hat – Page 8 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

December 18, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Santa Hat

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, the Holiday Santa Hat by Michael del Vecchio!

Originally designed for Classic Worsted Holiday, this would look great in any worsted weight yarn. Naturally you’re not limited to red and white – be a psychedelic Santa if you want! – but we do have recommendations in our solid color worsted weight yarns.

Uptown Worsted has 312 Racecar Red and 302 White Glow.

Deluxe Worsted has 3691 Christmas Red and 12270 Natural.

Deluxe Worsted Superwash has 738 Christmas Red and 728 Pulp.

This pattern is designed to be knit flat, handy for those who aren’t comfortable with circular needles.

I love Michael’s use of bobbles in this pattern to give texture. Make a provisional cast-on and knit the bobbled brim, then attach the red to the cast-on edge and knit the rest of the hat. A festive pom-pom finishes it off. I’m still backed up on my holiday knitting, so I might just use a Luxury Fur Pom-Pom to save time rather than making my own.

Wishing you a festive holiday season – and happy knitting!

November 21, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Coffee Beans and Sugar Cubes

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Coffee Beans and Sugar Cubes.

Two hats that can be completed with one ball of each color of Uptown Bulky 100% anti-pilling acrylic (100g/87yds). Cute! Knit on size 11 needles, these go quickly and are a good way to practice your Fair Isle.

I’m loving the color, too. That Uptown Bulky 416 Iron coordinates well with 421, Coral. The coral is at the forefront of style at the moment – Sherwin Williams just picked Coral Reef as their color of the year. Pretty!

We hope you enjoy this satisfying quick project. Happy knitting!

October 16, 2014October 16, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Celebrate Autumn Flora with Deluxe

It’s Throwback Thursday!

We’re not throwing back that far today, just a couple of years. But it’s the perfect time of year to highlight the free e-book Autumn Flora with Deluxe.

This e-book features eight patterns perfect for staying toasty, all using the Deluxe family of 100% wool.

All the patterns below are part of this cozy collection of colorwork and cables. Enjoy!

Pattern: Wraparound Leaves Beret and Mitts

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12176 Teal Viper – 1 ball (MC)

• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (CC)

Pattern: Sheaves of Wheat Reversible Scarf

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 3704 Gold Spice – 2 balls

Pattern: Poplar Beret

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12182 Gold Spice – 1 ball (A)

Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted LP

• 06 Harvest – 1 ball (B)

Pattern: Felted Leaf

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 1 ball will make multiple felted leaves

Pattern: Big Leaf Mittens

Yarn: Renew Wool (Substitute Deluxe DK Superwash)

• 101 Sand – 1 ball (MC)
• 107 Cedar – 1 ball (CC1)
• 113 Garnet – 1 ball (CC2)

Pattern: Stranded Seed Pillow

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 91901 Oatmeal Heather – 2 balls (MC)
• 3749 Forest – 1 ball (CC)

(There’s a gorgeous cabled edge on this one!)

Pattern: Autumn Leaves Cap

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 71601 Blue Ombre – 1 ball (A)
• 12501 Oatmeal Heather – 1 ball (B)

• 3649 Forest Green – 1 ball (C)
• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (D)
• 91477 Red Oak – 1 ball (E)
• 12188 Heather – 1 ball (F)
• 12180 Eggplant – 1 ball (G)
• 12282 Hunter Green – 1 ball (H)
• 12181 Bronze Brown – 1 ball (I)

October 3, 2014October 3, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Go-Go! Hats

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Or should we say Free Patterns Friday? Because today, we have a quartet of toppers: the Go-Go! Hats.

Four different styles in one yarn, Uptown Worsted 100% anti-pilling acrylic. You can see how well the yarn lets the stitch patterns show through.

What really makes these hats, though, is the colorful fluffball topper on each of them. Those are our Luxury Fur Pom-Poms. They’re very handy for finishing off a garment that may need something a little more polished than a yarn pom-pom. Each pom-pom has a string attached to let you tie it right on to your work. Easy-peasy!

I’m not sure which of these is my favorite. I guess it partially depends on whether I’m in the mood for knit or crochet. For myself, I’m leaning toward the Lace Beanie on the lower right. Then again, the Honeycomb Ski Cap (with the pink pom-pom) would also be fun to make. Decisions, decisions.

Which one’s your favorite?

September 5, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Superwash hats!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, a little love for both the knitters and the crocheters! Both use Deluxe Worsted Superwash (220yds/100g), the popular machine washable version of our Deluxe line of wools.

First, the knitted Here and There Hat. Amy Gunderson uses right and left twists to create colorful slanting columns up the length of this cap. A Luxury Fur Pom-Pom tops it off with an extra pop of color. I love these pom-poms. They’re pre-made with an attached thread that you can just tie onto your work.

Next, the crocheted Parfait Hat. Two colors of Deluxe Worsted Superwash topped off with a Luxury Fur Pom-Pom. Adorable! I tried this one on, and it looked really cute. Sometimes it’s hard not to steal the garments for myself!

On the other hand, making my own would be another excuse to crochet, and that’s always a good thing.

Happy crafting!

August 22, 2014August 22, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Idyll Hat and Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Idyll Hat and Cowl in Ariana.

We just got a new yarn in, and as so often happens, we got super excited and had to make something new! Ariana (100g/91yds) is a unique yarn. It’s a kind of a mesh tube made of bamboo with a squishy polyamide filling. Based just on the pictures I’d seen, I knew it would have excellent stitch definition, but I wasn’t expecting it to be so soft to the touch. I’m always up for a bulky-weight squeezable yarn!

The pattern is both written and charted, and works up quickly on US size 10 needles (size 9 for the hat). Maybe my “to knit” list is getting too long, but I don’t care, this is getting added. There’s always room for a super-soft hat and cowl!

August 8, 2014August 8, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Little Boy’s Bomber Cap

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Little Boy’s Bomber Cap in Classic Shades.

Yesterday’s self-shading scarf and hat in Poems got us thinking of other self-shading projects! This adorable kid’s hat is worked flat on straight needles using Classic Shades, a self-shading wool/acrylic blend. With 197 yards to a skein of Classic Shades, this is easily a one-ball project with plenty left over.

The bomber cap is also part of Classic Shades Kids, a book of toddler and kid projects featuring Classic Shades. We just had to set this project free for everybody to try. Isn’t it fascinating how a colorful yarn selection can change the entire look of a project?

I’m already thinking about how this hat would look in different colors. Jeweltones? Neons? Hmmm…

August 7, 2014August 7, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Bohemian Hat and Scarf

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, the Bohemian Hat and Scarf set in Poems!

This is a pattern near and dear to my heart. When a friend overseas (hi, Cheryl!) wanted to learn to knit, I made her a care package of this pattern, US size 8 (5mm) circular needles, and enough Poems 100% wool to make the set. I wanted her to learn on a good quality yarn, and in my experience, self-shading yarn is a special treat for a beginning knitter. It’s something about the anticipation of seeing what color is going to come next that motivates a newer knitter to keep going, even through any frustration or mistakes.

The scarf is an incredibly easy starting point into the world of knitting. Cast on 220 stitches, knit every row, then cast off. Boom, you’ve made a beautiful striped scarf. From there, it’s not a great leap in skills to be able to make the hat and you’re ready to step out in style.

This would be a great set for Classic Shades wool/acrylic blend, as well. The yardage on Classic Shades is excellent, making it another great choice for the beginning knitter who wants to dive in to a colorful project.

Cheryl’s still knitting, having moved on to shawls and other more advanced projects. Next I need to send this pattern and some Poems to another friend in New England. I’m converting all my friends into knitters, one ball of yarn at a time!

March 14, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Starglow Ski Cap

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, we share the Starglow Ski Cap in Little Bird. Little Bird is a smooth and soft 100% acrylic perfect for kid designs like this Fair Isle hat. We love the border around the brim that coordinates with the tassels!

This free pattern is one we’ve waited a little while to share. The one color of Little Bird we had not yet received from our mill was gray. Yesterday, we received it (and a lot of other goodies). For this pattern, the lack of one color could be a problem, but it’s also an opportunity for reflection.

Often when we see a pattern made up, we only want it in the color shown. And that’s fine – sometimes, we just fall in love with something exactly as it is. But sometimes, it’s healthy to stretch our imaginations and see it in other ways. What would you do to make this pattern your own?

December 13, 2013February 5, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Wicked Fur

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

I don’t know about you, but I’m nowhere near being done on my holiday stitching. At the same time, I’m ready for a break. Today’s free pattern fits the bill.

The Faux-ret takes one skein of Deluxe Chunky 100% wool and one skein of Wicked Fur and works up in a flash. The contrasting brim makes it a little more visually interesting than your basic hat, but it’s the addition of our super-soft Wicked Fur that takes it to the next level. This is going to be my mindless knitting that takes me away from all the other projects and cares I have this time of year. And I’ll feel like a million bucks when I wear it out and about.

If my friends are very lucky, they might get one of their own for the holidays. But no promises!

Here’s hoping your days are merry and bright. Happy knitting!