free pattern friday – Page 6 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

January 20, 2023January 20, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Elijah

Happy Friday, friends! Our newest free pattern is a sweet, small piece designed with little ones in mind. This week, we bring you the Elijah cardigan made with Deluxe Worsted Superwash!

*Elijah cardigan in Deluxe Worsted Superwash colors 709 Lime Tree, 718 Dusty Blue, and 760 Indigo.*

Deluxe Worsted Superwash is a wonderful yarn for a child’s garment. It’s made of 100% superwash wool, so you can machine wash it in cold water, and even tumble dry it on a low setting. It comes in 67 different colors, so there are endless combinations you can create to express the perfect palette for a budding personality. This pattern calls for (1) skein each of #709 Lime Tree, #718 Dusty Blue, and #760 Indigo for all sizes. You could opt for more rosy hues, something adventurous, or even go off pattern and get multiple colors to rainbow your way through each striped section! No matter what you choose, this cardigan will be a treasured gift for someone else, or a little one of your own.

Another detail that adds room for whimsy, quirk, polished-ness or pizazz is buttons! We love getting to add a touch of personality to top off any project with a good button. For this sample, we used the Prism buttons by Katrinkles, which kind of resemble a compass. It’s a touch of adventure that reminds us of those magical moments where kids will play outside imagining that they are explorers trekking through trees and bushes to fantasized lands.

Elijah cardigan, featuring Prism Buttons by Katrinkles

This easy-rated pattern is worked from the bottom-up in one piece using a subtly textured stripe-sequence. The body is worked flat, then the fronts and back are separated at the armholes and worked separately. The shoulders are joined using the three-needle method, then the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. The button bands and neck edging are picked up and worked flat to wrap the whole thing up. The pattern has schematics to help guide you through the assembly. This is a great project if you’re looking to try a garment for the first time, or want a quick make between other complex pieces, and have a little one in your life to celebrate.

Elijah cardigan, in Deluxe Worsted Superwash is ready for wearing!

We can’t wait to see your version of the Elijah cardigan! Be sure to share it with us on social media. Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.

That’s all for now, happy stitching friends!

January 6, 2023January 16, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Cobbled Cowl

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Today we bring you the Cobbled Cowl (pattern link). This simple accessory works up quickly and has a lovely texture featuring a hazy halo of fibers from the yarn, Nymph.

*Cobbled Cowl made with Nymph in color 110 Lichen.*

Nymph is an irresistibly soft DK weight yarn with a cotton chainette construction and nylon fibers blown through, creating an ethereal effect. It comes in 50 g balls, is made of 84% cotton and 16% polyamide, and is machine washable for easy care. The palette is soft, yet earthy, with a hue to please everyone. To make way for new products, we are saying farewell to Nymph, so be sure to grab it while you can at a deep discount!

The cowl is worked flat from the bottom-up then seamed. The texture is a basic crochet stitch pattern called the Cobbled Stitch, which inspired name for the piece. It’s created by alternating single crochet (sc) and double triple crochet (dtr) across one row, then just single crochet for the next row. The soothing repetition, and no-brainer construction makes it accessible for beginners, and fun for experienced crafters wanting a Netflix-and-stitch project.

*Close up view of the cobbled stitch texture featured in the Cobbled Cowl.*

I hope you love this weeks Free Pattern Friday! Of course, I know that not all readers of this blog crochet, but don’t fret! There are plenty of knit patterns using this beautiful Nymph yarn. The Rosette Cowl is another freebie featuring a simple stitch repeat, or you can kick of 2023 with a larger project, like the January Sweater. Whatever you choose, be sure to share it with us – we love seeing your projects! Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.

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

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

December 16, 2022December 16, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – North Shore Cowl

Happy Free Pattern Friday! If you’re craving a quick and easy knit to work on over the holidays, this is the perfect week for you. Today’s free pattern is the North Shore Cowl, designed by Patty Olson.

A person standing outside looking away from the camera and smiling. They are wearing a black sweater and a hand knit cowl in a cream and blue colorway. — The North Shore Cowl is perfect for a cold winter day

The North Shore Cowl is knit in the round using our Be Wool Multis yarn in the color 208 Monsoon. This color was a new addition to the line in 2022, and I love how the deep blue and green shades pop against the cream background.

Be Wool Multis is a blend of 60% acrylic and 40% wool, and is oh-so-soft and plush in texture. It works up beautifully into blankets, hats, cowls, and more! Each color of Be Wool Multis has a cream base, with splashes of different colors throughout. You can also try pairing it with solid colored Be Wool for even more fun options, as seen in the Kaleidoscope Scarf.

detail shot of a person wearing a hand knit cowl in a cream, blue, and green colorway. — Detail of the texture of the North Shore Cowl

Patty Olson designed the North Shore Cowl for us, and I love this pattern’s simple, beautiful texture. The ‘bow tie’ effect is created using purls and long stitches, which are deceivingly easy to work. The long stitches cinch the fabric, and give the finished cowl an undulating wavy appearance, which is how it got its name.

A person wearing a black sweater and a hand knit cowl in a cream, blue and green colorway — The North Shore Cowl doubled up for maximum coziness!

The simplicity of this accessory makes it incredibly versatile. You can throw it on as you head out the door, and it is sure to pair well with any outfit. Only two skeins are required to complete the cowl, and the final project is long enough to double up for those extra cold days sure to come in January!

A person standing sideways looking at the camera. They are wearing a black sweater and a hand knit cowl in a cream, blue, and green colorway. — The North Shore cowl would make a perfect gift for a loved one!

In my opinion, the best thing about a project like this is just how quickly it works up. It’s perfect for a weekend project for yourself, or a loved one if you’re in need of a last-minute holiday gift. Park yourself on the sofa with some hot cocoa and a favorite movie, and get to knitting! You’ll have the North Shore Cowl completed in no time, and whoever you give this handmade gift to is sure to love it for many years to come.

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

December 2, 2022December 1, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Spearmint Tee

It is Friday and you know what that means – Free Pattern Friday from Universal Yarn!

Today, the Spearmint Tee (pattern link), designed by our outstanding managing director, Yonca Ozbelli. Let’s hear about it in her own words!

A woman wearing pink glasses stands in front of greenery and is wearing a striped top, handknitted using Universal Yarn Truva. — The Spearmint Tee, modeled by our designer and social media extraordinaire, Aubrey.

“This week’s free pattern is inspired by the calm waters of the Aegean Sea, located between Greece and Turkey. The yarn I used was also named after the same region – Truva, which means Troy in Turkish.

We all fell in love with Truva when we saw it at the Italian mill, how can you not? It is 50% cashmere and 50% cotton, the best of two worlds combined to create this heathered, almost rustic-looking yarn. It is soft, squishy, and luxurious. At the same time, it is strong, beautiful, and will defy time, just like the region it was named after.

A detailed back view of a woman wearing pink glasses, also wearing a striped top, handknitted using Universal Yarn Truva. — The heathered, gently marled colors of Truva add dimensionality to the fabric it creates.

Just like many of us, I wanted to create a top-down, easy-to-knit top. To me, that means watching your favorite TV show while knitting. I also wanted it to be a bit more than just a plain top-down garment, so I decided to use two colors and add stripes to my project. This part was easy, the hard part was the decision about the colors! There were many options to choose from, and below are a few of the combinations I considered.

Looking for inspiration? Here are some of Yonca’s favorite color combinations in Truva!

In the end, I decided to use 103 Chambray & 105 Aegean because they reminded me of the greenest hills that overlook the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea.

After settling on the colors, the rest was easy, and I loved the way my project came to life! 😊 I intentionally kept the sleeves short, as I wear a lot of short sleeve sweaters; but you, my fellow knitter, can do whatever you prefer! Long, short, or three-quarter-length sleeves…this is the beautiful part of knitting, you can modify any project to your liking!

A back view of a woman wearing pink glasses, standing in front of greenery and wearing a striped top, handknitted using Universal Yarn Truva. — Cute, relaxed, and simple to style!

I hope you will give this top-down garment a try! It is almost all seasons appropriate, regardless of where you live. I know I will enjoy wearing it all the time – but maybe not in August when it is hot and humid in the Carolinas!”

A woman with pink glasses stands in front of greenery wearing a top handknitted using Universal Yarn Truva. She is also wearing a navy blue jacket. — Wear your Spearmint Tee year-round by layering it up with a jacket during the cooler months!

We hope you enjoy this wonderful pattern. Until next time, happy crafting!
-Yonca

November 18, 2022November 18, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Hanasaku Yoke

It’s that magical day of the week – Free Pattern Friday! Huzzah!

Hanasaku Yoke Sweater in Deluxe Worsted Superwash 719, Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 316, and Colorburst 114

This week, we have a really fun pattern to share with you – the Hanasaku Yoke sweater. This design uses three of our yarns, Deluxe Worsted Superwash for the solid colored base, Bamboo Bloom Handpaints which provides the thick and thin texture in the slip stitch motif, and Colorburst which brings the entire piece together.

Fans of our hugely popular Hanasaku Cowl are going to love this design; we adapted the slip stitch motif to work into a stunning yoke sweater full of color and texture. The simplicity in the textured stitch pattern allows for focus on the yarn, and the pops of color to sing.

Details of the yoke of the Hanasaku Yoke sweater

With Deluxe Worsted Superwash, Colorburst, and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints all being wool-based yarns, the different textures blend together in a harmonious way over the length of the yoke. Slipping stitches with Colorburst held in front creates the horizontal bars between the textured sections. This is one of my favorite details of the Hanasaku Yoke pattern.

The Hanasaku Yoke sweater is worked in the round from the top down. The body and sleeves are separated at the underarm, with the body being worked in the round and the sleeves being worked flat and seamed. Working the body and sleeves in Deluxe Worsted Superwash in soothing stockinette stitch makes for some excellent TV knitting. Perhaps over your Thanksgiving holiday weekend once its time to relax?

Picking colors of yarn for a pattern is probably my favorite thing about knitting, it is so customizable! However, it can also be intimidating, especially with a pattern that uses multiple yarns. I put together a couple of alternative color palettes (seen above) for the Hanasaku Yoke sweater that I think would look just as beautiful as the original sample. With two of the yarns in this pattern being multicolored, your options are virtually endless! I hope you have fun choosing the colors that speak to you.

The Hanasaku Yoke is a wonderful pattern to work on right now, the beautiful colors are sure to brighten up any cold winter day. Have fun knitting, and be sure to share your projects with us on Ravelry and social media. We love seeing what you create!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

October 21, 2022October 21, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Ruby Shawl DK

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today’s free pattern is the Ruby Shawl DK, which combines two colors of beautiful self-shading Colorburst with Deluxe DK Superwash. This is a dynamic shawl perfect for the chilly days ahead!

Ruby Shawl DK in Deluxe DK Superwash 841, Colorburst 106, & Colorburst 119

The Ruby Shawl DK was created based on the original Ruby Shawl pattern, which appeared in the e-book Noda Knits. The original shawl was a popular pattern, and we wanted to give it a fresh, lighter-weight update for the season.

The Ruby Shawl DK was designed by Amy Gunderson, and features a modular construction and bold stripes. This shawl is fantastic for a variety of skill levels, as the stripes worked use just garter and stockinette stitches. The modular construction will offer the beginner knitter a way to advance their skills, and will also keep any seasoned knitter’s interest.

Beautiful stripes created with self-shading Colorburst and Deluxe DK Superwash

What I love most about the Ruby Shawl DK is the gorgeous shifts in color throughout the piece. That is thanks to 65% superwash merino wool / 35% acrylic blend Colorburst. This single-ply yarn has long color shifts that create a stunning array of shades in any project. Two different colors, 106 Earth and Sky, and 119 Bursa were used to bring the Ruby Shawl DK to life. With over 600 yards in each skein, you’re guaranteed to have some leftover yarn. Perhaps you can create a matching hat to go with your shawl?

Colorburst is complimented by workhorse yarn Deluxe DK Superwash. This 100% superwash wool yarn is great for just about any project, and has excellent stitch definition, clearly evident in the Ruby Shawl DK. The warm tone of 841 Pomegranate Heather is lovely for the autumn season, but with an extensive color palette available, you can customize your shawl to best suit your wardrobe.

The best thing about creating your own accessories is the infinite possibilities of wearing them. It is a great way to express your personal style, and show off something you are proud of creating. No matter how you choose to rock your Ruby Shawl DK, I am sure you will get compliments on your hard work!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, and have fun picking out your favorite colors of yarn for this project!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

September 3, 2021September 3, 2021

Free Pattern Friday – Autumn Oak

Happy Free Pattern Friday!

Aubrey looking spectacular in the new Autumn Oak Hat!

It’s September, which means the official end of summer is mere weeks away and the season of all things woolly is upon us. For me, that means hats, hats, and more hats! I’m sure I’ve said this before, but hats are one of my favorite things to design and knit. I love everything about the process – they’re an excellent playground for a variety of techniques, quick to work up, and make wonderful gifts. That’s why I’m thrilled to share my latest design with you: the Autumn Oak Hat (pattern link).

The large leaf motif nods to the rounded lobes of White Oak leaves.

Autumn Oak is knit using plush and cozy Posh Alpaca, a blend of wool, superfine alpaca, and acrylic. This single-ply yarn is a super bulky weight but feels surprisingly light and springy. The palette is full of gorgeous neutrals and autumnal hues, and the colorway that simply sings to my heart is #112 Carotene, used in the Autumn Oak Hat. Orange, especially burnt orange, is perhaps my most favorite color, so I knew I needed to design something with it. This autumnal orange immediately conjured images of brilliant fall foliage, especially that of oak trees.

Fiery, red-orange leaves of a White Oak tree.

The Autumn Oak hat features a singular, large leaf motif that simply pops off the background of reverse stockinette stitch. It is complemented by twiggy lace motifs around the rest of the hat. These elements make this an engaging pattern that offers a bit of a challenge in a small package – again, hats are a perfect playground for learning new skills!

The lace motifs flow elegantly into the crown shaping, making this piece look great at every angle. It’s topped with a fluffy pom pom, and let me tell you, Posh Alpaca makes a really plush and fluffy pom pom!

Even though Posh Alpaca only contains 98 yards, it goes a long way. This hat is just a one-ball project, even with the pom pom. It works up fast, so you can knit one for yourself and for your friends and family in no time! It would look gorgeous knit up in any of the other colors, but I’d love to see versions of it using the colors inspired by trees: #101 Birch, #102, Oak, and #111 Hemlock. Whatever color you choose, you simply can’t go wrong!

I hope you love this hat as much as I loved designing it. Let me know which color you’d choose in the comments!

Until next time, happy crafting!

August 20, 2021August 20, 2021

Free Pattern Friday – Midnight Top

Happy Free Pattern Friday!

Midnight Top in Cotton Supreme DK 718 and Cotton Gold 1097

Today’s free pattern is the Midnight Top, knit using Cotton Supreme DK and Cotton Gold held together. When I designed this top, my inspiration was twinkling stars in the night sky. I grew up in a wooded neighborhood with no street lights, so going out to look at the beautiful stars at night is a childhood memory I cherish, and one that I always find inspiring.

Cotton Supreme DK is a fantastic staple yarn for warm-weather projects. This 100% cotton yarn is easy to work with, buttery-soft, and perfect for the whole family. It works up into a fabric that has gorgeous drape and stitch definition, so we love using it for garment patterns like the Midnight Top. I chose the color 718 Black for this design.

Cotton Gold is a fancy yarn that works up into an ethereal, shimmering fabric. It looks lovely on its own for shawls or stoles that are perfect for an event, like the Golden Fans Shawl and the Phantom Shawlette. When carried along with another yarn, it adds some pizazz to an otherwise plain project. The thread base is made of cotton mixed with gold or silver glitter (depending on your color choice), and has small Payette sequins strung throughout that give this yarn its magical appearance. I chose the color 1097 for this design, which is Black with Silver sequins.

This pattern uses an eyelet stitch repeat, which creates lovely columns of knit stitches and eyelets, resulting in a stretchy, comfortable lace fabric you’ll be happy wearing all day long. If you’re intimidated by lace stitches, don’t fret! The pattern uses a three-stitch repeat, so it is incredibly easy to memorize as you go. Simple neckline shaping, and an identical front and back make this a very suitable project for the advanced beginner as well as more seasoned knitters.

I often think about the versatility of pieces I design. The Midnight Top is designed so that it works well for any outfit you choose. Style it with jeans or pants for a more casual look, or throw it over a dress for an evening out! Cotton Supreme DK also makes this piece suitable to be used as a swimsuit cover-up for days at the beach or pool. The fringe detail on the hemline adds just a bit of flair that makes dressing up or down even easier.

I’d love to know, with so many colors of Cotton Supreme DK and Cotton Gold to choose from, what combination would you choose for the Midnight Top?

Happy Crafting!

July 24, 2020July 24, 2020

Free Pattern Friday – Piquilla Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Piquilla Shawl crocheted in Wool Pop (pattern link here). How beautiful is this?

This two-color crochet pattern was named after piquillo peppers, a sweet variety that won’t burn those of us with more delicate taste buds (by which I mean me).