Free Pattern Friday – Shamrock Dishcloths

It’s Friday, and it’s St. Patrick’s Day! Hopefully you’re wearing green, avoiding pinches, and feeling extra lucky! It’s in this festive spirit that we bring to you this week’s Free Pattern Friday, the Shamrock Dishcloths!

Shamrock Dishcloths in Cotton Supreme

These cute, clover cloths are made primarily with intarsia colorwork, and with a bit of stranded colorwork in the center of the motif. The pattern calls for 2 hanks of Cotton Supreme in colors 502 White, and 612 Emerald. One of each color is enough for you to make both cloths, so make one for yourself and a friend to spread some extra cheer!

Cotton Supreme in color 612 Emerald

Cotton Supreme is a 100% cotton, worsted weight yarn that’s undeniably smooth and soft. It’s wonderful for garments and accessories, but versatile enough for home wares as it’s machine washable and dryable. It comes in 100g/180 yard hanks, and is available in 45 brilliant colors for you to mix and match. You even can pair Cotton Supreme with the recently released Cotton Supreme Speckles for some pops of color, perfect for spring!

I hope you enjoy this charming pattern and have fun making it for St. Patrick’s Day. Share your work with us by tagging us on social media, we love sharing the joy of your creations!

Happy Stitching, y’all!
Ashley Jane

Yarns You Need this Spring

Buds are forming on branches, birds are building nests, and the earth is being greeted by more and more sunlight, thawing and reemerging from the cold. Spring is upon us! With every fresh season comes the desire to freshen up our stashes. Here are the yarns you won’t want to miss.

Ravello is one of three yarns making their debut as Web Exclusives on our site with brand-new, lower pricing! This luxurious, Italian yarn is a blend of cotton, extra-fine merino, and cashmere. In keeping with the “new life” theme of the season, it’s fitting to point out that the cashmere content is made from recycled sweaters, lending an eco-friendly characteristic to the lush composition. Beyond its metaphorical qualities, this yarn also has practical reasons to covet it during warmer months. It’s fine weight, and predominantly cotton base make for light, airy garments, like the Riviette Tank – a showstopper for the season!

Cotton Supreme Waves is a soft, high-quality 100% cotton yarn that’s wonderful for garments and accessories. It’s one of our Oeko-Tex certified yarns, which are tested for 350+ harmful substances to keep you and loved ones safe. Available in 18 self-striping colors, this DK weight, self-striping yarn is ready to add splashes of color to your warm weather lineup. Check out some of our adult garments, like the popular Fresh Berries tee, or pieces from our Seaside Supreme collection for inspiration!

Bamboo Pop Sock, and Bamboo Pop Sock Solids are classic, warm-weather options. With a combined total of 46 colors, you have endless combinations to choose from! This super fine yarn is a blend of 55% bamboo, 37% cotton, and 8% PBT for a bit of stretch. The blend is intended for socks, as the name implies, but we adore using this yarn for garments like the vibrant Crimson Tee, or soothing accessories, like the Edisto Shawl.

One last luxurious item that you absolutely don’t want to miss is the 50/50 cotton and cashmere, Truva. Available in a sophisticated palette of 8 color options, this yarn makes even the simplest of stitch patterns shine with an exquisite finesse. Dive into the 5 polished patterns of our On The Line collection, or explore free patterns like the Spearmint Tee, to craft yourself something magnificent to embrace the new warmth of the year.

Rico Design yarn selections for spring.

In addition to our own wonderful yarns, Rico Design has a beautiful variety, which we distribute here in the US. Nestled amongst them are a few perfect choices for this time of year. Baby Dream DK , made of 50% polyacrylic and 50% polyamide, is an excellent choice when making projects for little ones. It’s incredibly soft, easy to care for, and comes in 15 dreamy multi-colored shades. Pair it with the 21 complimentary solids of Baby Dream DK Uni for even more options!

Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton DK is an exciting yarn to add to your stash! Each base color is spun with a vibrant variegated ply to add depth and dimension to each make. Select from 18 colors that span from deep earth tones, to rich jewel tones and even dusty pastels. This blend of 49% cotton, 46% acrylic and 5% polyester is versatile and wears well, ensuring your makes will last for years to come.

Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK captures the quintessential pastel shades of spring in its palette of 16 colors. The subtle color shifts blend like water color paintings with dashes of tweed adding a dose of refinement. It’s made of 47% cotton, 43% acrylic, 7% polyamide and 3% viscose and constructed with a tubular chainette for a lightweight, springy feel.

Last, but not least, Superba Merino Linen Silk, deserves some time to shine from our wide array of Rico Design yarns. Six self-shading colors captured in favored warm-weather fibers makes for a happy crafter, indeed! This yarn is unique and vibrant, like a gorgeous bouquet of spring flowers. It’s designed with socks in mind, but would make fabulous garments or accessories as well!

Share your work with us by tagging us on social media, we love sharing the joy of your creations!

Happy Stitching, y’all!
Ashley Jane

Yarn Spotlight: Cassatt

5 balls of yarn called Cassatt are arranged to showcase their color and texture. Knitting needles are placed next to them with text reading "Yarn Spotlight with Cassatt."

Hey fiber friends! If you’re like me, one of your favorite parts of a new season is finding new projects to line up along with new yarn to play with. Last fall, we created Cassatt, and while there is still a chill in the air, it’s the perfect time to try it out!

Cassatt colors clockwise from left: Water Lilies, Luncheon, Impasto.

Made in Italy, Cassatt is a lush blend of 35% baby alpaca, 35% wool, 20% nylon, and 10% viscose. It features a hollow core with fine fibers blown through, creating a halo that is ethereal to look at, and a soft texture that’s a dream to work with. With such enchanting characteristics, it’s no wonder that this yarn’s name is inspired by American Impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt. Furthermore, each of the eight colors are named after famous works of art, from equally impactful artists. You’ll find “Water Lilies” by Claude Monet, and “Haystacks” by Van Gogh, to name a few. Can you identify the other six?

Crochet hat, Wavelength, in the color 604 Water Lilies.

It’s fitting that this yarn carries the theme of “a work of art,” considering anything you make using it will be just that! Whether you knit or crochet, you’ll find your stitches will come to life. They’ll be popping with definition from the plumpness of the yarn, and dancing from the speckles found in the colors. The tweedy nubs make each piece all the more magical, like the small visible brushstrokes of an impressionist painting.

Knit accessory, the Painterly Shawl, in the color 602 Haystacks.

As with any fine art, you will want to treat this yarn with care. With 70% of this special blend being quality fibers, you’ll need to hand wash your work and lay it flat to dry. The effort is well worth the reward, though, as each item made will be a timeless treasure. Take, for instance, the Emma vest (below) by Rachel Brockman. The simple lace stitch pattern and stripes ensure that Cassatt remains the focal point, and the combination comes together to create a layering piece that you’ll celebrate wearing year after year.

Knit garment, the Emma vest, in colors 606 Opera and 603 Dancer.

I hope you have enjoyed this look at our beautiful yarn, Cassatt, and I can’t wait to see all of the inspired pieces that you create with it! What do you think you’ll try out?


Happy Stitching, friends!
Ashley Jane

Meet a Local Yarn Shop – The Artful Yarn

Meet a Local Yarn Shop with The Artful Yarn

When temperatures keep dropping, you need a local yarn shop with woolly fibers to keep you warm! These stores are the foundation of our industry, and we can’t thank them enough for the community they provide and the joy they bring to everyday life. Continuing our Meet a Local Yarn Shop series, we’re virtually heading north to Chagrin Falls, Ohio, to interview Tiffany Perry, owner of The Artful Yarn.

Front of The Artful Yarn building, you’ll see it covered in snow most of the winter season…

When you open the doors of The Artful Yarn, you can expect to be met by a host of fiber friends ready to help and encourage you. In addition to Tiffany, The Artful Yarn’s new shop owner, the store has five shop assistants that work throughout the week. This shop offers plenty of classes to help grow your skills in knitting and crocheting, and the shop has a very supportive environment – there is always someone to help with your yarn or project-related questions!

Tiffany showing off her beautiful shawl made with Cotton Supreme!

We weren’t too surprised to hear that some of our woolly yarns, like Colorburst, are popular at a shop that is located in Ohio. Cold, snowy winters mean you need colorful and cozy yarns to work with. This yarn is perfect for colorful garments and accessories, like the Café Cable Set. While wool-based yarns are very popular at most stores, we have some other fibers to talk about too!

Favorites like Bamboo Pop Sock (pictured below) and Uptown Worsted are also available at The Artful Yarn! Many of Tiffany’s customers like to make shawls and blankets, and who can blame them? If you want to add even more creativity to your project, try out Major, stocked on the shelves of this magnificent store. This multi-colored yarn is made of 100% acrylic fibers and is popular for projects like blankets and accessories.

A WIP with our Bamboo Pop Sock yarn!

Tiffany may be new to owning The Artful Yarn, but her transition into the ownership role has been a smooth one thanks to the experience of previously working in the shop and having the continued support of Cathy (not pictured), the prior owner. The store has taken advantage of our drop ship program, which allows customers to support their local yarn shop, all while getting the product of their choice from our inventory.

The inside of The Artful Yarn, here is where you can sit and chat while working on your project!

The Artful Yarn’s Instagram page is a great place to stay updated on everything new happening at this yarn shop. The store participates in many local fiber arts events hosted by many cities in the Northeast Ohio area. Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is a small town with just over 4,000 residents. Being in a place that isn’t densely populated, it’s no surprise that the community is so close-knit (Do you see what I did there). This town has many fun events for crafters, including the Yarn Discovery Tour. In 2022, we were able to create some exclusive patterns in Colorburst for this wonderful event! If you happen to be stopping by The Artful Yarn, be sure to ask about these kits!

It was a great honor to talk to Tiffany and learn more about her store. While she is new to ownership, her store has seen great success thanks to the support of the Chagrin Falls community. We encourage you to check out their website and follow them on social media! You can always order drop shipping from their store and get your favorite Universal Yarn products while supporting The Artful Yarn.

Free Pattern Friday – Broomstick Lace Scarf

It’s Friday, so you know what that means – it’s time for a free pattern! This week, we have the Broomstick Lace Scarf, an elegant crochet scarf with eye-catching Broomstick Lace detailing.

Broomstick Lace Scarf using Noelle in the color 304 Calypso

Broomstick Lace is a unique type of lace that requires a large crochet hook, which you pull loops of yarn onto across an entire row, with the use of your smaller hook. These loops are gently pulled off the large hook in sets, then single crochet is worked through them to go back across the row again. These single crochet stitches twist the loops so they lay flat, creating the swirled effect of the lace. It’s a technique that seems intimidating at first, but is actually quite simple, and even repetitive, once you get the hang of it. The resulting pattern is stunning and well worth the effort!

Close-up view of the Broomstick Lace detailing in the scarf.

The lace and simple half double crochet fabric in this week’s pattern accentuates the glistening properties of the yarn, Noelle. This DK weight, Italian yarn features a shimmering hollow core with fibers blown through, creating an ethereal effect. It is available in 50g skeins, in four bespoke colors, and is composed of baby alpaca, merino wool, polyester, and nylon. To make sure your shimmering stitches last, hand wash your work in cold water and lay it flat to dry.

Noelle Yarn, color 304 Calypso

I hope you feel inclined to make the enchanting Broomstick Lace Scarf, or to stock your stash with beautiful Noelle. If crochet isn’t for you, you might find other inspiration browsing the Subtle Glow collection, featuring 5 scintillating patterns to knit or crochet. Share your work with us by tagging us on social media, we love sharing the joy of your creations!

Happy Stitching, y’all!
Ashley Jane

Free Pattern Friday – Cobbled Cowl

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Today we bring you the Cobbled Cowl (pattern link). This simple accessory works up quickly and has a lovely texture featuring a hazy halo of fibers from the yarn, Nymph.

Cobbled Cowl made with Nymph in color 110 Lichen.

Nymph is an irresistibly soft DK weight yarn with a cotton chainette construction and nylon fibers blown through, creating an ethereal effect. It comes in 50 g balls, is made of 84% cotton and 16% polyamide, and is machine washable for easy care. The palette is soft, yet earthy, with a hue to please everyone. To make way for new products, we are saying farewell to Nymph, so be sure to grab it while you can at a deep discount!

Rozetti Yarns, Nymph.

The cowl is worked flat from the bottom-up then seamed. The texture is a basic crochet stitch pattern called the Cobbled Stitch, which inspired name for the piece. It’s created by alternating single crochet (sc) and double triple crochet (dtr) across one row, then just single crochet for the next row. The soothing repetition, and no-brainer construction makes it accessible for beginners, and fun for experienced crafters wanting a Netflix-and-stitch project.

Close up view of the cobbled stitch texture featured in the Cobbled Cowl.

I hope you love this weeks Free Pattern Friday! Of course, I know that not all readers of this blog crochet, but don’t fret! There are plenty of knit patterns using this beautiful Nymph yarn. The Rosette Cowl is another freebie featuring a simple stitch repeat, or you can kick of 2023 with a larger project, like the January Sweater. Whatever you choose, be sure to share it with us – we love seeing your projects! 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!
Ashley Jane

Tutorial – Magic Circle

Sample Swatches of crochet stitches lay in an arrangement next to three crochet hooks. The heading "AJ's Crochet Corner, Tips and Tricks" is present.

Crocheting into a magic circle makes evenly placing your starting stitches a snap! This technique offers a way to place as many stitches as you need into a perfectly circular shape with the tug of some yarn.

Using a magic circle takes away the guesswork involved with a different method of creating a circular base, where you create a chain, then slip stitch to form a ring. Because this other method with a starting chain has a fixed circumference, it may leave a gap in the center if you make it too big, or be impossible to work into if it’s too small. With the magic circle being adjustable, these sizing problems while starting a project magically disappear!

One thing that can be a bit tricky is that not everyone calls this method a “magic circle” as seen in the Paradise Pouch. When getting started with a pattern, you may also read “adjustable ring,” as seen in the Cotton Candy Swirl, or a blend of both called a “magic ring.” It can also be called a loop, as in “magic loop” or “adjustable loop.” Lastly, you may see it represented visually in a chart, denoted by a swirled shape before any stitches start, like in the Spice Market Shawl. Now that you know what to look for, let’s take a look at how to do it! There are just 6 simple steps to do to create a magic circle.

Step 1: Create the circle.

Create an initial loop by laying flat, if it helps, or held in your hand. Place the tail behind the working yarn, and pointed to the left.
Pinch yarn where it overlaps to hold the loop in place while you work.

Step 2: Insert hook.

Reach your crochet hook into the loop.

Step 3: Yarn over.

It may feel strange to tension the yarn while pinching the circle. You may try holding it as seen above or switch to holding the circle with your thumb and middle finger to tension with your pointer finger. I have a habit of starting like this then switching my grip when I begin chaining and stitching as normal (as shown, beginning in step 5).

Step 4: Pull through.

Pull the working yarn through the loop with your crochet hook.

Step 5: Chain, then stitch into the middle of the circle. The pattern you are following will indicate how many chains, then stitches to create.

Here I chain 3, then double crochet 4 times into the loop to demonstrate the technique. But you can do this with any number of, or type of stitches!

Step 6: Close the circle.

Release your hold on the circle, and pinch the tail of the yarn.
Pull the tail of the yarn until the circle is completely closed.

It’s as easy as that! From here, you continue following the pattern as normal, and will weave in the tail along with any other ends as a finishing step. I hope you find this tutorial helpful, and that you feel inspired to try a new project in the round!

That’s all for now, and Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane

Color Of The Year 2023 – Viva Magenta

With this year coming to a close, we’re all wondering what is next for 2023. You might be thinking about your resolutions and goals for the year ahead, or perhaps a new project you’d like to get started on.

Every year, Pantone releases their ‘Color Of The Year’, which influences industries around the globe from things like paint manufacturers, to fashion brands, and all the way to yarn. The Color Of The Year is meant to be a forecast of the general mood for the year ahead, give direction to companies for product development, and serve as inspiration to all of us. The color for 2023 is Viva Magenta. So, lets dive into the Magentaverse!

Image sourced from Pantone’s Color Of The Year Report

Viva Magenta is a vibrant and bold shade that is a hybrid of red and pink. It immediately feels like a strong, expressive color, and is deeply rooted in nature. It has an almost rebellious tone to it, and is a fearless hue you can proudly sport in amounts both great and small.

Image sourced from the Smithsonian

Although Viva Magenta feels a bit futuristic to look at, this color has ancient roots, being directly derived from Cochineal. These are scaly insects, which have been used for centuries to create powder dyes and colorants used for textiles, cosmetics, food, and more. If you’d like to read more about this interesting and historical process, please check out this article from the Smithsonian.

With the roots of this color being its use for natural dyes, it is no surprise that we can find Viva Magenta in so many yarns! From solids to multis, many of the yarns in our line feature this strong color. As Viva Magenta is a blend of pink and red, I’ve included some options for yarns that lean toward both sides of the hue, and hopefully will provide great inspiration for your next project!

The Crimson Tee, a free pattern in Bamboo Pop Sock

Speaking of projects, I’ve selected some patterns that I think are perfect solutions for the 2023 Color Of The Year inspiration. First, I wanted to share the Crimson Tee. This free pattern was designed by Aubrey Busek (that’s me!) and uses our Bamboo Pop Sock yarn in the color 608 Pomegranate. This simple knit tee is sized from XS-5X, and has a relaxed silhouette that works for any occasion. The touches of lace are worked along the hemline of the body and sleeves, and panels of lace decorate the body. The Crimson Tee is a bold, fearless use of the Viva Magenta color, perfect for entering the new year with a bang.

The Parlamak Shawl in Noelle

For the crochet enthusiast, try the Parlamak Shawl! Designed by Brittany Garber, this sophisticated shawl is made using our Noelle yarn in the color 303 Pixie. I love that this shawl is simple and chic, so the vibrant red and pink colors in the yarn are really the focal point of the piece. Noelle has different shades that flow from one to the next throughout the skein, and its metallic core makes it extra special. This yarn is currently on sale, so don’t miss out on a great deal before its gone!

The Rose Garden Sweater in self-striping Offbeat

If you have a little one in your life to knit for, try the Rose Garden Sweater! Sized from 1-10 years old, this sweater is great for school days and fun outings. The cabled pattern on the body is easy to memorize, and adds just enough textural interest to not distract from the bold stripes created by the yarn. Offbeat is a blend of 90% acrylic and 10% alpaca that has been a hit since its launch in 2022. And it’s no question why: with a luxurious feel, bold colors, and 586 yards per skein, it is a great choice for all projects from blankets to sweaters. The color used for the Rose Garden sweater is 102 Tubular, and I love how the bold pops of red look with the soft neutral tones in this shade.

Image sourced from Pantone

Pairing Viva Magenta with soft neutral colors as seen in our Offbeat yarn (above) is exactly what is suggested by Pantone. The soft and dusty shades shown in their Color Of The Year report compliment Viva Magenta, but never take away from it being the focal point. However, if you prefer bright shades, do your thing! I think Viva Magenta would look wonderful paired with bright purple or hot pink. As with anything, you should do what speaks to YOU. Colors are personal, and a great way to express yourself.

The last pattern I wanted to highlight was the Pomegranate Path set, designed by Rachel Brockman. New from our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 6, this cabled hat and scarf set is perfect for just about anyone on your ‘to-knit-for’ list. The color of Deluxe Worsted Tweed used for this pattern is 921 Beet, but the pattern itself was named after the delicious fruit that also boasts the same color. When I was looking for inspiration for Viva Magenta on Pinterest, tons of photos of pomegranates immediately came up. They are my favorite fruit, so I knew I had to include this pattern!

No matter how you want to explore the ‘Magentaverse‘, I can imagine that there is a shade of Viva Magenta that speaks to you. Personally, I think this color sets a wonderful tone for 2023. The past couple of years have been a rollercoaster for everyone on Earth in ways both great and small, and we can all benefit from the sense of inner strength that this type of bold color projects. I hope you get inspired, and have fun picking out some Magenta yarn for your next project!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition, Part IV

A stuffed wolf toy sits in front of a stack of folded accessories from the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 6.

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

The features from our annual 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, may be coming to a close, but with so much inspiration, hopefully your project planning is just beginning. It’s always so thrilling to review comments on this blog, or see projects line up in queues on Ravelry. From the looks of it, we may see some beautiful holiday projects in the works! Before you commit though, check out our final three days from the 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 Edition, the Holiday Stroll hat and scarf set, the Snow Globe Stocking, and the Holiday Elf Socks.

Holiday Stroll Set

This year’s crochet project was designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. Once I saw our mood board, I knew I had to use Bamboo Bloom Handpaints in the color #324 Steven Befabulous. It even has “fabulous” in its name! It’s made of a blend of 44% wool, 48% rayon from bamboo, and 8% acrylic. This is all spun together for a unique thick and thin, matte and shiny quality that stands out in any piece. I paired it with complimenting solids in Deluxe Bulky Superwash, made of 100% superwash wool, to create a warm and cozy project for the season. The vibrant combination inspired the perfect set for taking a stroll to look at holiday lights.

The Holiday Stroll Set livens up any outfit, whether you stick to neutrals, bright colors, or both!

The best thing about the scarf is that it has pockets! It’s made modularly from the bottom up in sections, alternating between rows of a granny stitch stripes pattern with granny squares that are seamed together. Once the whole scarf is complete, the edges are folded up, then seamed to create pockets. The hat is also constructed modularly: you create a ring by sewing granny squares together, then you work directly into them for the crown and brim. The hat is finished with a nice fluffy pom pom for a final touch of fun! In case you need some tips with a pom pom maker, we have a great pom pom video tutorial on our Tik Tok, found here, and a wonderful photo-tutorial on our blog, found here.

Snow Globe Stocking

The Snow Globe Stocking, designed by Aubrey Busek, is a quirky take on a holiday classic. Rico Design Creative Bubble, and Rico Design Creative Bubble Print, both made of 100% polyester, are used as carry-along yarns to add some extra sparkle to the base yarn, Deluxe Bulky Superwash, made of 100% superwash wool. Can you just imagine how sweet it will look on your mantle filled with treats? You’ll find new special details each time you look at it. With the twinkle throughout, the overall effect is truly just as magical as a snow globe!

The sparkle from Rico Design Creative Bubble adds some magic to the Snow Globe Stocking.

I really enjoy the color combinations in this stocking. The cuff blends from red to a cool minty green, then to a creamy white with dots of stranded colorwork that look like sprinkles. Then, there are wonderful pops of color at the heel and toe. The heel is added after the rest of the sock is complete using a technique called an “afterthought heel,” which sounds complicated, but it’s actually not so bad! If you are in doubt, there is a helpful photo-tutorial blog post about the method, which you can review to feel prepared to make this fantastic stocking.

Whether you fill it with treats, or simply hang it for decoration, the Snow Globe Stocking is sure to spice up your mantle this season!

Holiday Elf Socks

The last kit in this year’s collection is the Holiday Elf Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman. These socks just tickle me! I love the way that they mirror each other with their bright colors. It’s just what I imagine a jolly North Pole Elf would wear – a bit mischievous, and dazzlingly bright, with tiny festive trees. They are made with Uni Merino, a blend of superwash merino wool and nylon, perfect for a snuggly and soft pair of socks.

These happy socks are “sisters, not twins,” although they can be made to match instead of mirror, if you prefer!

They are made cuff-down with a heel-flap, and use stranded colorwork to make the adorable mini trees and surrounding design. The toe is seamless, using a Kitchener stitch to graft the live stitches together. I have recently started making socks, and have been using this method on every pair so far. At first I found it intimidating, but now I love it. The end results are so worth it, and we have a tutorial at this blog post which includes step-by-step photos that is incredibly helpful. Once you finish, you’ll have a pair of wacky holiday socks without any pesky toe seams to comfortably wear for years to come!

If you look closely, you can see where the toes are completely seamless!

I hope you have enjoyed looking at patterns from the 12 Days of Winter, Series 6 with me today. If you missed Part I, Part II, or Part III be sure to go read through them! You’ll hear thoughts from the other designers of the collection, Aubrey and Rachel, and get more tips and tricks for techniques that you’ll encounter in the designs!

Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Not in stock at your local shop? Ask them about drop shipping – order through them, and we ship to you! Each kit comes with a printed version of the pattern, the yarn required to make itn. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

Free Pattern Friday – Poinsettia Stocking

Free Pattern Friday preview showing the Poinsettia Stocking available in Knit and Crochet.

Happy Friday to all, and to all a Free Pattern!

This week, we bring to you the Poinsettia Stockings (link here), a simple but beautiful home accent available in both knit and crochet versions! Rachel Brockman and Ashley Jane McIntyre (that’s me!) teamed up to bring you this festive duo inspired by the quintessential holiday flower, the poinsettia.

Left to Right: Poinsettia Stockings knit and crochet versions.

Here’s a bit of fun history that you can take along to holiday parties! The poinsettia flower is native to southern Mexico. There, it is called the Flor de la Noche Buena, meaning, Flower of the Holy Night. This name was actually given to it due to its resemblance to the renowned Star of Bethlehem. This perennial shrub can grow 10 to 15 feet tall in the wild, and flowers during the winter season. I learned this from Almanac.com, and you can read more about its various uses, popularity, and lore there. For now, let’s get back to our inspired stockings!

Clockwise from top: Deluxe Stripes in 309 Crayon Box, 311 Tie Dye, 310 Poinsettia

Deluxe Stripes comes in 9 different self-striping colorways which are perfect for giving simple projects an effortless bit of wow-factor. We decided to use color 310 Poinsettia as our guiding star for the design, leaning in to its classic holiday shades. This worsted weight yarn comes in 100g balls (218 yards) and is made of 75% super wash wool and 25% nylon. The bit of elasticity from the nylon was specially chosen by our design team to make this an ideal yarn for fast and cozy self-striping socks, like the Deluxe Socks. However, you can go beyond socks and make anything, like the Azelea Shawl, Art Class Cardigan, or of course, the Poinsettia Stockings.

Deluxe Worsted Superwash in 774 Mistletoe

Accenting the stocking as a complimentary color is our Deluxe Worsted Superwash in 738 Christmas Green, which matches a shade of green from the Deluxe Stripes used as the main color in the stocking. This yarn is made of 100% superwash wool and comes in in 100g balls (218 yards). It has a whopping 68 colors to select from, making it one of the ultimate stash staples, and is perfect for finding perfect matches to multi-colored yarns.

Poinsettia Stocking – Knit

My favorite thing about this pattern is that you have access to either a knit version or a crochet version. It’s always so wonderful to be able to include both skills for the same piece! How many of you will try out both of them? If you know how to knit and crochet, this could be a great way to incorporate different fabric textures for a way to make your stockings stand out uniquely in addition to mixing and matching color options.

Poinsettia Stocking – Crochet

Whichever version you choose, be sure to share photos of your work on social media, and tag us in the post! Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn. We can’t wait to see all of the beautiful festive creations that our fiber friends come up with.

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre