Our 2024 Crafting Goals

We hope you accomplished all the crafting goals that you set out for in 2023, but if not, 2024 is a new opportunity! Our team has gathered together to come up with exciting personal crafting goals for the new year, and we want to hear yours as well. We invite you to take a peek below to check our teams aspirations for the year ahead!

Aubrey: “In 2024, I hope to get back into doing more hand embroidery on knitwear and ready-to-wear clothing! I loved designing the Verbena Pullover and getting to do the hand embroidery on that sample, so it would be exciting to expand my knowledge of hand embroidering on knits this year. We have some yarns in our line that will work fabulously for this, like Magnolia. This fingering weight yarn is delicate enough to show off complex embroidery designs and has a silky-smooth finish. Embroidery adds a touch of uniqueness to your projects or your everyday clothes, and the customization element makes them feel extra special and artistic.”

Ashley Jane: “I am a crocheter, but I have been taking on more and more knit projects. This year, my big resolutions are to try some new projects that would help me grow my knitting skills! First up, I want to try out the Forager Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman. They feature some beautiful lacework, which I have yet to try, so I am very excited about them. These socks call for Filly, which is a blend of 46% cotton, 33% superwash merino, 12% polyamide, and 9% PBT. It comes in 6 self-shading hues that are perfect for springtime. I think the color choices, along with the open lace design will make for a perfect warm-weather pair.

The other skill I want to try is cables, so I want to make myself the Carillon sweater, designed by Aubrey Busek Gray. I adore the twisting design on the front, and the overall elegance of this piece, which is enhanced by the 100% wool yarn, Deluxe Worsted. This yarn is available in over 80 colors, some of which are natural, undyed marvels. While the cabling may be a new challenge for me, I think the hardest part of this sweater will be choosing a favorite color!”

Afifa: “I knit my very first pair of socks last year and am now obsessed and want to hone my sock-knitting skills. I am excited to work on the Tempera Socks designed by Aubrey Busek. I love the combination of stripes and lacework in this pattern. The pattern is designed for Uni Merino, a blend of soft superwash merino wool and nylon, perfect for socks. With the wide range of shades available, the potential color combinations are endless. Here’s to having a drawer full of hand-knit socks by the end of the year!”

Robert: “As someone who never crafted much before my time here, 2023 was full of trying new things. As 2024 continues, I would like to take more time to weave and crochet, as I find these crafts relaxing. Universal Yarn has a beautiful display of yarns, but I am eyeing Zesty Sock for a few squares on the Zoom Loom.”

Zesty Sock

We want to hear from you! What are your crafting goals for 2024? Let us know in the comments below.

We love to see customer projects! Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see the creativity that exists in the crafting community. Plus, use #universalyarn when using our yarn for a chance to be shared in stories or on our feed!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert

Rico Holiday Kits: Embroidery, Cross Stitch, and Macramé

An image of a Christmas Tree with macramé candy canes is shown with a rad banner and text that reads "Rico Holiday Kits: Embroidery, Cross Stitch, and Macramé."

This holiday season, we are celebrating makers of all kinds with new kits from Rico Design. If you’re curious about cross-stitch, excited for embroidery, or if you’re experiencing a bit of Macramé mania, then you’re in for a treat! Each kit has various holiday themes, ranging from traditional to yuletide so there is truly something for every maker.

The embroidery kits, as seen above in the Rico Design Christmas Roses Embroidery Kit, all come with pre-drawn fabrics and the materials needed to create the perfect picture. This includes the pre-printed fabric, embroidery thread, frame, embroidery needle, and instructions. This is a wonderful way to dive into a new skill if you haven’t tried embroidery before. Or, if you are already an embroidery enthusiast, this kit is a great option for some quick gift-making for friends or loved-ones.

The counted cross stitch kits have instructions for a decorative motif in various winter designs, like this adorable small house. Each one includes a unique frame, as well as the embroidery thread, needle, counting fabric, and instructions for creating the motif. The one shown here is the Rico Design Small House Cross Stitch Kit, which also comes in medium and large sizes! To create the image, you line up your ‘counting fabric’ in the frame, which will have small perforations in a grid. You will then follow the instructional guide to count over to specific locations in the grid to place your crisscross stitches. If tracking placement and counting isn’t your thing, keep an eye out for the “pre-drawn” note on the listings for the embroidery versions of these cozy Christmas homes (small, medium, large). Embroidery does use different stitches, which will have a final appearance distinct from cross stitch, but the overall image will capture the same holiday cheer.

The macramé kits are all made to explore simple techniques to create ornament or gift tag-sized pieces, like the above Rico Design Fir Trees Macramé Kit, which uses simple knots and angled trimming to create this trendy tree tag. Some other adorable projects to try include a using a wrapping technique in the Candy Canes Macramé Kit, more intricate knots in the Elf Macramé Kit, placing knots around a frame in the Star Macramé Kit, and lastly, combining knots, trimming, and a bead accessory to make the sweet Angels Macramé Kit. Each kit offers ways to learn new skills while making home accents or gifts for friends and family to cherish.

Which kind of crafting kit will be right for you? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Making!
Ashley Jane