Deluxe DK Tweed – Universal Yarn Creative Network

December 30, 2022January 16, 2023

Flash Pattern Friday – Blue Spruce Socks

A pair of socks lays flat with string lights, balls of yarn, and knitting needles. The socks have blue spruce tree designs on a white back ground with brown accents.

It’s the last Flash Pattern Friday of the year! This weekend only, we have a special treat that is completely free!

*The Blue Spruce Socks are a blend of sophisticated, rustic, and cozy with their cute design, subtle textural elements, and tweedy nubs throughout*.

On the last Friday of the month, we temporarily make one of our paid patterns free! Today, we’re getting snuggly with the Blue Spruce Socks, made in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash (Ravelry link here).

*Make a statement that will never go out of style with this classic yarn and colorwork combination.*

Originally, this pattern was published as part of the 2017 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 1. This inaugural collection launched a beloved tradition of pattern releases for the winter season, which is now running 6 years strong. Of the 12 patterns from the first year, the Blue Spruce Socks have the highest amount of projects made on Ravelry, and we love them all. In fact, we hope to see many more made, now that the pattern is free for the weekend!

*Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash comes in 20 dazzling different colors.*

The yarn called for is our Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash, a soft and springy yarn with a classic look. It’s made of 90% superwash wool, 3% viscose, and 7% acrylic, making it easy to care for and durable. This yarn is a wonderful choice for the Blue Spruce Socks – but it’s also a lovely choice for any project! Some other popular makes are the Moor hat, or pieces from the Rustic and Refined collection.

*With such thoughtful details, like the band of colorwork before the toe, and seamless finish, these socks are set to be a favorite for both comfort and style.*

What better way to kick off the new year, than with a sweet pair of socks? As you bid farewell to 2022 and let new resolutions guide you into 2023, try out a project that will keep your feet comfy and cozy as they walk you through this next chapter.

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

January 28, 2019August 9, 2019

Monday Motivation – Mod Tiles Cardi

Image of portion of crocheted cardigan. Text reads Monday Motivation.

Need a little push into the week? Want something pretty or challenging to inspire you toward your next project? Welcome to Monday Motivation!

Today, we’re highlighting the Mod Tiles Cardi (free pattern here). As I write this, the team is freshly back from VKLive in New York. We had a blast talking with folks and seeing what’s new in the world of fiber. And, in the case of this cardi, getting schooled.

We partnered with Yarn Bazaar in Ewing, NJ, to share booth space and display goods. The owner, Jo Ellen, said, “you know, you should bring that crocheted cardi that was a Free Pattern Friday recently.”

We love this cardi… now. When we first saw it folded on the corner of a desk here in the office, we were less enthusiastic. It wasn’t until someone here put it on that we said, “Wow!” So bringing it to a show? We weren’t sure.

Well, the lesson here is “trust your LYS” because Jo Ellen was right. The crocheters at VKLive immediately saw its fabulousness. They. Went. Bananas for this cardi.

And really, up close, it’s easy to see why. It uses Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash for standout colors that also blend just a bit, thanks to the complementary-toned flecks in each ball.

Motifs are open at the edges to let the top you’re wearing beneath it peek through, and really bring your outfit together. And look at those long spike single crochet stitches running through the center of each motif!

The whole thing is written, charted, and contains a schematic. Make each of the flower motifs separately (great on the go work!) and then join together. It’s sized from Small/Medium to 3X/4X/5X. There’s something to love for everyone here.

Have a fantastic week, and try to challenge yourself with something new, just for you!

November 18, 2018November 19, 2019

Day 12 of Winter – Series 2 Edition

This is part 12 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 2 Edition.

Day 12 – can you believe it? Today we reveal the final installment of the Universal Yarn 12 Days of Winter Kit Collections – Series 2! Say hello to the Solstice Shawl.

Can I be honest? I am really proud of this design – in my opinion, it’s one of my best designs and I sincerely hope you love it.

This isn’t a very complicated design, but what I feel proud of is the balance of simplicity and intricacy in the piece. This shawl combines cables, stripes, and intarsia. It is worked from tip to tip, starting and finishing with the same number of stitches (just two!). Finally, it’s finished with a very simple contrast color border.

Part of what makes this project special is the yarn used: Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash. I love this yarn. It’s rustic and the tweedy nubs add interest to every type of pattern – from simple garter to cables, lace, and stranded colorwork. (If you need convincing, just take a look at the recent collection in this yarn, Rustic & Refined).

I’m keeping this post short and sweet, but before I sign off, thank you’s are in order! Like last year we had a really wonderful time putting this collection together. It is a team effort, for sure. So thanks to everyone on our team for putting in so much hard work! And thank you so much for supporting our company, your local yarn shops, and for following our posts for this collection. We appreciate it so much!

Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kit patterns on Ravelry.

November 13, 2017December 2, 2020

Day 1 of Winter

Over the next 12 days, we’re releasing a series of kits designed by the Universal Yarn Design Team. It’s a cozy, wintry collection of accessories that make perfect gifts–for yourself and your loved ones. To accompany the kits, we’d like to share a blog post each day. This series will highlight special aspects of each pattern and include inspiration, tips, tricks, and a few tutorials. For Day 1, we’re introducing the Blue Spruce Socks in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved evergreens and conifers. I’m not sure if it’s because of their fragrant needles and bark, or if it’s because their beautiful colors brought me joy during long and endlessly grey winters. Whatever the reason—I’ve always been drawn to them, so it’s no surprise that I designed the Blue Spruce Socks for our 12 Days of Winter collection.

These socks are warm, cozy, and a joy to knit. If you aren’t a fan of stranded colorwork, don’t fret! The Blue Spruce motif is achieved through slipped stitches. One color is carried at a time and only the stitches requiring the working yarn are knit—the rest are simply slipped purlwise. It requires twice as many rows, but the overall effect is very similar to the appearance of stranded knitting.

In addition to colorwork, the small details make this project ever so special. It features a 1×1 Twisted Rib cuff and an Eye of Partridge heel. My favorite detail is the slip-stitch stripe just before the contrasting-color toes.

You can find this kit, Day 1 of our 12 Days of Winter collection here.

January 25, 2017

Rocking Moto Jackets

You can read through the entire tale of the moto jackets on previous blog posts here, here, here, and here. It took a few near all-nighters, but the moto jackets got finished by my goal of TNNA last weekend. Yay!

Here are myself and Yonca wearing them in the booth:

I love Yonca's choice of red zippers! — I love Yonca’s choice of red zippers!

For those who aren’t familiar with TNNA, it stands for “The National Needlearts Association” and is our industry trade show. The winter show took place in San Jose just this past weekend. It’s an opportunity for our LYS customers to swing by our booth and see all our new yarns, colors, and designs. We love meeting customers in person – thanks to everyone who attended!

After returning from our long weekend, Heather kindly snapped some detail shots of the jackets.

Each jacket has 5 zippers - that was 10 total zippers to shorten. Whew! — Each jacket has 5 zippers – that was 10 total zippers to shorten. Whew!

My pop of color is on the inside of my jacket in the form of teal lining. Mmmm.

I really do love this pattern complete with details like these pleats. They're both stylish and functional, allowing for ease of movement in the back and shoulder area of the wearer. — I really do love this pattern that includes details like these pleats. They’re both stylish and functional, allowing for ease of movement in the back and shoulder area of the wearer.

The gray contrast fabric at the waistband, elbow patches, and a few other locations is a wool blend that was purchased.

It's amazing what a difference the details can make! — It’s amazing what a difference the details can make!

Next time, I’m going to be back at the rigid heddle loom with some of our Ready to Dye yarn and some experimentation!

November 23, 2016November 23, 2016

Weaving Wednesdays – Herringbone Sampler

I’m pretty excited about this current weaving project. For years now, I’ve wanted to weave my own fabric for a custom-sewn jacket. And finally, I’m going to make it happen. In fact, I’m making two of them! Yonca, our sales director (and my boss) caught wind of my plan and requested a jacket for her own. You be able to find us at next January’s TNNA in our matching jackets.

Years ago, I sewed a moto jacket from this Burda pattern.

Here I am wearing my version, circa 2009 or so.

I’ve been wanting to weave with our Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash ever since we introduced it earlier this year, and I decided this would be the perfect project for it. I toyed around with a few ideas for the type of weaving draft I’d use, but in the end I decided on a herringbone tweed. I love the idea of classic herringbone and tweed modernized in the ultra-cool moto jacket.

Before beginning, I knew I need to make a sample of my woven fabric. I mean, if I’m going to be weaving yards upon yards of fabric for two jackets, I need to know I’m going to like it, right? I was also having trouble deciding on colors, and saw this as a perfect example to introduce a little plaid into my tweed and herringbone.

First, I selected five colors from the Deluxe DK palette that I’d been considering:

Next, I set out to warp my loom with a section in each color. I read that it’s a good idea to use a denser sett (ends per inch) when weaving twill, so that’s what I did. For a DK weight yarn such as Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash, I would normally weave with a 10 dent reed. But for this project, I opted for a 12 dent.

I’m using a four harness loom which makes weaving twill a breeze. But with if you have a rigid heddle loom, with the use of pick-up sticks this is totally achievable.

As you can see, my warp has 5 different colors. I also wove with the same 5 colors to see how they all interacted with one another. I found it interesting that the same 2 colors played differently depending in which was warp and which was weft. The color that is the warp (in this particular twill) shows as being more dominant that the weft.

It’s nice to do a “practice” piece of weaving that I’ll actually use and wear!

The colors that I ultimately selected for my jacket are the two that I would have picked anyway, but I’m so glad I did this exercise. It also gave Yonca a chance to see the different colors so she could make her choice as well.

Stay tuned for more herringbone twill and moto jackets!