it!
Step 1: Begin as you normally would when adding fringe to a project, for this scarf I cut 21” strands of yarn. Then, holding two strands together as one, I attached groups of fringe to the edge of the scarf, about one group every other stitch.
Step 2: Take half of one group of fringe knot together with half of next group of fringe 1” below first row of knots. I did not split the first and last groups of fringe.
Step 3: Repeat for another row of knots. To finish, trim fringe evenly.
That’s all there is to it! You can keep adding more rows of knots to create some really amazing and intricate looking fringe, use longer strands of yarn when increasing the number of knotted rows. Beads can be placed above the knots (or even in place of the knots) to add some sparkle – there are so many possibilities.
Today, I have another tutorial involving a crochet hook to go along with our In Transit e-book. The Trade Street Cowls and Hat pattern uses contrasting applied crochet lines to create vertical stripes. The lines are added to the purl columns in the finished pieces.
It can be a lot of fun choosing the color for the applied crochet lines, and there are a few options, depending on the look you would like to create. Using a solid color in Uptown Bulky that also appears in the Main Color produces a plaid-like effect. With Classic Shades Big Time as the Contrasting Color, there are a ton of options – choose a highly contrasting section of the color repeat to make the stripes pop, use a section that is neutral or similar to the Main Color for more subtle stripes or choose a section with quicker color changes for gradient stripes.
Let’s get started!
Once you have finished and blocked your cowl or hat, you are ready to add the applied crochet lines.
Step 1: Holding yarn beneath work, insert crochet hook through the center of the first purl st in a column.
Step 2: Pull a loop of yarn through to the front of the work.
Step 3: Insert hook through the next st up in the same purl column, pull a loop of yarn through to the front of the work (2 loops on hook), pull the second loop through the first loop (1 loop on hook); repeat along entire column.
Step 4: When entire column is complete, break yarn, leaving a 3 to 4 inch tail and pull through last loop.
Step 5: Pull tail to wrong side and weave in ends.
Keep going until all of the purl columns have applied crochet lines.
Will you go for subtle or bold stripes on your Trade Street Cowls and Hat?
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Squoosh Cowl in Uptown Bulky Amplify.
Squoosh!
Squoosh!!
SQUOOOOSH!!!
The Squoosh Cowl lives up to its name.
It’s made with one ball each of two colors in Uptown Bulky Amplify, a super soft anti-pilling acrylic with lots of bounce.
Knit it up on size 13 (9mm) needles, alternating balls to create the colorful striping. It’s super-easy. Just work straight garter stitch, then sew the ends together. You can wrap this baby up to four times around your neck. Just decide how much “squoosh” you want.
We hope you enjoy this thick and quick simple project in one of our most squishable yarns.
Happy knitting!
Have you seen the New Bern Cowl and wondered how I created that faux cable look? Today, I’ll show you how, step by step!
It is a very simple technique, but brace yourself knitters…it does involve a crochet hook! Don’t worry though, if you can do a simple chain, you can do this.
Pretty easy, right? I can’t wait for you to try it out on your very own New Bern Cowl!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Checked Hat and Scarf in Uptown Worsted and Uptown Worsted Mist.
In Little Women, Meg called November “the most disagreeable month in the whole year.” I’m inclined to disagree, though I will grant that the invention of electric heat makes it a lot easier these days. In fact, let’s add modern appliances like the washer and dryer, which make it a lot easier to do laundry without risking frostbite.
All of which brings us to today’s pattern. The Checked Hat and Scarf are an easy four-row repeat, worked flat for the scarf and in the round for the hat. We used Uptown Worsted and Uptown Worsted Mist (180yds/100g), both of which are machine washable and stand up well to wear, as well as being the softest acrylic I personally have used.
On frosty mornings, it’s a pleasure to wrap up warm in a hand-knitted set. It’s a luxury to return home, red-nosed, and shed layers, tossing them to the side without worrying about having to handwash them later.
We hope you enjoy what November has to offer – and then warm up again with more crafting in a cozy room.
Happy knitting!
If you’re a good little crafter, you’re already busy making your holiday gifts. Or you could be more like me and have the best intentions, but then somehow it’s the last minute and you’ve knocked out an emergency pair of Felted Scuffles and are frantically drying them with a hair dryer.
Somehow it seems that every year, one thing is true: in all the confusion, I never wind up knitting for myself.
Not this year.
Ever since this gorgeous book of Kristin Hansen knitted lace for Garden Metallic came out, I’ve had my eye on… well, on all of the patterns. I had the pleasure of helping prepare the garments for this photo shoot. Touching each delicate masterpiece was enough to make me fall in love. The one that sets my pulse racing, though, is the Midnight Sun Shawl, perhaps because it shares a name with one of my favorite songs.
https://youtu.be/pr5x7ivORUU?t=2m50s
The printed book is now also an e-book, as well as individual patterns. So this year, I’m going to myself something beautiful. I’m telling myself there’s still time this season, although realistically, I know myself and it will probably be next year before this sees the light of day. And I have nowhere to wear something this glamorous – but I have faith that if I make it, then the opportunity will present itself. Or perhaps I’ll be more likely to make my own opportunity.
If you’d like a lovely length of lace to call your own, don’t wait until everything else is done. It never will be. Do it now, just for you.
You’re worth it.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Briar Rose Capelet in Deluxe Bulky Superwash.
You’re familiar with the story of Briar Rose, right? She’s the girl who was pricked by a spindle and fell asleep for a hundred years. I’m sure many of us who have been bitten by the crafting bug and lost countless hours to projects can relate. Fortunately, this project goes more quickly than Briar Rose’s sleep.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the One Side Cowl in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.
Recently, we sent some stitching work to a talented local knitter and teacher, Sandy Harris. (Side note about Sandy – she’s also a creator of the knitting game Last Knitter Standing. If you haven’t tried it, you should – it’s a hoot.) When we got Sandy’s project back, we were delighted to also receive this – a new one-skein pattern in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints! She had picked up a skein of the yarn and been inspired. It’s not hard to see why – Steven Be’s custom colorways certainly fire the imagination.
Sandy has created a moebius cowl with judiciously spaced yarn overs for additional pizzazz. This cowl-with-a-twist uses a moebius cast-on, which may be a new technique for some of you. It certainly is for me! With that in mind, our newest designer, Tori Gurbisz, volunteered her hands to show us how it’s done. These photos cover Row 1 of the moebius cast-on in the pattern.
You’re going to wind up with a loop within a loop. Don’t worry, it’s supposed to be kind of “tied” to itself like that. This technique will put a half-twist in your finished cowl.
We hope you get the chance to try something new this weekend. And if you’ve got questions, let us know – we love to help!
Happy knitting!
