Lace – Page 14 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

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!

April 18, 2014April 19, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Leaf by Leaf Triangular Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

I know, I know. I’m squealing too.

This is the Leaf by Leaf Triangular Shawl in Soft Payette. Formerly available only as part of a printed pattern collection, today we release it “into the wild” as a free pattern.

Sequined Soft Payette (224yds/100g) adds the perfect amount of sparkle to this gorgeous lace shawl, which knits up quickly on US Size 9 (5.5mm)needles. I like the model shown in 158-02 Pearl, but am leaning toward 158-16 Lapis for my own. Those blue sequins on blue yarn are just my style.

Have fun making this shawl your own. Happy knitting!

April 14, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Three

How’d your intarsia go? Ready for something new? How do you feel about lace?

Block 3 is called “Step Up Your Game” (link here). It’s both written and charted so you can do whatever you prefer – but if you haven’t tried reading a chart before, we hope you’ll give it a go. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a handy skill to have.

Amy shares a video with us in which she talks about charts and walks us through the basic increases and decreases. Try out her modified ssk (slip, slip, knit) – it lays flatter than the traditional version for a neater look.

Continuing our theme of building blocks (no pun intended), our next square will be more lace, with one additional type of decrease.

We hope you learn something new – and have fun!

April 11, 2014April 11, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Amphoras Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, we present the Amphoras Tank in Cotton Gold. If ever there were a perfect marriage of pattern and yarn, this is it.

Cotton Gold is a thread of cotton with some extra sparkle. A strand of metallic glitter is wound around the cotton, and the whole affair is generously strung with glittering sequins. You don’t have to imagine what this does for a lace pattern, you can see. It dazzles. This is another yarn that we love so much that we are expanding the color palette. You can see sneak peeks of the silver, purple, and blue on our website.

The Amphoras Tank is a very stretchy top designed to fit with up to 4″ of negative ease. The yarn is held doubled throughout. The Amphoras Lace repeat is written and charted – follow whichever is most comfortable for you.

We hope you enjoy this bit of glitter in your day!

March 7, 2014March 7, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Lace Edge Garter Stitch Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Do you recognize this shawl? Today, we’re releasing a “pay” pattern into the wild! The Lace Edge Garter Stitch Shawl is a popular design also found in our leaflet Poems Sock Shawls and Accessories. This is a pattern we get a lot of requests for, and we’re delighted to be able to share it with you for free.

The shawl is knit from the top down, letting the Poems Sock self-shading yarn create a dramatic effect as the color repeats thin out while the stitches on the rows increase. The charted lace edging is knitted on at the end.

This would be a great project to occupy your hands when you need to focus your attention elsewhere. The garter stitch isn’t hard to do, but leads to a great finished object. The perfect project!