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.
This is part 11 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s already Day 11 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. Time is flying by, and we’re all feeling the holiday spirit. Today we’re revealing a beautiful project: the Inkberry Shawl, knit in soft, plush Donnina. This shawl uses low-contrast, semi-complementary colors #215 Purple Beet and #227 Balsam for a beautiful effect.
This shawl was designed by the talented Jennifer Sadler. She has such a knack for creating designs that are welcoming for knitters of all skill levels, and this shawl is no exception. It’s a soothing project full of garter, simple stripes, and airy eyelets. I asked Jennifer to share a bit about her inspiration and design process. Here is what she had to say:
Garter stripes balance out the blocks of color on each end of this lovely shawl.
“When it comes to knitting during the holidays, I enjoy projects that allow me to knit while watching a holiday movie or enjoying a cup of hot tea or coffee while visiting with family. I wanted to design something that fit that bill, while also being a very cozy and wearable finished object. The Inkberry Shawl is perfect knitting for watching TV or chatting. The long sections of garter stitch are the best for zoning out a bit while still being productive!
We love the generous size of this scarf.
While I love garter stitch, I wanted to add in a bit of texture for both visual and knitting interest. The garter lace stitch I chose is an easy to memorize 4-row repeat. And to make it easier to continue to zone out while knitting this shawl, there are no purls at all!
The asymmetrical triangle shawl shape is hands down my favorite shawl shape. I find it to be the easiest to wear, and a shape that requires hardly any adjustment throughout the day because it lays so nicely. The lovely Donnina yarn, made up of 100% superwash extrafine merino, gives the shawl a bouncy and squishy feel. The finished shawl would make a wonderful gift, or a lovely addition to any wardrobe. My hope is that you enjoy knitting Inkberry while staying cozy this holiday season!”
Wrap the shawl snugly around your shoulders for extra warmth and comfort.
We’re so glad that Jennifer contributed her lovely design to this kit collection. She certainly achieved the goal she set out for when she created this design. I’d love to knit one for myself, and a mindless knit sounds perfect given the crazy year 2020 has been. Despite its generous size, it would knit up surprisingly fast thanks to the simple stitch work.
This is part 6 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s Day 6 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, Series 4. Today, treat yourself to a warm and inviting accessory set knit in luxurious Cashmere Lusso.
Personally, I think hats and mittens are excellent projects for building your skillset. They’re small and manageable but have endless possibilities. If you’re looking for a small project with intricate details, I’m sure you’ll love the Sugar & Sage Set.
The small cables in this pattern consist of ten different types of cables, ranging between two and three stitches wide. They’re easy to work, but it certainly takes some concentration to make sure you’re working the right stitch in all the right places. Don’t let that deter you, though, because the results are well worth the effort.
The cable pattern in both the hat and the mittens includes charts and written instructions. I know some knitters are intimidated by charts, but I encourage you to try and get comfortable with them. Especially in more complex patterns, they can help make things easier to read and to memorize. I think of charts as maps for knitting. Because charts are visual tools, they can help you conceptualize what your fabric will look like as you knit. I shared some useful tips and tricks for staying on track with charts in this blog post (link). Undulating cable panels decorate each mitt.
Each side of the cable panel featured on the hat mirrors the other. I love the way that it looks, but when I was designing the mitts I didn’t want them to replicate the motif perfectly. Instead, I broke the cable motif into two parts, split right down the center. Then I took each half and applied it to the mitts, so the Right and Left mirror one another, too. The result is a coordinating set of sisters in this accessory set.
Each edge of the mitts are worked in K1, P1 Twisted Ribbing.
Knit in Cashmere Lusso, a blend of 50% virgin cashmere and 50% recycled cashmere, the Sugar & Sage Set is decadent. The yarn is incredibly soft and it has excellent stitch definition. This is a yarn shines however you work it: cables, lace, or colorwork, you just can’t go wrong. This kit would be an excellent gift for the knitter in your life who is truly special – that could be you, or it could be a friend!
Crown view of the Sugar & Sage Hat
This kit has three options available: the Sugar & Sage Set (enough yarn for both patterns), the Sugar & Sage Hat, or the Sugar & Sage Mitts. Remember, you can find each version of the Sugar & Sage Kit 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. Happy knitting!
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!
