Tag: Pattern

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Sunday Swatch – Poems Socks

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Poems Socks.

Poems SocksYou’ll have to forgive the beat-up appearance of the ball.  This one’s been in my personal stash for a while, pressed into service for testing out quite a few stitch patterns.  Today it’s being used in the Crocus Scarf originally from Interweave Crochet Magazine, Spring 2007.  I’m happy to see that they’ve re-published it and it’s now free with registration on the Crochet Me site.  I’m always up for a good free pattern.

I used it here in a lengthwise scarf to show the advantage of Poems Socks’ gradual color shifts over long distances.  It’s easy to achieve sweeping bands of color organically without having to change yarns.  And since there are 459 yards per ball of Poems Socks, I’m done with the scarf (minus blocking) and still have half a ball left.  It’s a pretty pattern – maybe I should just keep going and see how far one ball can go!

 

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Free Pattern Friday – Dynamo Dolman

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

DynamoDolman_FB

Today, the aptly named Dynamo Dolman in Uptown DK!

Like all members of the Uptown family, Uptown DK is 100% anti-pilling acrylic and incredibly soft.  In fact, I toyed with the idea of doing my Don’t Be A Square Afghan in either this or Uptown Baby Sport and turning the afghan into a baby blanket.  Uptown’s softness and machine washability makes this a great yarn for gifts.

And man, is that 136 Neon Yellow vibrant!  Neons are still a big fashion trend, and with warm weather coming up they’re going to be even more appropriate.  As we shake off the grip of winter, this lacy top is perfect for the move into summer.

How about you?  What’s your favorite kind of project to work on when the weather starts to turn?

 

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Free Pattern Friday – Starglow Ski Cap

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Starglow Ski Cap in Little Bird

Today, we share the Starglow Ski Cap in Little Bird.  Little Bird is a smooth and soft 100% acrylic perfect for kid designs like this Fair Isle hat.  We love the border around the brim that coordinates with the tassels!

This free pattern is one we’ve waited a little while to share.  The one color of Little Bird we had not yet received from our mill was gray.  Yesterday, we received it (and a lot of other goodies).  For this pattern, the lack of one color could be a problem, but it’s also an opportunity for reflection.

Often when we see a pattern made up, we only want it in the color shown.  And that’s fine – sometimes, we just fall in love with something exactly as it is.  But sometimes, it’s healthy to stretch our imaginations and see it in other ways.  What would you do to make this pattern your own?

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Free Pattern Friday – Color Pooling Argyle Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday Part Two!

Pooling Colors Scarf in Uptown Worsted Spirit Stripes

More crochet goodness!  This is the Color Pooling Argyle Scarf in Uptown Worsted Spirit Stripes.

Pooling Colors Scarf closeupSpirit Stripes is dyed in team colors, so you can craft a piece for game day that will show everyone who you’re rooting for.  Alice Gossette and Kat Koeller came up with this ingenious technique of using half double crochet and clever color placement to get the yarn to pool just so.  The result: argyle diamonds!

Who do you root for?  Frankly, I always hope for a nailbiter that goes into overtime – as long as I’ve brought my yarn along.

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Free Pattern Friday – Rambling Crochet Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Rambling Cowl in Classic Shades Frenzy

Today, we share the Rambling Crochet Cowl.  Just two balls of bulky Classic Shades Frenzy on a 6.5mm hook means that this works up in a flash.  We love the texture that the double crochet clusters provide, and the way the cowl looks wrapped up snug or hanging freely.

Rambling Cowl in Classic Shades Frenzy unwrapped

We’re really feeling the crochet love today, so let’s make it a two-fer.  Check back in later today for another free pattern!

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Free Pattern – Heart Pouch

Stopping by woods

We’re snowed in here at Universal Yarn.

Well – we’re not snowed in at Universal Yarn.  Once the statewide winter storm warning was issued, we were all sensibly sent home.  It’s been a day of playing in the snow, then coming inside to warm up under a cozy blanket with crafty projects.

Watching my teenager play in the snow has been a treat.  Today, all the cares of school have been stripped away.  Worries about grades, about not measuring up to her peers, about whether she’s meeting the expectations that are placed on young women, they all vanish into the basic joy of dodging snowballs.

I wish that this wild child could find her way to the surface more often and remind herself that she is beautiful and strong and smart.

We all have someone in our lives whom we love.  Someone who makes us laugh.  Someone who makes us shake our head with how wonderful they are.  Someone who sometimes doesn’t see in themselves the wonderful things that we see.  They might be a child or a relative or a trusted friend.  But they make our lives better.

Heart Pouchin Uptown DKToday I am making a little gift for my daughter.  A small Valentine’s Day pouch in Uptown DK, sized just right for a compact mirror.  And with it, I’ll include a rhyme:

If I had one wish

Just for you

You’d see yourself

The way I do.

We’re making the pattern and chart available for free (click here) in case you want to try something similar on this snowy day – or any day.

 

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Free Pattern Friday – Cross the Night Sky Vest

Cross the Night Sky Vest - detail

It’s Free Pattern Friday, and we have a new design in Poems!

Cross the Night Sky Vest in Poems FacebookThe Cross the Night Sky Vest by Sandy Huff is worked in one piece from side to side, with stitches picked up for the arms, hem, and neck. The garter stitch tie that threads neatly through the crossed stitches is a nice accent.

Side to side construction creates flattering vertical stripes in self-shading Poems 100% wool – a great use of variegated yarn.

 

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Free Pattern Friday – Infusion Shawlette and Llamalini Scarf

It’s a Free Pattern Friday two-fer!
Painted Wings Shawlette
First, there’s the Painted Wings Shawlette. It takes less than one skein of Infusion Handpaints (291yds/100g), our sport weight variegated yarn that’s proving popular for socks and accessories. The dropped stitches really let you make the most of your yarn. At the end, work the edging at the same time you cast off!

Flowering Herb ShawletteNext, the Flowering Herb Scarf in Fibra Natura Llamalini (109yds/50g). Llamalini is a yarn that has made its way into the stashes of quite a few Universal Yarn employees! The heathering gives a great deal of depth to a wide variety of designs. This lacy crochet scarf is just the thing to show it off.

Happy crafting!