Free Pattern Friday – Citadel

It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Citadel in Deluxe Bulky Superwash (pattern link here). This versatile sleeveless design is great for the turning season – doesn’t it look great over a long-sleeved top?
Designer Rachel Brockman named it Citadel because it acts as extra protection against the cold in thick Deluxe Bulky Superwash.
And if you’re looking for warmth without bulk, it works great under a jacket. That high collar will still protect you. Seed stitch side panels and shoulders are a lovely design touch.
We hope you have a fantastic weekend, with perfect weather for whatever you choose to do! Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Alpine Wrap

It’s Free Pattern Friday!https://universalyarn.com/products/alpine-wrap

Today, the Alpine Wrap crocheted in Deluxe Bulky Superwash (pattern link here).

Normally this would be where I’d make some joke about it being cold, but at this point, the weather’s a bit beyond that. Anytime people are being advised “avoid taking deep breaths, and minimise talking” while outside, that’s serious.

So maybe it’s time to hunker down, stay in, and make something bulky out of wool.

The Alpine Wrap is a great mix of lace and big yarn – thick enough to wrap around and bundle up in, or to wear loose as a beautiful accessory.

This gorgeous wrap is more than 6 feet long, but it goes by quickly – and it’s much easier than you might think!

The lace is varied, but it’s composed of basic stitches. If you can single and double crochet, you can make this.

Work the middle widthwise in rows. Then make the three color border in rounds, along all sides of the center. And because you’re using Deluxe Bulky Superwash wool on a US Size M/N (9 mm) hook, it’s going to grow quickly.

Designer Rachel Brockman chose to go with neutrals accented by 925 Adobe, a muted take on the 2019 Color of the Year that works well in this substantial piece.

However, while you could easily make this with four colors as shown, you could also use just one, or any number you wish. I’m a big fan of cool tones, so maybe Honeydew, Pulp, and Petrol Blue?

913 Honeydew, 928 Pulp, 914 Petrol Blue

Everybody, please have a safe, warm, cozy weekend.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Sequoia

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Thick green cabled pullover knit in Deluxe Bulky Superwash yarn

Today, Sequoia in Deluxe Bulky Superwash (pattern link here).

Looking at this pullover, it’s easy to see where it gets its name.

Huge cables rise dramatically up the front, carried up through the collar. It’s big, and cozy, and just the thing for midwinter.

The raglan-sleeved sweater is knit hem-up in pieces and seamed, with the cowl neck added in the round afterward. Deluxe Bulky Superwash wool makes the piece easy to care for.

Universal will be closed Monday and Tuesday for the holidays, and this might be the project that I grab some yarn for during the extended break. Cozy!

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Happy crafting!

Thy Neighbor: A Pattern for Giving Back

Giving back: it’s something everyone seems to think more about this time of year, and something we could all probably think about a bit more. That’s why we have created the new pattern, Thy Neighbor (pattern link).

Universal Yarn Deluxe BulkyThy Neighbor – A pattern to benefit the Refugee Support Services center in Charlotte.

We recently began donating some of our time and resources to the RSS: Refugee Support Services here in Charlotte, the city Universal Yarn calls home. This organization is doing amazing things, and we want to support them in every way we can.

Deluxe Bulky Superwash
Stranded colorwork has an interesting effect when worked with a loom because of the twisted stitches.

Each Thursday, a group of wonderful women and volunteers meet at the center for English lessons, knitting, community-building, and to take advantage of the many resources the facility has to offer.

My in-progress Thy Neighbor hat, worked on a loom with Deluxe Bulky Superwash. Colors shown are 901 Rosy Mauve & 932 Icy Grey.

Many of the women make hats on round knitting looms. Loom knitting is really accessible. Anyone can pick it up in just a few minutes, which might be why it’s a popular knitting method at the center. Although we had never knit using looms before, we wanted to meet participants where they are. So we got some looms to practice and will now contribute our own knowledge of knitting. Volunteers at the center help the women distribute their handcrafted goods to earn extra income and develop financial literacy. As a way to give back and support their efforts, we designed this Fair Isle hat. We’ll be teaching the participants this technique to spice up their loom-knitting activities. All proceeds from the sale of this pattern will be donated back to RSS.

As I said before, we want to do as much as we can for this organization. It brought us so much joy to sit in a room filled with the chatter of people from all over the world, offering a helping hand, and exchanging kindness with one another. It’s truly special. When you purchase Thy Neighbor, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to RSS. Financial contributions to the organization help make their peer support, educational, legal, and social programs possible. We sincerely hope you’ll join us in helping, and encourage you to explore the RSS website (link) to deepen your understanding of their work.

Deluxe Bulky Superwash
Topped with a multi-color pom-pom! This pattern really is so much fun!

Thank you so much for joining us in our support of RSS! We hope you have a wonderful week!

Quick Lace – Fast & Free Projects in Chunky Yarn

Are you ever in the mood for some instant gratification, but with a little extra interest?  Two words: chunky lace.  We’ve got four projects here – two knit and two crochet – that you can finish in a flash.

Let’s start with the very quickest – the Chunky Lace Beanie in Deluxe Chunky (pattern link here).  This was originally designed for a quick little free e-book of hats with pom-poms called Hot Hats.  However, the detailing on the crown is awfully nice, so after its release, the original knitter reclaimed it, cut off the pompom, and now wears it every winter.

This quick lace topper takes just one ball of Deluxe Chunky 100% wool.  120 yards + US size 10 needles and you’re done.  There are 122 (and counting) shades of Deluxe Chunky.  Your LYS can help you find a color that’s perfect for you.

 

Next, the Waving Lace Stole in Deluxe Chunky (pattern link here).

We mentioned Deluxe Chunky’s array of colors for the last pattern, but this one goes in the opposite direction.

It uses color 50004, Pewter Undyed Natural.  The color here is the color of the sheep it came from.  It’s a charming, rustic look that would work well with dresses or blue jeans.

The lace works up quickly on US size 11 (8mm) needles.  Fringe finishes it off.

Wear it wide, or fold it in half for a scarf with a lot of depth.  Fabulous.

 

On to crochet!  Here’s the Ambrosia Scarf in Deluxe Bulky Superwash (pattern link here).

This puff-stitch scarf is worked end to end.  Shorten or lengthen it by changing the number in the beginning chain.  Three colors of Deluxe Bulky Superwash play together – three balls of main color 932 Icy Gray, and one each of 913 Honeydew and 933 Sweatshirt Gray.

Such a sculptural, wrappable, wearable piece.  Very impressive.

 

Finally, the Racing Cowl in Uptown Bulky Amplify (pattern link here).

We’re pushing the boundaries of “lace” here, but this one is so quick and easy. Just one skein of self-striping Uptown Bulky Amplify and a N-15 (10mm) hook make this strikingly colorful piece.

We pulled the cowl down over the shoulders here so you could see how it’s constructed a little better.  Really, it’s back bar half double crochet all the way around, row after row until you feel done.  Super quick, but it gives the finished piece an almost knitted look.  Neat!

In a couple of weeks, we’ll be looking at some fabulous cabled projects in bulky yarn.  They rank among our most popular projects!

Until then, happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Penelope’s Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Penelope’s Cardigan in Deluxe Bulky Superwash (pattern link).

If ever there were weather that called for a big, comfy sweater in 100% bulky wool, this is it.  Say hello to Penelope’s Cardigan.

Amy Gunderson designed this warm and relaxed hug using our Deluxe Bulky Superwash on US size 10 1/2 (6.5mm) needles.  Knitted seamlessly from the top down, this raglan-sleeved long cardi is perfect for a night in.

We hope you bundle up snug and cozy this weekend, with a fun project in your lap and a warm mug by your side.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Suddenly, Gradiently!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, it’s Suddenly, Gradiently! in Deluxe Bulky Superwash.

We loved the way this simple color-changing scarf looked, so we knitted up several options to see how it looked in different colors. It was no hardship.  The pattern is easy enough for a beginner and is worked on US size 10 1/2 needles in our Deluxe Bulky Superwash wool.

I’m a sucker for blues and greens, so the five-color version in those tones really speaks to me.  Those who want to go bolder might try the six-color version, shown in purple, pink, and green.  And those who want something classic and understated can knit the three-color version in shades of white and gray.

We’re not kidding when we say the welting pattern on this is easy.  It’s a four row repeat knitted flat which goes: knit a row, purl a row, purl a row, knit a row.  Great for beginners, or for those who want a project to knit that doesn’t require their full attention.  (I still haven’t gotten to see the latest season of Sherlock; this would be ideal for that!)

As I look at this scarf, I also wonder how it would look with a couple of different colors of a self-shading yarn, like Poems Chunky.   I’ve been searching for the perfect project for our newest color.

Hm.  I think my queue just got longer.

Happy knitting!