Tag: clean cotton multi

Posted on

Meet a Local Yarn Shop – Grandma’s Spinning Wheel

We love every opportunity to highlight the local yarn stores because they are the backbone of our business. This month for our “Meet a Local Yarn Shop” initiative; we went (virtually) to Tucson, Arizona to meet the wonderful people at Grandma’s Spinning Wheel. They are the featured store of the month for December!

Picture of the storefront of Grandma's Spinning Wheel in Tucson, Arizona
Outside of Grandma’s Spinning Wheel in Tucson, Arizona!

If you ever find yourself taking a trip to Arizona, we highly suggest you stop by Grandma’s Spinning Wheel. The name itself is so inviting, and we know Vicky and the rest of the family will be happy to see you. Vicky and Michael Konecky are the owners of Grandma’s Spinning Wheel, which opened in Tucson, Arizona fifteen years ago (happy anniversary!!)

A former teacher, Vicky, decided to open a yarn shop upon retirement from the school system. One day she pulled up to the building in the above image, saw a “for rent” sign, and the rest is history. A lot can happen in 15 years of business ownership, but Vicky’s constant has been family. Her daughter, Cassondra, is now also very involved with the day-to-day at Grandma’s Spinning Wheel.

We know, you want to hear about the yarn that is inside of this wonderful store. Keep reading below to learn more about this shop, and see the yarns that are stocked on their shelves!

Picture of the colorful fiber wall of Grandma's Spinning Wheel
The Fiber Wall of Grandma’s Spinning Wheel features exciting colors for your next projects!!

Due to the climate of Arizona, Grandma’s Spinning Wheel features a lot of light-weight yarns, and breathable fibers. You can find several of our summer yarns on their shelves, including Clean Cotton, Clean Cotton Multi, and Cotton Supreme. In our interview with them, Vicky and Cassondra mention that it can get as hot as 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, so it benefits their customers greatly to have yarn options well suited to the heat.

Picture from the register at Grandma's Spinning Wheel, showing plenty of yarn and finish projects
This store is full of yarn, and resources to set all different types of fiber artists up for success!

Wool in Arizona? You better believe there is wool in this shop. Wool is an excellent option for all climates because it is naturally moisture wicking and breathable. They mention that Deluxe Worsted is one of the favorites at the store and is often used for felting projects since it is 100% non-superwash wool.

Major is another favorite that it is often used by their customers to create baby blankets. This yarn features so many fun colorways, plus a soft and smooth texture that makes it great for all types of projects!

Picture of the weaving yarns on the wall that are available at Grandma's Spinning Wheel
At Grandma’s Spinning Wheel, you can find plenty of weaving yarn and supplies as well!

When a customer completes their project, they are invited to bring it to the shop for it to be photographed, and then the shop shares the customer’s FO (finished object) in a post on their website. It’s a great way to “show and tell.”

That’s not the only way they give back to their customers, though. The shop offers many classes to grow customer skillsets. Examples of their offerings include “Beginning Spinning” and “3-D Needle Felting.” There is something for everyone!

Spinning wheels inside the store, perfect for those that want to spin their own yarn
In addition to offering yarn, this shop sells supplies to spin your own. From spinning wheels, to fiber, Grandma’s Spinning Wheel has everything you need to get started.

We were absolutely honored at the opportunity to interview Vicky and Cassondra. We got to learn more about the inspiration that their store has provided the crafting community of Tucson, Arizona, and were particularly touched to hear about so many people making lifelong friends through connections at the shop. We hope that you give them a visit, whether in-person or virtually, via their website (where they sell to anywhere in the country), and check out their Facebook for even more!

If you are a local yarn shop interested in being featured by Universal Yarn, please reach out to us – we would love to interview you! Please email rferrel@universalyarn.com if you would like to be featured!

Check out our full interview with Vicky and Cassondra of Grandma’s Spinning Wheel!
Posted on

Free Pattern Friday – Cloudy Day Cloths

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Two washcloths knitted in Clean Cotton yarn

Today, Cloudy Day Cloths in Clean Cotton and Clean Cotton Multi (pattern link here).

What I love about Free Pattern Fridays is the variety in the patterns. Sometimes there are stunning crochet blankets like Sunny Shells, sometimes there are stylish intermediate knitted lace projects like the Paper Flowers pullover, and sometimes Fridays are for quick, easy, instant gratification, like today!

Can you knit? Can you purl? Then you can make these cloths. And if you can’t knit and purl, the Cloudy Day Cloths are a great way to learn! I always recommend dishcloths or washcloths as a beginner project. They’re small, so they bring a quick sense of accomplishment. Plus, you have the pleasure of seeing something you made with your own two hands every time you wash up. It’s a great mood lifter!

The Cloudy Day Cloths are also an inexpensive project – making both cloths uses just one ball of budget-friendly Clean Cotton and one of Clean Cotton Multi. These eco-conscious yarns are 100% recycled fiber, and are favorites for around-the-house projects.

These cloths are also an excellent skill-builder. The vertical lines are made with applied crochet. You’ll create a small dip in the fabric by working a purl stitch, then fill it in later by applying the vertical stripe with a crochet hook. It’s a handy technique that doesn’t require you to carry along a second color. You feel like a wizard the first time you do it!

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, filled with fun discovery and learning.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

Posted on

Meet a Local Yarn Shop – Yarnatopia

As a yarn company, we would not be where we are today without the support of the local yarn stores who stock our products on their shelves. From humble beginnings, we now have over 800 local yarn store retailers around the world who carry our yarns. The support these shops give to our company is amazing, and we want to spread the love back to them as much as possible. On social media, we consistently feature projects from local yarn shops and share our retailers, but we wanted to dig a little deeper and get to know some of these wonderful shops and owners even better. Today, we continue our initiative to interview some of our local yarn store retailers to learn a little more about them, their shops, and what keeps business going.

Store Front of Yarnatopia in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – home of A LOT of yarn

It’s a happy anniversary for the folks at Yarnatopia in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. October 1st of this year marked 6 years of being open for the local yarn shop. Tricia Perkins is the owner of this fine yarn store, and we are delighted that Universal Yarn is on her shelves. We got the chance to interview her and ask her more about the one-of-a-kind Yarnatopia. Read below to learn more about one of the best yarn shops in Oklahoma!

Yarnatopia Owner Tricia Perkins with Bamboo Pop in the background

Every yarn store has a different story and reason for how it came about. We don’t always get to see the behind-the-scenes, but we can promise you that not every single day is easy. During the interview, Tricia explained to us why she decided to open her store.

While the shelves inside Yarnatopia may contain hundreds of different yarn skeins and colors, the community is what makes this place so special. Owner Tricia Perkins and her co-worker Mary have been through their share of struggles, but Tricia says that it has only made their community stronger. When tragedy strikes, we look to the people around us to lift our heads and support us. While she was coping with the loss of loved ones, customers would come into Yarnatopia just to be there for Tricia throughout the day. She has dubbed the support of her customers, ‘The Tricia Train’, and they continue to come into the shop every week. During the interview, Tricia explained to us why opening a shop was one of her best decisions, as it created the base for one of the most supportive communities she has ever known.

Interior of the Yarnatopia with many WIPs and cozy chairs for knitting and crocheting

Another one of the great joys about owning a yarn shop is, well, the yarn! When asked about the most popular fiber content/weight at her store, Tricia said, “Fingering weight, they like the fingering weight.” This is no surprise due to the warm climate in Oklahoma. It’s no wonder some of the most popular yarns at her store are Bamboo Pop and Bamboo Pop Sock! These yarns are highly versatile and great for wearable projects for all ages. Tricia goes on to mention fingering weight is very well-liked because “You can make socks and you can make shawls.” These two yarn options are excellent for those types of projects! As you can see below, her shelves are stocked with these wonderful yarns!

Variety of Bamboo Pop yarn at Yarnatopia
Variety of Bamboo Pop Sock and Bamboo Pop Sock Solids at Yarnatopia

Other favorites that Tricia mentioned include Clean Cotton and Bella Chenille. She claims that her customers create many different home projects with Clean Cotton, which this yarn is perfect for! Bella Chenille is a favorite amongst her customers for blankets, and who can blame them? This yarn is so soft and cozy as many of you already know!

Variety of Bella Chenille at Yarnatopia
Variety of Clean Cotton and Clean Cotton Multi at Yarnatopia

Yarnatopia does a phenomenal job showing its support to its customers. As we know, consistent encouragement is so important when learning to knit or crochet. Their store has a rug where people stand to get a picture of their own finished project. “The Corner of Fame” is what they call it. This gives customers the opportunity to not only feel special about a project they completed but also, Tricia shares them on Yarnatopia’s social media accounts! Speaking of outreach, Yarnatopia has a knit group every Wednesday and Friday. Additionally, in the month of October, they are doing all kinds of fun sales and events for the store’s anniversary.

We greatly enjoyed talking with Yarnatopia’s owner! You can watch the entire interview below by clicking on the video! We hope you learn a lot about this great store, and who knows, maybe you’ll stop by if you ever find yourself in Oklahoma City!

Full interview with Tricia Perkins (Yarnatopia)
Posted on

Free Pattern Friday – Lucy Tote

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Image of blue crocheted tote holding bouquet of white flowers

Today, the Lucy Tote crocheted in Clean Cotton Multi (pattern link here).

We’re sharing this easy, practical, and lovely pattern today because it’s just perfect for summer.

The Lucy Tote is perfect for your next trip to the beach. Toss in your sunglasses, sunblock, and summer reading – you’re good to go!

Crocheted in our Clean Cotton or Clean Cotton Multi yarn, this accessory is quick to work up, sturdy, and durable – a tote to stand the test of time!

We hope you have a safe and joyful weekend.

Happy crafting!

Posted on

Free Pattern Friday – Aloft Plant Holder

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Aloft Plant Holder in Clean Cotton Multi (pattern link here).

AJ McIntyre created this charming bit of crocheted home decor. I love its boho feel!

It’s eco-friendly, too, in the recycled fiber blend of Clean Cotton Multi.

Clean Cotton Multi, and its solid colored sister Clean Cotton, are 100% reclaimed fiber (85% cotton, 15% polyester). These are the fibers that “fluff” away from the spinning machine during production. We collect them, then spin them again to create a soft but durable “dishcloth” style cotton that reduces waste, and still looks beautiful!

Working in unturned chains from the bottom up, AJ made a perfectly-sized plant holder out of just one 96-yard ball! This is a quick and easy project to make as a housewarming gift, or to bring a bit of color into your home. Personally, I can see it sprucing up a dorm room really easily – maybe even in team colors!

Clean Cotton Multi comes in 15 multi shades (like 212 Aloe shown here), and Clean Cotton has 21 solids. It’s easy to customize this fun project to whatever color scheme you wish!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy Crafting!
-Heather Hill

Posted on

Eco-Friendly Yarns to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is a week away – and that’s something we should all be celebrating. We are just one of the estimated 1 trillion species on Earth…and we are also the life form that arguably has the greatest impact on the natural world. Recently, I listened to David Attenborough’s reading of his book, Life on Earth, originally published in 1979. In the last couple of chapters, he wrote about our impact on the planet, and this quote truly strikes a chord:

“The fact remains that man has unprecedented control over the world and everything in it. And so, whether he likes it or not, what happens next is very largely up to him.” 

There is so much information available about how to ease our environmental impact. It can be very overwhelming at times! These conversations can often be heated, controversial, and even lead to confusion about what we can do. Ultimately, though, we can all take small steps to help preserve this remarkable place we call home. So, what does that have to do with yarn? Well, today I wanted to highlight some of the yarns we can use to minimize our footprints and create practical, reusable projects.

Java

Our Java yarn is made with 100% hemp fibers. What’s so great about hemp? Well, for one thing, it requires significantly less water to grow and process! It’s an incredibly strong and durable fiber and is also very colorfast. Java has a rustic hand and is well-suited for projects such as washcloths and home décor.

Sunfire Bag in Java

An easy step for reducing your carbon footprint is to swap plastic shopping bags with reusable bags. At this point, several states have banned the use of plastic shopping bags altogether. And while your state may not have taken those measures, toting (pun intended) your own shopping bag is a great idea! Stroll to your local farmer’s market in style with the Sunfire Bag (pattern link). This crochet project is worked modularly and boasts plenty of space. I’d love to make several of these bags in an assortment of the 12 colors in the Java palette.

Stitch Sampler Cloths

Forget paper towels and disposable wipes! The Stitch Sampler Cloths (pattern link) are great reusable projects that work as well for spa days and personal hygiene as they do for scrubbing your dishes. Taking care of these cloths is a snap because they are machine washable and dryable. Each cloth in the pattern features a unique stitch motif, so you won’t get bored while knitting. Plus, they have a loop that’s convenient for hanging!

Clean Cotton & Clean Cotton Multi

Most people first learn about the benefits of recycling in elementary school. I know I did! I’ve been known to unravel thrift store sweaters to recycle the yarn, but we’ve made the process even simpler with our Clean Cotton and Clean Cotton Multi yarns. Both yarns are made entirely of reclaimed fiber. Our mill gathered waste yarn scraps and bits of fluff from other yarns to give it new life as a soft, durable, and practical yarn at an impressively economical price point. Each yarn in the Clean Cotton family (which also includes Clean Cotton Big) is comprised of 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled polyester. While we created this yarn with projects like cozies, washcloths, dish towels, and bags in mind, it’s surprisingly soft. We’ve had several customers (myself included) create breezy garments, too!

Mosaic Dish Towels

The Mosaic Dish Towels (pattern link) are a coordinating set of kitchen towels that are absorbent and can be used to wipe up a spill here and there, dry your hands, hold hot plates, and more. All it takes is two skeins of each color and you’ll get at least two towels (as shown above). This straightforward pattern features a pretty motif along the bottom edge and garter stitch throughout the rest of the fabric. An I-cord loop is convenient for hanging these pieces in your kitchen, but you can just as easily drape them over your oven door handle. This design is an excellent choice for beginners interested in dipping their toes into a more exciting project.

Fresh Air Washcloths

Great for your kitchen or your bathroom, the Fresh Air Washcloths (pattern link) are just as practical as the Stitch Sampler Cloths I mentioned earlier. The saturated hues of Clean Cotton make it easy to add a pop of color to your home. These washcloths are knit flat from the bottom up in a broken garter stitch pattern. After you finish the square portion, an I-cord edging is worked around the edge using a contrast color. I think these would be great in Clean Cotton Multi, too!

Cottonwood

Perhaps the most versatile eco-friendly yarn we offer is Cottonwood. Cottonwood is a GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton yarn. It is soft, smooth, and boasts excellent stitch definition. We’ve used this yarn for garments, accessories, and the same functional home products similar to others I’ve highlighted in this post. Last Friday, Heather gushed about the Sandbar shawl on the blog (link). In addition to an ebook, Cottonwood Arboretum, we have a plethora of free patterns to support this yarn, too.

Macaron Cloths

In keeping with our theme, though, let’s take a look at the Macaron Cloths (pattern link). With yarn this soft, we truly had your skincare routine in mind. They are gentle on the skin, yet highly absorbent, making them a terrific choice for your next spa day. The construction of these cloths is extremely similar to the Fresh Air Washcloths I mentioned earlier, but where they really shine is the array of stunning stitch patterns. Featuring long stitches, twisted stitches, lace, and I-cords, you’ll expand your knitting skill set and there is certainly no risk of boredom. Because each cloth is different, this is like getting five patterns in one!

Today I focused on some of the eco-friendly yarns we offer that use plant fibers. However, if you’re looking for some luxurious animal fiber yarns that are Earth-friendly, don’t miss Ravello and Cashmere Lusso – which both contain recycled cashmere, or Deluxe Worsted – a non-superwash wool yarn with a handful of natural, undyed colors.

So, this Earth Day, celebrate our planet and our craft with some beautiful, environmentally friendly yarns and patterns. Take a walk outside, plant a tree, clean up trash in your neighborhood, and take some time to show gratitude for our amazing home.

Oh, and one last thing, please do not place your yarn scraps outside for birds’ nests!

Happy Earth Day and, as always, happy crafting!