Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
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.
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!
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!
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!
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?
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!
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.
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!
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!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Just Breathe in Flax.
Having a hard time with these hectic days? Facebook feed full of politics? Us too. But you know what? It’s going to be okay. Here’s what we’re going to do.
Take a deep breath, from all the way down in your belly…. then let it out. Feel the tension drain away. Repeat as necessary. If you need a little technical help, close your door and take two minutes at calm.com to relax.
Here’s what else we’re going to do. We’re going to push aside the needs of others, just for a while, and we’re going to hit the LYS. We’re going to chat with the staff, walk the aisles and touch the yarn, and walk out with enough yarn to make something beautiful.
And that’s where this top comes in.
Just Breathe is made in 100% linen Fibra Natura Flax (137yds/50g) in color 105 Natural. Flax softens with each wash, making this a top that will get more and more comfortable with time. The six-row horseshoe lace pattern will require some mindful attention, but not so much that you frown in frustration. Just enough to keep you focused on the moment.
Make a little time away from the worries of the world to knit. Your rewards will be a feeling of refreshment, and a beautiful, versatile lace pullover that will be a favorite for a long time to come.
Happy knitting.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Cherish Baby Blanket in Uptown DK Colors.
We’re in a kid frame of mind today! We recently saw these Blinky Bears knitted by Joan and shared by Yarn Cloud in Virginia.
They’re knitted in Uptown Worsted Tapestry (180yds/100g). Joan made a different bear for every grand kid so there wouldn’t be any arguments. Is that a great idea or what? The pattern is a Yarn Cloud exclusive by Pietra Bietsch and is available on Ravelry at this link.
We love these little guys and gals. We’re also happy to share this extremely simple pattern in Uptown DK Colors (273yds/100g), which also uses the yarn’s color shifts to good advantage. The Cherish Baby Blanket is a very easy four-row repeat perfect for beginners. The self-striping yarn makes the color changes, so there’s no juggling multiple balls and there’s less weaving in ends. A garter stitch border at the edges and a few rows of straight knitting at the top and bottom help keep it from curling.
We’re big fans of self-patterning and self-striping yarns for times when you want to add a little pizzazz to your work without having to fiddle with bobbins. For instance, take a look at the Zig to the Zag Tee.
Solid Uptown DK in 132 Night and Uptown DK Colors in 70319 Jubilee are alternated to make a very modern kid’s tee where the self-striping yarn automatically shifts through red and pink bands – one less thing for the knitter to worry about. They can just concentrate on making a standout top for some little fashionista.
We hope you enjoy the free Cherish Baby Blanket, and think about unique ways you can use self-striping and self-patterning yarns.
Have a great weekend, and happy knitting!