Tag: kit

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Day 5 of Winter – Series 4 Edition

This is part 5 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.

Few things are more comforting than cuddling up with a good book while warmed by the heat of a fireplace. Growing up, I spent so many winter days doing just that. I would devour book after book, with the pages illuminated by the light of the fire, and it’s something I miss dearly about my childhood home. For the fifth installment of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection, I wanted to create a design that conjures the comfort of the days when I could sit by the fire. The result? The Chimney Socks.
The Chimney Socks are cozy house socks that feature graphic colorwork and a knit-purl texture to match. The socks are knit using two colors of 100% wool, Deluxe DK Superwash. I chose #848 Coral Heather and #839 Smoke Heather to emulate billows of smoke emerging from a brick chimney.
The cuff features tidy twisted ribbing in grey. It is followed by a pretty stranded colorwork motif that reminds me of little houses. Then, the same motif is transformed into a textural pattern for the foot. The toes are knit using the contrast color to balance out the cuff and leg of the pattern.
The Chimney Socks are knit from the cuff down. They feature an Eye of Partridge heel flap and gusset, creating a sturdy sock with a perfect fit. I love how quickly these socks knit up. As someone with second sock syndrome, heavier socks are perfect for me because they knit up quickly. They also make great beginner socks for the very same reason. Plus, they are just ridiculously cozy. I have multiple pairs of DK-weight socks and I get so much wear out of them during the winter.
These socks feature an Eye of Partridge heel with a gusset.
You know what else is great about this kit? It includes enough yarn to knit two pairs of socks! Simply reverse the main color and contrast color for a coordinating set. It’s perfect for giving a gift to yourself and to a loved one!
Remember, you can find the versions of the Chimney Socks 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!

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Day 1 of Winter – Series 4 Edition

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.

Remember, you can find the both versions of the Boreal Hat 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!
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Iluvia Shawl – A Dona Color Kit

We’re introducing a new Dona Color Kit in the Soothe colorway, the Iluvia Shawl. Our Dona Color Kits include a pattern and a curated selection of colors of Fibra Natura Dona. Dona is a 100% superwash extra fine merino yarn that gives beautiful stitch definition. We offer 5 different color kits, each one comprised of 6 colors that all look fantastic as a group.

  • Iluvia Shawl – Dona Soothe Kit
When I was prompted to design a shawl for the Soothe Kit, I knew I wanted to design something that felt gentle and graceful. Upon receiving the skeins of Dona to work with, the soft blue and green shades immediately made me think of nature. It has always been a big source of inspiration for me as designer, and I wanted to take that and roll with it.
texture of a knit shawl
The pitter-patter of rain on a rooftop is a sound that most people find calming. I love to see water wash over rocks in a river or stream, and droplets of dew on the grass during my morning walk is a visual pleasure of the simplest kind. These tiny marvels of the world were my inspiration when I chose stitch patterns for the Iluvia Shawl.

Raindrop inspired stitches
This sampler-style shawl features 5 different stitch patterns in sections that use up the bulk of one ball of each color in the kit, with the grey (130 Steely) breaking up each section in gentle garter stitch. In general, the stitch patterns are fairly simple, focused on creating the rain-inspired textures. The shawl decreases on one edge, and pretty tassels adorn each corner.
tassels on a knit shawl
The tassels enhance the flowing water feeling. And they’re just too cute!

Because each stitch pattern is simple and easy to memorize, this becomes quite the meditative knit. Perfect for being worked in the ‘Soothe’ colorway, don’t you think? I hope this becomes a fun and soothing project for many, just as it was for me.
A flat photo of a knit shawl
I snapped this photo for Instagram as I was working on the shawl. I love the way the light hits those stitches!


Many LYS stores stock our Dona Color Kits, contact yours to get the Soothe Kit today!

Happy Crafting!

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Day 11 of Winter – Series 3 Edition

This is part 11 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.

It’s Day 11 in the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. We can’t believe how quickly time seems to be going. Before we dive into today’s kit and post, I’d like to take a moment to highlight that today is Small Business Saturday. We’re right in the midst of what is arguably the biggest shopping period of the year. As you gear up for the holiday season, don’t forget to support your local small businesses. For those of us who love all things yarny, it’s the perfect day to show some support to your local yarn stores. Without them, we wouldn’t be a business at all! Local yarn stores are front and center of the fiber community – offering a space to learn, socialize, and of course, purchase some yummy yarn.

And now, onto today’s kit (which you can find at your local yarn store).
A model wearing a pair of green socks knit using Universal Yarn Bella Cash.
Today we’re excited to introduce the Trinket Socks, knit up in deliciously soft, yet strong, Bella Cash. This is a great all-around yarn, but here in the office, it has become a favorite for knitting socks. Thanks to the superwash merino, they’re machine-washable and easy to care for. Cashmere adds a touch of luxury, and nylon ensures these socks will be strong enough to last for ages. These socks feature a lace and twisted stitch pattern that is addictive to knit, and quick to work up.
Back view of a model wearing a pair of green socks knit using Universal Yarn Bella Cash.
Speaking of twisted stitches – we have a tutorial to share today. If you can recall from Day 7 of Winter (the Mountain Pines Cowl), we shared a tutorial on Right and Left Purl Twists. Today, we’ll be showing you how to knit a regular Right and Left Twist – no purling necessary. Note that for today’s tutorial, we’re using Deluxe Chunky so that it’s easier for you to see.


Right Twist
Start by making a swatch. Swatches are not only crucial for getting the finished item you want but are also great for practicing new stitches.
Work in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. We want to change the position of these two stitches by moving the left stitch over the top of the right stitch.
Begin by knitting two stitches together, but do not drop the stitches from your needle.
As you can see, the two stitches remain on the left needle, but there is now a new stitch on the right needle.
Next, knit the first stitch on the left needle.
Drop both of the stitches from the left needle. You now have completed the Right Twist, and have two new stitches on the right needle. Easy, right?
Left Twist
Work in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. We want to change the position of these two stitches by moving the right stitch over the top of the left stitch.
The first step is to knit only the second stitch on the left needle. This stitch is highlighted in purple. As you can see, the first stitch on the left needle remains in place.
After knitting the second stitch, do not drop the stitches off the left needle.
Next, knit the first stitch on the left needle.
Drop both of the stitches from the left needle. You now have completed the Left Twist, and have two new stitches on the right needle.
Here is what each set of twisted stitches will look like. Notice that the Left Twist leans to the left, and the Right Twist leans to the right. In the Trinket Socks, Right Twists and Left Twists are alternated to create an undulating panel.
The Right and Left Twists are a great addition to your knitting toolbox. You’ll find that they’re quite fun to work, and they can really make a stitch pattern interesting. I hope you’ve found this tutorial to be useful.
A close-up of a green pair of socks knit using Universal Yarn Bella Cash.
Notice those panels of twisted stitches – pretty!
Remember, you can find the Trinket Socks kit, as well as the rest of the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn store. Happy knitting!
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Day 8 of Winter – Series 3 Edition

This is part 8 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
Although Day 8 of Winter’s pattern is a Rachel Brockman design, I asked her if I could write the blog post for this kit. I just love it!
The tubular cast-on for the edge is a nice touch. Rachel demonstrates it in this blog post.
The Peppermint Bark Hat is the perfect (snow)storm of my favorite things: Fair Isle, knitting in the round, and snow.
The kit comes with yarn and color copy of the pattern. You provide needles and notions.
Actually, there’s one more of my favorite things in this kit: Angora Lace. It’s made of superwash fine merino, with nylon for durability and angora for extra softness. This kit features three balls in colors that match the classic holiday treat, peppermint bark!
Perfect pom-pom.
The colors were well-chosen – look at the rich depth in that Merlot! (For tips on achieving the perfect pom-pom, Amy Gunderson has you covered in this blog post from last year’s 12 Days of Christmas).
I mentioned Fair Isle colorwork. Checking the pattern and the inside of the hat, I see that Rachel has designed this so that no more than two colors are used in a row. And flashing back to last year, Rachel has some incredibly useful tips on Fair Isle in the round in this blog post from Series 2 of the 12 Days kits.
She also shares tips on managing your floats in this blog post – very handy at the very tips of those snowflakes. (See why I wanted to write this? I get to gush about the kit, and Rachel’s done all the hard work for me!)
US Size 1 (2.25 mm) needles are used for the ribbing, with US Size 3 (3.25 mm) for the body.
We generally sell out of all the kits every year. Of course, if we happen to wind up with a Peppermint Bark Hat kit when the season is over, and it mysteriously disappears… well, who could blame me? Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn shop. Happy crafting!
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Day 1 of Winter – Series 3 Edition

A cabled scarf knit in Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted, featuring text that says 12 Days of Winter, Day 1, Aspen
This is part 1 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.

It’s that time again – the holidays are just around the corner. Unbelievably, we’re just over halfway through November. For most of us, that means we’re knee-deep in crafty gift-making for loved ones. Here at Universal Yarn headquarters, we’ve been working hard to keep the 12 Days of Winter tradition alive with a beautiful third installment. We’re so excited to share these projects with you. Whether you are looking for a gift for a special yarn-loving person in your life, or for the perfect gift to make, we’ve got you covered.
A cabled scarf knit in Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted
This year we’re kicking off the collection with a scarf designed by the talented Adrienne Larsen. Aspen is one of those perfect, squishy scarves that’s just the right length. It’s beautiful – any worthy recipient would be thrilled to wrap this around their neck.
A cabled scarf knit in Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted
The elaborate cable motif is simpler to work than one might expect, and by the time the scarf is complete, you’ll likely have it memorized. Inspired by quaking aspen trees, each cable in this scarf grows out of another. The result is an interlocking pattern that is sure to turn heads.
Detail of a cabled scarf knit in Deluxe Worsted.
Knit up in Deluxe Worsted, a 100% wool yarn, we’ve selected a neutral color that allows the stitchwork to shine. It’s perfect for men and women alike and is sure to work well with any item in your winter-weather wardrobe. Surprisingly, this pattern takes just two skeins, which are included in the kit along with the pattern. Surely you can finish this one in time for the holidays.
A cabled scarf knit in Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted, rolled up.
We hope you’ll love the Aspen scarf as much as we do, and that you’re equally excited for the other patterns we have coming. Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn shop.
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Day 2 of Winter

Day 2 of Winter brings us the Broken Garter Scarf. The stitch pattern in this scarf will look familiar to anyone who owns or has read a copy of the brilliant Sequence Knitting book by Cecelia Campochiaro. If you don’t own this book yet, run out and buy it!

This book explores the concept of simple knit-purl texture in a variety of thought-provoking ways. There are many chapters in the book, each expounding on previous ideas. It is fascinating! And it’s easy to read through, fall in love with an idea, and just cast on.

The idea of this particular stitch pattern is a concept in the book that is presented in a variety of ways. I cast on several times with different combinations of knit and purl columns until I finally settled on one that felt right. It’s dead simple – it’s a one row repeat!

That is how the Broken Garter Scarf was born. I wanted to create a project easy to knit that was giftable for women and men alike. Just two balls of Deluxe Worsted Superwash and a few evenings of mindless knitting, and this scarf can be yours.

You can find this pattern, from Series 1, Day 2 of our 12 Days of Winter collection here (link).

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Dona Color Kits – Blue Color Shift Hat and Mitts

You’ve got everyone else covered for the holidays, but what do YOU want?

dona-color-kits-rainbow-blog

Did you get a gift certificate to your LYS?  Need something to point to for that well-meaning relative?  You know the one – they want to do right, but then they panic and get you a bunch of random skeins from a grab bag.  Sure, it’s the thought that counts, but when you say “you shouldn’t have!” maybe you’d rather not mean it.  It’s so much easier to point at a color kit and discreetly clear your throat.

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