Universal Yarn Creative Network
Inspiration By Design
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, something bright and summery for the crocheters! The Sunflower Dress in Garden 10 is a sunny delight.
Written and charted, this crochet confection uses our Garden 10 100% mercerized Egyptian Giza cotton thread. Garden comes in both 50 gram balls and in 500 gram cones, handy for larger projects.
This is exactly the kind of design that inspires me to stretch my wings when it comes to crochet. Just gorgeous.
Happy crocheting!
Welcome to the first Throwback Thursday!
Starting this week, we’re going to be featuring designs in retired yarns that would still look great now!
Today we’re featuring the Rainforest Cardigan, originally in Sea Song.
Sea Song was a member of our Fibra Natura line of luxury organic yarns. It consisted of cotton and seacell, both plant fibers which give this garment a relaxed feel. We’re recommending another plant fiber yarn for this garment, Bamboo Pop.
The sideways construction of this cardi makes it especially well-suited for variegated yarns like Bamboo Pop, which also comes in solids. Although slightly thinner than the original yarn, Bamboo Pop will still give 5½ stitches to the inch, the required gauge for this pattern.
This is an easy to knit, easy to wear piece that would be a great accent for mild weather. It’s a classic design with a current look.
Happy knitting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today’s offering is the Netted Tank in Cotton Supreme.
I don’t know about where you are, but here in North Carolina today it is hot with a capital H-O-T. Great timing, then, for a breezy cotton tank!
The Netted Tank uses Cotton Supreme 100% cotton and a simple (k2tog, yo) repeat to create an open and airy mesh that’s a great coverup on a warm day. The twisted ribbing hem in a contrasting color is a great touch!
A great summertime knitting project is just the thing to distract from the heat. I’m thinking I may whip up a batch of something cool with my very favorite lemonade recipe (hint: cut the sugar just a bit), then sit out on the back porch and sip and knit. Ahhhh…
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, it’s a two-fer! We present the Professor Pullover (left) and Love Patches (right). How adorable are those little elbow patches? Both cute baby sweaters are knit in lightweight machine washable Little Bird 100% microfiber acrylic (344yds/100g). This yarn is exceptionally soft, making it a great choice for baby projects.
These two designs cap off an entire week of free baby and kid patterns. Sometimes it’s hard to find things that aren’t too froufrou for little kids, so we focused mainly on designs that didn’t have too many lacy details.
First, the Over and Out Vest in Infusion Handpaints wool/acrylic. Two skeins makes a sophisticated vest for a tyke who needs dress up a little but still keep those arms free for making mudpies. Did we mention Infusion Handpaints is machine washable?
Next, the Lil’ Grandpa Cardigan in Deluxe DK Superwash 100% wool. Sized for ages 1-10, this machine washable cabled cardigan would look very dignified paired with a bubble pipe and a golden retriever.
The Snowbaby Set is a snuggly soft hat and sweater in Bella Chenille. Sized for 3-24 months, it’s a simple project to knit in the round. The snap flap at the shoulder makes the sweater very easy to pull over baby’s head.
Finally… okay, something a little more frilly, because how could we resist? The Cutie Cardi is knit in Little Bird Colors 100% microfiber acrylic with a solid Little Bird crocheted border. The pleated pockets are an adorable accent.
We hope you find some inspiration from these sweet designs for little sweethearts!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, it’s the Dockside Striped Pullover in Flax.
Ah, summer. It hits us here in the South a little sooner than the rest of y’all. But make no mistake, it’s on its way. With that in mind, we bring you something light and airy for the move to warmer weather.
The Dockside Striped Pullover uses a basic four row stitch pattern to create a breezy fabric. It’s an easy-to-memorize fabric stitch, great for porch knitting. Our Flax 100% linen is the perfect fiber for this, becoming more relaxed and comfortable with each washing – or accidental splash by the lake.
Stay cool – and keep on knitting!
Block Five is called “Check It” (link here).
How’d we do with lace? I have to say, that last square went pretty quickly for us in the office, with no major malfunctions. I feel like we’ve mastered that technique. Good thing, too, since we’re on to something new!
Block Five is called “Check It” for obvious reasons – it uses slipped stitches to create a colorful checkerboard. It’s a clever way to create blocks of color without a lot of picking up and dropping of yarn as you go. As usual, Amy Gunderson has provided us with a video to demonstrate.
Here’s a view of the back side that shows the stitches slipped across the wrong side of the work.
I’m very excited about this block. Slip stitch is such an easy way to create a colorful design!
We’d love to see what you’ve done – share it here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group. We’ll see you in two weeks with another great block!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, it’s the Jest Scarf in Jubilation Kettle Dye and Deluxe Worsted Superwash.
Amy Gunderson brings us this whimsical design. Colorful petals in Jubilation Kettle Dye Worsted are set against a neutral background of Deluxe Worsted Superwash. There’s no purling in this pattern, just straight knitting back and forth with the curves created by short rows.
I love this unique design. I can envision this in Jubilation color 108, yellows and reds and oranges, to create a cascade of falling leaves. Regardless of color choice, this is definitely a design that tells people you’ve got a light spirit. Surrounded by petals of yarn, how could you not smile?
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today’s Free Pattern Friday is the crocheted Day Trip Tote in Good Earth. Can’t you feel yourself relaxing just looking at it? I can’t decide – should I take it down to the beach, or sling it over a shoulder and bring it to the farmer’s market?
Good Earth is a cotton/linen blend that’s perfect for cool and breezy projects. Available in solids and multis, it’s a popular choice for crochet, as in the Southwest Suns shawl at right from our Contrarian Shawls e-book. Works great in knits too – the free pattern Lakeside Tee is in my queue.
We love this yarn. In fact, we’re adding a new member to the Good Earth Family – Good Earth Adorn uses a spray-dyeing technique to give it interesting color without pooling.
We hope your weekend is filled with relaxation, and plenty of time to enjoy whatever craft you choose.
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!
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!