child – Universal Yarn Creative Network

January 20, 2023January 20, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Elijah

Happy Friday, friends! Our newest free pattern is a sweet, small piece designed with little ones in mind. This week, we bring you the Elijah cardigan made with Deluxe Worsted Superwash!

*Elijah cardigan in Deluxe Worsted Superwash colors 709 Lime Tree, 718 Dusty Blue, and 760 Indigo.*

Deluxe Worsted Superwash is a wonderful yarn for a child’s garment. It’s made of 100% superwash wool, so you can machine wash it in cold water, and even tumble dry it on a low setting. It comes in 67 different colors, so there are endless combinations you can create to express the perfect palette for a budding personality. This pattern calls for (1) skein each of #709 Lime Tree, #718 Dusty Blue, and #760 Indigo for all sizes. You could opt for more rosy hues, something adventurous, or even go off pattern and get multiple colors to rainbow your way through each striped section! No matter what you choose, this cardigan will be a treasured gift for someone else, or a little one of your own.

Another detail that adds room for whimsy, quirk, polished-ness or pizazz is buttons! We love getting to add a touch of personality to top off any project with a good button. For this sample, we used the Prism buttons by Katrinkles, which kind of resemble a compass. It’s a touch of adventure that reminds us of those magical moments where kids will play outside imagining that they are explorers trekking through trees and bushes to fantasized lands.

Elijah cardigan, featuring Prism Buttons by Katrinkles

This easy-rated pattern is worked from the bottom-up in one piece using a subtly textured stripe-sequence. The body is worked flat, then the fronts and back are separated at the armholes and worked separately. The shoulders are joined using the three-needle method, then the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. The button bands and neck edging are picked up and worked flat to wrap the whole thing up. The pattern has schematics to help guide you through the assembly. This is a great project if you’re looking to try a garment for the first time, or want a quick make between other complex pieces, and have a little one in your life to celebrate.

Elijah cardigan, in Deluxe Worsted Superwash is ready for wearing!

We can’t wait to see your version of the Elijah cardigan! Be sure to share it with us on social media. Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.

That’s all for now, happy stitching friends!

July 15, 2022July 15, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Playground Hoodie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Boy wearing striped knitted hoodie pullover with pockets

Today, the Playground Hoodie knitted in Cotton Supreme Waves (pattern link here).

Summer means kids in constant motion! And today’s free pattern is perfect for keeping young ones comfortable as they play.

Young boy seated in grass, wearing knitted striped hoodie and holding two toy airplanes — I’ll sit down, but I’m not tired!

Aubrey Busek’s Playground Hoodie is sized for kids two to twelve. It’s shown here in the four-year-old size. We’re happy to report that it met with the model’s seal of approval.

Young boy wearing striped hoodie knitted in Cotton Supreme Waves — Okay, playtime again!

Perfect for warm and cool weather alike, the practical hood and kangaroo pocket will allow your little one to ward off any breeze in the air. Machine washable 100% Cotton Supreme Waves creates a breathable fabric that’s practical spring through fall.

Image of skeins of Cotton Supreme Waves yarn with knitting needles and crochet hook — So many colors!

Color 910 Equator is used in the hoodie. It stripes up solidly, but there are also options that stripe up with a more speckled, variegated effect, like 916 Ice Cream that’s facing forward in the group of future WIPs above.

Closeup of young boy wearing v-necked striped hoodie — Did someone say ice cream?

Pro tip: Cotton Supreme Waves is a self-striping yarn. To ensure your project looks as close to the sample as possible, when breaking and rejoining yarn, be sure to visually match the point at which you’re rejoining. You might need to wind off some yarn. We promise the results are worth the effort!

Rear view of boy wearing striped knitted hoodie with the hood up. — Do I hear the ice cream truck over there?

The Playground Hoodie is a sunshiney, practical kid project that looks good, feels good, and is fun to knit. What a perfect summertime treat!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of imagination and fun times.

Happy crafting!
-Heather Hill

February 4, 2022February 4, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Peanut Butter and Jelly!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, meet Peanut Butter and Jelly, crocheted in Bella Chenille with a shirt in Deluxe Worsted Stripes (pattern link here).

Best bear buds! Peanut Butter and Jelly are crocheted in soft, snuggly Bella Chenille. They’re a full 12″ (30cm) tall – the perfect size for hugs!

Jelly has chosen to model his favorite top today, because it’s National Sweater Day, and Jelly is all about style.

The removable top is crocheted in colorful Deluxe Stripes, a worsted weight self-striping version of our popular Deluxe line. The sleeves are worked in the round, while the body is made flat and them seamed.

Peanut Butter, on the other hand, is going with bear arms today (get it?). Peanut Butter loves to joke around. In fact, here’s Peanut Butter’s favorite joke:

Q:What did the teddy bear say after dinner?
A: I’m stuffed!

Both bears make perfect pals for anyone who could use a friendly snuggle buddy.

We hope you have an amazing weekend, full of fun and laughter!

Happy crafting!

-Heather

August 27, 2021August 26, 2021

Flash Pattern Friday – Pipsqueak

It’s Flash Pattern Friday!

On the last Friday of the month, we take a gorgeous paid pattern and make it free for a limited time! This week, it’s Pipsqueak, crocheted in Bella Cash (Ravelry link here).

Pipsqueak is actually two-for-one, since the pattern includes both the hoodie and the little friend! Worked in cotton-candy tones of Bella Cash, they’re a delightful duo to make.

This design is also part of a neat kids’ collection in Bella Cash called “Writing on the Wall.” We felt this pattern was timely, since we’re starting to look forward to fall wardrobes for little ones – and a new little friend to match your clothes is just such a cute idea!

Bella Cash is great for children’s projects like this one, because it’s soft (it’s got that hint of cashmere!), long wearing, and machine washable. That last one is particularly important for projects that may see a bit of rough and tumble play!

We picked sweet pastels for this project to accent the main color of 108 Ebony, but with 26 colors in Bella Cash’s palette, you could go in any number of directions!

Pipsqueak’s stripes are softened by a spike stitch that brings the MC into the body in a fun way. The cardi is sized from 2-12 years. The mouse is one size, but will happily snuggle with anyone of any size.

To get Pipsqueak free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase.

We hope you have a very mice… er, nice… weekend!

Happy crafting!

April 23, 2021April 23, 2021

Free Pattern Friday – Slushie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman in lavender loop stitch jacket leaning on a wall

Today, Slushie knitted in Uptown Baby Sport (pattern link here).

This is Free Pattern Friday, but really I feel like we’ve got multiple patterns here, because this super sweet jacket is sized for adults and kids!

I’m imagining a matching pair, with grownup and mini-me stepping out for a day of bonding over iced treats!

Designer Aubrey Busek is the princess of “pretty” around here, with a unique flair for fashionable projects that are fun to make and wear.

Aubrey uses a loop stitch to create a touchable fabric that looks like a million bucks. I’ve done this stitch before, and it’s easier than it looks. Once you see how it works, you feel very clever, and it flows easily as you knit.

Second, she uses two colors of Uptown Baby Sport held together. This does a several things. One, the nature of Uptown Baby Sport’s anti-pilling acrylic means that it won’t mat or show undue wear, even though individual strands of yarn are exposed. Two, using two colors together gives an extra depth to the piece. Three, holding two strands together gives extra plushness. Plus it makes it possible to use US8 (5mm) needles to get to your finished jacket faster!

We hope you enjoy this fun, flirty, and fashionable knit. We can’t help but wonder – what color will your Slushie be?

Next week, we’ll have another piece in purple that we think you’ll love.

Happy crafting!

March 12, 2021March 12, 2021

Free Pattern Friday – Drizzle Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Drizzle Sweater in Bella Cash (pattern link here).

I get excited every time we have another design in Bella Cash, because it’s another chance for me to sing the praises of one of my favorite yarns. Now me, I love it for socks, like Rachel Brockman’s Sweet Dumplin’ Socks.

We had great fun knitting along with these in our Mystery Sock KAL for Fall 2020.

It’s great for adult garments too, like the free Bellissima Cardi.

Classic construction, classic look. It’s beautiful in accessories, too – the colors in the palette play beautifully together – but you may be surprised to hear how popular it is for baby garments.

In addition to a touch of cashmere for extra softness, Bella Cash contains superwash extrafine merino, as well as some nylon for durability – very welcome in hard-wearing kid clothes. And since it’s machine washable, it’s easy care for parents.

The Drizzle Sweater is a classic top-down sweater knit in the round, with an easy slip stitch along the yoke accented at the cuffs. Sized 12-18 months through 4 years, it’s a fun and cozy sweater for little darlings.

We hope you enjoy this free pattern, and that you have a great weekend.

Happy crafting!

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020

Yarn Spotlight: Adore

This week I want to chat a little about one of our favorite staple yarns: Adore. Comprised of 55% superwash merino and 45% anti-pilling acrylic, Adore is soft and easy to care for. It is exactly the type of yarn you reach for repeatedly because it ticks all the boxes. It has a broad palette of beautiful colors making it great for multi-color projects. This four-ply yarn is round and springy, giving it excellent stitch definition. It’s there for you whether you want to create a selfish sweater or the perfect gift for that upcoming baby shower.

Speaking of perfect for baby projects – let’s take a look at some of the great baby patterns we have for Adore.

Crosscut (sweater) and Parallelogram (blanket)

I’m pretty sure the quintessential handmade gift for babies is a blanket. Knit or crochet, if you’re a fiber artist, you’ve probably made one for a little one in your life. It’s easy to see why. Baby blankets tend to be fast (certainly faster than an afghan!) and you can be sure the little one won’t grow out of a blanket in a month or two.

Parallelogram in Adore: #130 Cream, #105 Cloud Grey, #111 Banana, & #110 Turquoise

For the knitters, we have Parallelogram. This is one of my designs, and it was inspired by quilts. It’s modern and graphic but is primarily comprised of garter stitch. It’s an incredibly easy pattern. It is knit in six strips that are sewn together. The way the stripes are arranged in each strip creates the larger blocks of color in the finished piece. If you’re looking for a mindless project with a bit of impact, Parallelogram is right for you.

Oasis Blanket in Adore #105 Cloud Grey, #101 Peony, #110 Turquoise, & #103 Capri

For the crocheters, we have the Oasis Blanket. This one is a personal favorite. Admittedly, I haven’t finished mine (yet!), but it’s so fun! It is created by making granny square motifs, sewing them together, and then working a border around the edges. What I love about this project is how portable it is. You can whip out your yarn and knock out a square any time and in any place.

Although blankets may get used for longer than a sweater, you can’t argue with the fact that lil’ babes are ADORE-able (see what I did there?) in sweaters. And baby sweaters are extremely satisfying projects. Raise your hand if you like saying you completed a whole sweater in a few days!

We have no shortage of cute baby sweaters that use Adore. If you enjoy combining garter stitch, stripes, and cute buttons, you’ll love the Besties cardigan. This simple pattern is seamless and quick. With Adore’s broad palette, the color options are endless.

If you’re looking for a sweater pattern with interesting construction, why not try Crosscut? This sweater is knit from cuff to cuff and has a striking cable panel along the sleeves and seed stitch along the neck and hem. We love the way Adore makes the cable and texture pop.

Lovers of texture and twisted stitches will find the Cozy Kid Set on their needles in no time. This zippered cardigan is a great layering piece for fall and has a coordinating hat, too!

Special Gift Jacket in Adore #111 Banana

The Special Gift Jacket is a precious, crochet wrap cardigan. Scrunch stitches give it a beautiful, all-over texture. The delicate side ties might be my favorite detail!

Don’t have time to make a sweater or blanket? No worries! Why not try out the Mini Mittens or Toasty Toes? Better yet, why not make both? These are so fast! You can work them up in a matter of hours and they are sure to be your go-to projects for every baby in your life.

So, those are my picks for baby patterns using Adore. There is more where that came from, too, so be sure to peruse our website for patterns that suit all ages! Happy crafting!

July 31, 2020July 31, 2020

Free Pattern Friday – Lemon Drop Socks

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Lemon Drop Socks in Bella Cash (pattern link here).

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Bella Cash is the unsung hero of socks. I’ve knit myself several pairs in Bella Cash, and they’re still soft and good-looking even though I just toss ’em in the washer and dryer. Which is why I’m so happy to see a brand new pattern using Bella Cash today!

The Lemon Drop Socks are knit in the round, cuff-down. Colorwork is Fair Isle stranded.

They feature an afterthought heel, so-named because you’ll be putting the stitches on either side of the heel on waste yarn, then knitting the rest of the sock, then coming back to work the heel as an afterthought. Amy Gunderson shared a tutorial on this technique on our blog a while back – you can find it here.

This pattern is sized from toddler on up to adults, so it’s easy to make sets for anyone in the family! Matching tootsies, anyone?

A big “thank you” to our Design Lead Rachel Brockman for being willing to stand on her toes and model these for us. She’s talented in so many ways. 🙂
PS – if you like these, check out the free Bunny Got Back socks. Super fun!

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

July 3, 2020July 3, 2020

Free Pattern Friday – Little Patriot

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Little girl wearing knit striped top with applique stars in Bamboo Pop

Today, Little Patriot in Bamboo Pop (pattern here). Here in America, tomorrow is the 4th of July! Well, technically it’s the 4th of July in many countries, but here it’s significant because that’s when we celebrate our Independence Day!

Dog wearing red, white, and blue Independence Day clothes — USA! USA! USA!

In honor of the holiday, we’re making the formerly pay-only Little Patriot pattern in Bamboo Pop free!

This cute summertime tee is sized from 1-12 years. Work it flat, seam it up, then add the star appliques. Voila! Warm-weather adorableness!
We hope you have a socially distant, safe, and happy Independence Day! Happy crafting!