Free Pattern Friday – Spark Tee

Happy Free Pattern Friday! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful summer sun on this holiday week. This Friday, we are releasing a brand new pattern knit using one of our most Pop-ular yarns.

The Spark Tee was designed by Afifa Sayeed using Bamboo Pop Sock in one of the newest colors we released last year. Bamboo Pop Sock is a sock-weight yarn comprised of bamboo, cotton, and PBT; the perfect fiber blend for hot days.

The Spark Tee is the perfect essential for a casual day out. An open mesh-style stitch pattern is worked on the main body, giving this tee a stretchy, breezy feel. The mesh pattern is easy to memorize, making this tee a great choice for knitters of all skill levels.

You’ll knit the Spark Tee flat in pieces, starting with the Front. Although seaming knits may not seem like the most fun part of a project, they add structure and integrity to the final piece, which is great for elastic yarns like Bamboo Pop Sock.

After seaming, stitches are picked up around the armholes as well as the neckband to create the ribbed edging. The ribbing offers a nice textural contrast to the mesh pattern.

Designer Afifa Sayeed chose color 702 Ecstatic for the Spark Tee. I love how playful and sunny this shade looks. Bamboo Pop Sock has a unique self-shading print throughout, so any color you choose will result in an exciting finished piece. If I made the Spark Tee, I would choose color 706 Serentiy; pink and purple are my favorite colors!

Don’t forget to shop our sitewide July 4th sale this weekend only!

Happy crafting,

Aubrey

Free Pattern Friday – Striated Shawl

A woman stands wearing a trendy outfit with a shawl draped around her shoulders. The caption reads Free Pattern Friday, Striated Shawl knit in Rico Design, Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK

Hello There! This week, we have a pattern that’s as sweet as sorbet. Introducing the Striated Shawl, designed by Afifa Sayeed. The self-shading hues of Rico Design’s Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK bring to mind the tasty treat, or the swirling striations of rock formations, for which it gets it’s namesake.

This petite shawl is knit from the bottom up, utilizing increases and decreases to create the edging shape. Stockinette is used throughout most of the project to showcase the beautiful tones and flecks of tweed in the yarn. Why go over the top with a complex stitch pattern when you can let the yarn do the talking?!

the Striated Shawl maximizes the use of 2 balls of Rico Design, Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK. This gorgeous yarn has a breezy chainette construction and is made of 47% cotton, 43% acrylic, 7% polyamide, and 3% viscose. The shading blends and shifts softly, like a watercolor painting, and is enhanced with the sprinkling of tweed throughout. While each ball is just 50g, there is a whopping 202 yards packed in each one – a testament to the lofty, lightweight tubular construction that makes this yarn perfect for most seasons.

The Striated Shawl will look great in any shade of Rico Design Fashion Cotton Light and Long Tweed DK! Which color do you think you’ll choose? This weekend only (today – Sunday 6/16) save 15% on this lovely yarn.
That’s all for today, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane

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!

Free Pattern Friday – Fleetwood

Happy Friday, friends!
This week we have a flowy and fun crochet duster called Fleetwood, designed by me, Ashley Jane McIntyre. It’s named for Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, whose iconic, bohemian style includes all kinds of flowing garments like this one.

The pattern includes both a long version (pictured here) and a short version, that falls to about knee length. The main fabric is a crochet mesh that maximizes yardage, while creating an airy and summery vibe, and the whole thing is framed with cheery crochet granny square flower motifs.

The duster is made of Magnolia, a fingering weight yarn composed of 95% modal and 5% cashmere. The resulting fabric is silky smooth and boasts excellent drape. This yarn also excels at showing off gorgeous stitch definition! Check out our Sunkissed Summer collection, featuring five projects in Magnolia to see just how stunning this yarn is.

The flower motifs are made of Rico Design’s Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton. This dk weight yarn is made of 46% acrylic, 49% cotton, and 5% polyester. It’s spun with a solid ply and a variegated ply to create a sensational spectrum of color. I’ve paired three colors together to create flowers in inverse shades of each other which alternate around the duster – you can choose any that you like!

Fleetwood is free to download and is written in three, batched sizes which span from XS – 9X. The first size range includes XS-M, the second includes L-2X, and the third includes 3X-5X. Get your copy today, and be sure to pick up Magnolia and Rico Design’s Creative Lazy Hazy Summer Cotton – both of which are 20% off their listed prices this weekend only!

That’s all for today, happy stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

Free Pattern Friday – Whirligig Cardigan

A woman is posed on the left side, facing backwards showing the rear of a knit cardigan. the center of the image reads "Free Pattern Friday, Whirligig Cardigan knit in Cotton Supreme and Cotton Supreme Speckles." The left side of the image shows the woman facing forward and showing a different angle of the knit cardigan.

Happy Friday, Friends!

This week we are releasing the Whirligig Cardigan, designed by Afifa Sayeed, which captures all of the whimsy and colors of spring! Two bold shades of Cotton Supreme collide with two punchy colors of Cotton Supreme Speckles to create swirly pinwheels all over.

Cotton Supreme is a ridiculously soft, worsted-weight, 100% cotton yarn. It’s available in a whopping 45 colors and is a dream to work with and wear, but its versatility is the real kicker. It’s suitable for homewares like baby blankets, washcloths, stuffed toys, and more. However, Cotton Supreme truly is most popular for garments and accessories worn close to the skin. It’s an approved yarn for sensitive skin types, and is used by many for chemo caps, like the Hope Hat.

Cotton Supreme Speckles is the variegated counterpart to Cotton Supreme. It has the same 100% cotton base and weight, and comes in 6 zippy colors, which can pair with their solid sisters in fun and exciting ways. The Whirligig Cardigan, and the Below blanket show off these complimenting abilities beautifully. If you’re unsure of which colors to pair up, rest assured that Cotton Supreme Speckles looks fabulous as a stand-alone-stunner. Check out the free Wildflower Tee pattern for inspiration!

We love all of the ways you can pair these yarns, and are so excited to feature them in this week’s Free Pattern Friday. The Whirligig Cardigan is an Easy pattern, suitable for adventurous beginners. It’s constructed of 52 individual squares that are knit on the bias. Once completed, they are sewn together based on a schematic, and finished with picked up stitches for sleeve hems and edging. I personally love projects that assemble from smaller pieces – they are so transportable! This is a great cardigan to make on-the-go.

So, what do you think you’ll make with Cotton Supreme or Cotton Supreme Speckles? Get both for your stash with our weekend sale! Today through Sunday 4/21 both of these yarns are 20% off on our website. Share your projects with us here in the comments, or send photos on social media – we love to see what you’re working on!

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

Spring Yarns For Your Stash

Spring has sprung, and we’re thrilled to share some of our favorite yarns for the season with you! There are many things to look out for when searching for the perfect yarn for spring, including fiber content, weight, and color palette. If you haven’t heard of the yarns below, let today be the day you try something new! Let’s go ahead and get started with the newest addition to the Uptown Family of Yarns!

Uptown Bamboo DK is a fiber blend of 80% anti-pilling acrylic and 20% bamboo in a DK weight. Each 100g skein has 284 yards of yarn, with 38 different colors to select from. Bamboo fibers are highly breathable and moisture-wicking, allowing you to keep cool in warmer weather. Uptown Bamboo DK is machine-washable, making it an excellent option for wearable pieces and baby projects. The color palette of this yarn includes plenty of beautiful hues for spring, like 515 Wisteria and 528 Breeze.

Cotton Supreme Speckles is the newest member of the Cotton Supreme Family, and it’s already receiving so much love! This yarn is made up of 100% cotton fibers in a worsted weight, just like Cotton Supreme, but with speckles! Cotton is a plant-based fiber that is excellent for spring and almost any project you can think of. Due to the durability of cotton, Cotton Supreme Speckles is phenomenal for homewares, like the Seedling Washcloths. Additionally, this yarn makes for beautiful wearable pieces, like the pictured Wildflower Tee.

Naturally, we wanted to include one of our staple yarns, so say hello to Bamboo Pop! We already talked through the benefits of bamboo and cotton fibers, and guess what? Bamboo Pop is a blend of both! With that being the case, this yarn is breathable, soft, and exceptional for any project. One of our favorite things about Bamboo Pop is the versatile color palette. Both solids and multis are available, and many pair faultlessly with each other! Try a fun accessory with this staple, with the pictured Sabal poncho. Plus, if you love to make baby projects, you will want to add Bamboo Pop to your stash; it’s a customer favorite for such patterns!

Speaking of baby projects, Rico Design’s Baby Dream DK is next on deck! With a fiber blend of 50% polyacrylic and 50% polyamide, Rico Design Baby Dream DK is incredibly soft and easy to care for. Solids and multis are available in this yarn, with a range of gorgeous colors, especially pastels. The polyacrylic and polyamide fibers mean that Baby Dream DK is machine-washable, so it’s ideal for your little one. We love the idea of a baby blanket or cardigan, like the pictured Besties pattern!

You may have never heard of Rico Design’s Creative Fluffily DK, but we’re thrilled to introduce you! With a fiber blend of cotton, polyester, acrylic, and wool, Creative Fluffily DK is sensationally soft, machine-washable, and includes a subtle sparkle! Each 150g cake of this yarn contains 459 yards of yarn, making it great for larger projects like pullovers and shawls. There are 14 shades to choose from, and we can’t wait to see what you will make with Creative Fluffily DK!

Which one of these yarns would you work with first? Let us know in the comments! We can’t wait to hear your response.

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert

Universal Yarn Publication Highlight – April 2024

We love seeing Universal Yarn featured in the spotlight! Three designs using your favorite yarns from our brand are available and we’re so excited to show them off. The Coral Canopy Cardigan (right), designed by Nazanin S Ford, using Uni Merino, the Sunny Bloom Blanket (middle), designed by Willow Crochet, using Uptown Worsted, and the Lattice Cloche Hat, designed by Sheila Pfeiffer, using Bamboo Pop. Let’s learn more about these gorgeous patterns!

Featured in “I Like Crochet” Magazine’s April 2024 issue, the Coral Canopy Cardigan is stunning! This piece is perfect for spring, with a breathtaking leaves pattern, a v-neckline, and three-quarter length sleeves. The soft, superwash merino wool and nylon blend of Uni Merino will make this cardigan a summer staple, whether you’re at the beach or relaxing at home!

Next, we’ll look at Willow Crochet’s beautiful Sunny Bloom Blanket! Using stash staple Uptown Worsted, this homeware is full of color and is as soft as can be with 100% anti-pilling acrylic fibers. This graphgan uses seven hues of Uptown Worsted, so you can practice transitioning colors like never before. To get this pattern for free, visit Knitty!

The Lattice Cloche Hat is available on Ravelry using customer-favorite Bamboo Pop! An engaging slip-stitch technique creates a lovely lattice overlay effect that will have you receiving compliments left and right. Bamboo Pop’s color palette is vast, so you can choose the hues that best match your personality and make a hat for you and a friend!

We hope you enjoyed hearing about these exciting designs! We invite you to share all of your projects with us by tagging us @universal_yarn on Instagram. Stay tuned for next month’s publication spotlight!

FLASH Pattern Friday – Golden Fans and Gossamer Shawlette

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Today we are switching up the usual monthly schedule and offering a very special FLASH Friday to coincide with our sitewide St Patrick’s Day Sale. That’s right, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is here, and it’s actually a pot of Cotton Gold!

This weekend only, you can download the Golden Fans AND Gossamer Shawlette patterns for free on Ravelry using the code: FLASH. These popular accessory patterns show off our brilliantly sparkling Cotton Gold yarn. Let’s take a closer look!

Golden Fans features a stunning lace stitch pattern worked throughout. The written pattern includes instructions for both a scarf and shawl size of this accessory. Popular for weddings, Golden Fans is sure to stand out and get you tons of compliments on your knitting skills.

The Gossamer Shawlette is an ethereal accessory that will be the perfect topper to any outfit. This shawl has a triangular shape, and features a beautiful pointed edging. Wear this draped over your shoulders for a dressy night out, or style as a bandana for a sparkly addition to a casual look!

Cotton Gold is a lace weight yarn that is made with a cotton thread base that has metallic fibers and sequins strung throughout. Worked alone, it creates light and airy projects with a magical quality. Held as a carry along, it adds texture and dimension to any creation. Cotton Gold pairs extremely well with other cotton-based yarns like Cotton Supreme or Bamboo Pop, and yarns with a textured halo such as Penna or Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk (pictured above).

Don’t forget to use the code: FLASH on Ravelry to get Golden Fans and the Gossamer Shawlette free this weekend only, and don’t miss out on our sitewide St Patrick’s Day Sale! You can get $25 off any order of $100 or more (before tax and shipping) through 11:59 PM EST on March 17th. Our sitewide sale doesn’t require a code, the discount will be automatically applied when your cart amount reaches the $100 before tax minimum. This is a great time to stock up on yarn for future projects!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

Free Pattern Friday – Terrific Tea Towels

Can you believe it’s already the second Friday of March? Time flies when you’re stitching! This week, we have an exciting free pattern that you will love adding to your kitchen. The Terrific Tea Towels, to be exact. Using self-striping Cotton Supreme Waves, you’ll have a colorful homeware that is perfect as a dishcloth, washcloth, or just decoration. Let’s learn more about this exciting pattern!

There are many things to love about the Terrific Tea Towels, but we especially love how beginner-friendly this project is! You will use soothing stockinette stitch throughout the body of this cloth, with garter stitch edges for the top, bottom, and sides. With many colorways in Cotton Supreme Waves, including solids and speckles, you can customize your Terrific Tea Towels to match your personality!

Cotton Supreme Waves is one of three members of the Cotton Supreme Family! With a 100% cotton base, this yarn is incredible for homewares and wearable projects. The buttery soft and breathable fibers of Cotton Supreme Waves are a delight to work with and will lead to long-lasting creations due to the yarns durability!

Now through Sunday, March 10th, at 11:59 PM EST, get 20% off Cotton Supreme Waves! So, now the only question is, what will you create? Let us know in the comment section below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert

FLASH Pattern Friday – Serra

A woman poses in the Serra sweater. The text "Flash Pattern Friday, Serra knit in Wool Pop" appears to the right of her.

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