Tag: Sweater

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Projects Perfect for Easter

Hi there, crafters! We’ve entered one of my favorite times of year: spring. Flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, the days are longer, and the air smells sweeter. This is a great time to break out the warm weather yarns and start a new project! Easter is just around the corner, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some patterns that I think are perfect for the holiday and the spring season.

Easter Earl, a stylish little bird

I couldn’t mention patterns for the season without first sharing Easter Earl. Designed by Rachel Brockman, Easter Earl is an adorable stuffed chick that is knit using Ricorumi DK Cotton. Easter Earl is approx 8″ tall, perfect for decorating a dresser or desk, and his body is knit in the round from the bottom up. The wings, feet, and bow tie are worked separately and sewn to the body. If you’re a knitter looking to make a stuffed toy, Easter Earl is a great place to begin! Ricorumi Cotton DK is designed for amigurumis and other small projects. It is a soft, yet durable cotton and holds structure for projects like these. Whether you make Easter Earl to fill a gift basket, or for yourself ‘just because’, he is a fun project that will get you in the mood for the season!

Lunaria Socks

The Lunaria Socks, designed by Allison Lutes, were our free pattern Friday release last week. Made using two colors of our Bamboo Pop Sock, I can guarantee these will become your favorite warm weather socks. Bamboo Pop Sock is a stretchy blend of bamboo, cotton, and PBT that is cool and breathable. They are worked from the cuff down with a heel flap & gusset construction. Allison added a sweet floral motif, tiny bobbles, and a cute picot edge to the cuff for this design. As a girly-girl who loves anything floral, I absolutely love these spring-y socks! I’d make mine using the colors 606 Valentine and 603 Dandelion.

Cotton Candy Swirl Shawl

Everyone loves a one-skein-wonder project! If you have somewhere to go for Easter or another event this spring, consider making the Cotton Candy Swirl shawl. Crocheted using our 100% superwash extra fine merino yarn, Cobblestone, Cotton Candy Swirl is an easy level pattern that uses treble crochet stitches to create a lacy fabric. Cobblestone boasts over 600 yards per skein, so one will make up this entire accessory. Perfect for throwing over your shoulders for an event (a spring wedding, perhaps?) or just for going out and running errands, the Cotton Candy Swirl shawl is a piece of cake.

Bunny Got Back Socks

In the mood to make something whimsical? I love the Bunny Got Back knit socks, designed by Amy Gunderson. These ankle socks feature an adorable colorwork pattern of little bunny backs, and a pom pom on the ankle. You can sport your own bunny tails now! Using a soft color palette of our Bella Cash yarn, it keeps them wearable for every day. Bella Cash is a blend of superwash fine merino, cashmere, and nylon that is currently 50% off on our website! This fine weight yarn makes a great choice for delicate garments and accessories, kids projects, as well as socks. It is easy to care for, but has a luxurious feel due to the cashmere fiber content.

Pierpont Sweater

The last pattern I wanted to mention is the Pierpont sweater, designed by Melissa Leapman for our Perennial Knits pattern collection. Knit using cotton/extra fine merino/cashmere blend Ravello, this sweater is lacy and dramatic in all the right ways. My grandmother was a super stylish lady, and she loved interior decorating. This sweater reminds me of the little ceramic apricot color bunnies she always decorated with for Easter, which is why I wanted to share it in this post. I think it would be a perfect garment to wear for any event you have this spring, or just for your Easter family brunch. Ravello’s fine weight combined with its fiber content make it perfect for the spring season. It is light and breathable, but will keep you warm if there is a chill in the air. If peach tones aren’t your thing, don’t fret. Ravello comes in a widely varied color palette with something for everyone.

Bamboo Pop Sock yarn

Comment which of these spring projects you’d want to make first! Stay tuned this week for even more Easter fun coming to our website!

Happy Crafting,
Aubrey

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Collection Spotlight – Spring Magic

Happy Spring, everyone! Are you ready for spring and summer projects, ready to wear as the weather warms up? If so, we have a treat for you! Today, I’m sharing projects from our latest pattern collection: Spring Magic.

A pile of garments hand knit and crocheted using Vireo yarn.

When we think of spring, we can’t help but feel like magic is in the air. With every fresh blossom, warm breeze, and longer, sunnier days, we get more and more excited for projects on our hooks and needles that reflect the season. We invite you to bask in these sweet projects, featuring everything from drop stitches to cables, lace, ruffles, and fringe. We’re certain you’ll find something you love in this collection featuring a new spring favorite yarn, Vireo. 

First up, we have our one and only accessory in this garment-heavy collection. Yet, it might be one of my favorite pieces. Say hello to Aard. This unique wrap is open and airy thanks to the wide columns of dropped stitches. Although we usually fear dropped stitches in knitting, there is something a bit magical about dropping them intentionally for a decorative effect. Frame those dropped stitches with reversible cables and you have the perfect stole for spring and summer!

Next up: Elixir. For my contributions to the collection, I was especially drawn to openwork stitch patterns. Those that keep Vireo feeling light and breezy. Like Aard, Elixir is a great example of openwork, but this time you work with yarnover eyelets instead. The shoulders on the front and back are decorated with an eyelet motif that’s simple to memorize. Even when knitted in our 104 Black Caviar colorway, the stitch definition of Vireo is crisp and clear. My favorite detail of this design, though, is the mini fringe that decorates the hem and armholes. It adds just the right touch of interest and finesse to the pattern and is sure to draw attention.

Another example of the gorgeous stitch definition of Vireo is Gust: an adorable tee with ruffled sleeves and a keyhole opening at the back neck. It’s precious! What I love about this design is how well it shows off the drape of the yarn. The drape is all thanks to the 80% Tencel of Vireo, blended with 20% wool. It has a touch of bounce and memory, making it a pleasure to knit or crochet with. These characteristics all come together to form your new favorite top for Spring.

Designer Aubrey Busek has a knack for creating the most interesting designs. Such is the case with Mythos. In this design, she uses ruffles to create a peplum-esque silhouette with exciting stripes and a decorative motif that can either be hand embroidered or worked directly into the knitting. Who doesn’t love options? The high contrast colors (108 Marmelade & 101 Fluff) truly make the design pop.

Saddle shoulders and split hems are two design details I never tire of, and they are just two of the features that make Runestone special. Gorgeous lace and cables decorate the front of the sweater, which pop from a background of Reverse Stockinette stitch. The v-neck and three-quarter sleeves make this piece perfect for the season, too.

This collection wouldn’t be complete without a crochet design, and that’s where Soothsayer comes into play. I don’t consider myself an expert at crochet, but I always enjoy the opportunity to design crochet patterns. Since I’m still new at it, I like simpler patterns, and I think this cap-sleeved tee is perfect for a first crochet garment. It is designed in half double crochet and features an edging around the armholes and hem with single crochet and double crochet shells – all very basic stitches welcoming to crocheters of every skill level.

Finally, we have Triskelion. Another design by Aubrey Busek, Triskelion is as feminine as they come. Gorgeous lace, cropped sleeves, and dramatic ruffles make this cardigan truly special. Get ready to practice your lace skills, too. Although the lace motif isn’t overly complex, you won’t have any rest rows during that section as you work the lace on both the right and wrong sides of the work. The shaping is simple though, so your concentration is rewarded with soothing stockinette after you finish those beautiful motifs.

There you have it: all seven pieces in our brand new pattern collection in our Vireo yarn. To grab your copy of the Spring Magic ebook or patterns, head to our website here (link). Which project is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Happy stitching,
Rachel

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Free Pattern Friday – Gravel

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Woman wearing black and white knitted sweater

Today, Gravel knitted in Cobblestone and Donnina (pattern link here).

Gravel is the perfect pullover for everyday wear. The simple, classic raglan silhouette is already a favorite among knitters, but add the marled, variegated fabric created by our Cobblestone yarn, and you really have something special!

closeup image of texture of Cobblestone yarn balls

Cobblestone is spun with two plies. One ply is variegated, with a variety of harmonious colors, and the second ply is a solid color. In the case of 108 Tuxedo, the black, gray, and white create monochromatic variations, for a fabric with plenty of depth and interest!

Designer Rachel Brockman smartly chose to create the coordinating solid cuffs, collar, and hem in 100% superwash fine merino Donnina. The saturated deep black is a great tonal compliment to the body of this pullover, and Donnina’s stitch definition really makes that twisted rib stand out!

The result is a comfortable, timeless top that works in any casual situation, no matter what colors you choose.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

-Heather Hill

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New Rico!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! We have new Rico yarn on our site! It’s so fun to have the opportunity to distribute yarn from our friends Rico Design because it helps add some fun colors and textures that we can combine with our own yarn as well! For example, one of my favorite patterns to come out since I’ve started here is the Polar Nights Cowl by Rachel Brockman, which holds Ricorumi Lamé DK and Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk together with Donnina. The effect is just stunning!

Polar Nights Cowl by Rachel Brockman

While mixing and matching yarns in a design is always thrilling, it is also just fun to have more yarn to choose from for stand-alone projects. Rico has their own design team who regularly releases patterns to pair with their yarn. Here is a look at some yarn and pattern inspiration that’s just landed on our site!

Top Left: Sweater 1021. Top Middle/Right: Sweater and Top 999.
Bottom: Rico Design Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton

The Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton is one of my favorite arrivals for spring. It’s made from a blend of cotton, acrylic, and polyester and comes in 14 beautifully variegated colors. It is constructed with a bright printed ply that’s spun with a simple thinner ply making a colorful texture and twist that captures all the vibes of summer in a ball. My personal pick is 009 Buttercream which has me dreaming of an ice cream cone with sprinkles!

Some patterns to pair with this yarn are the Sweater 1021, and the Sweater/Top 999 set, shown above. Many of the Rico Designs come as two pattern sets, like pattern 999, so you have some cool options to explore – or just more fun pieces to add to your make list!

Rico Baby Dream dk & Coat and Beret 517

We also got in Rico Baby Dream dk, which has 15 adorable multi-colored options to choose from, ranging from tonal and complimentary colors to bright confetti specks. This yarn is a polyamide and polyacrylic blend that is irresistibly soft as well as super easy to care for- the perfect combo for little ones! If you’re looking for pattern inspiration, check out the Coat and Beret 517 set – this adorable tailored coat and quintessential hat make the cutest baby set for gifting or for your own family!

Rico Baby Dream dk Uni & Baby Blankets 786

Just when you thought the cuteness overload was reaching “too much to handle” status, more cuteness came along anyway! The Rico Baby Dream dk also comes in a Rico Baby Dream dk Uni option – which of course launched with its own set of adorable patterns called Baby Blankets 786. This yarn is the same composition as its multi-colored counterpart, but comes in an offering of 21 lovely colors ranging from soft pastels to bold standouts. I really like seeing the plump stitch definition in the textured Baby Blanket, but I also love the contrast used in the heart patterned Baby Blanket. How adorable would it be to substitute in a multi colored yarn for those hearts!?!?!

Which project and colors do you think you’ll try out?! That’s all for now, Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane

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Flash Pattern Friday – Bijou

It‘s Flash Pattern Friday!

On the last Friday of the month, we take a beautiful paid pattern and set it free for a limited time through Ravelry. Today it’s Bijou in Universal Yarn Penna (Ravelry link here).

What a stunner! Aubrey Busek’s Bijou is light, lacy, and loaded with details.

The lace center panel graces both front and back, a fitting accent to the puffed cuffs, and the ruffles where the shoulders meet the sleeves.

The fabric made by Penna is the perfect backdrop for this design. Although the yarn is laceweight, the suri alpaca content creates a halo that fills in the stitches, for a soft, delicate look and feel. It also lets you work this up on US 6 (4mm) needles and still get a very lightweight garment!

To get Bijou free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase. Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by the end of Sunday 2/27 and we’ll get you taken care of.

We hope you have a delightful weekend.

Happy crafting!

-Heather

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Delightful Donnina

I’m downright tickled to be able to spotlight Donnina this week! When I first joined the Universal Yarn team, this yarn became one of my instant favorites. Made with 100% superwash extra fine merino, I have found it to be a great base for mixing and matching with other colorful yarns of the same composition, or similar weight.

A perfect example of pairing up Donnina with other yarn is the Fruit Stripe Pullover designed by Rachel Brockman, which features quirky, colorful stripes from our variegated Cobblestone. At just $9.75 a ball, you really can’t beat the price point for Donnina’s quality – making it all to easy too scoop up whole sweater quantities when the mood strikes! Be warned though, this is a popular design and we are running low on #201 Vanilla used as the solid base color below. Maybe pair up with a vibrant solid, like #206 Tomato Red, for some extra flavor though!

Another shining example (literally!) is the Polar Nights Cowl, designed by Rachel Brockman for our 12 Days of Winter Collection 2021. This Cowl uses Donnina as the primary background color, but cleverly uses Ricorumi Lamé DK for some twinkling colorwork, as well as Rico Design Essentials Superkid Mohair Loves Silk for a halo of softness around your neck. It’s truly a special project, and guess what!? You can snag it as a kit here, or just grab the pattern solo and make your own color combinations!

Polar Nights Cowl designed by Rachel Brockman

If mixing yarns isn’t your thing, then have no fear! There are a whopping 25 colors of Donnina for you to choose from. And of course, a standout palette deserves its own delectable pattern collection – Sweet Treats! There are six scrumptious designs to choose from. My favorite design is the Gumdrop Top designed by Aubrey Busek. Boasting some bold colorblock and a cold-shoulder silhouette, it’s my favorite flirty piece!

Gumdrop Top designed by Aubrey Busek

Another favorite from this collection is the Licorice Scarflette by Aubrey Busek. I’m not even sure where to start with describing why I love this, but I’ll try! For starters, I’m a sucker for colorwork, so I adore the fun polka dots paired with the contrasting stripes. The overall look is also such a fun, midcentury modern mix! The neutral palette, the bold colorblocking, and the classic neck scarf silhouette make me want to ride in a bright red convertible with the top down!

The possibilities with Donnina are truly endless! What sweet treat do you think you’ll make for yourself with it? I can’t wait to hear all about it!

That’s all for now – happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

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Collection Spotlight: Cozy Utility

So far, this winter has been absolutely perfect for knitting. Even in the south, we’ve had some wintry weather, and throughout the nation, there is more to come. So – are you staying warm? Are you staying…cozy? Well – if not, our latest pattern collection is sure to keep you both warm and cozy. Say “hello” to Cozy Utility!

Today, I’m going to highlight some of my favorite features of each design in the Cozy Utility collection. Whether you’re looking for a comfy cardigan, warm shawl, or soft stole – we have you covered. Each piece in this collection features our gorgeous Posh Alpaca yarn. This gently spun roving yarn blends wool, superfine alpaca, and acrylic to create a yarn that is light, lofty, and supremely warm. Upon its Fall 2021 release into the Universal Yarn line, Posh Alpaca became a fast favorite. And it’s no wonder – as you’ll see in the patterns I’m about to share, this yarn makes everything from soothing stockinette stitch to dense cables look absolutely amazing. Let’s take a look!

Beautiful Posh Alpaca – such a chic yarn.

First up: the Asher Set. Matching sets are everywhere, and when designer Aubrey Busek dreamt up the mood board for this collection, this concept along with two-mile wear was on her mind. Who doesn’t love some crisp coordination, after all? It’s an irresistible hat and shawl duo. I love the clever construction and unique shape of the shawl. You simply work two right triangles in two separate colors – both drenched in a beautiful textural motif. Then, join them together at the cast-on edge. The result is a color-blocked, diamond-esque shaped shawl that’s perfect for wrapping around your neck and shoulders. Aubrey gave this piece special attention to detail as she even chose to color block the crochet edging along the edges of the shawl. I told you it’s clever!

Aren’t the contrasting wings just beautiful?

I said this was a matching set, though – so let’s not give all of the attention to the shawl. Asher features a complimentary beanie complete with a pom pom. What’s not to love? When you’re ready to transition from home to the local cafe, or simply out on a snowy walk, tuck the shawl around your neck and pop on the cap. You’re ready to go. The hat begins with a contrasting ribbed brim and quickly turns to the diamond motif from the shawl. A background of reverse Stockinette stitch on both pieces truly makes the patterns pop.

You can wear the hat slightly slouchy, as pictured above, or close to your head for a more snug fit.

Next, we have one of my proudest designs to date: Corbin. Here at Universal Yarn, we strive to produce plenty of inspiring designs to support each of our yarns. Of course, we’re a small team and wear many hats, so occasionally it can be challenging to find the time to genuinely play with design. (Yes, you’re getting a behind-the-scenes confession.) I truly let my creativity flow with Corbin. It’s a statement piece complete with traveling cables that wind through the design. Because of its large motif, this pattern is primarily charted. However, the charts aren’t overwhelming thanks to the large gauge of Posh Alpaca. The sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down – a construction adored by many.

The cables in Corbin are featured on the sleeves, front, and back.

Another matching set in the collection, I included a coordinating cowl to take Corbin from warm and comfortable to supremely cozy. You’ll ward off the breeze with ease when you take this piece on the go. The cables in the cowl mimic the center front motif on the pullover. The fabric is double-thick, but you could easily work just one vertical repeat of the motif for a more lightweight piece.

Wear the cowl as a standalone accessory, or partner it with the pullover to elevate the design to the next level.

My other contribution to the collection is Evi. Crochet granny squares are everywhere. Although the classic motifs have traditionally been used for blankets, in the past year we’ve seen them more and more in garments and accessories. It’s a trend I don’t see going anywhere soon, and thank goodness for that. With Evi, I wanted to make a modern, high-contrast piece. Bold stripes alternate with granny squares in this partially-modular design. Night and day, colors #101 Birch and #106 Blacksmith complement each other perfectly and will never go out of style. But there are plenty of gorgeous colors in the palette to make your own. Just imagine this as an autumnal version reminiscent of fall foliage, using a combination such as #102 Oak and #108 Velveteen.

Evi is a striking project well-suited for beginners and advanced crocheters alike.

One of my favorite pieces from Cozy Utility is Hadley, designed by Aubrey Busek. Featuring soft bishop sleeves, knit-purl texture, and bountiful bobbles, this open and cushy cardigan will make you feel so relaxed. This is the type of piece that is easy to dress up or wear more casually. On those unexpectedly warm days, it can serve as a jacket all on its own. Knit flat in pieces and seamed, Hadley has just the right amount of structure to ensure longevity. This is a piece to last a lifetime.

Hadley features an optional, removable belt.

Finally, we have a show-stopping cardigan designed by the talented Melissa Leapman. Miranda is a richly cabled design featuring braided cables, cushiony K1, P1 Ribbed edgings, and pockets. Who doesn’t love pockets? The tunic length makes this piece almost robe-like, and like Hadley, it works fantastically as an outerwear piece. Set-in sleeves provide a perfect fit.

The cables in Miranda are framed with Double Seed Stitch – a classic complement to cables.

We simply adore this fresh collection and hope you do, too. Whether you’re a lover of garments or accessories, there is something for you. We’re also certain you’ll fall in love with Posh Alpaca the moment you touch it. I can say with full confidence, that this collection is full of designs that are a match made in heaven for the yarn.

So, which of these designs is your favorite? Have you worked with Posh Alpaca before? Let us know in the comments!

Happy Crafting!

-Rachel

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Free Pattern Friday – Baby Bloom Set

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Baby Bloom Set in Bella Cash (pattern link here).

There’s just one word to describe this pattern – adorabobble!

You can see why – these sweet little clusters of fun that adorn the sweater hem and the brim of the hat. They’re like sweet little flower buds ready to bloom!

Designer Rachel Brockman used Bella Cash for this design. It’s one of our favorite yarns for… well, for everything, but especially for baby and child garments. The cashmere content makes it irresistibly soft, and the machine washability means it’s practical for the most adventurous little tyke.

Stitch definition to die for!

Sized from 3-6 up to 24 months, this sweet little set takes 2-3 balls of Bella Cash for the cardigan, and just one for the hat.

This set is almost as cute as the baby you’ll make it for!

Have a great weekend – and happy crafting!

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Fibertinis: Old Fashioned Meets Tweed

Hi Fiber Friends!
I’m so excited to introduce you to a new blog segment I’ve been dreaming up called “Fibertinis” where I match popular cocktails with our yarn for a perfect pairing! For my first segment, I’m matching up our Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash with an Old Fashioned.

Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash and an Old Fashioned (Image Credit Taste.com)

Both of these classics have a long and rich history. According to Clan, by Scotsweb, Tweed as a name was first used in 1826 when a London cloth merchant clerk received a misspelled invoice which was meant to read “tweel,” the Scottish name for the fabric twill. Legend says that he presumed it was meant to be a brand name for the woolen fabrics hailing from the Tweed River region so they advertised them as such, and it stuck! Regardless of the nomenclature, tweed has always held an iconic and polished status since the woolen fabric elevated from a Scottish practical peasant garb, to a symbol of wealth and royalty with the rise of Estate Tweed in 1835.

Pilger designed by Rachel Brockman

Nowadays, tweed is still coveted both as a symbol of refinement, or its casual and cool rustic appeal. In a word, it’s a classic. It is for this reason that Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash is the perfect pairing with an Old Fashioned – a timeless, classic cocktail. According to a ranking of the 50 Most Popular Cocktails in the World in 2021, the Old Fashioned was the number one most popular cocktail in the world. The Old Fashioned’s beginnings are a bit hazy as its namesake has also been used as a catchall for any cocktails including bourbon or whiskey, which were considered old fashioned before the art of cocktail making was refined. As far as I can tell though, the general recipe of spirits, bitters, water, sugar, and citrus have been around and in demand since the 1880s. Even the origins of this pair land on a relatively similar timeline!

Drifting Hap designed by Rachel Brockman

Just as tweed has always been a blend of practicality and posh, our Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash is made from 90% superwash wool, 3% viscose, and 7% acrylic, making it both easy to care for and sophisticated. The soft and springy feel of the wool and beautiful stitch definition are the things I love most about this yarn. With 20 colors to choose from, and plenty of pattern support, there’s no reason not to make something perfectly classic for yourself or a loved one! Some of my favorite designs to try come from our collection Rustic and Refined, including Pilger and the Drifting Hap, featured in photos above. This robust collection has 13 total patterns, so you are sure to find quite a few things you won’t be able to live without. In addition to those I’ve already named, I also really like the Traverse Socks, and Sojourn Tunic, seen below.

Traverse Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman and Sojourn Tunic designed by Amy Gunderson

Now that I’ve researched a bit about the origins of my chosen cocktail and fiber, I truly feel they are a match made in heaven! I can picture it now – curled up in a booth of a cozy tavern sipping some citrusy bourbon goodness and stitching along on my next make. Won’t you join me?! I hope you’ve enjoyed this first edition of our Fibertinis Series! Let us know in the comments what tweed project you’d make, or what cocktail & yarn we should pair up next!
Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane

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New Year’s Craftsolutions

Happy New Year! Last year flew by and we’re nearly a week into 2022 – how wild is that? When January 1st rolls around, many of us think about our goals for the new year. Personally, I don’t make a lot of resolutions and just strive to grow, always. I like silly or mini resolutions, nothing dramatic. With that said, my favorite and most successful resolutions always revolve around crafting, and that’s what I’m here to chat about today! I asked our team to dish about their crafty goals for the year. From stash busting, to building design skills, to completing old and new projects alike – we have plenty of goals to strive for this year!

Yonca – Managing Director

Top, from left to right: No. 1 Pullover, Jay Sweater, Wheel of Life.
Bottom: Snowy forest (photo by Laine Publishing).

“Every year I promise myself to use the beautiful yarns I stashed before I came on board to help my husband to run Universal Yarn, but each year they get pushed back with other irresistible yarns we introduce to Universal Yarn! This year my goal is to use at least one stash yarn in a project of my choice while finishing up all the WIPs (works in progress):

My WIPs include:

It is ambitious … so wish me luck!”

Heather – Social Media

From left to right: Sequoia, Lightning (photo by John Felgate), Heather’s artist rendering of her future Lightning Sweater.

“I’ve knitted dozens of socks, hundreds of hats, and several sweaters for other people. Most recently on the sweater front, I made the free Sequoia Sweater in Deluxe Bulky Superwash for my adult daughter, and it looked awesome!  But never have I ever made a sweater for myself. This year will be different! I’m looking at Lightning from the Fall 2021 Knitty. And because I feel like I should make a splash with my first sweater, I’m thinking Uptown Worsted in #324 Black for the body and vibrant, neon-ish 338 Living Green for the bolts of lightning.  It’ll be a statement piece, and that statement is “HECK YES I KNITTED THIS MYSELF.”  Go big or go home, I say.”

Aubrey – Design & Social Media

Left to right: Carillon, Herbal Lace Socks (photo by Victoria Galkina)

“The year 2022 brings with it some big goals for me. As well as being a knitwear designer, I am also an avid sewer and love historical textile arts like hand embroidery and beading. My main goals this year are to continue expanding my skillset as a designer and maker, complete more projects (lots of various textile interests don’t help me finish things easily!), and really push myself to learn new things each month. Here are some of those goals:

  • Learn punch needle embroidery and develop some of my own designs using Universal Yarn!
  • Learn Tablet Weaving (I’ve desired to learn this type of weaving for so many years and just never invested in a loom).
  • Once I am married in April, design and make a sweater for my husband, Nathan! He is crazy tall and has a hard time finding clothes that fit him well, so I know he would treasure a handmade sweater that fits him perfectly. (Waiting until we’re officially married due to the sweater curse, haha!) I plan to use Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash in #901 Garnet because he loves red.
  • Design a knit dress – perhaps a dress version of my design, Carillon, knit in Deluxe Worsted.
  • Knit a pair of knee or thigh high, super lacy socks, like the Herbal Lace Socks designed by Victoria Galkina.”

Ashley Jane (AJ) – Design & Trunk Show Coordinator

From left to right: Evermore Dress (photo by Stephanie Erin),
Traveler Fair Isle Sweater (photo by Briana K Designs)

“I have made up my own “Out of this World UFO” list! “UFO” meaning unfinished objects, and out-of-this-world meaning I have at least one large project bagged and tagged for each month of 2022, which is ambitious! One of the projects I am most excited about is making the Evermore Dress, designed by Stephanie Erin, for an upcoming wedding that I’ll be in! I’m also excited to make the Traveler Fair Isle Crochet Sweater this year using a beautiful earthy-toned stash of Deluxe Worsted. I’ll be sure to post pictures of my journey on my Instagram and Ravelry, so feel free to follow along!”

Rachel (That’s me!) – Creative Lead

Top, from left to right: Argil (photo by Pom Pom Publishing), Saven (photo by Hudson + West Co), my Snowy Forest WIP. Bottom: My Argil WIP.

I’m going to start by saying that this is my tenth knitting anniversary! It was my 2012 New Year’s Resolution to learn, and oh boy, I never imagined how much it would transform my life! I’ve got to say, it was my most successful resolution ever! I have so many fibery goals for this year, and I hope I can achieve most of them.

Like Yonca and AJ, I want to work from my stash and I want to complete some UFOs (unfinished objects). I have three on my list – to be honest, there are a couple more but the reality is that I’m going to frog them.

  • Snowy Forest by Midori Hirose: I’m actually super close on this one. This is the sweater that Yonca, Aubrey, and myself are knitting together. I’m ahead of them, but I also started first and convinced them to knit it with me. This ticks off a little bit of stash, too! I’m using our Deluxe Worsted in #71051 Toast and carrying it along with a mystery mohair/silk blend from my stash. If you also fancy a mohair/silk blend, don’t miss Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk. I’ve been busy creating a few design proposals and an upcoming design for spring, so I briefly put this project on pause. However, this weekend I’ll be on sleeve island, and hopefully will finish my own Snowy Forest. You can see it in the gallery above.
  • John’s Cardi – by me!: Okay, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve only ever knit my husband, John, one sweater, and I’m even more embarrassed that I have been working on this design for over a year. In fact, first it was meant to be his anniversary gift last year, then his birthday gift, and now I hope to have it finished in time for our 10th wedding anniversary on March 10th. Fingers crossed! I don’t have a photo to share of this design, but I am using Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash in #413 Smoke and #405 Pine. It features some simple colorwork, steeking, a shawl collar, and some inset pockets. I’ll definitely publish the pattern, so be on the lookout…someday!
  • Argil by Clare Lakewood: For this one, I sincerely hope my gauge hasn’t changed because this is a 2019 project – oof! I’m using our Ready to Dye 03 that I naturally dyed with pokeberry along with Flax Lace held double in color #116 Jungle. I made such a silly mistake on it and just set it aside for ages. It will be so perfect for our hot and humid summers, so maybe I can finish this one by May.

I have so many design goals for the year that I don’t know where to begin. I want to become more well-rounded in knitwear design and work on my crochet skillset. I’m always designing because it’s simply my passion, but I’ve really enjoyed knitting projects by other designers, too. There is always something to learn from other designers – new techniques, how to word things, and more. I’ll call this part of my goal to become more well-rounded as a designer. One of the designs I have my eye on for 2022 is Saven by the mega-talented Meghan Babin. It’s unisex, so I’ll either make it for myself or for John. If I make it myself, I’m definitely using Deluxe Worsted from my stash – in either #12281 Clay or #41795 Nectarine.

Although my list goes on, I’ll stop here because I’m being quite the chatterbox. I guess I’m just very excited for all the crafty things I expect 2022 to bring. What are your craftsolutions for the new year? We would absolutely love to hear them, and we can’t wait to share many exciting things with you, too!

Happy crafting!

-Rachel