Whether you’re an advanced crocheter looking for a fun sampler, or a beginner (like me!) who wants to practice your technique, this scarf is for you!
You’ll advance your way through airy lace and terrific textures, each bordered with a cute, thin stripe of the Thicket Stitch. Some techniques will include post stitching, shells, back loops, and even working backwards!
Dona’s soft feel and smooth look are beyond compare.
For this pattern, Designer AJ McIntyre used our Fibra Natura Dona. It’s a 100% superwash extrafine merino with a high twist that gives amazing stitch definition. When so much of the design revolves around standout stitches, Dona is the perfect choice!
This pattern is exactly what I need. I want to learn to crochet better, but I keep back-burnering it because I haven’t found quite the perfect project. This sampler will keep me motivated to continue on and try new things in easily accomplished blocks – especially since the end result is so pretty. I can’t wait to start!
We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of learning and love.
This is part 8 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.
I love the winter season because of many things; seasonal drinks and items come back, joy seems to fill the air, and I always have fun shopping for holiday gifts! Another thing that I look forward to each season is winter-themed decorations! From driving by houses that shine brightly with different lights and figurines, to seeing what special and unique decorations each person sets up or creates, it’s clear to me that you can never go wrong with adding a little bit of spice and flair into your home with decorations for the season. Our Trio of Trees designed by Aubrey Busek is the perfect way to add seasonal décor to your home!
Trio of Trees
Let’s take a closer look: the Trio of Trees are made up of three elegant and timeless patterns that can be recycled year after year (which is such a huge plus!). The trio features a Linen Stitch Tree, a Striped Tree, and a Slipped Ornaments Tree. Each tree brings its own unique character to the table and can easily become a staple decoration in your home for the season. Featuring our Cotton Gold yarn as well as our Dona yarn, these two yarns held together and worked up create some magic to get you ready to jump into the winter season!
Slipped Ornament Tree
Each tree uses a different stitch pattern, which is fun because you are getting a “stitch sampler” with each tree you make! The Slipped Ornament Tree is my personal favorite, because it reminds me so much of a classic winter tree that we so often see during this time of the year. In this pattern, a special stitch called a Long Stitch is used. The yarn is wrapped twice around the needle, giving a “draped” effect throughout the tree. The delicate sequins strung through our Cotton Gold yarn creates a gorgeous shimmer that, when incorporated with the saturated colors of Dona, will have your guests do a double take and stop to admire this miniature forest in your home!
Linen Stitch Tree
You know those winter decorations that your family brings out year after year, no matter how “old” it gets? That is exactly what I think about when I see the Linen Stitch Tree. This specific tree instantly sends me back to sweet memories in the winter seasons spent with my family, decorating our home and getting ready for the upcoming events. The minimalist Linen Stitch tree offers a mix and match vibe to your holiday décor. You simply work knit stitches and slip stitches with yarn held in front to create a woven effect and provide texture to the tree.
Striped Tree
Look at how it subtly glistens! The Striped Tree features a stockinette stitch pattern worked all the way up the body. A strand of each Dona and Cotton Gold are held together throughout the tree, and the Dona colors (Blue Hint, Balsam, Alabaster) are changed every four rows. The glimmer from Cotton Gold creates a dream-like aura of snow falling from the sky, which is fitting for the season! Although they are all effortless to make, the Striped Tree is the most minimalist pattern in my opinion because it is just stockinette stitch the whole way up! It is the perfect final addition to the Trio, because it adds the right amount of sophistication while still looking simple.
These trees are each knit in the round from the bottom up. A picot edge is picked up and worked after finishing to create ‘skirts’ on the bottom of each tree edge, and the tree tops are stuffed with poly-fill before finally placing around the Styrofoam bases. Remember to check your gauge! It is so important for accuracy and so it fits in the styrofoam cones properly. They are the perfect addition to your home for this winter season, and will be for years to come! These trees will make your friends, family, and guests feel welcomed in your home, in the holiday spirit.
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 the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!
This is part 1 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, series 5 Edition.
Hello all! 12 Days of Winter is upon us again, and this year marks the 5th year of our kit collection. We’ve gone above and beyond this year to deliver the best kits and patterns possible, and we’ve aimed to showcase as many of our beautiful yarns as we can in the collection. I thoroughly enjoy designing for the 12 Days of Winter because there’s so much variety in designs, all centered around the same thing: the joy of wintertime. I’m a person who loves all things winter and holidays, so I tend to have what feels like endless ideas for these particular projects.
Crystalline Cowl Kit – knit using Dona, Minou, and Universe
For Day 1 of Winter, I designed the Crystalline Cowl. I’m often inspired by nature and color for designs, but in this case, I was inspired by a place I’d love to travel to someday. My absolute ‘dream’ place to visit or even to live would be in the Alsace region of France. This idyllic European region looks like it is the center of a fairytale book series, and I think that would make it such a special place to live. The mixture of the golden lights and the white snowy rooftops in photos of Alsace during winter were my inspiration sources for the Crystalline Cowl.
Image sourced from Travel France Bucket List Crystalline Cowl Side View
Some of the techniques you’ll explore in the Crystalline Cowl pattern are:
knitting in the round
grafting
slipped stitch textures
bobbles
No matter where you live, a hand knit cowl will keep you cozy, warm, and stylish on cold days. One of our newest yarns, Minou , was my first choice for this ‘lights and snow’ inspired design. When we first introduced Minou, we knew it would create an incredible, fuzzy lining for accessories. I decided to make the Crystalline Cowl fully lined with the Minou yarn in the color 101 Borzoi. First, the lining is knit using Minou held on its own. Once you complete that portion of the cowl, you join our Dona yarn in the color 101 Vanilla and begin the ribbed bottom of the cowl body. Dona is a soft and plush superwash extrafine merino yarn, perfect for garments and accessories. This combination of yarns feels like something ideal to wear walking along a charming street of shops on a cold winter day.
Wintertime in Strasbourg, Alsace
Finally, to compliment both of the main yarns, I added glimmering Universe in the color 10-03 Crystal. Universe is a unique, shimmering blend of linen and cotton with a metallic thread wrapped around the base. It adds an ethereal, magical glimmer to any project that reminds me of the reflection of lights on snow. Universe is held with Dona for the main jacquard and bobble pattern worked over the body of the cowl. The cowl is long enough to wear draped over your shoulders, or doubled up for maximum coziness. Once all sections are complete, the lining is flipped inside the main cowl, and the ends are grafted together. Top tip: if you’d like to skip the provisional cast-on and grafting called for in the pattern, you can simply cast on and seam the lining to the main cowl body. There you have it- you’ve made the most squishy, soft, and luxurious feeling accessory ever!
Christmas market in Strasbourg- image sourced from christmas.alsace
I can certainly see someone sporting their Crystalline Cowl while walking around a Christmas market in Strasbourg. Known as the ‘Capitale de Noel’ or Capital of Christmas, Strasbourg is certainly on my wintertime travel bucket list, and I’ll be bringing my Crystalline Cowl with me when I go! Tell us in the comments: what place inspired a knit or crochet project you’ve made?
Crystalline Cowl
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the inspiration for this design, and can’t wait for you to see all of the 12 Days of Winter projects for this year.
Remember, these exclusive kits can be purchased at local yarn store retailers near you. Each kit comes with the pattern, the yarn required to make it, a mini Universal Yarn project bag, and stitch marker. Use our store locator to find your nearest Universal Yarn retailer!
On the last Friday of the month, we take a beautiful paid pattern and set it free for a limited time on Ravelry. Today, it’s Calm Cardigan in Dona (Ravelry link)!
This yummy design was released as part of the Elegant Ease Collection, a set of seven cozy projects perfect for mornings in and evenings out.
Worked with two strands of 100% superwash extrafine merino Dona held together, this duster-length cardigan is luxurious, warm, and incredibly comfortable.
A wealth of thoughtful details, like pockets, belt with belt loops, and coordinating solid colored cuffs and edging make this a perfectly polished design.
To get the Calm Cardigan free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase. Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of 10/31 and we’ll get you taken care of.
We hope you have a safe and festive weekend. Happy crafting!
Happy Thursday! Today I’d like to spotlight a pattern I designed that was recently published in the Deep Fall 2021 issue of Knitty. It’s bright, a little quirky, and a ton of fun to knit. Say hello to Lipsky!
I designed the Lipsky (pattern link) vest in late June and knit this baby in less than two weeks. Sure, part of this was due to a fast-approaching deadline, but it’s also because it’s simply a fast project! Amy Singer and Jillian Moreno, the geniuses behind Knitty, asked me to create a vest that’s perfect for layering. While vests have traditionally been worn in more preppy or minimalist fashion, the Lipsky vest is quirky and contemporary. A leading trend this fall is the statement vest and Lipsky celebrates it by incorporating other trends such as color blocking and checkerboard patterning.
I chose DK-weight Fibra Natura Dona for the project. This plump and super soft extra fine superwash merino yarn features a broad palette of deeply saturated colors. I whipped up a quick sketch with colored pencils, but I wasn’t confident in my color selection. I asked Talya, the creator of our videos, TikTok content, and Reels, to give me her opinion. Together we came up with the combination of #102 Daffodil, #119 Clear Day, #127 Real Teal, #114 Camellia, and #135 Buttercup.
This vest incorporates a variety of colorwork techniques. You’ll pretty much get to dip your toes into everything! It includes intarsia worked flat and in the round, stranded knitting, and a touch of stripes. Don’t be intimidated, though! The intarsia is completely uncomplicated and the stranded colorwork is a breeze to memorize.
One concern I had while designing was that the intarsia portions at the top would be jarring with the different colors used in the stranded colorwork portion. My solution to this was simple – pepper the edgings with the teal and vibrant pink, and add stripes of sky blue and yellow to the hem. Incorporating these colors together in this manner helped to create harmony throughout the piece. It’s those details that really make me love this vest.
While I tend to be partial to seams because of the structure and longevity they provide, I know that many knitters prefer seamless, top-down sweaters. I wanted to give the people what they want, so I switched up my norm and designed Lipsky to be top-down and seamless. You start at the shoulders, working the back first and then returning to the shoulders to pick up stitches for the left and right front. After you complete the neck and armhole shaping, you’ll join the fronts and back, then work in the round for the rest of the vest.
And there you have it – a quick rundown of my new pattern! I’ve been so excited to share this project with you and hope you find it to be just as playful and fun as I do!
Do you love statement projects like this one? What colors would you choose? Let me know in the comments!
Just before the start of 2012 (when I made a New Year’s Resolution to learn to knit), I can recall a moment when I was shopping and suddenly thought “I want to learn to make a sweater.” I can’t recall if it was a particular sweater that inspired me, or if it was simply the notion of creating something both beautiful and functional. Either way, to this day I often find myself inspired by ready-to-wear (RTW) apparel. I think the inspiration goes both ways: RTW designers are inspired by handcrafters, too. When I’m on the go, I snap photos of interesting details, save pins, admire silhouettes, stitch patterns, and more. I’m confident that I’m not alone, too. I can’t say I know a maker who hasn’t been inspired by something they’ve spotted in the wild, whether it’s a specific garment or a current trend.
That seed of inspiration eventually sprouts into unique and interesting designs. Today, I wanted to spotlight a ready-to-wear trend that truly nods to the homegrown handmade items: patchwork and texture blocking. This style lends itself to scrappy projects, playful samplings of stitches, and a lot of room for creative expression. These garments are statement knits and don’t necessarily need to be polished, but they certainly can be. Here are just a few examples from ready-to-wear fashion.
Left to Right: High Snobiety scarf; J. Press cardigan, Line & Dot sweater/skirt set
Perhaps the most notorious textural, patchwork sweater was designed by J.W. Anderson and donned by Harry Styles. This sweater took social media by storm with many fiber artists creating their own versions of it. It was so popular, in fact, that the designer published the pattern (link) so you can make your own. Might I suggest Deluxe Bulky Superwash if you’re so inclined to make your own?
The now iconic J.W. Anderson sweater that has been recreated by thousands of knitters and crocheters!
The now iconic J.W. Anderson sweater that has been recreated by thousands of knitters and crocheters!
Today I’m going to spotlight several sweaters using our yarns that tick all of those boxes. Get ready for a healthy dose of inspiration!
The Street Art Vest is knit using five colors of Dona: #130 Steely (MC), #103 Amber (CC1), #132 Alabaster (CC2), #125 Navy (CC3), & #131 Onyx.
We’ve been seeing knitted vests left and right – so what could be more on point than a color and texture blocked vest? Add an off-centered zipper and the result is truly a statement knit. The Street Art Vest (pattern link) is just the kind of zest design you’d expect from designer Amy Gunderson. In fact – you’ll notice that most of the patterns I’m sharing today are her designs!
One of the most exciting things about these patchwork projects is that they’re essentially sampler projects. It’s hard to get bored! This vest utilizes a combination of intarsia, twisted stitches, cables, and knit-purl textures. Thanks to the superior stitch definition of 100% superwash extra fine merino yarn Dona, the motifs stand out – even in the darkest colors. I love the industrial palette of this project with a dash of yellow to add just the right amount of zest.
Our theme today isn’t strictly about multi-color projects. In fact, monochromatic texture-blocking can look rather elegant. For those who aren’t comfortable sporting boldly colored garments, the single-color variations of this trend are an excellent option. Just take a look at #07 Lace Pullover (pattern link), designed by Amy Gunderson and published in the Fall, 2019 issue of Vogue Knitting magazine. This design also uses Dona and the results are stunning. A breath-taking sampling of lace and twisted ribbing for the trim make this sweater as polished as can be.
Ainsley is knit using four colors of Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash: #912 Ebony (A), #910 Porcelain (B), #913 Smoke (C), & #905 Pine (D).
Ainsley (pattern link) is another exciting design by Amy Gunderson. Much like the Street Art Vest, this design features intarsia and a variety of rich textures. It is knit using Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash – a tweedy, woolly yarn that adds a rustic quality to any project. The relaxed fit gives this piece an androgynous appearance. It’s easy to wear with anything, and the v-neck lends itself to a bit of layering.
Soiree uses Deluxe DK Superwash in colors #861 Blue Rustic, #818 Dusty Blue, 860 Twilight Rustic, & #838 Twilight.
In the Fall, 2020 issue of Vogue Knitting, the patchwork inspiration was in full display in #7 Soiree. We love the cool shades of Deluxe DK Superwash. Bishop sleeves and a funnel neck make this piece especially cozy. Designer Laura Zukaite made bold textural choices for this design. It includes intarsia, chunky cables, fisherman’s rib, garter stitch, classic K2, P2 Ribbing, and lace. You’ll get to exercise all of your knitting skills with this pullover.
My own contribution to this selection of patterns is Lollipop (pattern link), knit in Donnina. This design is perfect if you want to play with color blocking and texture blocking, but it doesn’t fully step into patchwork territory. This candy-colored cutie features two different twisted stitch motifs and a pop of cherry twisted ribbing along the neckline. It’s lightweight, making it perfect for the spring weather we’re all dreaming of.
Those are my picks for patterns that use color, texture, and blocks to create a visually stunning product. How do you feel about this patchwork trend? Do any of these patterns speak to you? We’d love to know!
How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? Some people aren’t a fan of those “Hallmark Holidays,” but personally, I enjoy them. It’s frivolous fun, whether you celebrate by yourself or with someone special. Love it or hate it, we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy the surprise free pattern we’re sharing just in time for Valentine’s Day. Say hello to Galentine (pattern link)!
You can wear the sleeve with the cuffs folded up, or not. Whatever makes you happy!
So, why Galentine? Well, first, how could we not choose a Valentine-related name for such a happy pink sweater? But more importantly, this sweater was designed by our managing director, Yonca, for her daughter, Talya. Mother, daughter, sister, friend – who wouldn’t want to treat their favorite gal-pal to a hand-knit sweater? (Side note: this isn’t the first sweater Yonca has knit for Talya. You might recall the Flouncy Fringe Tank from last year, another cute design!)
We love a good funnel neck sweater.
Talya requested a cozy, oversized pullover with a funnel neck and roomy sleeves that she could scrunch up or fold at the cuffs. And, as you can see, Galentine is just that. We love the funnel neck featured in this design. It’s perfect for keeping you extra warm on these chilly February days.
Dona comes in a variety of beautiful colors, many of which are perfect for Valentine’s Day! Here, Aubrey is holding balls of Dona in colors #108 Red Delicious, #111 Sweet Pea, and #114 Camellia.
Galentine is knit using staff-favorite, Fibra Natura Dona. It’s a dk-weight, 100% extra fine superwash merino wool yarn that is a dream to knit (or crochet). Its plump, smooth, and round texture give it unbeatable stitch definition. Although this pattern is mostly stockinette, the ribbing pops in Dona. Yonca used color #114 Camellia for the design, but Dona boasts a palette of 38 colors so there is truly something for everyone. Personally, if I was opting for a pink version I’d go with #112 Smoky Peach…but my top choice would be #105 Gingerbread – a burnt orange hue I can never resist!
This sweater is knit flat in pieces from the bottom up and seamed. After assembling the body, the neckband stitches are picked up and knit in the round. This is an easy pattern and would make a great first sweater. It’s excellent for virtual knit nights when you might find yourself a little distracted while chatting away with your friends.
So you might be thinking, “there is no way I can knit this before Valentine’s Day”. Of course not, but if you did we’d be super impressed! We primarily named it Galentine because of the delightful pink and its purpose as a gift. This sweater is great no matter when you choose to knit or wear it! However, if you are looking for a Valentine’s Day present, may we suggest the Stavanger project bag (pictured above) by muud? It would make a great last-minute treat for yourself or a loved one.
Stavanger is a crossbody project bag great for taking your WIPs on the go. The top opens with two zippers and inside there is room for yarn, notions, and your project. Earlier I mentioned that Galentine is knit in pieces. This makes the project more portable and there is plenty of room in Stavanger to store your yarn and the piece of the sweater you’re working on. It’s also great for shawl projects and other small accessories. Stavanger comes two colors: black (as shown) and whisky (a lovely brown).
Stavanger features several pockets for storing notions and the inside has plenty of space for your yarn and project.
This is part 12 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
Well, somehow it’s already Day 12 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection! We’ve had so much fun sharing our annual collection of wintry kits with you, and we’re finishing things off with a fabulous little cowl designed by the wonderful Edie Eckman. To sweeten the deal, this kit comes with a pattern for both a knit version and a crochet version, too! You heard me right – whether you’re a knitter, crocheter, or both – this kit is perfection!
Left: Crochet Sugarplum Cowl; Right: Knit Sugarplum Cowl
The Sugarplum Cowls are created using lavish Fibra Natura Dona in colors #130 Steely, #111 Sweet Pea, and #134 Glacier. Dona is a yarn comprised of 100% extra fine superwash merino wool. This yarn boasts superb stitch definition and is an absolute joy to work with.
Crochet Sugarplum Cowl
If you’ve been following us for a while, you may recall that we asked for Edie’s contribution to our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection last year, too. Her Forest Garland also featured a knit and crochet version and was a hit. This year, I presented her with a similar challenge and asked her to share a bit about her design process with me. Here is what she had to say:
“Little design challenges can be good. If we let them, they can stretch our thinking and spark creativity.
A little design challenge is what Universal Yarn presented me with when preparing for this year’s 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection:
· Use three colors · Use no more than one ball each color · Create an accessory with both a knitted version and a crocheted version · Keep it to advanced beginner level skills
Knit Sugarplum Cowl
Having parameters like this makes me have to think more carefully. How can I incorporate and balance the colors, when I can use no more than one ball each? How can I make both a knitted and crocheted version so that they look similar? How do I keep it simple enough for beginners, but interesting enough for more experienced crafters? And maybe most importantly, how I can I make it attractive and wearable?
Left: Crochet Sugarplum Cowl; Right: Knit Sugarplum Cowl
Of course, having a beautiful yarn like Dona helps a lot. Those icy-winter colors and the smooth texture of the yarn enhance stitch definition, no matter what stitch you use. It’s such a great choice for so many types of projects!
For these Sugarplum Cowls, I settled on a chevron pattern, a classic for both crocheters and knitters. The increases and decreases that make the zig-zag pattern keep you on your toes just enough to maintain your interest, but not so much to cause frustration once you get the pattern established. And because it’s made in the round, there are no annoying seams to deal with!
Whether you choose to knit or crochet, I hope you enjoy making your Sugarplum Cowls. I certainly enjoyed the little design challenge.”
Crochet Sugarplum Cowl
I hope you enjoyed hearing about Edie’s design. We love working with her, and you can find even more of her patterns in some of our other yarns on our website.
We sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed following along as we’ve highlighted each kit in the collection. Remember, you can find the Sugarplum Cowls and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store. Click here to find a shop that carries our yarn near you.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Paint a Leaf Vest in Fibra Natura Dona (pattern link here).
This is an Amy Gunderson pattern, formerly found in the Dona Loft Collection.
These bold, graphic knits look great in Dona extrafine merino, with its saturated colors. Its high twist also gives it great stitch definition, which works well in projects like this vest.
The traveling lines are created by working cable crosses. Sized Small to 3X, this is a fun, bright piece to layer for spring or fall.
We hope you have a fantastic, joyful weekend.
Happy crafting!
We’re introducing a new Dona Color Kit in the Soothe colorway, the Iluvia Shawl. Our Dona Color Kits include a pattern and a curated selection of colors of Fibra Natura Dona. Dona is a 100% superwash extra fine merino yarn that gives beautiful stitch definition. We offer 5 different color kits, each one comprised of 6 colors that all look fantastic as a group.
Iluvia Shawl – Dona Soothe Kit
When I was prompted to design a shawl for the Soothe Kit, I knew I wanted to design something that felt gentle and graceful. Upon receiving the skeins of Dona to work with, the soft blue and green shades immediately made me think of nature. It has always been a big source of inspiration for me as designer, and I wanted to take that and roll with it.
The pitter-patter of rain on a rooftop is a sound that most people find calming. I love to see water wash over rocks in a river or stream, and droplets of dew on the grass during my morning walk is a visual pleasure of the simplest kind. These tiny marvels of the world were my inspiration when I chose stitch patterns for the Iluvia Shawl.
Raindrop inspired stitches
This sampler-style shawl features 5 different stitch patterns in sections that use up the bulk of one ball of each color in the kit, with the grey (130 Steely) breaking up each section in gentle garter stitch. In general, the stitch patterns are fairly simple, focused on creating the rain-inspired textures. The shawl decreases on one edge, and pretty tassels adorn each corner.
The tassels enhance the flowing water feeling. And they’re just too cute! Because each stitch pattern is simple and easy to memorize, this becomes quite the meditative knit. Perfect for being worked in the ‘Soothe’ colorway, don’t you think? I hope this becomes a fun and soothing project for many, just as it was for me.
I snapped this photo for Instagram as I was working on the shawl. I love the way the light hits those stitches!
Many LYS stores stock our Dona Color Kits, contact yours to get the Soothe Kit today!
