Kicking off 2024 right with a satisfyingly quick and cozy Free Pattern Friday. Designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, a Feather in My Cap is just the antidote for the post-holiday blues.
Ashley Jane designed this hat to show off the plump new Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran. The hat is crocheted in turning rounds from the bottom up with a feather motif that brings the old idiom ‘a feather in your cap’, to life. Her version uses the color 001 Mustard for a much-needed pop of color during dreary weather. With over 30 colors to pick from in this deliciously soft yarn, you can make a version that is truly your own.
Let’s talk about the yarn – Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran is a luxury merino yarn from Italy that is gorgeously round and bouncy giving it excellent stitch definition and a supple hand. It lends itself well to textured patterns allowing motifs to really pop. Not only is this yarn lovely and soft, it’s machine washable! What more could you ask for?
Get 20% off your order of Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran this weekend, through Sunday, January 7th at 11:59 PM EST. A great yarn choice for everything from accessories to garments.
Hello, December! It’s that time of year again, when we present to you our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. And, with bittersweet news, this is our last kit collection of this type. Join me today as I reflect on year’s past and share the exciting refreshed and new kits we are offering for 2023.
The cover from our very first edition of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, from 2017.
In 2017, when I first began working at Universal Yarn, we conceived the exciting idea to create twelve wintry accessories featuring a variety of our yarns to support our local yarn stores through the gift-giving season. These kits were designed to be beautiful, thoughtful finished objects to give a loved one, or to be a present for your best fiber friend. The designs were all centered around winter, and primarily meant to be useful beyond the holiday season. We dreamt of frozen lakes, snowy forests, the warmth and crackle of the fireplace, and twinkling lights. Then, we took that imagery and created a collection of twelve designs to inspire.
Top Left: Series 1 Snowflake Mitts / Top Right: Series 2 Mistletoes Middle Left: Series 3 Mountain Pines / Middle Right: Series 4 Chai Latte Set Bottom Left: Series 5 Crochet Cinnamon Swirl Stole / Bottom Right Series 6 Hubble the Winter Wolf
Pictured above are some of the highlights our the past six years of 12 Days of Winter. In those years, we have published a total of 76 knitting and crochet patterns to celebrate the season. From mitts and hats to scarves and stuffies, we truly have something for everyone in these collections. As we reflected on which of these patterns were best loved for Series 7, we wanted to rekindle the joy they brought you. With that said, we are so proud to share our latest 12 Days of Winter Kit collection, which features old favorites and new patterns alike.
The Cover of our 12 Days of Winter 2023 Kit Collection
First, let’s talk about some of the oldies but goodies. Eight of the patterns in this collection were revisited from previous years. We’ve refreshed them with exciting new yarns. Take Aspen, for example. This beloved classic cabled scarf was a hit during our third year of the kit collection. It’s intricately winding cables are impressive, but easier to achieve than one might expect. This year, we’ve paired it with a yarn destined to shine in cables: Yarn Vibes Cliffs of Moher. Its rustic, plump hand gives the cables such a warm and woolly texture.
AspenForest Garland
The popular Forest Garland, which has both a knit and crochet version, was reimagined using our Cotton Supreme and Cotton Gold yarns held together. The shimmering sequins of Cotton Gold make it look just like twinkly lights or beautiful bulbs decorating a Christmas tree.
New yarns are just part of revisiting our previous years of patterns. As you can see so far, we’ve been swapping colors as well. That’s the case for each of these patterns, and I especially love how it worked out for the Blue Spruce Socks and Snow Day Set. We opted for unexpected yarns and icy shades to maximize the wintry impact. The Blue Spruce Socks use two strands of Uni Merino together, and the Snow Day Set takes Rico Design’s Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed on a frosty adventure!
Snow Day SetBlue Spruce Socks
Originally from Series 2, We Three Hats and Snowfolk were especially favored among our in-house team and our customers. We kept the yarn for We Three Hats the same, but played around with cool shades of sugarplum and icy blues. This outstanding kit is like three in one, because you’ll have enough Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash to make all three hats and enjoy a sampling of fun techniques! Similarly, one kits gets you all three Snowfolk, lovingly named Agnes, Dorothy, and Maureen. This year, these ladies got a makeover with all new accessories in best-selling Uptown Worsted to keep cozy on a cold winter’s day.
We Three HatsSnowfolk
Although all of the kits we’ve revisited so far were featured in previous 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections, not all of those from this year are. In fact, we’ve taken two stunning kits from discontinued yarns and gave them new life! The Holiday Stockings and the Illuvia Shawl were once part of our Dona color kits. Their techniques made them a perfect fit for the collection. The stranded Holiday Stockings, now knit in Rico Design Baby Dream DK Uni are a joyful home décor project just waiting to be stuffed with little trinkets. The colorful Illuvia Shawl, now knit in Wool Pop, features a sampling of exciting stitches that will delight you as you knit, and impress your giftee!
Holiday Stockings
Finally, we’re happy to introduce some brand new patterns to you! The last four kits I’ll touch on were designed to round out this year’s collection. The first two, Mini Marshmallow and the Twilight Socks, are special because they combine different yarns for impact. Mini Marshmallow is actually a tiny version of his big brother, Marshmallow, from Series 5. This little best friend would make the sweetest gift for your little one. I can easily see their little body popping out of the aforementioned Holiday Stockings on Christmas morning, just waiting to be hugged! Mini Marshmallow is knit using plush, soft Bella Chenille, and their stylish sweater is knit with colorful Rico Design Creative Melange Chunky.
The Twilight Socks are the advanced sock knitter’s dream. The intricate motif combines twisted stitches and mosaic knitting, and the results couldn’t be more jaw-dropping. Here, we’ve paired the variegated marls of Cobblestone with the saturation of Uni Merino into one amazing pair of socks.
Mini MarshmallowTwilight Socks
The next two accessories will keep your neck and shoulders toasty and warm all season long! Crochet enthusiasts will absolutely adore Milky Way, a cozy cowl featuring the brilliant self-shading hues of Colorburst. The spike stitches blend the colors together and create a finished piece as impressive as the galaxy we call home. Unlike the kaleidoscope of colors seen in Milky Way, the knitted Snowstorm scarf looks a bit more neutral in Kingston Tweed. Gray and navy tones in a mosaic colorwork pattern will remind you of a nighttime blizzard, and the soft pink edges bring to mind rosy cheeks out in the cold.
Milky WaySnowstorm
There you have it – our designs for the final edition of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections. We deeply appreciate all of your enthusiasm for these patterns and kits over the years. We hope each one has filled you with warmth and holiday cheer. And if these collections were something you looked forward to each year, fear not – we promise we will have many more festive treats in store for you in the years to come!
Be merry, my fiber friends, and have a wonderful holiday season! -Rachel
As the weather gets chillier outside, there’s never been a better time for a woolly Free Pattern Friday! This weekend, we are thrilled to release the Mermaid Shawl, designed by Tori Gurbisz, featuring Deluxe DK Superwash and Colorburst. This oceanic-inspired shawl is wearable year-round thanks to the wool fibers and DK-weight of the respective yarns. Let’s dive right in and learn more about this gorgeous piece!
The Mermaid Shawl DK contains a solid upper portion using solely Deluxe DK Superwash, allowing the bottom of this shawl to stand out. The lower portion shows off slip-stitch edging as you combine Deluxe DK Superwash with Colorburst, creating the gorgeous mermaid scales that make this shawl so desirable!
The Mermaid Shawl DK is knit from the top down in relaxing stockinette stitch, with increasing throughout for shaping. Deluxe DK Superwash color 834 Cream provides the perfect canvas for your favorite hue of Colorburst to shine in this pattern. With two wool yarns for the Mermaid Shawl DK, you’ll want to sport this shawl year-round!
Now through Sunday, November 12th, Deluxe DK Superwash and Colorburst are 20% off! These two yarns have teamed up before to make beautiful creations like Slant, Virtuoso, the Ruby Shawl DK, and more! The superwash wool of solid Deluxe DK Superwash is the perfect match for the superwash fine merino and acrylic blend of self-shading Colorburst. Explore the color palettes of these respective yarns and let your imagination inspire your next project.
Make sure to share your creations with us on social media for a chance to be featured in stories or even on our feed!
Hi there, fellow crafters! As we enter the season of shorter days and cooler weather, here at Universal Yarn, we are always thinking of ways to add some cheer to our projects. With this in mind, we are excited to announce the addition of a brand-new yarn to our lineup. Drumroll please….introducing Bella Pom Pom!
Bella Pom Pom is the perfect carry-along yarn to add trendy pops of neon color to your project. This yarn features a variegated thread with tiny pom poms scattered along it. It is comprised of 78% polyamide and 22% polyester, making it soft and durable. Each pom pom is a fun little pop of color in neon shades of orange, yellow, pink, and blue.
This yarn comes in 50g balls of approximately 334 yards each, perfect for adding a special touch to your smaller projects or as an accent to larger ones. Being a huge fan of neons, I fell in love with this yarn the moment I saw it in person. It opens up so many possibilities to liven up just about any type of project. Speaking of projects, we have a couple of free patterns to give you a chance to try out this delightfully fun yarn.
First up are the Sprinkle Mittens, designed by Rachel Brockman. Rachel designed these cozy mittens using one skein of our smooth, supple Uptown Bamboo DK, in 506 Apricot, held together with Bella Pom Pom. These mittens feature a twisted rib cuff for added texture and come in two sizes! They are a quick and easy knit and are the perfect accent to brighten up your outfit of the day.
Second, we have the Confetti Scrunchie, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre. Scrunchies are back in a big way! And why not? They’re better for your hair, they can dress up or dress down any outfit, they’re harder to lose and they make a cute accessory for your wrist! This cute scrunchie is crocheted using our luscious Bella Chenille carried along with Bella Pom Pom. You work around an elastic hair tie in beginner-friendly half double crochet. Why not make one for yourself and one for a friend?
With neon colors taking center stage this winter season, Bella Pom Pom is the perfect way to incorporate this bold trend into your handmade pieces. I am super excited to use it in a simple cowl to add some extra color and texture. What would you do with it?
Happy Friday, friends! This week is our special “Flash Pattern Friday,” a promotion that comes on the last weekend of the month, where a normally paid pattern is completely free for a limited period of time. Today, we are gifting the Rosewood Shawl from the Free Spirit Collection.
Rosewood Shawl in Cobblestone
This shawl is a crochet take on brioche that is truly double-sided! Normally, crochet brioche alternates two colors with front post stitches to create a mimicked brioche look. However, this shawl alternates both front and back post stitches to form the color contrast for each side. Because of the post-stitching along with simultaneous shaping, we ranked this as an advanced piece. However, if you feel good with post-stitch work, I’m sure you can tackle it beautifully!
Dark side of the shawl.Light side of the shawl.
This shawl features Fibra Natura, Cobblestone, a luxurious 100% superwash merino wool yarn that boasts an impressive 612 yards per ball. This yarn comes in 16 beautifully twisted, double-ply shades where one solid strand is plied with a second, color shifting strand for a handspun appearance that creates exciting statement pieces. Cobblestone is 20% off this weekend, so stock up today through Sunday 10/29!
Fibra Natura, Cobblestone
To get the Rosewood Shawl for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer runs through Sunday, October 29th.
I hope you are just as excited about this free pattern as I am. What color combinations will you try out? I’m excited to see it! Be sure to share your creations with us by tagging us on Instagram.
That’s all for today, happy stitching! Ashley Jane McIntyre
Inspired by city lights and New York City’s High Line park, the High Line Shawl is the perfect project to add to your knitting needles this season. The luminescent pop of color in each version of the shawl is reminiscent of the glow of a city at night, with electrifying lights in an array of colors. The lace motif creates striking diagonal lines parallel to one another, traveling across the shawl like the tracks of the historically active rail line that has been converted to a beautiful public park.
Large Version of the High Line Shawl
Let’s talk yarn! No doubt about it, neon colors have returned and surged in popularity. Whether it’s because our world is growing increasingly digital, 90’s nostalgia, or a longing for endorphin-inducing brights to add a bit of cheer to stressful times in the world, we’re fully embracing the trend here at Universal Yarn. So much so that we recently introduced Uni Merino Neons to our lineup! This 4-ply sock yarn is comprised of soft, smooth 75% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon. It has excellent stitch definition and comes in five saturated, acidic shades. Although it’s stunning by itself, we’ve amped up the impact of this shawl by adding a strand of luxurious Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk by Rico Design. The 70% super kid mohair and 30% silk blend adds an ethereal, fluffy halo and makes projects even more insulating, which is ideal for the cold months ahead. This laceweight yarn is an excellent carry-along companion for Uni Merino Neons, and the yarns are held together throughout the project. There are plenty of coordinating colors to use with Uni Merino Neons, too. It’s a match made in heaven!
While the upbeat bright colors and luxe yarn may be enough to give you the itch to cast on the High Line Shawl, the knitting itself is just as enticing. This shawl features an all-over lace motif that will captivate your attention. The lace pattern is a simple eight stitch by eight row repeat, with lace worked on both the right side and wrong side of the work. It’s a great way to dip your toes into more complicated lacework while keeping things approachable. The results are also well worth the effort because the stitches create a striking, open fabric that will turn heads.
Another unique feature of the shawl is its asymmetrical shape. Like many shawls, it is triangular, but the increases in this pattern create more of a scalene triangle. Yarnover increases are worked every right side row on one edge, and every other right side row on the opposite edge. The lace motif is framed by a simple garter stitch edge and border. This pattern also provides instructions for both a small and large size, and each size makes the most of each yarn.
Ready to get started on the High Line Shawl? Lucky for you, both yarns required for this project are 20% off on our website (link), today through Sunday, 10/22/23, only! Get your needles ready and cast on today!
Just like that, the month of June is over! That means it’s time to share our Flash Pattern for the month. Sailfin, designed by Rachel Brockman, is a gorgeous scarf knit in five different colors of Magnolia. You can get this pattern for free on Ravelry through Sunday (instructions below), and there’s no better time to stock up on Magnolia because we’re having a sitewide sale!
Inspired by the beautiful stripes of the saltwater sailfin fish, this accessory is a stunner. Using our silky smooth Magnolia yarn, Sailfin will be a delight to knit as you switch from one color to another. Relaxing stockinette stitch is used throughout this scarf, leading to a piece with a gorgeous drape and eye-catching color.
Magnolia is a blend of modal and cashmere, giving it a luxurious feel and sheen. Its excellent stitch definition makes this yarn perfect for any knit or crochet project you may have in mind. Sport Sailfin on your next stroll on the beach and watch as the compliments roll in.
To get Sailfin for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer runs through Sunday, July 2nd. We hope you enjoy this astonishing accessory!
Meanwhile, head to our website to get the best deals during our Stars, Stripes, and Savings Sale! Shop our wide selection of beautiful yarns and luxurious products from muud. This 20% off sitewide savings begins today and lasts through Tuesday, July 4th!
Twice a year, Universal Yarn launches lots of exciting new yarns, colors, and patterns to our customers. We bring our sales reps together for the first look, and shortly after we present you with all of these sweet surprises! (By the way, if you want some insight on a day in the life of a yarn sales rep, check out this blog post featuring one of our reps.) You may have noticed some new colors of some of our staple yarns at your local yarn store, or on our website. To go with these lovely new colors we’ve published some wonderful free patterns. Shall we dive in and explore these goodies?
Our bestselling yarn, Bamboo Pop, features six gorgeous neutrals inspired by the diversity of our skin tones. These colors were created for doll projects, as seen in our Bamboo Pop Dolls released last week, and for Knitted Knockers, which are soft, comfortable knit prosthetics for breast cancer survivors. Bamboo Pop is one of our approved yarns for these prosthetics. However, it’s a super versatile yarn that’s great for garments and accessories, too. These new neutral hues work well individually or paired with our other solids and multis. To demonstrate this, Ashley Jane McIntyre designed the Espresso Bandana, shown below.
This asymmetrical bandana is lightweight and perfect for warm weather thanks to Bamboo Pop’s smooth 50/50 blend of bamboo and cotton. It is crocheted flat, beginning at the tip and increasing to the widest edge. Slanting clusters and extended single crochet come together to create the richly textured Boxed Bead Stitch used throughout the fabric. We recommend wearing this accessory on your next trip to the café – you’ll enjoy your latte while receiving compliments from all around!
If neutrals aren’t your favorite, but colors make you sing, you’ll love our fresh new shade of Colorburst. This self-shading yarn features a variety of fun colors, but 120 Lollipop might be my new favorite. This colorway features creamy white as well as vibrant red, yellow, and turquoise.
We have plenty of patterns to support this yarn (check them out here), but how could I resist a sugary sweet new sweater? Ceres is a relaxed turtleneck that will keep you cozy and warm when chilly weather approaches. It features thoughtful details like a rolled hemline, texture on the lower body, and plush ribbing on the sleeve cuffs and neckband. The construction is bottom up, in the round, with options for seamed or seamless sleeves. It’s a great pattern for a first sweater, or any knitter looking for a satisfyingly simple project.
Kingston Tweed, our soft yet rustic blend of 50% wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose has long been one of my favorites. I love the subtle tweed and earthy palette, inspired by minerals and gemstones. It’s also the yarn featured in one of our most popular patterns: the Jay Sweater. This yarn is well suited to a variety of techniques including colorwork, lace, and textural motifs.
Starling SetBlake
To celebrate new colors of Kingston Tweed, we’ve published two brand-new patterns. For those craving a coordinating accessory set, look no further than the Starling Set, designed by Aubrey Busek. This beginner-friendly project is knit using soothing slipped stitches and a touch of ribbing for tidiness. The hat and cowl are each knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up. This project makes great use of yarn, requiring just one skein of each color!
Blake is a wardrobe essential. Classic, squishy Shaker Rib and colorful stripes make this an easy layering piece whether your office is perpetually frigid, or you want something ideal for autumn and winter. The knitting in this pattern is pretty simple throughout – the body is knit flat from the bottom up in one piece, and the sleeves are also knit flat. There is minimal shaping, except a little increasing at the sleeve cuffs to create the bishop sleeve effect. The stripes make it potato-chippy, so you’ll want to keep stitching away for the next color, and the next!
Next, we have another bestseller: Major! This plush, soft acrylic yarn is self-shading and each colorway is sensational. Like Bamboo Pop, Major has been a staple of the Universal Yarn line for years and nearly 900 people have projects featuring this yarn in their Ravelry notebooks. We have loads of patterns that use this yarn, from the ever-popular Pineapple Peacock Shawl to the entrelac Woven Sky Throw and many more – we know you’ll find something you love. For the launch of our six new shades we’ve introduced two new patterns: the knitted Hedgerow wrap and crocheted Loch scarf, shown below.
LochHedgerow
Crocheted in 145 Feather and designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, Loch is warm and cozy. Beginners looking to elevate their skills will relish the Herringbone Half Double Crochet motif throughout the fabric. This one-skein project is gentle on your wallet with impressive results. It’s also a quick project, making it great for a last-minute gift (well, as last-minute as you can handle with something handmade!).
Aubrey Busek pairs the popular neutral 115 Stonewall with 141 Greenhouse in Hedgerow to create another stunning slip stitch pattern. My favorite element of this piece is how lavishly textured the fabric is. It delicately balances subtle drape with a fabric dense enough to ward off frosty winter air. Thoughtfully placed tassels make this wrap a statement piece that is guaranteed to win you major style points!
Bonus! Fans of Uni Merino will love this new shade of green: 151 Pistachio. A blend of soft superwash merino and sturdy nylon make Uni Merino an excellent match for sock knitters, but it’s also ideal for fingering-weight sweaters, shawls, hats, and more. We don’t have a sample to show this color off yet, but we promise we will soon and your patience will pay off. In the meantime, find inspiration in projects like the crocheted Spice Market Shawl and the knitted Party Flag Socks.
Now that you’ve seen our selection of new colors and patterns, let us know which ones inspire you. Will you make one of our designs, or try something different? It’s always exciting to see what our customers create with our yarns, so stay in touch. You can always email us at patterns@universalyarn.com and we encourage you to tag us on Instagram (@universal_yarn).
Today, we released the Ocean Wonder collection, which captures the awe and majesty of the deep sea across seven knit and crochet patterns. Let’s take the plunge and explore the beautiful mysteries of the deep through these inspired designs!
Abyss designed by Aubrey Busek
Abyss, designed by Aubrey Busek, is a captivating shawl which twists and undulates like the tendrils of an ethereal deep-sea creature, but its colors are buoyant and bright like glimmers of light on the sea surface. When I first saw this piece, it immediately captured my interest and pulled me in to explore more. I love how the crescent shawl shape creates curls at its corners, and that the lace detailing enhances the rippling stitch pattern throughout. This shawl is knit flat from the top down and uses solid Cotton Supreme to frame the vibrant Cotton Supreme Waves.
Below, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre
Next up is Below, designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. The collection inspiration was the deep sea, which feels both beautiful and a little scary. There’s no better way to ward off the fear of the unknown then by wrapping yourself up in a cozy, handmade blanket. This piece features a deep, rich background with swirling ribbons of colorwork in Cotton Supreme, each bordered by bold stripes of colorful Cotton Supreme Speckles. It’s worked flat from the bottom up and uses tapestry crochet in the colorwork sections. The effect mimics the continuous movement of seawater found below the ocean’s surface.
Current, designed by Yonca Ozbelli
Current captures the ebbs and flows found throughout the sea. Waves on the surface, kelp that winds and twists through habitats, and deeper currents of water below. The entire ocean is teeming with movement and life, all captured in this beautiful piece. It’s knit flat from side to side in two rectangles which are joined together using the three-needle bind-off to create the top. No seams required! Three colors of Cotton Supreme are worked in rhythmic, striping waves throughout bringing the life of the ocean rippling into your wardrobe.
Drift, designed by Patty OlsonFloat, designed by Patty Olson
Drift (left) and Float (right), both designed by Patty Olson are cowls filled with texture and movement. Side by side, these complimenting accessories capture the oceans shifting personality from soothing and calm, to intrepid and strong. Both cowls use Cotton Supreme and are knit flat from the bottom up, then seamed at the neck. However, they each have unique stitch patterns and details that set them apart from one another.
Fade, designed by Amy Gunderson
Fade, designed by Amy Gunderson, captures the unpredictability of the sea. Slants of eyelets lean and travel like a billowing haze on the water’s surface. Sections of stockinette interrupt the movement like choppy waves, or roiling waters that fade into a smooth calm below. This top is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down, with bands of lace and staggered sections of plain stockinette. A single color of Cotton Supreme is used, allowing the stitch definition and texture to tell this story on its own.
Surge, by Patty Olson
The power of the ocean is not always for the faint of heart. The ever-moving water erodes almost anything in its path over time, but strong networks of coral and underwater communities band together in breathtaking underwater worlds, creating a latticework of strength and endurance against the swelling currents below. Surge, designed by Patty Olson, paints a picture of this vigor through its interlocking mosaic pattern, texture, and vibrant colors. This wrap is knit flat from the bottom up, and uses just one color per row. Both Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Waves work in harmony to capture the resilience, warmth, and magic of the ocean and its creatures.
I truly hope you’ve enjoyed reading through my review of each beautiful piece in the Ocean Wonder collection. I find them all captivating in their own ways, and kept finding myself in awe at each new detail I’ve noticed along the way. Was there a particular piece that captured your interest too? Tell us about it in the comments below!
One last note – to celebrate this release, we are offering a discount! The full ebook, individual patterns (on Ravelry), and the Cotton Supreme Family of yarns used are all 20% off, from today – Sunday 6/11. No discount codes are required!
Summer is swiftly approaching, and as the weather warms to peak sunny season we are sure projects like tank tops, hats and lacework are on your mind. If you haven’t had a chance to find patterns for your queue, then fear not! We have some gorgeous summer yarns and projects for you to try out today.
MagnoliaSailfin in Magnolia
Magnolia is a luscious blend of 95% modal and 5% cashmere. Modal is a bio-based material made from beech tree cellulose. It’s typically considered a more eco-friendly alternative to cotton because the amount of water these trees require is 10-20 times less than cotton. You can read more about the process of creating modal here. We love this yarn for more than its environmentally conscious origins though – it has excellent drape and feels silky soft with the kiss of cashmere blended in.
One of my favorite projects using Magnolia is the Sailfin wrap, designed by Rachel Brockman. This standout pattern is one of five from our Sunkissed Summer collection from Spring 2022. It’s my favorite because it features so many buoyant, joyful colors of magnolia and shows off the radiance of the yarn so well. Simply put, it just makes me happy every time I see it!
Seastar in Cotton SupremeCotton Supreme
Summer crafting would feel lacking if you didn’t have cotton in the mix. Cotton Supreme is our buttery soft, 100% cotton yarn available in a wide array of colors. This worsted weight yarn is wonderful for any project ranging from garments and accessories to blankets and homewares. In fact, this yarn is so popular that we offer it in a variety of options. Our fun, multi-colored Cotton Supreme Speckles is a complimentary worsted weight yarn with dashes of fun colors throughout. Or, if you’re looking for a lighter weight version, our Cotton Supreme Waves is a beautifully blended self-striping dk weight option. While supply lasts, we also have Cotton Supreme DK in solid options, but act now! This yarn is being discontinued and won’t be around much longer.
The Cotton Supreme Family, as we like to call this offering of yarns, gives so many fabulous options between weight and colors. So, of course we have created many beautiful designs to uplift them throughout the years. For any yarn above, you can scroll down below the color listings to view all of the patterns available. Take some time to browse around, then try to choose a favorite – it’s hard! I finally landed on featuring the Seastar sweater by Aubrey Busek. It combines many of my favorite attributes in a project. It’s made in panels then seamed, so it’s simple and easy to carry around without getting too heavy. It has lovely lace all the way up the sleeves, which remind me of ocean waves. Lastly, it uses intarsia colorwork to create the cutest starfish, ever!
FillyStormy Shores Shawl
Up next is Filly, one of our new yarns launched for spring of 2023. This super fine yarn is a special blend of 46% cotton, 33% super wash merino, 12% polyamide, and 9% pbt. It’s unique fiber content, eye-catching colors, and amazing yardage (492 yards per ball), make it your go-to summer grab.
Whip up a quick one-skein project like the crocheted Stormy Shores Shawl to start showing off this favorite, new yarn today. Not a crocheter? Check out the full pattern selection here, with knit options to try out too!
Lastly, I wanted to highlight a beautiful yarn from Rico Design, the Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton. This blend of 46% acrylic, 49% cotton, and 5% polyester is irresistible! It washes and wears well over time, it’s basic color is spun with a print ply for a bright variegated look, and it’s offered in everything from pastels to rich earthy tones. What more could you want!?
Rico patterns, which they call Compacts, are all paid-for, but each typically come with at least two designs! Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton has 6 Compacts to choose from, so you have a myriad of choices. My favorite Compact is number 1106, including a Sweater, a Top, and a Shawl. Each one is simple and lets the yarn shine!
I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring some of these summer yarn highlights! Check our Summer Yarns Collection to view even more options! Don’t forget to share all your beautiful creations with us on social media!
That’s all for now! Happy Stitching, Ashley Jane McIntyre
