knit – Page 35 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

May 25, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Right Turn Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Right Turn Shawl in Bamboo Pop (pattern link).

This is Amy Gunderson’s design, but she kindly let me name this shawl Right Turn. At the time, it reminded me of a particularly colorful city street. However, I may have mis-named it. Sure, it looks like it veers sharply, but that’s not what the construction actually does.

You start at the top, and do an increase on either side of the center spine and at each edge. So really, it’s more like a gradual broadening of the horizon as you keep going.

Begin with garter stitch, then move to slip-stitch to easily make the two-color stripes. Back to garter, then polish it off with an i-cord bind-off.

It’s made in Bamboo Pop, a great summertime yarn that has 52 colors. It’d be easy to have the stripes accent whatever color is most prevalent in your wardrobe.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

May 18, 2018

Free Pattern Friday – Cassia Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Cassia Cardigan in Good Earth and Good Earth Adorn (pattern link).

The weather here can’t decide what it wants to do. One minute it’s Spring, the next it’s Summer. We need something that will straddle the line.

The Cassia Cardigan is a geat layering piece over a tee.

Knit this piece flat in three pieces – the back, and each half of the front. Then seam and add the solid border (shown in Good Earth cotton/linen).

Although the stitch pattern for this cardi is simple, you’ll still want to pay attention. The detailed decreases that makes this such a striking piece occur at different rates in different places. We’d recommend a read-through before starting to ensure smooth sailing later on. Actually, we always recommend that, but we’re sometimes guilty of diving in first and winging it. It’s just human nature when you have a beautiful project ready to go.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

May 11, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Nebula Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Nebula Stole in Classic Shades Sequins Lite (pattern link here).

I’m a big fan of one-color brioche, but I had never done two-color brioche before tackling Rachel Brockman’s Sweet Little Cowl in Cottonwood. I don’t know why I thought it was going to be hard. It’s not. Rachel shares another brioche pattern here, this one knitted flat.

brioche knit fabric held in place by Jul Designs shawl pin — Shawl pin by Jul Designs

The great thing about the Nebula Stole is that it’s reversible – it’ll look stunning with either side facing out, which opens up a world of possibilities in styling.

The texture in this pattern really help the sequins in Classic Shades Sequins Lite catch the light.

Whether your idea of “nebula” is this…

Composite image of the Crab nebula — The final frontier.

…or this…

…we think this celestial project fits the bill.

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

April 20, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Skipper Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Skipper Sweater in Bella Cash (link here).

Don’t you love it when cute and practical meet? The cute: this striped sweater with its nautical feel, sized from 3 months to 4 years.

Work it in the round up to the armholes, then divide it for shaping. Near the end, you’ll add the ribbed buttonbands at the arms for a nice finish.

The practical: that buttonband! I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to get a wiggly baby’s head through a neckhole, but it’s kind of like… well… I’m just going to leave this here.

Yep, that’s about right.

As a parent, I’m also delighted by the choice of Bella Cash for this. The yarn is machine washable, but with its cashmere content it’s also baby-shower-worthy. Its palette has a good range of pastels and other kid-friendly tones, too.

All in all, this pullover gets the knitter/mom seal of approval. Now if you’ll pardon me, I have to go watch some more cat videos. It just never gets old.

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

April 13, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Sakura Dress

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sakura Dress in Bamboo Pop (pattern link).

There’s just something magical about Spring. It’s hard to resist the call of the outdoors when the first blooms are poking up. It always puts us in mind of growing things, including the little people in our lives.

Enter the Sakura Dress.

This lightweight raglan-style piece is sized from newborn to 4 years. Worked in the round from the bottom up, this sweet little knit uses one of my favorite warm-weather yarns, Bamboo Pop, in two coordinating colors, 215 Soothe and 125 Darling Pink. I’m already thinking of what other colors might work – maybe light green with variegated 209 Jungle Life? Or a lavender with purple? These are the tough decisions, folks!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

April 6, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Spellbinder

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Spellbinder Cowl in Alpaculence (pattern link here).

We named this the Spellbinder for obvious reasons – it’s simply spellbinding.

Knitted pink and gray lace cowl pinned at the shoulder with a pewter shawl pin — Alhambra shawl pin courtesy of Jul Designs (http://juldesigns.com/)

An easy-to-memorize lace pattern in a single skein of soft, shimmering Alpaculence creates a beautiful, lightweight cowl that can easily be dressed up or down.

Be aware: the cowl shown took 92 grams of a 100 gram ball. Be sure your gauge is correct to prevent the possibility of running out of yarn! Swatching in advance can prevent trouble at the finish.

We hope you have a magical weekend.

Happy crafting!

March 30, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Reversible Cable Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Reversible Cable Blanket in Major (pattern link here).

If you’re like me, you love cables. Cables are especially exciting when the fabric is reversible. Yep, the Reversible Cable Blanket really is reversible (did you think we were kidding with that name?).

The backbone of this pattern simply is K2, P2 Rib framed by a border of garter stitch. Every 8 rows two sets of K2, P2 stitches are crossed, creating an elegant cable and reversible fabric. That’s really all there is to this pattern!

Major is a perfect medium for this pattern. It’s quick to knit, incredibly soft, and easy to care for. Major is a bulky weight, 100% acrylic yarn that comes in a generously sized 200-gram ball. There are many beautiful, self-shading colors of Major ranging from perfect pastels to bold, vibrant beauties, and no-nonsense neutrals. It’s no wonder that this yarn is a customer favorite.

Better yet, this pattern is written in two sizes: a baby blanket and throw blanket size. Make one as a gift and another to keep for yourself. After all, you surely deserve to cuddle up to a squishy, cabled blanket.

Have a wonderful, craft-filled weekend!

March 23, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Scruncher Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Scruncher Scarf in Whisper Lace and Cotton Supreme Batik (pattern link here).

I. Love. This. Pattern.

Look at how simple that is. This is exactly the kind of pattern that I would have loved as a beginner, and that I still love when I want to make something beautiful and not look away from binge-watching Jessica Jones.

Because it’s dropped stitches on a larger needle (US size 10 1/2), this pattern makes the yarn go a long way. One ball of Whisper Lace wool/silk for the solid bands, two balls of self-striping Cotton Supreme Batik for the wider variegated stripes.

Because the fabric is so loose and drapey, it scrunches up effortlessly – hence the name Scruncher Scarf. Here it is in an alternate colorway, folded in half and wrapped for an accessory that straddles “skinny” and “full.”

Obviously, this would be a great one to experiment with, colorwise. I’ll bet your LYS could put together some fantastic color combos.

We hope you have an amazing weekend.

Happy crafting!

March 16, 2018June 23, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Left of Center Cardi

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Left of Center Cardi in Little Bird and Little Bird Colors (pattern link here).

How adorable is this?

Sized from 3 months to 2 years, this clever cardi uses machine washable Little Bird and its self-striping sibling Little Bird Colors to easily create a bright little jacket for baby.

The front and back are knit flat, as are the sleeves. Then, they’re seamed together.

Add the edging, and your favorite buttons, and you’re ready to go.

What a cute little cardi for Spring!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

March 9, 2018

Free Pattern Friday – Hazy Hat and Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Hazy Hat and Pullover set in Uptown Worsted Mist (pattern link here).

I actually have a lot of thoughts about this pattern, because

1) I love cables, and

2) I heard the “colorful language” around here as the pattern swelled to 4… 5… and finally to 9 pages. That’s what happens with extended sizing (although we don’t really consider it “extended”), and full charts and written instructions.

The consensus is that it was worth it.