Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the TNNA Cardi in Bamboo Pop.
Here’s how this sweater happened.
“You know what we ought to do at this year’s National Needlearts Association Summer Show? We ought to all wear matching outfits.”
“Yes! And they should all be sweaters in our yarn!”
“Yes!! And we should make them for the entire show staff!!”
Sometimes we get a little carried away. But hey, go big or go home, right? And thus was born the TNNA Cardi.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Waves Cardi in Lumen.
Feather and Fan is a classic for a reason. It gives motion and texture to an otherwise plain knit. And in this pattern, the addition of a few well-placed increases gives shape to a lovely cardi.
We’ve chosen Lumen (134yds/50g) for this design because its blend of fibers goes well with open lace to create a great warm-weather piece. A mix of matte cotton and shiny viscose sections gives this garment a little extra shine to take it to the next level.
We hope you have an uneventful Friday the 13th, and a great weekend!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Swirling River Cardigan in Uptown DK.
This is a great light sweater for Spring in a lovely lightweight yarn. Uptown DK (273yds/100g) is 100% anti-pilling machine washable acrylic. Even if you’re a fiber snob, as I confess I sometimes am, you’ll be surprised by just how pleasant it is to work with, and just how nicely it knits up.
This cardi is traditionally constructed, knit in pieces from the bottom up. The collar and button band are picked up and knitted after finishing the garment. The Little Swirl and Big Swirl lace repeats are both written and charted.
We love this sweet piece, perfect for the cusp of the changing seasons. We hope you do too.
Happy knitting!
More snow’s in the forecast – could you use a little knitspiration?
Our snow is over (for now) on the Eastern Seaboard, but there’s a blizzard forecast for the Midwest. I love snow, but I’m sure most folks have had enough of it.
We feature Red Birds in Snow because it’s a nice nod to our state bird here in North Carolina, the cardinal, which gives a lovely burst of color to the monochrome landscape. I also love it because it’s a good reminder that noticing the things around us is a good antidote to the winter doldrums. Seeing something so bright in an otherwise gray day can snap the world back into focus.
When we’re feeling trapped behind closed doors, it’s important to notice the things around us to bring texture and color back into our lives. These designs are perfect examples. Continue reading “Knitspiration – Red Birds in Snow”
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Dip-Dyed Cardigan in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray.
Love this breezy, casual short-sleeved cardi! And love the choice of Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray (100g/230yds) for it. It’s variegated but not wild, making it a perfect choice for those who want a balance of color and conservatism in their wardrobe.
Knit this cardi in pieces from the bottom up, starting with the contrasting band of reverse stockinette at the bottom. Work the raglan shaping, neck, and sleeves, then add the neck and sleeve edging and the button band. I like the way the color bands are staggered on the front – the asymmetry is interesting!
I’m not usually a pink person, but this might be nice with a band of 301 Carmine for the contrasting bit. There’s not really a wrong choice for this sweater.
Here’s hoping you cast on for something fun and exciting this weekend, just for you!
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Easy Baby Cardi in Bamboo Pop.
Is it just me, or is everybody having babies at once? I have two friends in their third trimester (hi, Cristi and Casey!) and several more whose baby bumps and adoption processes are well underway. So yes, this is a perfect moment to introduce a basic but beautiful garter stitch baby sweater. The fact that it uses machine-washable Bamboo Pop (292yds/100g) is icing on the cake.
It’s a good basic design that would work well for boys or girls and would be easy to personalize with some fun buttons.
I’d like to offer a word of advice as a parent. When you’re considering baby shower gifts, it may be tempting to want to make the smallest size and be done in a hurry. Consider making the next size up, or even the one beyond that. Babies grow fast, and you want your recipient to be able to enjoy your gift longer than a week. Since this pattern takes just two balls for all sizes, there’s no additional cost (besides your time) involved in making the 12-month size and having a gift that the baby will be wearing after all the other presents have been outgrown.
Happy knitting!
It’s still Free Pattern Friday!
This is Pattern Collecton PC538, Classic Worsted Tapestry Volume 2. Up until now, it’s never been available digitally, and never for free. Happy Friday!
We’ve had several requests for this leaflet, not least because although the original yarn, Classic Worsted Tapestry is gone, the colors in Uptown Worsted Tapestry are perfect matches for it. You could substitute Uptown Worsted Tapestry 809 Capri Breeze at right for Michele Wilcox’s Mr. Whiskers and the only difference would be that the Uptown feels softer.
Likewise, Purple Power, Emerald, and Mountain Blues are all available in Uptown Worsted Tapestry if you want to tackle Thanh Nguyen’s Cropped Cape-Cardi in its original color scheme.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this quadruple-dose of free patterns today.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Picket Cardigan in Little Bird.
More than one person walked by my desk this week and picked this up to fondle it. Little Bird (100g/344 yds) gives it a lovely sheen, and the smoothness of the fiber really makes those cables and ribs stand out. It’s not stiff or bulky at all, but very soft and comfy. The machine washability makes it a home run for baby knits.
This cardigan is knit in pieces and seamed. The back and sleeves are worked in plain stockinette stitch, while the fronts are cabled. The pattern is written and charted and contains a schematic.
This would look great on a little girl or a little boy. The buttonholes can be placed on either side – although truthfully I always forget which is which. Eh, the baby won’t care.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Kauai Cardigan in Alana.
Summertime… and the livin’ is easy. This cardi makes me feel like I should be strolling on the boardwalk in my sandals with a frosty beverage in my hands. Maybe I could wear a giant Yashi Sunblock hat with it.
It’s made in Alana (164yds/100g) , a tropically colorful viscose blend. It’s a great choice for bright color with a sheen. Speaking from personal experience, I haven’t noticed pooling or flashing – just bright colors and happy hues.
And since we’re talking about free patterns, here’s one that flew under the radar!
The Butterfly Scarf is also in Alana. We released this fun broomstick lace design a couple of weeks ago, but never actually made it part of a Free Pattern Friday. Consider it a bonus wish for warm, leisurely days.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Loft Jacket in Allore.
Allore (109yds/50g) is new for Rozetti Yarns this season, and we love it. It’s light and lofty, with a brushed, slightly fuzzy appearance. But what takes it to the next level is a) it’s got lovely gradations in shade, and b) glitter! A metallic strand running through it makes it easy to make instant “dress up” pieces. Working on a US 9-11 needle means knits go fast.
This jacket is worked flat from the bottom up and then seamed. Regularly spaced twists give it just the right amount of texture. Add buttonholes at the collar or secure it with a pin, as we’ve done here.
I love this jacket. What a great mix of cozy and elegant.
Happy knitting!