Pattern – Page 44 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

October 30, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Sparkling Snowman

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Last week’s Happy Little Elf proved so popular that we thought we’d keep the (snow)ball rolling. Here’s the Sparkling Snowman!

Another absolutely adorable design by Michele Wilcox, we’re again recommending Uptown Worsted 100% anti-pilling acrylic. It’s soft, long-lasting, and machine washable.

I’ve got this little guy beside me right now. For those wondering, the mittens are part of the arms, but the sweater and hat can be removed. The original snowman’s hat is lightly sewn down to keep it on for photography and trunk show visits, but that’s not mandatory. If he gets too warm, we can take it off.

The little broom is optional, but should be easy to find in a craft store. The more I look at this little fella, the more I think maybe he needs a candy cane. Or how about a tiny hockey stick, and embroider your favorite player’s number on the sweater? He’s got kind of a Wayne Gretzky nose going on.

However you dress your snowman up or down, we wish you happy knitting!

October 24, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Snowlander Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today we’re featuring Snowlander, a design created by Linda Davis, who owns the fabulous LYS Tail Spinner in Richlands, NC.

Linda says, “Since the cowl seems to be a big thing from the Outlander series on Starz, I thought about doing one that was a little more classy. I used two skeins of Ariana and one skein of Bamboo Glam held together to do the pictured cowl. I’m calling it Snowlander.

I made a 5-stitch I-cord with the leftover Bamboo Glam, put on a pendant, and grafted the ends together to use as a neck piece. It can be worn with the cowl or alone.”

Ariana Bamboo Glam Snowlander necklace blog

Tail Spinner is in Eastern NC, not that from from the ocean, making Linda’s choice of focal point for the pendant even more fitting. I can see quite a few options for the pendant and the cowl, together or apart.

As a fantasy fan, I’ve been looking for another show to add to my lineup. If Outlander is inspiring gorgeous designs like this, I’m adding it to my queue tonight – and keeping my needles nearby.

Thank you so much for sharing this, Linda!

October 23, 2014October 23, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Happy Little Elf

It’s Throwback Thursday!We had someone on Facebook ask about this pattern a couple of days ago, and it reminded us of how close the holidays are. So today, we offer this formerly paid pattern, now set free!

The Happy Little Elf is an adorable Michele Wilcox design (we love Michele!) that was originally only available as part of a kit featuring Classic Worsted Holiday. We’re recommending Uptown Worsted as a substitute.

Uptown Worsted is 100% anti-pilling acrylic. As a former yarn snob, I was skeptical of acrylics until I squeezed my first skein of Uptown. This would definitely be soft enough for a beloved little friend who is also machine washable.

What I like about Uptown for this pattern is that it has a broad color palette. Our recommendations to match the original Happy Little Elf are pictured here, but there are a good variety of skin tones and jacket and shoe options if you want to personalize your elf.

Looking at elf pictures online (I love my job) made me realize just how standard this elf costume is in popular culture, and how versatile this little elf could be. You could make a little buddy, so to speak…

Buddy the Elf

…or you could make your own little offbeat elf to take on adventures.

We just got that 356 Bright Blue in stock. It’s like it was meant to be.

We hope you’ll enjoy making a little pal for yourself, or for someone in your life who could use some magic.

Happy knitting!

October 17, 2014October 17, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Cog Shawlette

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, something big and beautiful – the Cog Shawlette.

This fun accessory takes two balls of Classic Shades Big Time (color 801 Reef), the super-bulky big sister to self-shading Classic Shades. The pattern takes its name from the unique curved gear-like edging. Big yarn means quick knits, so we took the opportunity to work up a few different shawlettes to see how it looked in other colors. Answer: great!

Cog Shawl color 804 Grapevine blog — Color 804 Grapevine

From the pattern: “This shawlette is worked in one piece. First the Cog Edging is knit sideways. Without breaking yarn, crochet slip stitches are then worked all the way along the shaped side of the Cog Edging. Without breaking yarn, stitches are then picked up and knit along the straight side of the Cog Edging and the Shawl body is worked up and shaped with short-rows.”

Cog Shawl color 814 Jubilant blog — Color 814 Jubilant

Cog Shawl color 814 Jubilant backblog — Color 814 Jubilant – rear view

The unique construction makes this a great project to keep your interest, and the size 15 needles mean the work flies by. Perfection.

Happy knitting!

October 16, 2014October 16, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Celebrate Autumn Flora with Deluxe

It’s Throwback Thursday!

We’re not throwing back that far today, just a couple of years. But it’s the perfect time of year to highlight the free e-book Autumn Flora with Deluxe.

This e-book features eight patterns perfect for staying toasty, all using the Deluxe family of 100% wool.

All the patterns below are part of this cozy collection of colorwork and cables. Enjoy!

Pattern: Wraparound Leaves Beret and Mitts

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12176 Teal Viper – 1 ball (MC)

• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (CC)

Pattern: Sheaves of Wheat Reversible Scarf

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 3704 Gold Spice – 2 balls

Pattern: Poplar Beret

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12182 Gold Spice – 1 ball (A)

Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted LP

• 06 Harvest – 1 ball (B)

Pattern: Felted Leaf

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 1 ball will make multiple felted leaves

Pattern: Big Leaf Mittens

Yarn: Renew Wool (Substitute Deluxe DK Superwash)

• 101 Sand – 1 ball (MC)
• 107 Cedar – 1 ball (CC1)
• 113 Garnet – 1 ball (CC2)

Pattern: Stranded Seed Pillow

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 91901 Oatmeal Heather – 2 balls (MC)
• 3749 Forest – 1 ball (CC)

(There’s a gorgeous cabled edge on this one!)

Pattern: Autumn Leaves Cap

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 71601 Blue Ombre – 1 ball (A)
• 12501 Oatmeal Heather – 1 ball (B)

• 3649 Forest Green – 1 ball (C)
• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (D)
• 91477 Red Oak – 1 ball (E)
• 12188 Heather – 1 ball (F)
• 12180 Eggplant – 1 ball (G)
• 12282 Hunter Green – 1 ball (H)
• 12181 Bronze Brown – 1 ball (I)

October 13, 2014October 14, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Sixteen

Block Sixteen is live!

Building on our last mitered block, Miter Mayhem takes the opposite approach from Block 15. Instead of increasing outward, we’re decreasing at two corners to create the U shape.

Amy Gunderson uses a centered decrease to keep the corners nice and tidy. Here, she demonstrates how to “slip 1, k2tog, psso.”

I like the idea of using the removable stitch marker to keep track of where your decrease should be worked. Unfortunately, my stitch markers tend to disappear to wherever second socks go, so I often find myself short one when I need it. Well, if I must visit my local yarn store again, I suppose I must!

Please do share your thoughts and work with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group. We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with a new block and a new technique!

October 10, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Dive Into Fall Jacket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, something for the wee ones! The Dive Into Fall Jacket is sized for kids 12-18 months. This garment has a lot of stretch, so parents of fast-growing toddlers should be able to get a fair amount of use out of it.

Kat Koeller and Linda Ridder designed this jacket in our Uptown Bulky 100% anti-pilling acrylic. In addition to being exceptionally soft, it’s machine washable. Anyone who has ever had to wipe down a toddler after a trip to Ben & Jerry’s will appreciate the practicality of this choice.

The jacket is knit in one piece from the top down – first the collar, then the raglan sleeves go on holders while you make the body, then you come back and add ribbing to the ends of the sleeves. Interestingly, the fabric is fully reversible!

We hope you enjoy this beautiful weather. Knit something for a little one in your life – but be sure to make something for yourself, too!

October 7, 2014October 15, 2014

Free Pattern – Wee Pumpkins

Okay, it’s not Free Pattern Friday yet, but we just couldn’t resist sharing this free pattern.

These are the Wee Pumpkins. We’re sharing them now so you have plenty of time to work one up by Halloween! Or what about Thanksgiving ? Wouldn’t these look great on a dining room table?

They’re made in self-shading Poems 100% wool, which has some great fall colors. The purple/green one on the left is 577 Bramble and the orange-toned one is 585 Autumn.

The pumpkins are knit sideways, with short rows making up the wedge sections. Take a look at the bottom and you can see how it all comes together.

Never done short rows before? This is a great project to get your feet wet. Amy Gunderson shares a video in how to do the wrap and turn.

Also of interest in there is the SSP (slip, slip, purl). I’ve made things with short rows before, and inevitably had one side look seamless and one side marred with a big bump. I’m delighted to learn a technique to make both ends of my short row look smooth.

Often, we’ll loan our knits to local yarn stores for them to share in trunk shows, but it’s going to be hard to part with these. They’re just so pretty!

Happy knitting!

September 29, 2014September 29, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Fifteen

Block Fifteen is live!

Behold The Mighty Miter!

This block starts in one corner and increases along the center line, using the backward loop cast-on to grow outward. For many of us, the backward loop was the first cast-on that we learned. Others picked it up in the course of making buttonholes or adding stitches at the underarm of a sleeve.

If you haven’t learned it yet, here’s your chance. Amy shows us how!

Easy as pie, eh?
The center stitch in this block is slipped on every right side row, creating that clean elongated line running through the center of the block. It’s a nice touch for this diagonal block.

As always, you can share your thoughts and work with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group. Check back in two weeks for a new block that builds on this technique!

September 26, 2014September 26, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Goldfish School Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, a “pay” pattern set free! Michael del Vecchio’s Goldfish School Cowl appears in Bamboo Bloom Book 1: Backyard Blooms. When we brought it to a knitting retreat the participants were so taken with it that we decided it should be released into the wild.

Michael has wisely used a simple pattern to let the yarn shine. A basic 1×1 rib looks very striking in the thick/thin matte/shiny Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

We’re glad that last weekend’s knitters were so enthusiastic. They were right. This pattern needs to be shared!

Thanks for your hospitality, Baskets of Yarn. And keep knitting!