knit – Page 41 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

October 12, 2016

Free Pattern – Stonefall Poncho

What can make you look forward to hump day? The promise of a free pattern!

Today, the Stonefall Poncho in Major.
If you’ve been following our blog, you know that Major (200g/328yds) is a brand new big, bulky, beautiful yarn that we’re shipping to LYSes as we speak. It’s great for both knit and crochet projects, like the one-ball crochet Zeppelin Scarf at right.

Today’s offering is a bulky weight lacy poncho knit on size 10 needles. It’s worked flat in two pieces, then seamed at the shoulders. Pick up around the neck to finish it off.

This poncho calls for three balls of color 118, Silver Blush. It’s got a hint of pale peachy pink to set off the silver/gray of the darker bands. It reminds me of stones that surprise you with bands of color.

We hope you have a great day, and find a little inspiration in the world around you. Happy crafting!

October 10, 2016

A Week of Major Patterns!

Yes! Our new Major yarn (no pun intended) is here, and we’re shipping it off to LYSes as we speak! We love this yarn. It comes in a big, beautiful, squeezable skein. How big?

Peekaboo! — Amy shows she’s behind Major 100%.

Big. 200g/328yds of bulky self-striping goodness.

We love this yarn. We’ve already had a great time designing with it, as with the Pineapple Peacock Shawl at right. Two balls of Major on aUS Size K-10½ (6.5 mm) hook makes a really dramatic and satisfying piece.

But to really celebrate, we’re sharing a new free pattern in Major every day this week! Today: the Blue Heartstrings Pullover.

Knitted in pieces and seamed, this sweater features crossed cables are repeated on the front and back (back view shown at right).

The yarn quantity given is enough to complete the project for that particular size. However, if you want to be doubly sure to match the striping on the front/back and sleeves, you may wish to purchase an extra ball in order to start at the same place in the color patterning in the yarn ball.

Tune in tomorrow to see what’s next!

Happy crafting!

October 7, 2016July 27, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Briar Rose Capelet

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Briar Rose Capelet in Deluxe Bulky Superwash.

You’re familiar with the story of Briar Rose, right? She’s the girl who was pricked by a spindle and fell asleep for a hundred years. I’m sure many of us who have been bitten by the crafting bug and lost countless hours to projects can relate. Fortunately, this project goes more quickly than Briar Rose’s sleep.

Continue reading “Free Pattern Friday – Briar Rose Capelet”

September 30, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Window Paint Throw

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Window Paint Throw in Adore and Adore Colors.

Cute, right? I love this creative use of self-striping yarn. You start each square at the center, then work your way out to the edge. It ensures that each square will coordinate, but still be different than its neighbor. Despite being a larger piece, this is a great carry-along knit because each square is worked separately and then pieced together.

The pattern calls for two of our newest yarns, Adore and its companion Adore Colors (273yds/100g), a DK-weight blend of soft superwash merino and acrylic that’s perfect for projects like this, that you’ll probably find yourself tossing in the washing machine sometime.

Also on my list to try in Adore Colors: the Beachcomber Blanket pictured at right. It makes such clever use of individual panels stitched together, to be sure those color repeats stay nice and long, rather than thinning out of the width of a blanket.

No matter your plans for the weekend, we hope you take some time to make something beautiful, just for you.

Happy knitting!

September 24, 2016

Check out our knockers!

Greetings from Stitches Texas! We’re having a blast in booth 517, talking to crafters and, okay, maybe doing a little shopping of our own.

However, we want to share something else with you. While we’re at Stitches Texas, we’re showing our knockers to the world!

We speak, of course, of knitted knockers, which we made to support knittedknockers.org. It’s a great organization dedicated to providing knitted prostheses to women who have lost a breast to cancer. For this contest, each vote is one dollar, with proceeds benefitting the organization. It’s a creative way to help people in need.

We entered two pairs in the contest.

First, Sparkle Nation! Designed by Amy Gunderson, these use our 10th anniversary yarn, Universe. There’s a “best branding” category, so we made sure to brand these knockers.

Amy put a little “UY” at the base. We love these fancy sparkly numbers. Frankly, we’d put our knockers up against anybody else’s any day of the week.

But those aren’t the only pair we’ve got on display!

Designer Tori Gurbisz is new to our team, but has instantly fit right in with the Universal family. She designed a pair in Bamboo Pop, complete with frilly Whisper Lace lingerie.

Tori used her pair to make the point that every woman deserves to feel beautiful. The ribboned lace is symbolic of that.

If you’re at Stitches Texas and feel like judging peoples’ knockers, go by the wall and see what’s front and center. Our knockers could always use support, but however you vote, it’s all for a good cause. There are some truly bodacious entries and more than a handful really stand out and demand attention.

If you’re interested in helping, visit http://www.knittedknockers.org for patterns and more.

Happy knitting!

September 23, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – One Side Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the One Side Cowl in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

Recently, we sent some stitching work to a talented local knitter and teacher, Sandy Harris. (Side note about Sandy – she’s also a creator of the knitting game Last Knitter Standing. If you haven’t tried it, you should – it’s a hoot.) When we got Sandy’s project back, we were delighted to also receive this – a new one-skein pattern in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints! She had picked up a skein of the yarn and been inspired. It’s not hard to see why – Steven Be’s custom colorways certainly fire the imagination.

Sandy has created a moebius cowl with judiciously spaced yarn overs for additional pizzazz. This cowl-with-a-twist uses a moebius cast-on, which may be a new technique for some of you. It certainly is for me! With that in mind, our newest designer, Tori Gurbisz, volunteered her hands to show us how it’s done. These photos cover Row 1 of the moebius cast-on in the pattern.

You’re going to wind up with a loop within a loop. Don’t worry, it’s supposed to be kind of “tied” to itself like that. This technique will put a half-twist in your finished cowl.

We hope you get the chance to try something new this weekend. And if you’ve got questions, let us know – we love to help!

Happy knitting!

September 16, 2016September 16, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Interlacement Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Interlacement Sweater in Deluxe Worsted.

The weather’s cooling down, and you know what that means.

https://vine.co/v/eQTpUzPxedi

At last! Sweater weather! Who doesn’t love sweater weather?

Revenge will be mine. — That was a rhetorical question.

Well, we have something pretty and polished for you. The Interlacement Sweater is designed for our Deluxe Worsted 100% wool (220yds/100g), which means it would work equally well in Deluxe Worsted Superwash or Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash if you’re looking for something you can toss in the washing machine.

Knitted flat and seamed, this pattern is written and charted and contains a schematic. The lace inserts are right and left twists – no cable needle required.

We hope you enjoy this lovely project, and that you get to enjoy the Autumn breeze at least once this weekend.

Happy crafting!

corgi-in-sweater — Yes! Sweater weather!!

September 9, 2016August 5, 2019

Free Pattern Friday – Storytime Cardi

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Storytime Cardi in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash.

Is it storytime, then? I think it is!

Once upon a time, there was a yarn named Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash. It was just a bit smaller than its big sibling, Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash. DK wondered, “What can people make with me? I’m littler than you are!”

And DW answered, “Ah, but you’re just right for so many things! Lots of people want a littler yarn for littler people!” And DW was right! People did want DK for kid projects.

Continue reading “Free Pattern Friday – Storytime Cardi”

August 12, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Special Twist Vest

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Special Twist Vest in Classic Shades Frenzy.

The nice thing about having a sales manager who also knits and crochets is that a) she knows what crafters want, and b) sometimes she turns up at the office with amazing designs that we can convince her to share. Here’s Yonca in one of her latest, The Special Twist Vest. It’s another great example of letting the yarn do the colorwork. Classic Shades Frenzy (158yds/100g) has enough variation that the piece shows soft stripes, not rigid ones.

When I saw this from afar, I thought it might be crochet, but it is in fact knitted. Even better, it’s knitted in one big piece! Start at one edge and work sideways, then bind off for the armholes. On the next row, cast on across the bound-off stitches and keep knitting in pattern until you reach the next armhole. After you’re done, go back and pick up the armhole stitches to add the seed stitch border. Then fringe it! A dramatic garment, particularly considering it’s essentially a big rectangle. Well done, Yonca!

We hope you have a fabulous weekend. Happy knitting!

August 5, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Sizzle Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sizzle Scarf in Uptown DK.

We love this! So bright and summery. Two balls of Uptown DK (273yds/100g) in 139 Bright Salmon makes this long crescent-shaped scarf. As fun as this is in one color, can you imagine it in two? It’s knit from the bottom up, so how about switching to a second shade after working the leaf lace?

We hope you have a great weekend, and make every pattern you touch your own.

Happy knitting!