Pattern – Page 49 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

July 18, 2014July 18, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Pathways Vest in Cotton Supreme

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, we share the Pathways Vest by Amy Gunderson.

I love this vest. It combines so many different elements. The scarf-like front can be worn straight or draped. The ribbed back with its open expanse at the shoulders is dramatic and airy. And Cotton Supreme 100% cotton gives the whole piece a lovely drape.

The piece is knitted flat. The pattern includes a schematic and a picture of the vest laid out to make it easier to visualize exactly what’s going on with this piece. It seems complex, but it’s simple once you see it all put together.

We hope you take the time to knit something stylish for yourself. You deserve it!

Happy knitting!

Pathways Vest Cotton Supreme front view wrapped blog

July 17, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Ultraviolet Stole

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Something for the crocheters today! The Ultraviolet Stole was originally designed for Endurance Sock, an offering from our Wisdom Yarns line. Fortunately, we have a number of great yarns in the Wisdom family that would still work great with this pattern!

My personal favorite would be Saki Silk (100g/440yds), a merino/nylon/silk blend with a great sheen. The yardage is about the same as Endurance Sock, so this would be an easy three-ball project.

If you wanted to venture outside the Wisdom family, Infusion Handpaints (100g/291yds) would be another good choice.

Regardless, there’s a lot to love about a gigantic loopy stole that’s a simple five-row repeat. A big project that won’t tax your brain – excellent material to crochet while chatting with friends!

July 11, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Ladder Scarf in Cirrus Cotton

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

When is it okay to drop a stitch? When you’re making today’s free pattern, the one ball Ladder Scarf in Cirrus Cotton!

Cirrus Cotton (50g/109yds) is a soft, fuzzy cotton with a unique construction that makes it downy soft. Its extreme “touchability” makes it a favorite for baby projects, but we love it for grownup crochet and knit garments, too.

In this pattern, working some stitches through the back loop locks them into place, so that when the stitches are dropped to create the horizontal ladders, the scarf keeps its structure. Drop those stitches without fear!

Happy knitting!

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!