Tag: knit

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Yarn Spotlight: Rico Design Creative Melange Chunky

Hello crafters! As we’re entering the autumn season, all of us at Universal Yarn are thinking about cool weather projects, and the cozy yarns we want to make them in. We recently brought in Creative Melange Chunky from German brand Rico Design, and I thought today was a great opportunity to give a bit of a spotlight to this new and colorful yarn.

Creative Melange Chunky is a plump yarn packed full of stunning color that self-shades as you knit, crochet, or weave. Comprised of virgin wool and acrylic, this yarn is incredibly soft thanks to the springy wool and plush single-ply construction. Quite pleasant to work with, it is well suited to both complex and simple stitch patterns, and makes for unique garments and accessories you’ll treasure for years to come.

This yarn comes in 50g skeins priced at $8.00 each on our web store, making it a great choice for smaller projects like hats and cowls in addition to adding variety for colorwork projects! I must admit, I fell in love with this yarn when I first saw it. The possibilities are virtually endless; there are so many different ways to incorporate a self-shading yarn into a design and create very unique projects! In fact, I am already planning a design of my own for Creative Melange!

Sweater 952 – free pattern from Rico Design

For a free pattern option, we have this downloadable PDF for Sweater 952 (shown above)- a ribbed stitch pullover with balloon style sleeves. Although Rico Design may not have the most *creative* names for their patterns, they always make fashion-forward designs that still feel extremely wearable. I love how this sweater’s shape shows off the yarn’s ability to retain structure, but still look soft and cuddly. Since the yarn self-shades as you work, a simple design like this is often the best way to enhance the yarn’s naural beauty.

Triangular Shawl 768

For accessory knitters, this paid pattern for Triangular Shawl 768 is stunning. The textural stitch pattern really shows off the stripes the yarn makes as you knit. A wide, triangle-style shawl like this is perfect for styling in many different ways. This shawl is quite wide (about 90″), so it is a perfect design for wrapping around your neck and snuggling up on cold days, and since Creative Melange is chunky weight, it works up quickly!

Jacket 781

The last of our new pattern options for Creative Melange Chunky is Jacket 781. This outerwear design is perfect for layering, and the cables on the sleeves show off the incredible stitch definition that this yarn has. You can also see from this pattern to the previous ones just how broad the available color range is! We currently have 20 colors in stock, everything from a grayscale to bright options like this one pictured (#058) featuring green and blue shades. Although I love bright colors and typically fall for pinks and reds, some of the more dark and earthy tones we have (see below photo) really catch my eye. They are beautiful in a different way than the brighter colors, but would also pair quite easily with other autumn and winter wardrobe staples.

The other amazing news is that Creative Melange Chunky is a fabulous substitute yarn for our now discontinued Classic Shades Frenzy! For favorite patterns like the Abari Pullover, simply substitute Creative Melange where Classic Shades Frenzy is called for. Do be mindful when substituting that Frenzy came in 100g skeins, while Creative Melange comes in 50g skeins, so you’ll need to adjust the required amount of yarn for the difference.

Closeup image of the Abari Pullover, where Creative Melange could be substituted for discontinued Frenzy

Do you like self-shading yarns like Creative Melange Chunky? Tell me what you’d make with it for the coming winter season!

Happy Crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Grand Day Out

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Grand Day Out in Cinema (pattern link here).

Here’s another beautiful and practical sweater from Yonca Ozbelli! We called this Grand Day Out because of how versatile it is, ready to be dressed up or down for your next great adventure!

Yonca loves to knit and crochet. She’s the head honcho here at Universal Yarn, but she’s not officially part of the Design Team. That means when Yonca designs something, it’s because she wants to make something for herself, or someone in her family. Then we here in the office see it, and love it, and Yonca graciously agrees to share her design with us.

It’s no wonder Yonca wanted to create this. Grand Day Out is the slouchy, timeless pullover we all need. It’s worked in Cinema, a soft single with a touch of cashmere. (Tip: Cinema is currently on sale on our site!)

Can’t you just feel it? This is a super soft sweater, worked in the round from the bottom up, with A-line shaping at the waist.

Raglan shaping ensures a smooth fit on the sleeves. When you’re making this sweater, we recommend choosing a size that’s two to three inches greater than your natural bust, for a relaxed silhouette.

Such a great pullover to wrap yourself up in.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend. Happy crafting!

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Pattern Spotlight: Lipsky

Happy Thursday! Today I’d like to spotlight a pattern I designed that was recently published in the Deep Fall 2021 issue of Knitty. It’s bright, a little quirky, and a ton of fun to knit. Say hello to Lipsky!

I designed the Lipsky (pattern link) vest in late June and knit this baby in less than two weeks. Sure, part of this was due to a fast-approaching deadline, but it’s also because it’s simply a fast project! Amy Singer and Jillian Moreno, the geniuses behind Knitty, asked me to create a vest that’s perfect for layering. While vests have traditionally been worn in more preppy or minimalist fashion, the Lipsky vest is quirky and contemporary. A leading trend this fall is the statement vest and Lipsky celebrates it by incorporating other trends such as color blocking and checkerboard patterning.

I chose DK-weight Fibra Natura Dona for the project. This plump and super soft extra fine superwash merino yarn features a broad palette of deeply saturated colors. I whipped up a quick sketch with colored pencils, but I wasn’t confident in my color selection. I asked Talya, the creator of our videos, TikTok content, and Reels, to give me her opinion. Together we came up with the combination of #102 Daffodil, #119 Clear Day, #127 Real Teal, #114 Camellia, and #135 Buttercup.

This vest incorporates a variety of colorwork techniques. You’ll pretty much get to dip your toes into everything! It includes intarsia worked flat and in the round, stranded knitting, and a touch of stripes. Don’t be intimidated, though! The intarsia is completely uncomplicated and the stranded colorwork is a breeze to memorize.

One concern I had while designing was that the intarsia portions at the top would be jarring with the different colors used in the stranded colorwork portion. My solution to this was simple – pepper the edgings with the teal and vibrant pink, and add stripes of sky blue and yellow to the hem. Incorporating these colors together in this manner helped to create harmony throughout the piece. It’s those details that really make me love this vest.

While I tend to be partial to seams because of the structure and longevity they provide, I know that many knitters prefer seamless, top-down sweaters. I wanted to give the people what they want, so I switched up my norm and designed Lipsky to be top-down and seamless. You start at the shoulders, working the back first and then returning to the shoulders to pick up stitches for the left and right front. After you complete the neck and armhole shaping, you’ll join the fronts and back, then work in the round for the rest of the vest.

And there you have it – a quick rundown of my new pattern! I’ve been so excited to share this project with you and hope you find it to be just as playful and fun as I do!

Do you love statement projects like this one? What colors would you choose? Let me know in the comments!

Happy crafting!

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Flash Pattern Friday – Pilger

It’s Flash Pattern Friday!

On the last Friday of the month, we take a beautiful paid pattern and set it free for a limited time on Ravelry. Today, it’s Pilger in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash (Ravelry link)!

Pilger is part of e-book Rustic and Refined, a collection of classic knits in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash. There’s a lot to love in this collection, but we picked Pilger for today because the weather has finally turned cooler here, and it’s a classic autumnal look.

Pilger is definitely not a boring project! An assortment of textures at the color-blocked hems become twisted cables in the sleeves and body (no cable needle required) to keep your mind engaged.

In addition to being a pleasant knit, Pilger is very wearable. Sized men’s XS to 4X, the sweater features clever design touches that further elevate the piece, like that handsome shawl collar. Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash provides a the perfect touch of rustic charm, as well as making this beautiful pullover easy to care for.

To get Pilger free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase. Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of 9/26 and we’ll get you taken care of.

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Simple Scrubbies

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

image of two light pink bath scrubbies, one knitted and one crocheted

Today, Simple Scrubbies in Rico Design Creative Bubble (pattern link here).

If you’ve ever needed a quick housewarming gift, this is for you. We’ve created two little scrubbies that are easy, practical, and look cute!

Knitted in Creative Bubble 003 Pink

One scrubbie is knitted (shown above), and the other is crocheted (shown below).

Crocheted in Creative Bubble 003 Pink

We made both of these from a single ball of Creative Bubble, a super-fun yarn from Rico Designs that’s perfect for bath and clean-up projects.

So many colors…

If you’re going to make both of these from a single ball, be sure you get gauge. It wasn’t quite “yarn chicken” getting both from one ball, but there wasn’t a ton left over, either!

We love the cute little double-crochet loop for easy hanging!

Personally, we’d make a couple in different colors and include a bar of handcrafted soap. Such a thoughtful gift!

Three skeins of Creative Bubble yarn with a crochet hook

And of course, there’s no reason you have to wait to give it as a gift. You deserve some fun too, don’t you? Make a couple of Simple Scrubbies for yourself as a treat!

Happy crafting!

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A Crocheter’s take on Elevated Essentials

Hello There!

This week I’m taking a look at our fabulous Elevated Essentials collection. From the moment I saw the photos I instantly fell head-over-heels in love. In a word, the overall style is Luxe. With chic neutral tones and texture-rich detailing in each of the finished pieces, it’s easy to see why the descriptor used in the collection name was “Elevated.”

Carillon in Deluxe Worsted Color 40002 Millet

The yarn used for each of these looks is our Deluxe Worsted and Deluxe Worsted Naturals, which are 100% Wool and come at the affordable price point of $8.25 per skein. Based on the natural composition and budget-friendly qualities, this yarn is deemed the essential yarn to have in your stash.

Deluxe Worsted in 12501 Oatmeal Heather

My favorite sweater is the Eilhart pullover, which gives me some serious craft envy when I see all of the gorgeous cables. Crochet has some ways to mimic this iconic look but when I consider this particular pattern I just don’t think it would compare.

Eilhart in Deluxe Worsted colors 40001 cream, 40003 Musket and 12180 Eggplant

The pattern has a hypnotic flow to it, creating a sleek silhouette drawing the eye down, while intertwining in the center and sides perfectly. The other design element that I love is the deep contrast in color for the sleeves and neck. I would normally think of this style as playful like a baseball tee, but instead it stripped away notions of playtime and had me ready to grab some needles and get to work. The ribbing is enough to be interesting but doesn’t compete with the stunning bodywork. In fact, I feel it further frames the intense center detailing with the drastic color change and subtle texture.

Compare the cables seen above with the crochet ones below. It just wouldn’t quite do the trick.

Image: Blog Post “How to Crochet Cables + Good Beginner Crochet Patterns”by Heather Mann on We Crochet

Let’s not get too caught up in the could you/couldn’t you debate though, and instead continue on to appreciate another marvelous piece.

Moria in Deluxe Worsted 12502 Smoke Heather and 1900 Ebony

The Moria Cape – the name alone stirs up my nerd-brain into a fantastical frenzy, but the design is simply breathtaking. The play on color creates a unique optical illusion that feels as whimsical as its namesake, and don’t event get me started on the perpetual Cable-Envy that this collection offers.

Moria in Deluxe Worsted 12502 Smoke Heather and 1900 Ebony

Well that’s all for now. The next time I’m back it may very well be to announce that the Crochet Corner is being abandoned for a Novice Knit Nook!

Happy Stitching Y’all, Ashley Jane

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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!

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Homestead Tank – Musings on the ‘Cottagecore’ trend

Hello crafters! I wanted to start this week off by discussing a really fun topic: design inspiration. In particular, the growing Cottagecore trend, and how it inspired the Homestead Tank free pattern.

It is no secret that the past year has been tough on every single one of us. From spending way more time at home than we’re used to, to the general effects of the pandemic on society, we’re all searching for bright spots in our day-to-day. Over the last year, many people have either picked up or returned to their knitting hobby, as it is mindful and often quite stress relieving. I find myself consistently drawn to simple silhouettes and rhythmic stitch patterns for new designs, as I feel these elements are well suited to the needs of today’s knitter.

Homestead Tank in Flax color 12 Tarragon

When I set out to design a tank top pattern using our Flax yarn, I knew I would use lacy stitches, and a breezy, oversized silhouette. The color Tarragon (12) was my first choice for the design, as it is a beautiful shade of green that I think would flatter anyone. Combining these ideas with the inspiration of the Cottagecore trend, the Homestead Tank was born.

So, what is Cottagecore? It is an aesthetic I have always been drawn to, rather unknowingly, because I love feminine and romantic styles inspired by nature. Over the last couple years, we have seen it blossom into a widespread trend for both fashion and homewares. And what a lovely trend it is! Cottagecore is rooted in an idealized view of countryside living. It is an excuse to ‘escape’ our chaotic modern reality, and be inspired by a slower, more thoughtful way of life that is enriched with the beauty of nature and handmade things.

Image from Good Housekeeping article ‘What is Cottagecore?’
Homestead Tank in Flax color 12 Tarragon

The Homestead Tank embraces the idyllic beauty of the Cottagecore inspiration. A breezy and boxy silhouette allows you to easily layer this tank top over a flowy dress and run through a field of wildflowers. The stitch pattern is reminiscent of a checkerboard plaid, but with eyelets worked throughout. Although the pattern does use lace stitches, it is a simple and easy-to-memorize repeat. A v-shaped neckline is perfect for catching some warm rays of sunshine on your skin as you enjoy a relaxing afternoon by a lake.

Our Fibra Natura Flax yarn is made of 100% linen fiber that softens every time you wash it. This yarn’s gentle and natural beauty is suited to both textured and lace stitches. Wonderful for garments and accessories for warm weather, there are 34 colors of Flax to choose from. Even if the Tarragon green color (12) isn’t your favorite, I am sure you’ll find a shade that you love. I think Lilac (07) would be a great alternative color choice for this pattern, because it reminds me of a bouquet of Lavender from an herb garden; just perfect for the Cottagecore inspiration.

Image from : The Spruce article on Cottagecore

The Homestead Tank is a seamed top, so you’ll make the front and two back pieces separately. I am especially fond of seamed knitted garments, as they add strength and structure to the finished piece, ensuring it’ll keep its shape through many years of wash and wear. Part of the Cottagecore trend is embracing a slower way of life, and making handmade garments falls perfectly into that. When you knit something for yourself, you’ll treasure it in a way you never would something store bought!

My favorite part of this design is the button up back. Pick up and knit the placket after you seam the pieces together, and hand sew the buttons on upon completion. We chose handcrafted wooden buttons from Katrinkles for this design. I alternated the buttons between the Sunburst and Palm designs down the placket, to add a bit of whimsy to the overall look.

Image from Pinterest

Whether you love being outside, making delicious treats to eat, or crafting something for yourself like the Homestead Tank, the Cottagecore trend has something for you. In a high stress world like ours, it is an invitation to indulge in all things slow, mindful, and natural. Try baking bread, plant lovely flowers on your patio, or take some time to knit or crochet outdoors. Even these small things can give you a little bit of the ‘escapism’ that Cottagecore encourages.

What would you do to bring this aesthetic into your day-to-day life? Tell us in the comments!

Happy Crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Cobblesocks

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Image of plain stockinette aqua variegated socks with light ribbing on leg

Today, Cobblesocks knit in Fibra Natura Cobblestone (pattern link here).

I want to talk about this pattern, but first things first – I want to talk about my dad!

Image of 85-year-old man standing below highway sign reading "Interstate 85"

Here he is, posing underneath a highway sign for I-85 because this year he turned 85 years old (sorry, Dad, I know you still say you’re 39). His friends brought a ladder out and had him stand up on it for the photo opportunity, and because my father is nothing if not fun-loving, he gamely climbed up and posed.

Dad is definitely knit-worthy. He loves hand-made socks, so when we first introduced Cobblestone, my immediate thought upon touching it was, “I’ll bet this would make great socks for my father.” I was right.

closeup image of texture of Cobblestone yarn balls

Cobblestone is 100% superwash 2-ply merino. One ply is variegated, and the other is solid. It gives a handspun appearance and homey feel to the yarn. And since it’s superwash, I don’t have to make my father wash his socks in the sink.

So I cast on using US size 4 (3.5mm) needles, and these just flew by! The pattern is toe-up, with a slip stitch heel flap, then basic ribbing for the leg. Dad is happy with simple stitch patterns, although I did see him wearing his Sweet Dumpling Socks the last time I saw him, so for these, I decided to let the Cobblestone do the patterning. It worked beautifully.

Here’s the other nice thing: Cobblestone is BIG. It’s hard to tell from photos, but this is a big beehive ball with 612 yards on it. When I was done with Dad’s socks, there was enough for another full-sized project. I thought about making myself a Gallinule hat…

Woman wearing blue knitted hat
Gallinule free pattern link here.

…but instead I think I’ll make myself a matching pair of Cobblesocks. I like the idea of symbolically following in my father’s footsteps.

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

Image of seated man's lower legs. He is pulling up the cuff of his knitted socks.
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Free Pattern Friday – Holiday Jay

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Holiday Jay in Cotton True Sport (pattern link here).

Have you ever had a favorite sweater that you loved, and were sorry to put away when the weather warmed up? That’s the origin of today’s beauty, the Holiday Jay.

Our Managing Director Yonca Ozbelli was in love with the Jay Sweater, designed by Rachel Brockman in Kingston Tweed.

Shown in Kingston Tweed 110 Beryl (MC) and  102 Calcite (CC).

Yonca’s not alone – this sweater’s gotten a lot of love from the knitting community. We were so taken with it that we had to make more than one .

Shown in Kingston Tweed 101 Talc (MC) and 108 Amethyst (CC).

When temperatures started to climb here in North Carolina, Yonca decided to adapt the pattern in one of our favorite summertime yarns, Cotton True Sport.

She opted to call this short-sleeved version the Holiday Jay, because the colors and Fair Isle yoke feel very wintry. We love it when Yonca wears her “Christmas in July” sweater – it’s inspirational to see all the ways we can make a pattern just right for our own tastes and circumstances!

Shown in Cotton True Sport 102 Bright Red (MC) and 117 Bright White (CC)

Like the original Jay sweater, Holiday Jay is sized from XS through 5X. Yonca’s chosen red and white combo is delightful, although this would look equally striking in many other bright/dark contrasting combos. Maybe 112 Boysenberry and 118 Marshmallow, to make a bubbly cobbler a la mode version?

…and just like that, I’ve talked myself into another project. Can’t wait to cast on!

Have a great weekend, and stay cool.

Happy crafting!