Uptown – Page 4 – Universal Yarn Creative Network

November 27, 2015November 27, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Winter Shades Hat and Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Winter Shades Hat and Scarf in Classic Shades Metallic and Uptown Worsted.

How’re we doing? Still working through Thanksgiving leftovers? I ask because right beside me, I have a slice of the pumpkin apple bread that has become traditional in our family. Here’s the recipe.

It makes two loaves, so you can keep one for yourself and bring one in to the office to be a hero. However, I’m writing this from home – Universal offices are closed today – and I can tell you there’s no way this bread will last until Monday. Sorry, co-workers.

Just because the offices are closed doesn’t mean we didn’t prepare a beautiful pattern for you!

The Winter Shades Hat and Scarf combine two lovely yarns: solid Uptown Worsted (180yds/100g) and self-shading Classic Shades Metallic (175yds/100g). Both hat and scarf are knitted flat in a surprisingly easy slip stitch pattern. Knit the edging on US size 6 / 4mm needles, then switch to US size 10/6mm for the patterning on the body of the hat and scarf. In the picture above, the brim of the hat is turned up. In the picture below, it’s turned down for a slightly different look.

That charming model, by the way, is Jordan, the newest member of our customer service team. We thought this ensemble would look great on her, and she graciously agreed to be our ~~guinea pig~~ model. Thanks, Jordan!

We hope you enjoy the afterglow of Thanksgiving. We’re so grateful for your enthusiasm, talent, and willingness to share your voices so we can become better crafting partners to you.

Happy knitting!

November 20, 2015November 20, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Grandmother’s Log Cabin

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Grandmother’s Log Cabin in Uptown Worsted.

After our recent spate of lace, we thought we’d go back to basics… almost. The Log Cabin is a classic design for a reason. It’s great for those who like simplicity in their knitting, and the finished result always looks good. But here, Amy Gunderson has given the Log Cabin a little twist.

By using wider and narrower strips of color, the squares move off-center for an updated look. Uptown Worsted (180yds/100g) features 55 colors from earth tones to neons so you can tailor the finished throw to the decor surrounding it. The colors Amy’s chosen here are:

5 skeins acorn #335 (G)
3 skeins sage #313 (E)
2 skeins hunter green #315 (B)
2 skeins Dijon #328 (C)
1 skein hot magenta #340 (A)
1 skein cranberry #325 (D)
1 skein steel grey #323 (F)

Personally, I love that little pop of magenta at the heart of each square.

This design was originally featured in the October 2013 Creative Knitting Magazine All Seasons Throws special issue. We’re delighted to make this pattern available now as a free download from our site.

We hope you find something (or someone) warm to snuggle up with this weekend.

Happy knitting!

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – Sunshine Shrug

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sunshine Shrug in Uptown Bulky.

I can hear what you’re saying. It’s Fall. To which I respond: so what? We need some color and light now more than ever. We’re crafters. When the days get short, we can make our own sunshine. And that’s what we’re doing with the lightweight Sunshine Shrug.

I love the colors in Uptown Bulky (87yds/100g) and the entire Uptown Line. They’re so rich and saturated. The browns are a bite of chocolate, the orange is a glossy pumpkin, the mint green belongs perched on the edge of a glass. The colors at the right make me think of a wildflower bouquet brought in to brighten the kitchen. And the bold but buttery yellow in today’s shrug shouts sunshine and dandelions.

This shrug is worked from the top down. Sleeves are shaped using raglan shaping. Stitches for the lace edging are worked after the body is complete. I love that the encircling lace is supported by the stockinette framework and garter edging. Practical and pretty.

This weekend, we hope you find a way to bring some warmth into a cool day.

Happy knitting!

July 31, 2015

Free Pattern Friday – PC538 Tapestry Toys and Cardigan

It’s still Free Pattern Friday!

This is Pattern Collecton PC538, Classic Worsted Tapestry Volume 2. Up until now, it’s never been available digitally, and never for free. Happy Friday!

We’ve had several requests for this leaflet, not least because although the original yarn, Classic Worsted Tapestry is gone, the colors in Uptown Worsted Tapestry are perfect matches for it. You could substitute Uptown Worsted Tapestry 809 Capri Breeze at right for Michele Wilcox’s Mr. Whiskers and the only difference would be that the Uptown feels softer.
Likewise, Purple Power, Emerald, and Mountain Blues are all available in Uptown Worsted Tapestry if you want to tackle Thanh Nguyen’s Cropped Cape-Cardi in its original color scheme.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this quadruple-dose of free patterns today.

Happy crafting!

March 29, 2015March 29, 2015

Sunday Swatch – Uptown Worsted Tapestry

Today’s Sunday swatch is in Uptown Worsted Tapestry.

What a pleasure to knit with. We developed Uptown Worsted Tapestry (180yds/100g) in response to many requests from local yarn stores mourning the loss of Classic Worsted Tapestry, a wool/acrylic blend. We took the dozen most popular colors of that yarn and brought them back in our Uptown line.

Uptown Worsted Tapestry has the same soft hand and pleasant feel as Uptown Worsted, and can be used interchangeably for gauge, making it a seamless transition when placing a burst of patterning in a solid background. The free His and Hers Yoke Sweaters shown here are a great example of this.

Because this yarn is such a spot-on color match, we’re re-releasing some favorite patterns originally designed for Classic Worsted Tapestry. Playful Accessories and Throw was formerly a pay collection only available in print. We’ve made it available now as a free download. Any of these would work perfectly in Uptown Worsted Tapestry.

These three designs by Michele Wilcox and one by Amy Gunderson are charming ways to add some whimsy and color to your life. We’ll be releasing more patterns in the weeks to come.

We hope you’ll enjoy this old favorite, given new life.

Happy knitting!

January 12, 2015

Afghan Knitalong – Finishing

I can’t believe we’re done! In my head, I’m hearing Frank Sinatra singing “My Way.” Every afghan we’ve seen so far has been a unique reflection of the style of its creator. It’s a wonderful tribute to the individual flair each of us have as crafters.

After assembling all the squares, Amy has opted to use four different colors for the border of her afghan. She’s also attached fringe and shares a video on how that works.

Even if you haven’t finished yet, we hope you’ll share pictures of your afghans. Seeing your work is inspiring!

You can share with us here, on Facebook, or on the Afghan Knitalong Ravelry group. We’ve just joined Instagram as well, so we’d love to see what you’ve posted in the way of knitstagrams!

We hope you’ve enjoyed knitting along. Happy crafting!

January 5, 2015

Afghan Knitalong – Seaming

It’s all coming together – literally! Time to seam up your squares into a glorious and unique creation. Lay ’em out, decide where you want them to go, and then turn your 20 little learning blocks into one beautiful whole. We’ve got a .pdf file with tips, and videos on not one but two methods of linking everything together.

First, Amy Gunderson demonstrates the mattress stitch, and how to use it when you have different numbers of stitches from square to square. Grab your tapestry needle and some yarn and get to it!

Next, she shows how to use a crochet hook to slip stitch your squares together. Slightly less invisible, but very easy to work.

I’m a big fan of mattress stitch, but I may give crochet slip stitch a try this time. I like the idea of working straight from the ball without cutting a length of yarn. Seems like fewer ends to weave in.

We’ll be back in just one week with details on adding a border and fringe (if you wish), and the big reveal of the finished sampler! Can’t wait!

December 18, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Santa Hat

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Today, the Holiday Santa Hat by Michael del Vecchio!

Originally designed for Classic Worsted Holiday, this would look great in any worsted weight yarn. Naturally you’re not limited to red and white – be a psychedelic Santa if you want! – but we do have recommendations in our solid color worsted weight yarns.

Uptown Worsted has 312 Racecar Red and 302 White Glow.

Deluxe Worsted has 3691 Christmas Red and 12270 Natural.

Deluxe Worsted Superwash has 738 Christmas Red and 728 Pulp.

This pattern is designed to be knit flat, handy for those who aren’t comfortable with circular needles.

I love Michael’s use of bobbles in this pattern to give texture. Make a provisional cast-on and knit the bobbled brim, then attach the red to the cast-on edge and knit the rest of the hat. A festive pom-pom finishes it off. I’m still backed up on my holiday knitting, so I might just use a Luxury Fur Pom-Pom to save time rather than making my own.

Wishing you a festive holiday season – and happy knitting!

December 8, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Twenty

Block 20 is live!

It’s our final block and we’re going out with a bang. Bee Mine uses traditional honeybee lace for its center panel. What a sweet pattern! A mix of yarn overs and dropped stitches creates the gentle symmetrical column in the center of the block. Amy Gunderson shares a video on the technique.

So pretty! Wouldn’t this look lovely on a scarf or along the outside of a sleeve?

That’s 20 blocks – are we done? Yes and no. We’ll be back after the first of the year to talk about assembling the whole afghan. I’m going to take that time to finish up a few stragglers and start laying out my squares to see how I want them to look.

Happy knitting!

November 27, 2014November 27, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Jolly St. Nick

It’s Throwback Thursday!

I’m home celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, but couldn’t resist sharing this little guy – especially after we promised the crocheters last week!

Jolly St. Nick is a crochet version of Santa from Michele Wilcox, the Queen of Cute. He stands 18″ high including hat – if you’ve seen an American Girl-style doll, that’s about the same height. Just as with last week’s knit Santa, we’re recommending Uptown Worsted. The 100% anti-pilling acrylic stands up to a lot of beard-pulling and snuggles.

Start at the top of his head and work down, then go back and add all the details that make him so adorable. Any pattern that instructs you to embroider a smile is a keeper.

We hope you’re having a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year, as every year, I am grateful for the ability to create, and in so doing to bring joy to myself and others. And always, always, there is gratitude for the community of fellow crafters who enrich our lives. What are you thankful for this year?

All the best this holiday.