New Year’s Craftsolutions

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022

New Year’s Craftsolutions

Happy New Year! Last year flew by and we’re nearly a week into 2022 – how wild is that? When January 1st rolls around, many of us think about our goals for the new year. Personally, I don’t make a lot of resolutions and just strive to grow, always. I like silly or mini resolutions, nothing dramatic. With that said, my favorite and most successful resolutions always revolve around crafting, and that’s what I’m here to chat about today! I asked our team to dish about their crafty goals for the year. From stash busting, to building design skills, to completing old and new projects alike – we have plenty of goals to strive for this year!

Yonca – Managing Director

Top, from left to right: No. 1 Pullover, Jay Sweater, Wheel of Life.
Bottom: Snowy forest (photo by Laine Publishing).

“Every year I promise myself to use the beautiful yarns I stashed before I came on board to help my husband to run Universal Yarn, but each year they get pushed back with other irresistible yarns we introduce to Universal Yarn! This year my goal is to use at least one stash yarn in a project of my choice while finishing up all the WIPs (works in progress):

My WIPs include:

Snowy Forest by Midori Hirose – using Deluxe Worsted and Penna – a knit-along challenge between Rachel, Aubrey, and me!

Yet another Jay Sweater by Rachel Brockman – using Cashmere Lusso this time 😊 – what can I say, I LOVE THIS PATTERN!

Number 1 Pullover by Amy Gunderson – using Bamboo Pop – an old-time favorite but could not get around to finishing it.

Wheel of Life by Aubrey Busek – using Deluxe DK Superwash and Penna – is one of my favorite patterns from our own Aubrey Busek.

It is ambitious … so wish me luck!”

Heather – Social Media

From left to right: Sequoia, Lightning (photo by John Felgate), Heather’s artist rendering of her future Lightning Sweater.

“I’ve knitted dozens of socks, hundreds of hats, and several sweaters for other people. Most recently on the sweater front, I made the free Sequoia Sweater in Deluxe Bulky Superwash for my adult daughter, and it looked awesome! But never have I ever made a sweater for myself. This year will be different! I’m looking at Lightning from the Fall 2021 Knitty. And because I feel like I should make a splash with my first sweater, I’m thinking Uptown Worsted in #324 Black for the body and vibrant, neon-ish 338 Living Green for the bolts of lightning. It’ll be a statement piece, and that statement is “HECK YES I KNITTED THIS MYSELF.” Go big or go home, I say.”

Aubrey – Design & Social Media

Left to right: Carillon, Herbal Lace Socks (photo by Victoria Galkina)

“The year 2022 brings with it some big goals for me. As well as being a knitwear designer, I am also an avid sewer and love historical textile arts like hand embroidery and beading. My main goals this year are to continue expanding my skillset as a designer and maker, complete more projects (lots of various textile interests don’t help me finish things easily!), and really push myself to learn new things each month. Here are some of those goals:

Learn punch needle embroidery and develop some of my own designs using Universal Yarn!
Learn Tablet Weaving (I’ve desired to learn this type of weaving for so many years and just never invested in a loom).
Once I am married in April, design and make a sweater for my husband, Nathan! He is crazy tall and has a hard time finding clothes that fit him well, so I know he would treasure a handmade sweater that fits him perfectly. (Waiting until we’re officially married due to the sweater curse, haha!) I plan to use Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash in #901 Garnet because he loves red.
Design a knit dress – perhaps a dress version of my design, Carillon, knit in Deluxe Worsted.
Knit a pair of knee or thigh high, super lacy socks, like the Herbal Lace Socks designed by Victoria Galkina.”

Ashley Jane (AJ) – Design & Trunk Show Coordinator

From left to right: Evermore Dress (photo by Stephanie Erin),
Traveler Fair Isle Sweater (photo by Briana K Designs)

“I have made up my own “Out of this World UFO” list! “UFO” meaning unfinished objects, and out-of-this-world meaning I have at least one large project bagged and tagged for each month of 2022, which is ambitious! One of the projects I am most excited about is making the Evermore Dress, designed by Stephanie Erin, for an upcoming wedding that I’ll be in! I’m also excited to make the Traveler Fair Isle Crochet Sweater this year using a beautiful earthy-toned stash of Deluxe Worsted. I’ll be sure to post pictures of my journey on my Instagram and Ravelry, so feel free to follow along!”

Rachel (That’s me!) – Creative Lead

Top, from left to right: Argil (photo by Pom Pom Publishing), Saven (photo by Hudson + West Co), my Snowy Forest WIP. Bottom: My Argil WIP.

I’m going to start by saying that this is my tenth knitting anniversary! It was my 2012 New Year’s Resolution to learn, and oh boy, I never imagined how much it would transform my life! I’ve got to say, it was my most successful resolution ever! I have so many fibery goals for this year, and I hope I can achieve most of them.

Like Yonca and AJ, I want to work from my stash and I want to complete some UFOs (unfinished objects). I have three on my list – to be honest, there are a couple more but the reality is that I’m going to frog them.

Snowy Forest by Midori Hirose: I’m actually super close on this one. This is the sweater that Yonca, Aubrey, and myself are knitting together. I’m ahead of them, but I also started first and convinced them to knit it with me. This ticks off a little bit of stash, too! I’m using our Deluxe Worsted in #71051 Toast and carrying it along with a mystery mohair/silk blend from my stash. If you also fancy a mohair/silk blend, don’t miss Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk. I’ve been busy creating a few design proposals and an upcoming design for spring, so I briefly put this project on pause. However, this weekend I’ll be on sleeve island, and hopefully will finish my own Snowy Forest. You can see it in the gallery above.
John’s Cardi – by me!: Okay, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve only ever knit my husband, John, one sweater, and I’m even more embarrassed that I have been working on this design for over a year. In fact, first it was meant to be his anniversary gift last year, then his birthday gift, and now I hope to have it finished in time for our 10th wedding anniversary on March 10th. Fingers crossed! I don’t have a photo to share of this design, but I am using Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash in #413 Smoke and #405 Pine. It features some simple colorwork, steeking, a shawl collar, and some inset pockets. I’ll definitely publish the pattern, so be on the lookout…someday!
Argil by Clare Lakewood: For this one, I sincerely hope my gauge hasn’t changed because this is a 2019 project – oof! I’m using our Ready to Dye 03 that I naturally dyed with pokeberry along with Flax Lace held double in color #116 Jungle. I made such a silly mistake on it and just set it aside for ages. It will be so perfect for our hot and humid summers, so maybe I can finish this one by May.

I have so many design goals for the year that I don’t know where to begin. I want to become more well-rounded in knitwear design and work on my crochet skillset. I’m always designing because it’s simply my passion, but I’ve really enjoyed knitting projects by other designers, too. There is always something to learn from other designers – new techniques, how to word things, and more. I’ll call this part of my goal to become more well-rounded as a designer. One of the designs I have my eye on for 2022 is Saven by the mega-talented Meghan Babin. It’s unisex, so I’ll either make it for myself or for John. If I make it myself, I’m definitely using Deluxe Worsted from my stash – in either #12281 Clay or #41795 Nectarine.

Although my list goes on, I’ll stop here because I’m being quite the chatterbox. I guess I’m just very excited for all the crafty things I expect 2022 to bring. What are your craftsolutions for the new year? We would absolutely love to hear them, and we can’t wait to share many exciting things with you, too!

Happy crafting!

-Rachel

November 28, 2020November 28, 2020

Day 6 of Winter – Series 4 Edition

This is part 6 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.

It’s Day 6 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 4. Today, treat yourself to a warm and inviting accessory set knit in luxurious Cashmere Lusso.

Personally, I think hats and mittens are excellent projects for building your skillset. They’re small and manageable but have endless possibilities. If you’re looking for a small project with intricate details, I’m sure you’ll love the Sugar & Sage Set.

The small cables in this pattern consist of ten different types of cables, ranging between two and three stitches wide. They’re easy to work, but it certainly takes some concentration to make sure you’re working the right stitch in all the right places. Don’t let that deter you, though, because the results are well worth the effort.

The cable pattern in both the hat and the mittens includes charts and written instructions. I know some knitters are intimidated by charts, but I encourage you to try and get comfortable with them. Especially in more complex patterns, they can help make things easier to read and to memorize. I think of charts as maps for knitting. Because charts are visual tools, they can help you conceptualize what your fabric will look like as you knit. I shared some useful tips and tricks for staying on track with charts in this blog post (link).

Undulating cable panels decorate each mitt.

Each side of the cable panel featured on the hat mirrors the other. I love the way that it looks, but when I was designing the mitts I didn’t want them to replicate the motif perfectly. Instead, I broke the cable motif into two parts, split right down the center. Then I took each half and applied it to the mitts, so the Right and Left mirror one another, too. The result is a coordinating set of sisters in this accessory set.

Each edge of the mitts are worked in K1, P1 Twisted Ribbing.

Knit in Cashmere Lusso, a blend of 50% virgin cashmere and 50% recycled cashmere, the Sugar & Sage Set is decadent. The yarn is incredibly soft and it has excellent stitch definition. This is a yarn shines however you work it: cables, lace, or colorwork, you just can’t go wrong. This kit would be an excellent gift for the knitter in your life who is truly special – that could be you, or it could be a friend!

This kit has three options available: the Sugar & Sage Set (enough yarn for both patterns), the Sugar & Sage Hat, or the Sugar & Sage Mitts. Remember, you can find each version of the Sugar & Sage Kit 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!

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020

Free Pattern Friday – Onyx Mitts

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Onyx Mitts in Cashmere Lusso (pattern link here). It’s a sign of the times when looking at these pictures makes me think, “ah, yes, good hand-washing technique.”

But, here we all are. Apart, for now, but not alone. Fortunately, we are able to use our hands to create something comforting.

The Onyx Mitts are a one-ball project in luxurious Cashmere Lusso, a fine-weight blend of virgin and recycled cashmere. Work them from the cuff up on US size 3 (3.25mm) needles.

The twisted rib edges are a subtle accent on a timeless unisex design. Classic mitts in a beautiful yarn are a lovely gift for yourself, or for someone whose hand you wish you could hold right now.

We wish you all good health, security, and happy crafting.

November 22, 2019November 21, 2019

Day 3 of Winter – Series 3 Edition

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

It’s already Day 3 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this lovely shawl with you. Say hello to December in the City – a luxe shawl in dreamy Cashmere Lusso, designed by Adrienne Larsen. We love the lace columns and geometry of this shawl, and we wanted to pick Adrienne’s brain. We asked her to share a bit about her inspiration for this design, so she kindly obliged. Here is what she had to say:

A red, lace shawl knit in Fibra Natura Cashmere Lusso.

“This design has been a long time in the making. It all starts in May of 2017 when I went on an EPIC road trip with my sister. We covered 25 states in 14 days! We saw so much, and I visited a lot of states I’d never been on before. I ate so much ice cream in so many places (surprisingly, the best was vegan ice cream in Austin)!

A map of the eastern half of the United States with an outline of a road trip.

It was such a whirlwind that I don’t even remember what state I was in when this chair at a museum struck my fancy. (It’s very Adrienne to remember the ice cream flavors in Austin – Cinnamon Toast Crunch & Horchata – but not this). I loved the combination of the vertical lines and interrupted diagonals.

I wrote a lace pattern with it in mind in my hotel room that night. Since that time, that lace pattern has tried to be both a tank top and a pullover, but it didn’t work out. It wasn’t until two years later that I realized that it was a shawl.

Detail of a red, lace shawl knit in Fibra Natura Cashmere Lusso.

You never know when inspiration will strike, so never give up on a good idea!” -Adrienne

We loved hearing about Adrienne’s inspiration for this shawl and can absolutely see the resemblance. This shawl is a magical addition to the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. As a reminder, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn shop.

July 5, 2019July 31, 2019

Free Pattern Friday – Slate Shawl and Twisted Dee Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

image of gray lace shawl knit in Cashmere Lusso

Today, the Slate Shawl in Cashmere Lusso (pattern link here). First things first: we have a new yarn.

This is FibraNatura Cashmere Lusso. What’s in Cashmere Lusso? Cashmere – and more cashmere! It’s a special blend of 50% virgin cashmere and 50% recycled cashmere, culled from cashmere sweaters. We worked with a mill in Italy to bring this environmentally responsible cashmere to the U.S.

What’s it good for? Wrapping yourself in luxury. Above, it’s pictured with the OTHER free pattern Cashmere Lusso pattern this week, the Twisted Dee Cowl (pattern link here ). Yes, this week we are very lucky to have not one but TWO beautiful designs from The Yarnslayer herself, Adrienne Larsen.