This is part 1 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
In all of the madness that 2020 has had to offer, I’m amazed by how quickly it is passing by. We’re already well into mid-November and the holidays are just around the corner. For the fourth year in a row, we are absolutely thrilled to share that we are offering twelve wintry kits available exclusively through your local yarn store. Right now, local yarn stores need our support more than ever, so we hope all of the kits we reveal over the next twelve days will have you sprinting to yours! And with that said, let me introduce you to the first kit in the collection: the Boreal Hat!
The Boreal Hat in the Lilac option.
This year our palette for the kits took inspiration from the soft pastels of frost and the rich green boughs of evergreen trees. In the case of the Boreal Hat, I took inspiration from imagery of the northern lights glimmering in the sky above the spruces and firs of the boreal forests.
Northern Lights Over Boreal Forest, photograph by Ingo Arndt
The a striking colorwork motif is an 8-stitch repeat that is rhythmic to knit. It does require a little concentration to make sure you’re on track from row to row, but it also isn’t overly complex and the results are well worth the effort.
The Boreal Hat in the Icy Blue option.
Yarn management is a breeze in this cozy accessory. Although the hat uses three colors, only two colors are used on any given row. The floats are no longer than three stitches wide, so there is also no need to trap your floats. All of the crown shaping is worked using a single color, so you also don’t need to incorporate shaping into the colorwork section. If you’re interested in some colorwork tips and tricks, don’t miss my blog post from Series 2 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection.
Crown shaping is simple in this hat.
There are two versions of this kit for you to choose from: Lilac and Icy Blue. Both versions use one of my favorite yarns, Kingston Tweed. This rustic yet soft yarn blends wool, alpaca, and viscose. The result is a beautiful yarn with a slight halo that’s perfect for textural and colorwork projects. It’s lightweight but retains warmth, so it’s perfect for wintry projects.
The brim of this hat is knit in a contrast color and features K2, P1 Ribbing.
The Icy Blue version of the kit comes with a skein each of colors #110 Beryl, #114 Serpentine, and #111 Shale. The Lilac version comes in colors #107 Quartz, #114 Serpentine, and #102 Calcite. Honestly, I’m not sure which version I like more. The muted, frosty colors in each version pop beautifully against the deep forest green. The Boreal Hat kit would be a great last-minute gift for a loved one, or for yourself.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Perpendicular crocheted in Lina (pattern link here).
Perpendicular made its debut in the e-book Lina: Every Which Way.
As you can see, we liked it so much we put it on the cover! This mini-collection of designs showcases graphic designs in Lina, a luscious cotton/linen blend.
It’s a joy to crochet with, and because it’s plant fiber, it has the perfect drape for this design. Check out the fabric as it’s flipped over the shoulder!
Perpendicular starts with a single foundation chain. Then you’ll work in the round outward, cutting colors as you change them.
Finish the edge with a puff stitch, and you’ve got a colorful accessory that lets you carry a bit of crocheted joy with you, even when the weather’s warm!
We hope you have a safe and fun weekend.
Happy crafting!
Designs available as a set or individually via Ravelry..
But the design we’re setting free today is the shawl on the cover, Hope Springs.
We took a few extra pictures of this piece here in our studio, to highlight its construction for you. Like how its 3/4 circle shape lets it sit beautifully on the shoulders…
…and what a smooth fabric organic Cottonwood makes. Look at that stitch definition.
Hope Springs is a beautiful sampler, featuring cables, lace, and ribbing.
Designer Amy Gunderson calls for an i-cord bind-off. It’s the perfect finishing touch for this polished piece.
We hope you have a safe and joyous weekend, full of hope and beautiful things.
Happy crafting.
When I was 17, I was lucky enough to go to Majorca (or Mallorca), the Spanish island this top takes its name from.
Yes, it’s that pretty. Couldn’t you just dive right in? No wonder the designer chose this as the inspiration for the gorgeous warm-weather lace top in cotton/linen Lina.
Mmm… Lina. I feel relaxed just looking at it.
Majorca’s lace sails traverse both front and back, as well as each sleeve. A loose V-neck keeps this light and comfortable.
And those bell-shaped sleeves! So many beautiful touches on this piece.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to dive in.
Have a relaxed, safe, wonderful weekend. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Flouncy Fringe Tank in Luxor (pattern link here).
Everybody say hi to Talya!
Hi, Talya!
Talya is the daughter of Yonca, our sales director here at Universal Yarn. When Talya spotted a ready-to-wear top in a shop, she asked her mom for one. But not just like it. With this change, and that change… pretty soon, it’s a new pattern!
Yonca used Fibra Natura Luxor, a sleek mercerized 100% Egyptian Giza cotton.
The bright colors make details like the stripe at the neckline and side seam really pop!
And that fringe is so cute!!
Really, the only thing better than a handmade gift is making a gift for someone who really appreciates it. And Talya does!
We hope you have a great weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Blue Star Cardigan in Luxor (pattern link here).
We have designer Edie Eckman to thank for today’s crocheted beauty! Edie’s responsible for some truly stunning knit and crochet designs for us, like Branscombe from our newest Kingston Tweed collection.
Sized from XS to 4X, her Blue Star Cardigan is a classic crocheted piece in mercerized Fibra Natura Luxor Egyptian cotton.
This sweater body is crocheted flat in one piece from the bottom up. The front and back are separated at the underarms. Sleeves are worked flat and sewn in.
The pattern is intended for intermediate crocheters with the ability to work shaping while maintaining a color stitch pattern.
There’s no need to cut the color after each row – just carry it up. Edie Eckman has a great video on how to work this technique:
We hope you enjoy this lovely crocheted cardigan.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Striped Lily Tee in Cotton True Sport (pattern link here).
Today’s free pattern was formerly part of kids’ collection Cotton True Kids.
It’s an e-book of sweet knits for kids from toddlers up to kid size 12, in our lightweight Cotton True Sport.
We love this yarn, not just for kid knits but for accessories and adult pieces, like the crocheted Citron Scarf…
or the free lacy Kaye Pullover…
…and also consistent favorites like Amy Gunderson’s Rocked, which we all knitted along with a few years ago.
We hope you enjoy this new kid-friendly summertime top.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Euphoric in Pix and Whisper Lace (pattern link here).
There’s a lot going on here, but designer Amy Gunderson made it all work together.
Alternate colorway: Pix 103 Paisley, Whisper Lace 109 Amethyst
Eyelets, stockinette, and garter stripe…
Whee!
Little “sproings” of fringe at the edges…
Twirl!
And a generous 70″ length, considering this takes just one ball each of Pix and Whisper Lace!
Change it up!
Plus, check out how the pattern changes 3/4 of the way across the row. This is a fun one to make and to wear!
Formerly part of e-book Happy Sock Shawls, we’re delighted to set Euphoric free today.
We hope you find something to feel euphoric about this weekend.
Happy crafting!
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought I’d make a confession. I have a new love in my life, and it’s Fibra Natura Ravello. One of our new spring yarns, this is quickly becoming a favorite (I know, I shouldn’t pick favorites!). It’s a blend of cotton, extra-fine merino wool, and recycled cashmere, making it a fabulous yarn for multi-season garments and accessories. Ravello is soft, drapey, and has a subtle halo. These qualities are pretty irresistible!
Ravello in 104 Soft Clay
I’ve been having so much fun designing with this yarn. So, just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re introducing the Ciri shawl. This is a large, asymmetrical shawl knit in two coordinating colors that nod towards Valentine’s Day without being obvious.
The main color is 108 Tuscan Pepper, a rich burgundy that shows off the lace beautifully. It is paired with 104 Soft Clay as the contrast color. After years of resisting pink, I’ve recently become more and more drawn to warm, less saturated shades of pink. Swaths of lace in the main color are interrupted by garter stitch stripes that are worked with the contrast color. It is finished with a crochet picot bind-off that adds a touch of romance. Ciri is knit on the bias, creating an asymmetrical shape. It begins at the tip and slowly increases to the widest edge. The shape and loose gauge make a drapey fabric you’ll love to wear. Each end of the shawl gently spirals downward when you place it over your shoulders.
This shawl is quite large. You can wrap it around your neck multiple times for maximum coziness.
Just look at that picot trim and gorgeous drape – we’re smitten!
Whether you’re knitting this for your Galentine, Valentine, or yourself, the Ciri shawl is the perfect cast-on this week.
Gardenia is knit is 101 Ocean Fog.
Oh, and just in case you’re looking for a little more Ravello inspiration, don’t forget about Gardenia. Lace and delicate cables would make this sweet little hat another lovely Valentine’s Day project, especially knit up in 106 Malbec or 107 Balet Slipper.
Top: 106 Malbec Bottom, left to right: 107 Balet Slipper and 104 Soft Clay
We hope you have a wonderful holiday – filled with chocolate, yarn, and your favorite people!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Groove knit in Dona (pattern link here).
Groove was formerly a pay-only pattern, and part of e-book Dona 2.0. We’re delighted to set it free!
Groove has it all – pockets, coordinating buttons and a generous hood. This modern beauty is worked from the top down, and uses Barbara Walker’s Simultaneous Set-in Sleeves.
Dona L-R: 138 Olive, 137 Lily Pad, 133 Blue Hint, 130 Steely, 134 Glacier, 132 Alabaster
Often when I see something bright, my impulse is to want to tone it down, go more neutral and cool, like one the tones featured in our Soothe Dona Kit, above
But this sweater looks so good bright, and Dona’s jeweltones are so saturated, I think designer Tori Gurbisz was right on the money picking a full-voiced color.
Dona is a favorite of designers, including our own design team. We’ll be back later on with an in-depth look at brand new Dona e-book Elegant Ease.
Until then, have a great weekend – and happy crafting!
