Collection Spotlight: Oasis

May 31, 2024May 30, 2024

Collection Spotlight: Oasis

We’re waving goodbye to May with a big surprise! Our Oasis Pattern Collection is now available, and we can’t wait to introduce you to all seven of these gorgeous knit and crochet patterns. In the spotlight is Dunescape, a brand-new DK-weight blend of 57% cotton, 30% viscose, and 13% linen that’s soft and has excellent stitch definition. The Oasis Pattern Collection features five knit and two crochet pieces: let’s learn more about them now!

Aloe designed by Afifa Sayeed

Sensational for the sunshine, the Aloe vest is perfect for your next concert or frolic through a flower field! The open lace mesh and cropped fit of this breezy pattern makes it a great layering piece for your favorite outfits. Aloe is knit in pieces and seamed, with the straps sewn to the back and crochet chain ties attached to the front.

Aloe is sized from Extra Small through 5X with the sample showing off Dunescape color 106 Kelp. With 16 colors available in Dunescape, you can get creative!

Cactus Flower designed by Afifa Sayeed

Imagine strolling along the beach at sunset, wearing a top as beautiful as the scenery! All of that is possible with the beloved Cactus Flower tank! Follow along with a fun two-color star stitch pattern, and you will end up with this wardrobe staple. Cactus Flower features an interesting construction that makes it just as much fun to knit as it is to wear.

This light and airy top is knit in four pieces and seamed together and includes sizes Extra Small through 5X. Grab your two favorite colors and knit your own version today!

Canyon designed by Rachel Brockman

There’s nothing more breathtaking than the beautiful canyons found in nature. With astonishing colors and textures, there’s no wonder millions of people visit these landscapes. Canyon draws that same inspiration in the form of a sweater that you will want to wear every day. With gorgeous lace panels adorning each side and textured moss stitch used throughout, this piece will be phenomenal for your next vacation.

Canyon displays the beautiful drape of our Dunescape yarn in the color 116 Persimmon.

Eventide designed by Afifa Sayeed

Colorful, creative, and show-stopping are just three ways to describe Eventide! Knit in three hues of Dunescape, this piece is worked lengthwise as a rectangle and then seamed to create the shape. The lace texture and impeccable drape of the yarn make this a great accessory for the hottest summer days. Plus, who doesn’t love the fun addition of tassels?

While these shades look impressive together, plenty of trios would stand out. We love the idea of a festive look for the 4th of July with 103 Coconut, 108 Chicory, and 112 Paprika!

Lupine designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre

Ready to visit the farmers market in style? Grab your two desired colors of Dunescape and crochet the eye-catching Lupine bag. Lupine is worked by creating the identical Front and Back pieces that feature a mosaic pattern, joining those, and then working the side panels and straps. As a bonus, the cotton fibers of this yarn mean Lupine will be durable and reliable for whatever you need to carry!

Sandstorm designed by Aubrey Busek

You can’t help but be in awe of the golden sand dunes that grace desert landscapes. Much like the miles and miles of powdery sand, Sandstorm is something to behold. The stunning mosaic and crosses pattern pairs phenomenally with the lace arrows pattern, giving you a summer accessory bound to receive compliments.

This piece is worked modularly, with charts included for the mosaic and lace sections of the pattern. We know you will love putting your skills to the test as you practice multiple different techniques with this shawl!

Sidewinder designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre

Haven’t you always wanted a dreamy set for a summer night out? Whether it’s date night or fun with friends, The show-stopping Sidewinder set will make you feel amazing! With mesmerizing alternations between mesh and ribbed texture panels, you’ll have a trendy look that you’ll reach for often!

This pattern includes instructions for the top and skirt both sized from Extra Small to 5X.

Save This Weekend!

Now through Sunday, June 2nd, take 20% off Dunescape and the Oasis E-Book (our website only)! This DK-weight yarn is a blend of 57% cotton, 30% viscose, and 13% linen that thrives in the hottest months of the year. Dunescape is excellent for textured and simple stitches alike, so it’s a great choice for all skill levels. With a whole pattern collection of inspiration, there’s never been a better time to stock up on your new favorite yarn!

February 23, 2024February 22, 2024

FLASH Pattern Friday – Serra

Hi friends, and Happy Friday. This is the last Friday of February, so it’s time for a FLASH pattern! That means we are giving a normally paid pattern to our audience for FREE! Today we bring you Serra, designed by Rachel Brockman.

This beautiful sweater features Wool Pop, a gorgeous blend of 50% bamboo, 35% superwash wool, and 15% polyamide. It has a subtle sheen and a lovely drape when stitched. This yarn is a favorite for trans-seasonal garments and accessories, as the bamboo offers a soft, supple feel to the warm, springy wool.

This sweater is knit in the round from the bottom up, then the front and back are separated at the underarms and worked flat to create sleeve openings. The shoulders are joined with a three-needle bind-off before the sleeves are worked flat and sewn to the body. Stitches for the neck edging are picked up and worked in the round to finish off this elegant piece. The all-over cables and texture make for a timeless, sophisticated pullover that will take you from winter into spring!

To get the Serra pattern for free, use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer is valid through Sunday, 2/25.

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

July 7, 2023July 6, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Split Back Tee

Fridays are often filled with fun and excitement, and we know the main reason why: Free Pattern Friday! Today’s free pattern is the Split Back Tee in our Filly yarn.

The Split Back Tee in Filly color 102 Kite

Designed by Rachel Brockman, the Split Back Tee is cool and cute, perfect for summer days. With an all over textured pattern, this top is a great choice for knitters of all skill levels. I’m a big fan of knitting patterns that are relaxing and easy to work on while you watch television or spend time with friends. This tee is exactly that. Once you’ve memorized the stitch pattern, everything else is smooth sailing!

The split back design is perfect for showing off a fun layering piece underneath, and gives the overall piece a modern silhouette. Don’t fret about the construction, it is easier than you think! You’ll start by knitting the individual front and two back pieces, then after seaming the shoulders, you’ll overlap the back pieces per the pattern instructions, and finish up by creating the sleeves and neck band! This tee would be a wonderful pattern choice for someone who is working on getting comfortable with different types of construction elements in knit garments.

Our Filly yarn is a unique blend of 46% cotton, 33% superwash merino, 12% polyamide, and 9% pbt. Although this is a yarn that was designed with socks in mind, the fiber content makes it an excellent choice for garments and accessories too!

Self-shading yarns like Filly are perfect for simple silhouettes and stitch patterns. The yarn does the colorwork for you, so you can focus on the knitting! Wear the Split Back Tee on your next vacation, or just out to lunch with your fiber friends.

Which color of Filly would you use to make the Split Back Tee? I think I’d choose 101 Bloom.

Don’t forget to share your projects with us on social media! Use our hashtag #universalyarn on Instagram so that we can see and share your work!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

January 6, 2023January 16, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Cobbled Cowl

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Today we bring you the Cobbled Cowl (pattern link). This simple accessory works up quickly and has a lovely texture featuring a hazy halo of fibers from the yarn, Nymph.

*Cobbled Cowl made with Nymph in color 110 Lichen.*

Nymph is an irresistibly soft DK weight yarn with a cotton chainette construction and nylon fibers blown through, creating an ethereal effect. It comes in 50 g balls, is made of 84% cotton and 16% polyamide, and is machine washable for easy care. The palette is soft, yet earthy, with a hue to please everyone. To make way for new products, we are saying farewell to Nymph, so be sure to grab it while you can at a deep discount!

The cowl is worked flat from the bottom-up then seamed. The texture is a basic crochet stitch pattern called the Cobbled Stitch, which inspired name for the piece. It’s created by alternating single crochet (sc) and double triple crochet (dtr) across one row, then just single crochet for the next row. The soothing repetition, and no-brainer construction makes it accessible for beginners, and fun for experienced crafters wanting a Netflix-and-stitch project.

*Close up view of the cobbled stitch texture featured in the Cobbled Cowl.*

I hope you love this weeks Free Pattern Friday! Of course, I know that not all readers of this blog crochet, but don’t fret! There are plenty of knit patterns using this beautiful Nymph yarn. The Rosette Cowl is another freebie featuring a simple stitch repeat, or you can kick of 2023 with a larger project, like the January Sweater. Whatever you choose, be sure to share it with us – we love seeing your projects! Follow & tag us on Instagram at @Universal_Yarn and use the hashtag #UniversalYarn, or find and follow us on TikTok or Facebook at @UniversalYarn.

That’s all for now, Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane

September 15, 2021September 15, 2021

Rico Spotlight: Fashion Light Luxury in Crochet

Hello there, Welcome back my second installment of “AJ’s Crochet Corner!”

I’m slowly swatching my way through various yarns and infiltrating our knit-heavy office to inspire envy and the desire to switch skills amongst all I meet! Now that you know my evil plans to motivate my coworkers to share my craft, you can help give me feedback on what types of yarn and patterns I should try out and show off next!

Today I tried out Fashion Light Luxury by Rico Design, which is a wonderful brand that we recently started to distribute. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the chance to incorporate their yarns into our pattern collections just yet, but keep an eye out later in the year for new patterns from us featuring Rico Design yarns. This blog post felt extra special, because I was the first one in the office getting to swatch some stitch patterns in Fashion Light Luxury! This particular yarn is made from 74% Alpaca, 22% Wool, and 4% Nylon. It is ultra fluffy so you have a lot of room to play with techniques, gauge and texture.

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury in Powder 009*

For example, our site notes that a recommended hook or needle size is a US 10 or 6mm, to accommodate the fibers as a bulky weight yarn. However, I wanted to get funky and see if I could work up some visible texture, so I scaled down to a US 6 or 4mm hook. It still worked well, as the base yarn housing the fluffy fibers is quite fine.

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury in Light Blue 018*

I worked up a swatch in a Honeycomb stitch, which turned out lovely! The smaller hook wound the fibers into the stitches more and helped to create a unique texture. I would definitely recommend a metal hook for this, as the yarn was a bit grippy when I tried a wooden hook. The overall effect was worth it though! Between the color, the swirls of the pattern, and the bouncy material I’m reminded of sea foam on the shore of a stormy ocean.

I mentioned earlier though how this yarn is meant to be treated as a bulky weight. When you size up your hook, you have more room for the intended airy halo, and get a satisfying drape to boot. Check out the Crochet Cardigan and Shawl designed by the Rico Design Team below!

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury Cardigan in Pastel Green 024*

*Rico Design Fashion Light Luxury Shawl in 7 various colors*

Here you can see that the fabric made is not as dense as my swatch, and that there is a bit of a cozier quality overall. Ultimately I feel that Fashion Light Luxury is really versatile for the different looks you can manipulate, and for the adaptability of its blend. It’s extremely lightweight, yet very warm, and the nylon gives it enough strength to handle making garments.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this experiment with gauge and a unique yarn! Let me know what you think you’d try to make out of it! Please also drop a comment if there are any specific yarns, or techniques that you’d like to see in crochet.

That’s all for now!

Happy Stitching, Ashley Jane

January 13, 2021

Still Life – Six Painterly Projects to Knit

Today I’d like to highlight one of our more recent pattern collections, Still Life (link). It’s always fun to put together a pattern collection. This one is especially close to my heart because this is the last collaborative collection between our former creative director, the amazing Amy Gunderson, and myself. That means this collection has also been a long time in the making. Originally, these patterns were developed for another yarn, but sometimes things just don’t work out the way you originally planned. When we had to say goodbye to the intended yarn, we didn’t want to say goodbye to this collection. How could we? The pieces are all so beautiful. That’s why we reimagined them in our Deluxe Worsted Superwash and Deluxe Worsted Tweed. Today I’m going to share each of these projects with you and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

The first pattern in the collection is a contribution by Amy Gunderson. The show-stopping Chiaroscuro (pattern link). This seamless, top-down pattern features a bold slip-stitch colorwork motif across the circular yoke. I’ve always been a fan of mock-neck and turtle neck sweaters. As someone who is perpetually chilly, they maximize my comfort during the winter months. So, the high, ribbed neckband of Chiaroscuro is perfect for me. I also love the contrast color rolled stockinette trim that decorates the hem and sleeve cuffs. This is a casual piece that is begging to be knit. Our sample uses Deluxe Worsted Tweed which gives it a rustic appeal. However, if tweedy nubs aren’t your thing, simply use Deluxe Worsted Superwash instead – the yarns are totally interchangeable!

Chiaroscuro by Amy Gunderson in Deluxe Worsted Tweed

Next, we have Delft (pattern link), knit in Deluxe Worsted Superwash. This is my design, and while I don’t mean to boast, I have to say I just love it! I’ve worn the original sample of this design so much! It’s the perfect layering piece. The raglan shaping ensures a great fit. Twisted ribbing pops along with the hem and button bands, but what I love most are the horizontal bars created by using slipped stitches. Delft is another seamless pattern and is knit from the bottom up. You work the body and sleeves separately and join them at the underarms and complete the sweater in one piece.

Delft by Rachel Brockman in Deluxe Worsted Superwash

Those who love a good sampler project will enjoy Leyster (pattern link), designed by Amy Gunderson. This lengthy scarf is perfect for wrapping around your shoulders during the cool months of autumn and winter. The design is loaded with textural motifs that are a blast to knit, and you won’t get bored because the motifs alternate frequently. Leyster is an excellent project for a beginner knitter ready to tackle something more interesting than garter stitch.

Leyster by Amy Gunderson in Deluxe Worsted Superwash

Another project that uses Deluxe Worsted Superwash is the cozy shawl, Pointillé (pattern link). Like all of the designs in this collection, Pointillé is richly textured. It features three lovely colors. I love the crescent-shape of this shawl and find that it drapes around the neck and shoulders so easily. The stitch patterns are easily memorized and addictive to knit. The finishing touch is a crocheted picot trim – admittedly a design feature I can’t get enough of!

Pointillé by Rachel Brockman in Deluxe Worsted Superwash

Although I always say I favor knitting sweaters and hats, shawls are also high on the list of my favorite things to knit. They come in all shapes and sizes with varied construction methods. I’ve never really been bored with a shawl. Angular, asymmetrical triangles are a popular shawl shape, likely because of their modern design appeal. Verdigris (pattern link) falls into the asymmetrical triangle category, but with a twist. Stitches are actually increased on two sides of a cable panel, breaking this pattern up into beautiful and interesting sections.

Verdigris by Amy Gunderson in Deluxe Worsted Tweed

The final piece in the collection is another pullover: Vermillion (pattern link) in Deluxe Worsted Tweed. This pullover features bracelet length sleeves, slip stitches, cables, and a sweet split hem on the front. I designed the hem so that the ribbing shifts neatly into the center panels. I’m pretty sure this piece is going to be a favorite of mine to wear during the transitional seasons!

Vermillion by Rachel Brockman in Deluxe Worsted Tweed

I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a look at the patterns in the Still Life collection! We’re so happy with how this collection turned out. Which projects do you plan to put on your knitting needles? Do you have a favorite piece in the collection? We’d love to know in the comments!

Happy crafting!

October 5, 2020October 5, 2020

Design Spotlight: Mahakam in Deluxe Worsted

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love Deluxe Worsted. Today, we’re excited to share that we’ve given this yarn a facelift. We’ve narrowed down the color palette to be more cohesive and, excitingly, we are now able to offer this yarn at a more accessible price point. Deluxe Worsted is a gorgeous, 100% non-superwash wool yarn that is a stash staple. You should see my own stash – there is plenty of it!

I love Deluxe Worsted for its versatility. It looks great in every stitch pattern – from cables to colorwork, you simply can’t go wrong. It is a round, 4-ply yarn that is smooth and soft without compromising durability. That’s why I chose it for my recently published design, Mahakam.

My husband, John, in his Mahakam pullover.

Published in the First Fall 2020 issue of Knitty, I designed this pattern specifically with my husband in mind. It needed to be a great layering piece, but more interesting than a plain stockinette stitch sweater. It also needed to be knit in a color he’d love wearing on a regular basis. After all, if something is going to be handknit, it needs to get a lot of love!

Although John definitely isn’t afraid of a little color, I wasn’t too surprised when his attention went straight to the neutrals. His top choices were #12172 Dark Crystal and #12178 Turkish Coffee. Although the colors are similar in tone and value, Dark Crystal is cooler and more grey while Turkish Coffee is a warmer, black-brown hue. It was hard to choose between the two, but who can resist a color that references the Jim Henson masterpiece, The Dark Crystal? After all, both of us love puppets (and Muppets, obviously), and take at least an annual trip to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

After selecting the color, I knew the fabric needed to be rich in texture, so I turned to slip stitch cables to feature throughout the body and sleeves. I made some little swatches first, just to make sure John was happy with them. Even when using such a dark color, the texture isn’t lost thanks to the wonderful stitch definition of Deluxe Worsted.

John was adamant about this sweater being relaxed and a bit oversized – pretty much as cozy as possible. However, I also wanted to create a design that could look great worn either way – relaxed and casual or more form-fitting and tailored. So, I also asked my friend, Michael, to model the sweater. I love how the fit is a bit tidier on him. It’s always nice to see how garments look on various body types. Both John and Michael loved the sweater, so I feel like my design was pretty successful.

Michael chose a pop of orange to peek out from beneath this sweater. A stylish and autumnal touch.

Mahakam is knit from the bottom up in pieces and seamed. I love seams because they add structure and longevity to knitwear. It features raglan shaping and a K1, P1 Rib hem, sleeve cuffs, and neckband. The slip-stitch cables decorate the front, back, and sleeves.

Deluxe Worsted shines in textural stitch patterns, like those used in Mahakam.

Naming patterns is one aspect of design that is fun, but also a bit challenging. While sometimes I know what I want to name a sweater during the early stages of designing, other times I don’t know until the sweater is finished. The latter was the case with Mahakam. Given that it’s delightfully woolly, I couldn’t help but think of this pullover as the perfect piece for trips to the mountains this time of year. Mountains led me to think of mining, and mining led me to think of dwarves. In short, this combination paired with my current obsession with all things related to The Witcher, I decided to name the sweater Mahakam after the mountainous region where dwarves live and thrive.

The textural pattern is also featured on the back of Mahakam.

Although the pattern as written could easily be considered unisex, I’ve been thinking about designing a women’s version of this sweater. It might be nice to give the waist subtle A-line shaping and crop it a bit. A split hem would also be a nice touch. If I decide to move in that direction, I think I’ll use #12281 Clay, which is a lovely terra cotta hue.

I hope you enjoyed hearing a little more about this design. If you’re interested in knitting Mahakam, you can find the pattern on Ravelry (link) and in Knitty (link). Don’t forget, Deluxe Worsted is now available at a more accessible price point! You can find Deluxe Worsted at your local yarn store, or on our website, where you can see all of the colors. Which color would you choose?

June 28, 2019July 22, 2019

Free Pattern Friday – Purls & Triangles Blanket

A blanket knit in Adore draped over a chair.

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

A blue blanket knit using Universal Yarn Adore.

Today, the Purls & Triangles Blanket in Universal Yarn Adore (pattern link here). Looking for a simple project with visual impact? This blanket is for you!

A blue blanket knit in Adore folded on a chair.

Adore is a super soft blend of machine-washable merino and anti-pilling acrylic – making this a seriously baby friendly project. Bonus: this yarn has great stitch definition, so it is ideal for designs with texture. In this blanket, knit and purl stitches join forces to create an all-over triangle pattern with just a touch of seed stitch along the border. The stitch pattern is easily memorized and it’s great for new and seasoned knitters alike.

A detail shot of a blanket knit in Adore draped over a chair.

We’ve chosen 120 Jade for this blanket, but I think it would look equally spectacular in 113 Apricot or 117 Hazel. What can I say, I love warm colors! With 32 colors to choose from, you have plenty of options. Which will you choose? Happy crafting, friends!

January 19, 2018June 21, 2023

Free Pattern Friday – Porthole Cowl

My friends, winter is showing no signs of letting up, even here in North Carolina. We were blasted with 5-6″ of snow the other day. If you’re from a northern state as I am, that may not seem like much. But in the south it is a significant amount and is cause for much celebration and hot cocoa. And as we all know, any reason to pile on more knitwear is quite welcome.

Our free pattern this week is the Porthole Cowl, knit in a soft wintery shade of self-shading Major.

Pattern link here.

This cowl is knit in the round, showing off the shading of Major as it works it’s way upward in a bounty of texture and “porthole” lace. The color is quite subtle in color 118 Silver Blush. If you like more in-your-face-color, there are many options to choose from. Some of my favorites are:

Happy crafting – stay warm out there!