Pattern – Page 49 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

July 10, 2014July 10, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Spring Snowflake Cardi

It’s Throwback Thursday!

This little cutie is wearing the Spring Snowflake Cardi.

Originally, this took about 300 yards of Morning Glory Cotton (a cotton/acrylic blend) on a size 6 needle. We’re recommending several other machine washable options for this charming baby and toddler cardi.

Lightweight Little Bird, Bamboo Pop, and Uptown Baby Sport would all be good matches. These yarns also have greater yardage per ball than the original yarn, making this sweater potentially a great one ball project!

Uptown Baby Sport has some really great pastels and kid-friendly color options. You might even try doubling up Little Bird or Bamboo Pop solid and multi for an interesting color color combo. Hmm… I feel a Sunday Swatch idea coming on.

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!

July 4, 2014July 4, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Inspired Dolman

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

For the 4th of July, how about something with a little sparkle? Today, we feature the Inspired Dolman in Cotton Gold and Garden 5.

Cotton Gold (25g/200yds) is a lace weight yarn with plenty of pizzazz. Strung with a generous number of sequins, it’s great for dramatic projects that really catch the eye. Here it’s paired with Garden 5 (50g/175yds) cotton thread in a similar color so that it knits up easily into a more substantial garment. Several rows in the pattern repeat are knitted just with Cotton Gold, though, for an almost lacy texture.

This top is meant to fit with a few inches of positive ease and is sized from a 34″ to a 54″ bust. The stitch pattern is a snap. All in all, it’s a great piece to add some sparkle and punch to your wardrobe.

Happy Independence Day to all our American friends – and happy knitting every day to everyone!

July 3, 2014July 31, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Zig Zag Lace Scarf

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, we feature the Zig Zag Lace Scarf. Originally in Fibra Natura Seasong, we’re recommending a couple of medium weight alternatives here.

First, Llamalini (50g/109yds), another member of the Fibra Natura family. It’s a decadent blend of royal llama, silk bourette, and linen. In fact I’ve picked Llamalini for an upcoming Sunday Swatch, mainly so I have another excuse to knit with it!

Next, Deluxe Worsted Superwash (100g/220yds), our very popular superwash version of Deluxe Worsted. There’s no plant content here, so the scarf will have a little more “spring” with this choice. There’s a great range of colors here, so there are many opportunities to customize your scarf.

The pattern itself is very simple – just a series of yarn overs and decreases staggered to make a zig zag design. This is an easy pattern to read in your stitches, meaning once you’ve done a repeat you can see how to continue without too much referring back to the pattern page. This is a classic pattern that we’re glad to share again!

Happy knitting!

June 27, 2014June 27, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Four Leaves Pillow

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, it’s the Four Leaves Pillow in Uptown Bulky.

Thick and quick are the words of the day! Machine washable Uptown Bulky (100g/87yds) is a great choice for this home decor project. Its 100% anti-pilling acrylic is the perfect pick for a piece that’s going to be on display. Just two balls on size 13 needles and boom, you’re done!

The pillow is worked in one piece. It starts in the front, is worked from the center out to the edges, then decreases around the back. Start with DPNs (double pointed needles), then switch to a circular needle, then when the project is too small for circulars again go back to your DPNs.When you’re about 3/4 of the way done, you’ll slip a 12″ pillow inside and work around it. Finish up seamlessly for a polished look.

We hope you enjoy this, the perfect project to curl up on the couch with.

Happy knitting!

June 26, 2014June 26, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Tea Party

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, the Tea Party sweater!

Awww! I love a cute kid in a cute sweater. Of course, this pattern is from 2008, so to fit this moppet now you’d have to knit the largest size!

Regardless of when it was first published, the pattern remains adorable. Originally meant for discontinued Bellagio, we’re recommending Cotton Supreme (100g/180yds) as a substitution. While Cotton Supreme won’t have quite the same sheen as the original yarn, it is soft and machine washable, making it a great choice for kid knits. And on size 7 needles, the gauge should work out just fine.

Tea Party is knitted flat and seamed, with the lace pattern both written and charted. All in all, a great knit for any little tyke.

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!

June 15, 2014June 15, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Bamboo Pop

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Bamboo Pop colors 108 Lime Green, 208 Pink Joy, and 102 Cream.

Today’s swatch started as an experiment to see just how thick various i-cords were in Bamboo Pop. Bamboo Pop is one of our most popular yarns, a lightweight blend of 50% cotton and 50% bamboo.

The entire flower was knit on size 4 needles. The petals of the flower are one long 4-stitch i-cord, the stem is a 3-stitch i-cord, and the center is a 2-stitch i-cord curled around itself.

I took a picture of the back side so you can see how it’s assembled. I had hoped to put a chenille stem (pipe cleaner, for those of my generation) into the center for stability, but the i-cord was just a little too narrow to fit the jumbo-sized chenille stem that I had on hand, so instead I used some very thick floral wire for stability. The extra wire extending from the bottom lets it stand upright without causing the i-cord to push up on itself and wrinkle.

The leaves were a last-minute addition, but they’re a nice touch. Here’s the leaf pattern, done on size 4 needles:

CO 4

Row 1: k1, (kfb) twice, k1. (6 sts total)

Row 2: purl

Row 3: k2, (kfb) twice, k2 (8 sts total)

Row 4: purl

Row 5: k3, (kfb) twice, k3 (10 sts total)

Row 6: purl

Row 7: k1, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1 (8 sts total)

Row 8: purl

Row 9: k1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1 (6 sts total)

Row 10: purl

Row 9: k1, k2tog, ssk, k1 (4 sts total)

Row 10: purl

Row 9: k2tog, ssk,(2 sts total)

Row 10: purl 2 tog (1 st total)

Pull yarn through remaining stitch to bind off.

I have some bits of Bamboo Pop in other colors, so I’m considering making an entire bouquet for an empty flowerpot. It would be a nice maintenance-free addition to the front porch.

Happy knitting – and gardening!

June 13, 2014June 13, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Bodrum Beach Cover-up

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Everybody say hi to Yonca!

Yonca is our sales director, and also the designer of today’s free pattern, the Bodrum Beach Cover-up in Garden 3. You may recognize part of this pattern from this past week’s Sunday Swatch (right).

Yonca wanted to make a gift for her sister-in-law in Turkey, so she whipped up this colorful number in our Garden 3 cotton thread and graciously shared her pattern with us. Garden 3 ( 136yds/50g) is 100% mercerized Egyptian Giza cotton, a favorite for durable and beautiful garments and a great pick for this breezy summer project.

It’s called the Bodrum Beach Cover-up after the town of Bodrum in Turkey, a beautiful resort with gorgeous weather, a medieval castle, and of course the beach. I was so happy Yonca told us about this place – it’s one more spot to put on my bucket list.

We couldn’t resist sending Yonca on a virtual trip there, if only for this blog post. Have a great time, Yonca, and keep crocheting!

June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Ruffled Shoulder Bag

It’s Throwback Thursday!

The Ruffled Shoulder Bag is a great project any time of the year. Originally knit in Links cotton from our Fibra Natura line, we suggest substituting another non-wool yarn like Cotton Supreme (100g/180yds) or Uptown DK (100g/273yds).

The frills are simple semi-circular strips sewn on after knitting the bag proper, making it easy to customize with or without ruffles as you wish.

I’m thinking this might be a good thing to work on at my local Worldwide Knit In Public Day – making a bag big enough to hold my WIPs seems like a fitting project!