cable – Universal Yarn Creative Network

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

Day 2 of Winter – Series 5 Edition

This is part 2 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.

Have you ever been on a classic sleigh ride on a cold winter night? Maybe you’ve gone on a lovely horse-drawn carriage ride on a chilly day. If not, perhaps it’s on your wintertime bucket list? Whether you have or haven’t, one thing you surely need while gliding gently through the snowy woods is a set of woolly accessories to keep you cozy and warm, and the Sleigh Ride Set is a perfect choice!

The Sleigh Ride Set is knit using my favorite stash staple, Deluxe Worsted, which is a 100% non-superwash wool yarn. I choose colors 12282 Hunter Green and 40002 Millet for the design – the green provides excellent, earthy contrast, and the lightness of the undyed yarn is the perfect choice for showing off plump cables. In this set, you’ll get to explore the following techniques:

Knitting Small Circumferences in the Round
Cable Knitting
Ribbing
Making a Pom Pom

The hat is topped with a fluffy pom pom in the contrast color.

It’s no secret that I love the outdoors, so it always serves as great inspiration. My entire life, my favorite trees have been evergreen trees. I love that they provide a bit of color during the leafless time of year, are visually stunning with their variety of needle lengths (I mean, they have needles – and I’m a knitter, what’s not to love?), feature everything from adorable and small to impressively large pine cones, provide tasty pine nuts (yum!), and…my favorite thing about them…the amazing fragrance! So I can’t help myself – I look to them often for design inspiration and the ideas keep coming. In this case, they are the inspiration for the cable motif that decorates the hat and mitts. Ribbing that features a rope of cables serves as the trunk in the contrast color ribbing and cuffs, then the boughs begin during the main portion of both accessories.

Each mitt in the set mirrors the other one.

Doesn’t this set make you immediately cross your fingers for snow (especially if you live in a place that lacks snow, like me!)? I know snow is unlikely, but the mornings here have still been chilly. And now that it’s December, I’m finally in the mood for some holiday tunes and I’d love to share my favorites with you! Now I’m daydreaming about that sleigh ride – but with the extra magic of festive tunes in the background, all while wearing my delightful knit set!

My first pick is just plain fun. It reminds me of my childhood because it’s my mom’s favorite holiday song: Winter Wonderland by Bing Crosby. It’s also the perfect song for this accessory duo, after all, it starts:

“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
We’re happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland”.

I can’t help but smile when I hear this song. It literally makes me warm with joy and instantly in the mood for all things holiday – from decorating to gift-giving, to frolicking in the woods with my two pups, it truly captures the joy of the season.

Next up, another traditional choice for the season! I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of lyrical holiday music, with a few exceptions like the one listed above. Most of the time I prefer instrumental music to spark those festive feelings. And what better instrumental, classical music than the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky? I was never a ballerina, but I’ve always enjoyed ballet, and seeing The Nutcracker brings me much joy. I may not need to wear a hat and mitts during the event, but they’ll surely be a benefit while walking to the theater on a chilly night!

Looking for music to soothe your ears while knitting this gorgeous kit? My last recommendation is a go-to for me, but it’s definitely not quite traditional. Whether I am at work, relaxing at home, or even doing my everyday chores, I really enjoy listening to lo-fi music. The beats are so calming and help me focus. Lucky for us, there are some great options available on YouTube, like the perfect Lofi Christmas Radio by Lofi Geek. This is hands-down what I’ll most likely be listening to while I work on my gift-knitting this year. And, tying this all back to the Sleigh Ride Set – this would truly be a fabulous gift, as a kit or as the actual hand-knit items!

Are you a fan of seasonal music? What do you love to listen to while knitting gifts? Let me know in the comments!

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy crafting!

September 8, 2021September 8, 2021

A Crocheter’s take on Elevated Essentials

Hello There!

This week I’m taking a look at our fabulous Elevated Essentials collection. From the moment I saw the photos I instantly fell head-over-heels in love. In a word, the overall style is Luxe. With chic neutral tones and texture-rich detailing in each of the finished pieces, it’s easy to see why the descriptor used in the collection name was “Elevated.”

Carillon in Deluxe Worsted Color 40002 Millet

The yarn used for each of these looks is our Deluxe Worsted and Deluxe Worsted Naturals, which are 100% Wool and come at the affordable price point of $8.25 per skein. Based on the natural composition and budget-friendly qualities, this yarn is deemed the essential yarn to have in your stash.

My favorite sweater is the Eilhart pullover, which gives me some serious craft envy when I see all of the gorgeous cables. Crochet has some ways to mimic this iconic look but when I consider this particular pattern I just don’t think it would compare.

Eilhart in Deluxe Worsted colors 40001 cream, 40003 Musket and 12180 Eggplant

The pattern has a hypnotic flow to it, creating a sleek silhouette drawing the eye down, while intertwining in the center and sides perfectly. The other design element that I love is the deep contrast in color for the sleeves and neck. I would normally think of this style as playful like a baseball tee, but instead it stripped away notions of playtime and had me ready to grab some needles and get to work. The ribbing is enough to be interesting but doesn’t compete with the stunning bodywork. In fact, I feel it further frames the intense center detailing with the drastic color change and subtle texture.

Compare the cables seen above with the crochet ones below. It just wouldn’t quite do the trick.

Image: Blog Post “How to Crochet Cables + Good Beginner Crochet Patterns”by Heather Mann on We Crochet

Let’s not get too caught up in the could you/couldn’t you debate though, and instead continue on to appreciate another marvelous piece.

Moria in Deluxe Worsted 12502 Smoke Heather and 1900 Ebony

The Moria Cape – the name alone stirs up my nerd-brain into a fantastical frenzy, but the design is simply breathtaking. The play on color creates a unique optical illusion that feels as whimsical as its namesake, and don’t event get me started on the perpetual Cable-Envy that this collection offers.

Well that’s all for now. The next time I’m back it may very well be to announce that the Crochet Corner is being abandoned for a Novice Knit Nook!

Happy Stitching Y’all, Ashley Jane

January 13, 2021

Still Life – Six Painterly Projects to Knit

Today I’d like to highlight one of our more recent pattern collections, Still Life (link). It’s always fun to put together a pattern collection. This one is especially close to my heart because this is the last collaborative collection between our former creative director, the amazing Amy Gunderson, and myself. That means this collection has also been a long time in the making. Originally, these patterns were developed for another yarn, but sometimes things just don’t work out the way you originally planned. When we had to say goodbye to the intended yarn, we didn’t want to say goodbye to this collection. How could we? The pieces are all so beautiful. That’s why we reimagined them in our Deluxe Worsted Superwash and Deluxe Worsted Tweed. Today I’m going to share each of these projects with you and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

The first pattern in the collection is a contribution by Amy Gunderson. The show-stopping Chiaroscuro (pattern link). This seamless, top-down pattern features a bold slip-stitch colorwork motif across the circular yoke. I’ve always been a fan of mock-neck and turtle neck sweaters. As someone who is perpetually chilly, they maximize my comfort during the winter months. So, the high, ribbed neckband of Chiaroscuro is perfect for me. I also love the contrast color rolled stockinette trim that decorates the hem and sleeve cuffs. This is a casual piece that is begging to be knit. Our sample uses Deluxe Worsted Tweed which gives it a rustic appeal. However, if tweedy nubs aren’t your thing, simply use Deluxe Worsted Superwash instead – the yarns are totally interchangeable!

Chiaroscuro by Amy Gunderson in Deluxe Worsted Tweed

Next, we have Delft (pattern link), knit in Deluxe Worsted Superwash. This is my design, and while I don’t mean to boast, I have to say I just love it! I’ve worn the original sample of this design so much! It’s the perfect layering piece. The raglan shaping ensures a great fit. Twisted ribbing pops along with the hem and button bands, but what I love most are the horizontal bars created by using slipped stitches. Delft is another seamless pattern and is knit from the bottom up. You work the body and sleeves separately and join them at the underarms and complete the sweater in one piece.

Delft by Rachel Brockman in Deluxe Worsted Superwash

Those who love a good sampler project will enjoy Leyster (pattern link), designed by Amy Gunderson. This lengthy scarf is perfect for wrapping around your shoulders during the cool months of autumn and winter. The design is loaded with textural motifs that are a blast to knit, and you won’t get bored because the motifs alternate frequently. Leyster is an excellent project for a beginner knitter ready to tackle something more interesting than garter stitch.

Leyster by Amy Gunderson in Deluxe Worsted Superwash

Another project that uses Deluxe Worsted Superwash is the cozy shawl, Pointillé (pattern link). Like all of the designs in this collection, Pointillé is richly textured. It features three lovely colors. I love the crescent-shape of this shawl and find that it drapes around the neck and shoulders so easily. The stitch patterns are easily memorized and addictive to knit. The finishing touch is a crocheted picot trim – admittedly a design feature I can’t get enough of!

Pointillé by Rachel Brockman in Deluxe Worsted Superwash

Although I always say I favor knitting sweaters and hats, shawls are also high on the list of my favorite things to knit. They come in all shapes and sizes with varied construction methods. I’ve never really been bored with a shawl. Angular, asymmetrical triangles are a popular shawl shape, likely because of their modern design appeal. Verdigris (pattern link) falls into the asymmetrical triangle category, but with a twist. Stitches are actually increased on two sides of a cable panel, breaking this pattern up into beautiful and interesting sections.

Verdigris by Amy Gunderson in Deluxe Worsted Tweed

The final piece in the collection is another pullover: Vermillion (pattern link) in Deluxe Worsted Tweed. This pullover features bracelet length sleeves, slip stitches, cables, and a sweet split hem on the front. I designed the hem so that the ribbing shifts neatly into the center panels. I’m pretty sure this piece is going to be a favorite of mine to wear during the transitional seasons!

Vermillion by Rachel Brockman in Deluxe Worsted Tweed

I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a look at the patterns in the Still Life collection! We’re so happy with how this collection turned out. Which projects do you plan to put on your knitting needles? Do you have a favorite piece in the collection? We’d love to know in the comments!

Happy crafting!

December 2, 2020November 30, 2020

Day 10 of Winter – Series 4 Edition

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.

Happy knitting!

November 20, 2019November 20, 2019

Day 1 of Winter – Series 3 Edition

A cabled scarf knit in Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted, featuring text that says 12 Days of Winter, Day 1, Aspen

This is part 1 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.

It’s that time again – the holidays are just around the corner. Unbelievably, we’re just over halfway through November. For most of us, that means we’re knee-deep in crafty gift-making for loved ones. Here at Universal Yarn headquarters, we’ve been working hard to keep the 12 Days of Winter tradition alive with a beautiful third installment. We’re so excited to share these projects with you. Whether you are looking for a gift for a special yarn-loving person in your life, or for the perfect gift to make, we’ve got you covered.

A cabled scarf knit in Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted

This year we’re kicking off the collection with a scarf designed by the talented Adrienne Larsen. Aspen is one of those perfect, squishy scarves that’s just the right length. It’s beautiful – any worthy recipient would be thrilled to wrap this around their neck.

The elaborate cable motif is simpler to work than one might expect, and by the time the scarf is complete, you’ll likely have it memorized. Inspired by quaking aspen trees, each cable in this scarf grows out of another. The result is an interlocking pattern that is sure to turn heads.

Detail of a cabled scarf knit in Deluxe Worsted.

Knit up in Deluxe Worsted, a 100% wool yarn, we’ve selected a neutral color that allows the stitchwork to shine. It’s perfect for men and women alike and is sure to work well with any item in your winter-weather wardrobe. Surprisingly, this pattern takes just two skeins, which are included in the kit along with the pattern. Surely you can finish this one in time for the holidays.

A cabled scarf knit in Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted, rolled up.

We hope you’ll love the Aspen scarf as much as we do, and that you’re equally excited for the other patterns we have coming. Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn shop.

March 4, 2019January 14, 2020

Monday Motivation – Hickory Grove

Need a little boost to get you going? How about a gorgeous and wearable cabled coat?

This is the Hickory Grove Cardigan (Ravelry link) in Deluxe Worsted 100% wool.

Since our last Monday Motivation was the colorful Mod Tiles Cardi, we thought we’d focus this time on what you can do with a solid knit fabric and a lot of creativity. Amy Gunderson used a variety of techniques to make this a breathtaking design. It begins at the hem with twisted rib, then moves to broken rib accented by 3×3 cables.

Then twisted stitches rise to make traveling diagonal lines that mimic an hourglass shape. Because of the large size of the repeat, this section is charted only.

Add the edging, and shape the collar with short rows. It’s the details that make a garment shine.

Cardigans not your thing? There’s also the Hickory Grove Pullover (Ravelry link), also in Deluxe Worsted wool. Like the cardigan, the pullover is knit in pieces and seamed.

It features the same elements as the cardigan – 3×3 cables and twisted stitches on the front, but for practicality’s sake the back is left plain. The beautiful color, 13113 Garnet, carries the show without need for embellishment.

Two innovative designs, featuring matching elements. Choose the one that suits your style.

Cover of knitting pattern e-book Deluxe Cable Collection

If you like these designs, you should check out Amy’s e-book Deluxe Cable Collection (Ravelry link). It’s full of classic knitted pieces with beautiful finishing touches. We hope your week is off to a great start, with many more good things to come. Happy crafting!

November 17, 2018November 19, 2019

Day 11 of Winter – Series 2 Edition

This is part 11 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 2 Edition.

Say hello to First Frost, an accessory set that is sure to warm you up this season!

Knit using Deluxe Bulky Superwash, the First Frost Accessory Set is quick to knit and easy to care for.

Ah, knitting. I love everything about it. However, some techniques sing to me more than others. Cables are one of those techniques. I can never get enough. If I can squeeze them in, I do. They don’t have to be complicated – but they can be. Either way, I love them. I want to knit cables as often as I want to eat Kit Kats or Reeses’ Peanut Butter Cups – all the time!

I actually really like using cable needles, but I occasionally lose them. The crevices on my sofa are likely home to several. So what do you do when you don’t have a cable needle or spare DPN handy? Do you find another project? NO! Of course not! You simply cable without a cable needle. I’m going to show you how with a quick tutorial!

Cabling without a cable needle is just a matter of rearranging your stitches. I’ve highlighted the stitches we’ll be working with using red and green. In this instance, I am going to cross my stitches to the left.

Going behind the first two stitches (red) on the left-hand needle, slip the third and fourth (green) stitches to the right-hand needle. The first two stitches will be in FRONT of the work. If you were working this as a right cross, the red stitches would be in the BACK of your work, and you would slip the green stitches purlwise from the front.

Alternate view – slipping the green stitches purlwise to the right-hand needle.

If the above photo scares you, just take a deep breath. It’s really not that scary! When you slip the green stitches, the red stitches will fall off your needle. That is okay – that’s what you want!

Scoop the stitches back up with the left-hand needle.

Carefully scoop the red stitches up with your left-hand needle. Breathe a sigh of relief – your stitches are safe again. Notice, we are simply re-arranging the stitches. * If you were working this as a RIGHT cross, the red stitches would be in the back of your work.

Continue to re-arrange your stitches by slipping the green stitches from the right-hand needle back to the left-hand needle.

You’ve rearranged your stitches. Perfect! Now you’re ready to carry on and knit.

After the stitches are all back on the left-hand needle you may continue knitting as usual. You can already see the twist in your work.

That’s it! You’ve created a beautiful cable without a cable needle.

I realize that I’ve only included instructions for a 2×2 Left Cross here, but my hope is mainly to give you the courage to go forth without a cable needle. In fact, the pattern features left and right crosses; so if you choose to skip the cable needle you’ll have plenty of time to practice both.

Left and right cable crosses are used to create the traveling cables in the hat. The cables in the crown use right crosses.

You can do this on any number of stitches, but I wouldn’t recommend working cables without a needle on anything more than 3×3 crosses. Any bigger than that and things can start to look sloppy and feel fiddly. Cable needles are great and help to maintain an even tension, but the same results can occur without them. Some find that skipping the cable needle feels faster, too. In personal projects, I go both ways. It depends on my mood and whether I can find my cable needle!

Cable stitches are also used in the mittens.

Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kit patterns on Ravelry.

October 8, 2018March 22, 2020

Chunky Cables – Four Fabulous Knits in Deluxe Chunky

I love cables. More than lace, more than mosaic, more than a dozen other techniques, cables just embody knitting for me. When you pair them with a good quality wool, even better. And when you make it a chunky wool so you can see your progress grow quickly, that’s a home run. So with no further ado, four popular cabled projects in our Deluxe Chunky 100% wool!

First Valentina (pattern link here).

Honestly, I am forever astonished that this is a free pattern. It’s just gorgeous, and filled with the excellent attention to detail that Amy Gunderson brings to all her designs.

Take a look at those saddle shoulders. They let the cables run unbroken from cuff to collar.

The moss stitch underside is where alterations for size are made, to avoid disturbing the bold and beautiful Dueling Cables design.

This one was made in Deluxe Chunky 91904 Pomegranate Heather, but I keep thinking of going green, maybe with 61635 Deep Jungle which has a bit of blue as well.

Next: the Catawba River Poncho (pattern link here).

This isn’t a free pattern, but it has remained a top 5 bestseller since its release. Take a closer look and see why!

Sized Small to 2X/3X, the poncho is fastened with two buttons on each side. You get good range of motion without looking like you’re swallowed up.

Lace is married to cables for the main body design – the best of two techniques joined together!

This is a pattern from Amy Gunderson. Here she is posing in the Catawba River Poncho she knitted for herself, so you can see how it falls. Really lovely!

Next, another bestseller: the Pine View Scarf (pattern link here).

We offered this scarf as a kit at the holidays last year, then as a paid pattern after the first of this year.

If you like cabling, but maybe not all over, or if you want to try it out in small doses, this is a great project. The pines at both ends that give the scarf its name are cabled, but the background and borders are seed stitch and reverse stockinette. Deluxe Chunky on US size 10 (6mm) needles goes fairly quickly in this simple, pretty scarf.

Finally, the Rutherford Beret (pattern link here).

I made my own Rutherford Beret in Deluxe Chunky color 91467 Tulipwood, and I can tell you it’s an easy one-hank pattern. The cables are all single twists. And how cute is that little i-cord loop at the top? Easy to pull it off and hang it up by the door.

We had someone here in the office do a two-color version. Neat idea!

We hope these designs provide a little knitspiration.

Keep on cabling!

September 21, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Cosign Cap

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Cosign Cap in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash (pattern link).

Why cosign? Two reasons. 1, when I first saw this hat it was sideways, and the patterning looked like little cosine waves. 2, someone mentioned that they loved this pattern, and I immediately cosigned on that.

The pattern is written and charted, and contains a variation on cabling you might not have seen before – the right slipped cross and left slipped cross. You’re using a cable needle as with traditional cables, but instead of knitting both stitches, there’s a slip involved.

It creates an elongated stitch that slants left or right. Neat effect, and a useful tool to add to your cabling repertoire.

The crown keeps using slipped stitches without cabling, to continue the elongated stitches into the gathered top. A lovely finish to a charming topper, made even more charming by the little nubs in the Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash. Only one ball required.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of beauty and warmth.

Happy crafting!

August 10, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Playtime Blankie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Playtime Blankie in Bella Chenille Multi (pattern link).

This soft, squeezable square 38″ x 38″ blanket is perfect for tender-skinned babies.

I wish you could reach through the screen and feel how soft the Bella Chenille Multi is. The wrapped stitches give it just a little extra thickness and texture.

White blue and orange speckled baby blanket fabric knit in Bella Chenille — Pet me.

Tip: Because Bella Chenille is a bulky weight yarn, you may wish to securely sew down ends with matching sewing needle and thread. In our experience, the fabric is quite sturdy, so you should be fine just weaving in ends, but it’s another way to finish if you think your project might get a little tough love.

There are plenty of solid Bella Chenille options too, if you want to mix and match or give a different feel. Maybe “bold” is more your style. It’s up to you!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!