Lace – Page 13 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

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!

August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Wandering Lace Tee

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Wandering Lace Tee in Infusion Handpaints.

Mmmm. Lovely lace. Sometimes that can be hard to do in a variegated yarn. Who wants all their hard work to be lost in a sea of color? Fortunately, the tonal offerings in Infusion Handpaints are a little more subtle than some. We think this design would look great in any of these six “shade on shade” colors.

The design itself is smooth sailing. Knit the ribbing on smaller needles, then switch to US size 6/4mm needles (or whatever gets you gauge) and work up from hem to neckline. Do the same for back as you did for the front, then block, seam, and you’re ready to go.

This is a tee, but with a couple of tiny mods to the neck this would be a great vest to go over a button-down. Hmm… should I think of summer for this piece, or look ahead to Fall? Decisions, decisions…

Happy knitting!

July 31, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Exploded Pineapple Halter

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Exploded Pineapple Halter in Good Earth.

We’re calling this an intermediate project, good practice for crocheters who have never tried reading a crochet chart before to do so. One of our resident experts notes, “Crochet stitches can take on such organic form, that a chart really tells the story of the finished piece. Written instruction for crochet can be very clunky, especially in a large repeat pattern such as the exploded pineapple hem.”

Good Earth (204yds/100g) is an excellent choice for this layering piece. The cotton/linen blend is quite breathable, so even over another top it won’t leave you sweltering.

The piece is worked seamlessly. Crochet the hem first, then pick up for the body and continue upward. It’s easy to customize the length just by adding or subtracting a few rows of the v-stitch mesh.

I love the ribbon at the neck – that’s another bit that would be very easy to alter to your own taste.

We hope you enjoy this summertime project. Happy crocheting!

July 24, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Summer Leaves Cloths

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Summer Leaves Cloths in Cotton Supreme.

These patterns come to us by special request from Jackie in Customer Service, who asked if we could add another one-ball project in Cotton Supreme (180yds/100g).

“The yarn is so soft! When people touch it, they fall in love with it. If we had another small pattern for it, then when I send kits as little prizes to our stores and customers, they’d get a chance to work with it and love it too.”

Jackie’s wish is our command. Voila, three lovely washcloths using leaf motifs. One is an all-over lace pattern, the second is four leaves rising from a central column, and the third is a single leaf in the center of a field of reverse stockinette. All three leaf lace patterns are charted, and all three cloths can be made from just one hank of Cotton Supreme.

When I look at these cloths, I can’t help but feel that they’d also make great afghan blocks, perhaps in Uptown Worsted or Deluxe Worsted Superwash on slightly larger needles. There’s nothing wrong with re-envisioning a design for your own purposes.

Thanks for the great suggestion, Jackie. We can always use another quick-to-knit pattern in our library.

Happy knitting!

May 29, 2015May 29, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Summer Poncho

It’s Free Pattern Friday!Today, the Summer Poncho in Flax.

We’re on the road to Columbus, OH right now for the annual summer National Needlearts Association trade show, but we still had to share this absolute beauty.

The Summer Poncho is designed by Susan Whitmore, the owner of Rainy Day Creations yarn shop in Pineville, NC. To the right you can see Susan snuggling with Suzy the Cuddlebunny at a previous year’s show in the Universal Yarn booth.

She has just closed her shop and is enjoying a richly deserved retirement. We miss her welcoming shop, but we’re so glad that she’s taking time to enjoy herself. And we’re doubly glad that she shared this lovely design with us before hopping on her motorcycle and vrooming off into the sunset!

Knit in FibraNatura Flax linen yarn in two pieces and seamed, this oversized poncho will fit a variety of sizes and is easy to adjust simply by seaming more or less of the sizes and neck. It’s a simple written pattern and contains a schematic for assembly. Such a great piece for summer!

We hope you enjoy this piece, and that you pull a page from Susan’s book and take time to enjoy life.

Happy knitting!

March 27, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Diamond Cross Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Diamond Cross Pullover in Ariana.

Things I love about this pattern:

The way the lace crosses over each other, as if it’s woven.
The fact that it’s made on 6.5mm needles, so it’s a quick knit.
The choice of yarn is Ariana (91yds/100g), so it’s a bulky weight yarn in lightweight materials.

Ariana color 108 Grape Ariana is a bamboo tube with light polyamide fibers inside, achieving its size without a lot of weight to stretch and drag. It’s great fun in accessories like the 2 ball Rivel Cowl (free pattern!) and in larger garments as well.

Sometimes laceweight is great, but sometimes, I want to knock out something gorgeous in a hurry. I’m keeping this pattern in mind next time I get that urge.

Let’s hear it for big yarn!

PHAT KNITS BY BAUKE KNOTTNERUS — Phat Knits by Bauke Knottnerus

Happy knitting!

December 19, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Totem Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Totem Scarf in Jubilation Kettle Dye Worsted.

I love the way the variable length bands of daisy stitch are broken up by rows of garter to keep things interesting. It’s a good technique for helping make sure the pattern isn’t overwhelmed by variegated Jubilation Kettle Dye (shown here in color 101 Rejoice). Jubilation is a pretty yarn, and it works in harmony with the pattern here.

Happy knitting!