Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
Here at Universal, we love our pets.
There’s Amy’s dog Suzy…
(That’s Suzy in front of Wall Candy in Deluxe Worsted)
my cat Calvin…
(That’s Calvin on Yumiko Alexander’s Poppies)
and various other animal friends that couldn’t be bothered to pose for us. That love of animals is why we want to draw attention to World Spay Day – and to share a free pattern.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Jump for Joy Hoodie in Cotton Supreme Batik.
We heard recently from a shop owner in Southern California, talking about how cute a pair of mittens in Amy Gunderson’s Crocheted Mitts and Mittens were – and how little use she’d get out of them in her neck of the woods. True! It may be snowing in some places, but in others it’s bright and sunny. Enter this adorable cotton hoodie.
Cotton Supreme Batik (180yds/100g) is a self-striping 100% cotton that’s very easy on the hands to work with. The bright colors lend themselves well to kid knits as well as adult pieces (Michael del Vecchio’s Poppies Scarf is definitely on my wish list).
This cute hoodie is sized from newborn to eight years. It’s constructed in pieces and seamed, with the button band garter edging added afterward.
If you want the stripes to match on the sleeves, you may want to pick up an extra ball, just to be sure you can hit the same spot in the color repeats. That shouldn’t be as much of an issue in the colorways of Cotton Supreme Batik that feature fewer shades per ball. Wouldn’t 39, Green Apple, make a great Spring piece for a toddler?
We hope you’re staying warm – but not too warm! 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 Sprout Tank in Cotton Supreme DK.
Hot enough for ya? It’s hot enough for most anyone, but that’s no reason to stop knitting. When little ones still want to get out and enjoy the day, we have the perfect match of pattern and temperature.
The Sprout Tank is knit in two pieces from the bottom up, then seamed. Pick up stitches around the armhole and knit the ruffled shoulder straps. The mock cable eyelets around the bottom are both written and charted. It’s a sweet detail that also gives a little more ventilation.
The suggested yarn is Cotton Supreme DK (100g/230yds), part of our popular Cotton Supreme family of yarns. It’s machine washable, soft, and long-lasting; a good choice for a kid on the go.
The whole tank takes just 2-3 hanks on US size 5 (3.75mm) needles. Knit it, pop it on your little one, then sit in the shade while they enjoy the sandbox. Don’t forget the hat and sunscreen for both of you – it’s a scorcher out there!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Sheldon Sheep & Friends in Deluxe Chunky Naturals.
First things first: I am going to try to restrain myself from making sheep puns. But no promises. These little friends inspire a certain playfulness.
Our wooly friends made their debut at the Winter TNNA Trade Show, where we asked local yarn store owners as well as our Facebook family to help us name them. And you delivered. Meet Sheldon, Sheila, Sherry, Shirley, and Woolma!
Each is made in a shade of our Deluxe Chunky Naturals. It’s particularly fitting, because those shades are completely undyed. They come from different flocks, so each color of yarn is the color of the sheep that it came from. In this case, the wool is literally going from one sheep to another!
The construction on these is a blend of knit and crochet. The limbs and face are knit in color 1900 Ebony, with the body and wool cap being crocheted in just one skein of the main color. There are some nice details, like short row shaping on the heels for a more foot-like shape.
When crocheting the body and wooly cap, the wrong side faces you as you work. The textured alternating triple crochet/single crochet naturally falls to the opposite side. Simply turn the pieces inside out before completing.
The crochet cap surrounds the knitted face like a snug hood. The ears are attached to the cap, but if you are a proficient crocheter you could surely leave openings for a completely removable cap. We didn’t, though – we don’t want anyone’s head to get cold!
These guys and gals are adorable in the Naturals, but I’m also thinking about a technicolor toy in a non-natural shade of Deluxe Chunky. Chartreuse sheep, anyone?
We hope you enjoy these adorable little friends. Happy crafting! Wool see you next time!
(Darn. So close without a pun.)
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, a great project to leap into the new year with. The Frog Hoodie in Bella Chenille!
Bella Chenille (131yds/100g) is a fuzzy polyester chenille that’s very soft and easy to work with. I used this for a Sunday Swatch a while back, and I can tell you from firsthand experience that it machine washes well. This is a great yarn choice for a kid project.
Knit the sleeves in the round and put them aside, then work the body and attach the sleeves. Work upward to the neck and hood, then add the frog eyes. The coordinating buttons are nice and big for little hands to fasten.
Happy knitting!
It’s Throwback Thursday!
Today, the Felted Polar Bear by Michele Wilcox.
We were inspired to release today’s pattern by a note in Vogue Knitting’s latest KnitNews e-mail. They polled the staff to see what they were gift knitting, and one responded, “I’m hurriedly knitting a toy with Universal Yarn’s Deluxe Worsted wool, for a new baby in my family—he was adopted, so I didn’t have much notice!”
That combined with the adorable knitted cat in Cotton Supreme Batik that a customer sent to us via Facebook got us thinking about stuffed animals. And as usual, Michele Wilcox comes through!
The Felted Polar Bear was originally part of a pattern collection for Shepherd’s Own, which is now discontinued. However, it looks perfect in Deluxe Worsted color 40001, Cream Undyed Natural. There are a number of undyed Deluxe Worsted Natural colors that would work if you wanted a traditional teddy rather than a polar bear.
This bear is made in pieces and stitched together, then lightly felted to make it a little more fuzzy and snuggly. Sew on an appropriately adorable expression and stuff it, and you have a squeezable friend to cozy up to. Too cute.
We wish you beary happy knitting!
It’s Throwback Thursday!
This week, we asked our Facebook friends whether they’d rather see a knit or a crochet pattern today. The knits won – but don’t worry, crocheters, we’ll have something for you next week!
Michele Wilcox’s Hearty Holiday Santa is mittens-down the most adorable Santa I’ve seen. You just know that when he laughs, his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly.
Santa was originally made in now-discontinued Classic Worsted Holiday. We’re updating the selection to Uptown Worsted. The 100% anti-pilling acrylic will stand up to quite a few hugs.
Make the legs, then the body and head, then add on details like ears, belt, and hat. You can’t quite see it in the picture, but Santa has an adorable smile behind his beard. We hope this project will make you smile too.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, we have not one, but two new patterns! First, in honor of Halloween, the Little Cub Hoodie in Bella Chenille. I’m a sucker for baby clothes that look like little animals. This one is sized from six months up to four years, so it’ll fit a variety of little cubs.
Bella Chenille is a great choice for this – I did a Sunday Swatch in Bella Chenille back in June and put my piece through the washing machine and laid it flat to dry. It came out just as soft as it was when it was first knit. I’d have no hesitation making a baby garment in Bella Chenille.
Next, the It’s A Party! Onesie in Bella Chenille Multi. The Multi coordinates with the solid very well, as you can see in the detail on the cuffs and neckline. Front and back are knit flat separately, then the sleeves are added. Adorable, and a quick knit on US size 10 1/2 needles.
We hope you enjoy these two soft projects. Happy knitting!
It’s Throwback Thursday!
We had someone on Facebook ask about this pattern a couple of days ago, and it reminded us of how close the holidays are. So today, we offer this formerly paid pattern, now set free!
The Happy Little Elf is an adorable Michele Wilcox design (we love Michele!) that was originally only available as part of a kit featuring Classic Worsted Holiday. We’re recommending Uptown Worsted as a substitute.
Uptown Worsted is 100% anti-pilling acrylic. As a former yarn snob, I was skeptical of acrylics until I squeezed my first skein of Uptown. This would definitely be soft enough for a beloved little friend who is also machine washable.
What I like about Uptown for this pattern is that it has a broad color palette. Our recommendations to match the original Happy Little Elf are pictured here, but there are a good variety of skin tones and jacket and shoe options if you want to personalize your elf.
Looking at elf pictures online (I love my job) made me realize just how standard this elf costume is in popular culture, and how versatile this little elf could be. You could make a little buddy, so to speak…
…or you could make your own little offbeat elf to take on adventures.
We just got that 356 Bright Blue in stock. It’s like it was meant to be.
We hope you’ll enjoy making a little pal for yourself, or for someone in your life who could use some magic.
Happy knitting!