Lace – Page 14 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

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!

December 8, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Twenty

Block 20 is live!

It’s our final block and we’re going out with a bang. Bee Mine uses traditional honeybee lace for its center panel. What a sweet pattern! A mix of yarn overs and dropped stitches creates the gentle symmetrical column in the center of the block. Amy Gunderson shares a video on the technique.

So pretty! Wouldn’t this look lovely on a scarf or along the outside of a sleeve?

That’s 20 blocks – are we done? Yes and no. We’ll be back after the first of the year to talk about assembling the whole afghan. I’m going to take that time to finish up a few stragglers and start laying out my squares to see how I want them to look.

Happy knitting!

July 31, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Bethany

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, we have Bethany! Originally this was a “pay” pattern, but we’ve released it into the wild as a free pattern and bring it to you today to enjoy.

First stitched in Fibra Natura Cottonwood, this would make a great cover-up in either Bamboo Pop or Little Bird, which would provide great drape for this piece. You might also try Uptown Baby Sport anti-pilling acrylic. Uptown Baby Sport’s palette features some very sweet pastels, and at 361 yards per ball you’d only need three balls to make the smallest size.

In this traditional knit-flat cardi, the easy lace pattern is featured on both front and back. A great lacy sweater to start now and have ready when the first chill creeps back into the air.

Happy knitting!

July 7, 2014July 7, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Nine

Block Nine is live!

How are we doing, gang? I loved cables, but I’m rarin’ to go on a new technique!

This time, Amy introduces knitting in the round! Today’s counterpane block “Best Buds” goes from the center out, using the lace techniques and M1 increases we’ve already learned from previous blocks.

Amy shares this helpful video on starting your square on DPNs (double-pointed needles) and increasing as you work out. It’s not something we’ve done before in this afghan, but it’s a very useful trick! We’ll also be sharing videos this month on weaving in ends, and on other ways to work center-out. I’m grabbing my DPNs and casting on. It’s so exciting to move in a new direction – literally! See you next time!

June 29, 2014June 29, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Whisper Lace

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Whisper Lace colors 110 Lemongrass (solid) and 206 Amber Trinket (variegated).

This is one of my favorite yarns in the Fibra Natura family. Whisper Lace is 70% wool/30% silk and soft as a cloud. And at 440 yards per 50 gram ball, it goes a long way.

One thing that I like about Whisper Lace is how well the solid and the variegated tones match. They look great paired as in the lace sample above, or in Adrienne Ku’s Pescadito shawl shown at right. Colors 104 Fog and 208 Orchid Dream make a great barely-there contrast that doesn’t obscure the lace pattern – light and breezy and gorgeous.

What’s to become of today’s Sunday Swatch? It’s already been claimed by a young person in my house – apparently it will look just fabulous on some lucky doll.

Happy knitting!

June 20, 2014June 20, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Lotus Shrug

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

I love knitting lace, but realistically there are only so many lace shawls I need, so I’m delighted to see the Lotus Shrug in Whisper Lace!

Whisper Lace (50g/440yds) is a member of our luxury Fibra Natura line. 70% wool + 30% silk = 100% love. It’s a joy to work with. And it’s a perfect match for a project that hits right in the sweet spot of my personal taste.

Knitted flat side to side, the arm seams are joined, then the edges are picked up along the edge of the body in the round to add the lace. Knitting outward from the edge creates a great sense of motion in the finished piece.

For me, it doesn’t hurt that it’s on size 5 needles, so I can see progress faster than on some lace projects. This one’s going in my queue.

Happy knitting!

April 28, 2014April 28, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Four

Block Four is called “Tree Family” (link here).

How did your first lace square go? Feel like you have a handle on the basics?

We had a good time with the last square in the office. Once the chart reading “clicks” it really does make knitting lace easier.

Our new block is also lace with a good helping of stockinette, but it introduces one new stitch – the center double decrease. You’ll slip two as if to knit, then knit a stitch, then pass those two slipped stitches over the stitch you just knit. This is a way of reducing three stitches into just one. If you saw yesterday’s Sunday Swatch in Classic Shades Big Time, the mitered square used a centered double decrease to create the line of V-stitches running diagonally up the center of the block.

If this is your first time with this stitch, no worries! Amy has put together a video on the center double decrease, as well as a handy tip on creating some decidedly low-tech stitch markers.

Amy also reveals the technique featured in our next block. It will be… drumroll… slip stitch colorwork!

As always, you’re welcome to share what you’ve done here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group. We can’t wait to see what you do!

Happy knitting!

April 25, 2014April 25, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Swingy

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Amy Gunderson brings us Swingy in Bamboo Pop.

After releasing our E-Book Bamboo Pop Kids we had quite a few requests for an adult pattern in Bamboo Pop (292yds/100g), our popular cotton/bamboo blend. This lightweight swingy cardi fits the bill.

Worked with raglan shaping from the top down, there is no seaming involved. This is the kind of loose, drapey jacket you reach for when you want comfort as well as style.

Happy knitting!

April 20, 2014April 20, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Cotton Supreme DK

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Cotton Supreme DK.

Ah, Spring. Time to plant the garden, spruce up the house, and experiment with cooler fabrics. Hence the paint job on the fence – and today’s Sunday Swatch.

Cotton Supreme DK is a lighter weight version of our favorite worsted weight Cotton Supreme. It knits up nicely on a US Size 5 or 6 needle.

The Cotton Supreme family isn’t tiring on the hands as some cottons can be – I knitted the Sea Breeze top shown at right for my daughter out of Cotton Supreme and would happily do it again.

This design is part of Yumiko Alexander’s Warm Earth Book 3, which until recently was only available in print. We’re delighted to release the book and its patterns for sale as digital downloads from Ravelry and Craftsy. Yumiko’s patterns are always a pleasure to make, and we look forward to sharing more of them with you electronically.

If you’re looking for something free, there’s always the popular Fleurette Lace Pullover designed for Cotton Supreme DK. Long sleeved but lacy on both front and back, it’s perfect for this time of year.

Happy knitting!