Free Pattern Friday – Eyelet Skirt

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

And… twirl! This sweet summery skirt is knit in our 100% linen Flax (137yds/50g) and is flattering to a wide variety of body types.

This is a 4 panel skirt knitted flat and seamed, with easy eyelet lace at the flaring hem. This is a good first project in lace as the patterning is worked on right side rows only. The lace is charted, but simple to follow even if you’re not an expert chart reader. Fit is easy in the waist using your choice of drawstring tie or elastic.

We hope you enjoy this bit of lovely linen.

Happy knitting!

March 25, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Spring Rain

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Spring Rain Tank in Alana.

This summery tank is knit in one piece from the bottom up. Work the lower body in the round, then separate at the armholes to work front and back.

See that V-neck? Believe it or not, there is no neck shaping involved. The stretchy lace stitch pattern combined with the drape of viscose blend Alana (158yds/100g) causes the shoulders to naturally fall into place.

Amy Gunderson calls for a Twisted German Cast-On in this pattern, due to its greater flexibility. She says, “The lace pattern is fairly open and stretchy, and I didn’t want it to be constrained by a too-tight cast-on.”

It’s not a hard technique. If you can do a long-tail cast-on, you can do this. I used this recently for a pair of top-down socks and loved it. It’s a Goldilocks cast-on. Not too tight, not too loose, just right. The Knit Witch has a good how-to video on this technique.

We hope you enjoy this free pattern. Happy knitting!

March 18, 2016July 20, 2022

Free Pattern Friday – Starry Road Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Starry Road Scarf in Universe.

Breathtaking, isn’t it? Universe (246yds/50g) is the yarn we created specifically for our tenth anniversary, and it’s unlike anything else out there. A cotton/linen blend held with a metallic strand, wrapped in polyamide for greater strength, it’s perfect for lacy shawls and scarves like the Starry Road Scarf.

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March 11, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Swirling River Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Swirling River Cardigan in Uptown DK.

This is a great light sweater for Spring in a lovely lightweight yarn. Uptown DK (273yds/100g) is 100% anti-pilling machine washable acrylic. Even if you’re a fiber snob, as I confess I sometimes am, you’ll be surprised by just how pleasant it is to work with, and just how nicely it knits up.

This cardi is traditionally constructed, knit in pieces from the bottom up. The collar and button band are picked up and knitted after finishing the garment. The Little Swirl and Big Swirl lace repeats are both written and charted.

We love this sweet piece, perfect for the cusp of the changing seasons. We hope you do too.

Happy knitting!

February 12, 2016February 12, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – I Heart You Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the I Heart You Shawl in Naked Sock.

Me? Oh I have big plans for Valentine’s Day. A horse drawn carriage, a bottle of champagne, and a candlelit dinner on top of the Empire State Building.

I kid. I’m staying home and knitting, spending a quiet evening with my significant other. If you’re keeping it low-key too, here’s a gift from us to you, a great pattern for crafting on what it seems will be a very chilly night.

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February 11, 2016

Free E-book – Hot Hats

Here at Universal Yarn, we woke up to this headline this morning:

5 inches of snow predicted for Charlotte on Monday

Well. We had been looking forward to some of the great new Spring designs out now in magazines (more on those another time) but it looks like we still need to think warm. Fortunately, we have a free e-book that is perfect for the weather!

Here’s the free Hot Hats E-book.

Continue reading “Free E-book – Hot Hats”

November 13, 2015July 29, 2019

Free Pattern Friday – Whimsical Wrap

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Whimsical Wrap in Universe (pattern link here).

Can you tell we love Universe (50g/246yds)? It’s our tenth anniversary offering, and we’ve been having great fun with it. In addition to today’s offering, we’ve recently released a collection of ornaments. If you haven’t seen our Universe of Snowflakes e-book yet, you owe it to yourself to check it out – the collection is available as an e-book or as individual patterns.

Universe excels at lace, and the Whimsical Wrap is proof. This center of this rectangular wrap is knit sideways from one end to the other. Then stitches are picked up from the perimeter of the center. The edging is worked as a knit-on edging. The last edging stitch is knit together with a stitch from the shawl body to attach.

The pattern is both written and charted.

We hope you’re able to bring something delicate and sparkling in your life this weekend, whether it’s glittering lace or a sky full of stars.

Happy knitting!

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Sunshine Shrug

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sunshine Shrug in Uptown Bulky.

I can hear what you’re saying. It’s Fall. To which I respond: so what? We need some color and light now more than ever. We’re crafters. When the days get short, we can make our own sunshine. And that’s what we’re doing with the lightweight Sunshine Shrug.

I love the colors in Uptown Bulky (87yds/100g) and the entire Uptown Line. They’re so rich and saturated. The browns are a bite of chocolate, the orange is a glossy pumpkin, the mint green belongs perched on the edge of a glass. The colors at the right make me think of a wildflower bouquet brought in to brighten the kitchen. And the bold but buttery yellow in today’s shrug shouts sunshine and dandelions.

This shrug is worked from the top down. Sleeves are shaped using raglan shaping. Stitches for the lace edging are worked after the body is complete. I love that the encircling lace is supported by the stockinette framework and garter edging. Practical and pretty.

This weekend, we hope you find a way to bring some warmth into a cool day.

Happy knitting!

October 16, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Be Knotty!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the one ball Be Knotty Scarf in Poems Uno.

We’re not kidding when we say it’s the easiest scarf ever. It’s a one row repeat, and on US Size 35/19mm needles, it goes in a flash.

Poems Uno Be Knotty Scarf detail_blog We call it the Be Knotty scarf for the obvious reason – it has a nice open lacy knotted look. We also call it that because you can “be naughty” and pretend that you slaved over it when in fact, you worked it up in an evening. That’s the nice thing about Poems Uno Superwash (90yds/150g) – it’s big, the colors are bold, and it works up fast. Instant results.

Please enjoy this easy and gratifying scarf.

Happy knitting!

October 2, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Bias Stripe Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Bias Stripe Scarf in Flax and Universe.

We’re moving into party season, and we’re delighted to have a new yarn in stock that’s just perfect for the occasion. We designed Universe (246yds/50g) to celebrate Universal’s 10th anniversary, and we’re having a ball making new projects with it.

Universe’s colors coordinate with another popular yarn, Fibra Natura Flax (137yds/50g). Both are used together in this project. The matte bands of Flax linen are interspersed with the metallic glitter in Universe for a striking effect. Since the yarns match so well, it’s easy to carry the colors up the sides between sections without having an obvious color streak at the edge of your scarf. One ball of Universe and one hank of Flax – the only ends to weave in are at the beginning and end of your project.

Personally, I’m looking at another color combo, Universe 10-04 and Flax 09. The robin’s egg blue with a hint of aqua appeals to me, and I think it will look very striking with the black and metallic.

We have more projects in Universe to share with you in the coming weeks, including something very wintry. Hint: no two are alike.

Happy knitting!