Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
How’s everybody doing? All caught up on your handmade gifts?
If you are, then good for you! If you’re not… join the club! Fortunately, there are still some quick, good-looking projects that you (and I) can make at the last minute. And if you still can’t quite finish, well… we have some options at the end of this post.
When I’m in a pinch, I go big! Take a look at the Coffee Beans and Sugar Cubes hats.
What I like about them:
I’ve made more than a few of these, and they’ve always been popular. My most recent set were super bright for two friends, who loved them.
These are also available as a kit from your LYS.
Are you a crocheter? How about the Racing Cowl?
This takes just one skein of self-striping Uptown Super Bulky Amplify on a size N-15 (10mm) hook.
If you want to knit something bulky but not super-bulky, try the Latta Park Hat and Mittens from e-book Colorful Commute.
I made one of these myself, and it was fun and easy. The Classic Shades Frenzy is a smart choice because it lends visual interest without extra work – always a consideration when you’re on a deadline.
As a little holiday gift, we’re running a giveaway of the Latta Park Hat and Mittens. (Also, consider signing up for our newsletter. Subscribers already heard about this!)
You can enter this coupon code by going to the Latta Park Hat and Mittens page on Ravelry, and entering FRENZY at the “use a coupon code” link that appears during purchase. Use it by 12/23.
Finally, if you’re just not gonna make it, we still have some options. How about a card to let your giftee know that their gift is on the way? We made a few printable options for you.
Regardless of how your holiday gifting turns out, we hope you’ll be able to make time to slow down and enjoy the season as best you can.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today the Magical Mystery Throw in Uptown DK Colors (pattern link).
We designed this throw to show off one of our three new colors in Uptown DK Colors, a soft, cottony anti-pilling acrylic.
The stripes that work up so evenly in a fixed-width piece do some amazing things when the rows start to grow, as in this center-out throw.
The longer the row, the narrower the band of color.
Until by the end, you’ll end up with multiple colors per row. Such a great effect! Of course, you could go with a less varied palette…
….or really pull out all the stops with a rainbow-themed throw to display with pride.
No matter what you choose, it’s great fun to see the design emerge as you knit this kaleidoscope of color.
Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Beyond the Sea Cowl in Revolutions and Cotton Gold (pattern link here).
This cowl is named for the Bobby Darin song, that talks about how the singer’s true love is waiting across the waves. But it also hearkens to song’s original French inspiration, La Mer, with its visions of the sea dancing along the shore, shimmering under the rain.
Mixing the warmth of Revolutions‘ alpaca and mohair halo with the glitter in sequined Cotton Gold captures the feel of the light sparkling on the waves.
The main pattern is a three row repeat using very basic crochet stitches, making this a suitable project for an adventurous beginner.
The finished product has a warm and relaxed fabric, both dressy and practical. It’s easy enough to widen this cowl, if desired. It uses an 8 stitch repeat, so just start with more stitches in that 8 stitch increment and you’re set.
We wish you a warm and bright weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Checkerboard Pullover in Dona (pattern link here).
Things to love about this pullover:
It’s sized from 3-6 months all the way up to 10 years. Whether your little one is “ooh, look at the tiny toes!” or “I can’t believe they’re growing up so fast!” you can still make them a fun sweater.
The stranding is very predictable. If you like to do Fair Isle without having to constantly refer back to the pattern, you’re set. Put on an episode of This Is Us and knit away without missing the juicy bits.
It would be really easy to customize. Fibra Natura Dona has a range of bold colors, both dark and light. Blue and white for a gingham look? Red and black for a classic checkerboard? Team colors for the little fan? There are a lot of possibilities!
We hope you have a fantastic weekend.
Happy crafting!
Giving back: it’s something everyone seems to think more about this time of year, and something we could all probably think about a bit more. That’s why we have created the new pattern, Thy Neighbor (pattern link).
Thy Neighbor – A pattern to benefit the Refugee Support Services center in Charlotte.
We recently began donating some of our time and resources to the RSS: Refugee Support Services here in Charlotte, the city Universal Yarn calls home. This organization is doing amazing things, and we want to support them in every way we can.
Each Thursday, a group of wonderful women and volunteers meet at the center for English lessons, knitting, community-building, and to take advantage of the many resources the facility has to offer.
Many of the women make hats on round knitting looms. Loom knitting is really accessible. Anyone can pick it up in just a few minutes, which might be why it’s a popular knitting method at the center. Although we had never knit using looms before, we wanted to meet participants where they are. So we got some looms to practice and will now contribute our own knowledge of knitting. Volunteers at the center help the women distribute their handcrafted goods to earn extra income and develop financial literacy. As a way to give back and support their efforts, we designed this Fair Isle hat. We’ll be teaching the participants this technique to spice up their loom-knitting activities. All proceeds from the sale of this pattern will be donated back to RSS.
As I said before, we want to do as much as we can for this organization. It brought us so much joy to sit in a room filled with the chatter of people from all over the world, offering a helping hand, and exchanging kindness with one another. It’s truly special. When you purchase Thy Neighbor, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to RSS. Financial contributions to the organization help make their peer support, educational, legal, and social programs possible. We sincerely hope you’ll join us in helping, and encourage you to explore the RSS website (link) to deepen your understanding of their work.
Thank you so much for joining us in our support of RSS! We hope you have a wonderful week!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
The scarf gets its name from the plump yarn and extra-long length. Despite the length, this scarf knits up so quickly! Can you believe you only need to cast on 20 stitches?
This scarf mixes intarsia and self-striping Uptown Super Bulky Amplify for exciting results. We think this pattern is great for beginners looking to learn a new skill. Intarsia is easy, we promise!
Be careful – if your outfit matches a free pattern too closely, your colleagues may insist that you model it!
It’s okay, though! I’m totally up for wrapping myself in knitwear all day, every day! Plus, I’m almost always cold! We wrapped this scarf around my neck many times. Perfect for the snowy weather the north has been experiencing this week!
We hope you enjoy this week’s free pattern! Have a fabulous weekend!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Prism Wrap in Alpaculence (pattern link here).
Lightweight and sparkly, this design takes one ball each in two colors of Rozetti Yarns Alpaculence.
Worked flat in one piece, you alternate colors every other row and carry them up – don’t bother to cut and weave in those ends.
This would be a great companion piece to the Ziggity Hat (pattern link), another free pattern using Alpaculence in zigzags.
A simple pattern with striking results. We hope you enjoy it.
Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Cichlid Hats in Deluxe Worsted Superwash and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints (pattern link here).
Want a little color on a drab day?
Like the super-popular Hanasaku Cowl, this hat uses just one skein of variegated Bamboo Bloom Handpaints. Here it’s paired with a coordinating color of Deluxe Worsted Superwash for the base and pompom that tie it all together.
A long, twisted rib upturned brim gives way to a basic stockinette body. The difference in gauge between the two stitches means that the rib fits snugly, but the variegated Bamboo Bloom section is slouchy. A neat solution to achieving the perfect fit.
We’ve shown it in two color options here, but I’m about to cast on for one for a friend, using an orange Deluxe Worsted Superwash for the base and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 317 Sensei for the body. 
It should be very autumnal.
We hope you have a colorful and fun weekend.
Happy crafting!