Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
The second decor item is the Galactic Blanket, which emulates the swirls and spirals of galaxies both near and far. This crochet cover is worked up using both Cotton Supreme Batik and Cotton Supreme.
Friends, we’re deeply touched by everybody who has contacted us to be sure we’re okay. Why wouldn’t we be okay, you may ask?
Right now it’s beautiful outside, but it’s going to be a long weekend. On the work front, we’re preparing early – there WILL be a Free Pattern Friday (and it’s gorgeous) – and we’re battening down all the hatches. On the home front, it’s time to get ready:
pick up anything outdoors that can turn into a missile
stock up on non-perishable food (our power company estimates 1-3 million Carolinians will be without electricity)
DO NOT drive through standing water
All of that said, Charlotte is in as good a shape as it’s possible to be. We’ve had a bit to prepare. Our water system is very reliable, our local breweries are stocking up (on water, people!), and we’ve got plenty of emergency personnel on standby. Our office plans to stay open for regular business, but if things look dicey, we’ll put staff safety first. And a memo was sent this morning to clean out the office fridge, just in case!
And again, we are moved by everyone who has checked in. So, here’s a thank you.
Go to the pattern page on Ravelry (here’s a link), and enter coupon code NAVIGATE by using the 
 “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase.
This pattern is part of Beach House, a collection of five designs to knit in Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Batik. Amy Gunderson cleverly used self-striping Cotton Supreme Batik to create the rays coming from the center along the garter stitch portion.
This is a good three-season project, and the name.. well, the name is just perfect, as we navigate this storm.
An important crafter’s tip for those of us who may be without electricity for a while – print anything you want to work on now, while you can!
We leave you with our current live webcam addiction – the Ocean Cam on Frying Pan Tower, located off the coast.
We hope that flag keeps flying. Stay safe and dry, everyone!
Look, I know it’s September, but here in the South we still have hot and humid days where the great outdoors looks like a melting Dali painting. True story: I once saw my cousin get stuck in an overheated parking lot when her high heels sank into liquefying asphalt, like a very fashionable mastodon caught in a tar pit. For this reason, I’m not giving up on summertime projects yet. Luckily, we have a really great selection of cottons, and some fabulous free patterns!
First up: The Little Sailor Pullover (pattern link here).
This cute top is sized from 1-10 years, and features a solid Cotton Supreme body with Cotton Supreme Batik for the stripes and the anchors on the sleeves.
The original black and white Cotton Supreme Batik has been retired, but there are some nice options available. What about this in a different shade of blue, with 41 Navy Salute (below) for the detailing?
Actually, since Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Batik have exactly the same gauge, you could choose to go solid for both, or striped for both – there are a lot of options here!
Next, the All-Star Pullover (pattern link here).
This one’s quite similar to the Little Sailor – the differences are, a smaller needle for the ribbing (my edges tend to flare if I don’t do this!), and a different design on the sleeve. I like these two interpretations of what is essentially the same pattern because it shows what a difference the details make!
You can see how this could also become a fantastic superhero costume if you shifted that star onto the chest and made the design in red, white, and blue. Who wouldn’t want a tiny Captain America pullover?
Don’t get me wrong, we’re gearing up for Fall and winter. There are some great designs in the works. But as long as we’ve got some cute things to make, maybe it’s not so bad for summer to hang around a little longer.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Scruncher Scarf in Whisper Lace and Cotton Supreme Batik (pattern link here).
I. Love. This. Pattern.
Look at how simple that is. This is exactly the kind of pattern that I would have loved as a beginner, and that I still love when I want to make something beautiful and not look away from binge-watching Jessica Jones.
Because it’s dropped stitches on a larger needle (US size 10 1/2), this pattern makes the yarn go a long way. One ball of Whisper Lace wool/silk for the solid bands, two balls of self-striping Cotton Supreme Batik for the wider variegated stripes.
Because the fabric is so loose and drapey, it scrunches up effortlessly – hence the name Scruncher Scarf. Here it is in an alternate colorway, folded in half and wrapped for an accessory that straddles “skinny” and “full.”
Obviously, this would be a great one to experiment with, colorwise. I’ll bet your LYS could put together some fantastic color combos.
We hope you have an amazing weekend.
Happy crafting!
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. Â True! Â It may be snowing in some places, but in others it’s bright and sunny. Â 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! Â Happy knitting!
