Tag: yarn

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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Free Pattern Friday – Sprezzatura Set

Happy Free Pattern Friday everyone! Today, we are releasing a set that is perfect for knitters of all skill levels: the Sprezzatura Set. Personally, I am a huge fan of relaxing knitting patterns that feel fun, yet not so complex that I can’t simultaneously talk to a friend or watch my favorite late night show. The Sprezzatura Set is a relaxing, fun knit that anyone can tackle, and a one ball wonder (we ALL love those). Let’s get into it!

Sprezzatura is an Italian word that means to have an an air of nonchalance. It is a beautiful word, befitting for this shawl and headband set that, once knit up, have quite an effortless appearance. The shawl is knit flat from tip to tip with directional increases and decreases that create the elongated triangle shape. A slip stitch edge is worked on the shawl; keeping everything looking tidy. Garter stitch worked throughout lets you focus on the shaping, and is part of why this pattern is perfect for a knitter looking to grow new skills.

The matching headband uses a provisional cast-on that is later unpicked and bound off using the I-Cord method. If this sounds intimidating, don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it in no time, and all of our patterns include stitch guides that thoroughly explain techniques used.

Designer Afifa Sayeed chose to use Rico Design Creative Melange Garzato Aran for the Sprezzatura Set. This aran weight wool and acrylic blend is perfect for simple stitch patterns like garter stitch, thanks to the self shading stripes that come to life as you knit or crochet. Creative Melange Garzato Aran comes in a 200g beehive style skein, and with over 700 yards, you can easily create this shawl and headband with just one ball! There are 12 stunning colors to choose from, tell us which one you would choose!

We hope you enjoy this week’s simple, yet stunning, free pattern release.

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

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Collection Spotlight: Precious Picnic

Spring is just around the corner and we are embracing it in a big way with our newest collection featuring eight adorable patterns for your little ones. Taking inspiration from nature’s sweet treats, the Precious Picnic collection utilizes the colors and imagery of fresh fruit in a variety of designs ranging from adorable stuffies, accessories, and garments to blankets in our easy-care Uptown Bamboo DK. Let’s jump right in and talk about each piece!

Dress your little one in an outfit as sweet as they are with the Bilberry Set, designed by me! The adorable romper is perfect for layering over long sleeves during a cool spring picnic and the bucket hat will protect their heads from the sun. We’ve chosen 522 Sailor and 525 Willow for our version, but let your favorite fruit serve as the foundation of this leaf-topped ensemble! The romper includes sizes for 0-18 months and the hat includes sizes for a newborn to a toddler. Both pieces are constructed from the top down with a simple stranded colorwork motif to create the leaf pattern.

My personal favorite – the Concord Wrap, also designed by me. A sweet little cardigan with adorable grape bunches adorning the front hem. The crossover design with buttons and I-cord ties makes it easy to dress a wiggly one. This layering piece is the perfect cocoon for any outfit, keeping your sweet babe cozy thanks to our soft, smooth Uptown Bamboo DK yarn. The sample shown uses 517 Lilac and includes sizes for 0-24 months. The Concord Wrap is constructed in pieces and seamed.

What’s more fun than a set of stuffed fruit? The Fresh and Fruity Set, designed by, you guessed it, ME, is just ripe for pretend play. This stuffed toy set includes varying colors and shapes, helping teach young ones about objects and colors in fun ways. The set features colorways 525 Willow, 505 Daisy, 514 Tomato, and 518 Mulberry. Each fruit is knit seamlessly from the top down and stuffed as you go.

What could be more fitting in a collection of fruit-inspired items for young ones than a gingham blanket? Rachel Brockman designed both a knit AND a crochet version of the quintessential picnic blanket. Both versions are constructed in a modular fashion, making them the perfect on-the-go project. The crochet version of the Gingham Blankie is shown in 502 Lily and 507 Peach and the knit version uses 502 Lily, 519 Bluebird, and 521 Chill

Keep the mess off those adorable outfits with the Juicy Bib Trio designed by Rachel Brockman – a collection of bibs decorated with apples, lemons, and pears bordered by an edging inspired by basketry, like a little picnic basket. Each bib is knit flat from the bottom up using a knit-purl texture to create the motifs. The bibs pictured above feature colors 514 Tomato, 505 Daisy, and 524 Lemongrass.

The Melon Seed Set, designed by Rachel Brockman, is refreshing and sweet. Its inspiration was the juicy summer treat. Vibrant 513 Flamingo and 526 Melon work playfully together in this easy stranded colorwork pattern, along with 538 Tuxedo. The sweater comes in a wide range of sizes starting from 0-6 months up to 6-8 years! The socks are available in sizes Baby through Youth.

The Strawberry Patch sweater, designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, features a plump, juicy berry applique on the front with on-trend contrast color sleeves to keep this piece cool and casual for your little one. This sweater is crocheted seamlessly from the top down in turning rounds. The colorwork of the sleeves and body are created with intarsia in colors 502 Lily and 514 Tomato. The strawberry stem detail is worked with 524 Lemongrass. The pattern is available in a range of sizes from 3 months to 6 years.

Celebrate the release of this adorable collection with us this weekend with 20% off the Precious Picnic E-book through our website, that’s a value of $40 for just $20, PLUS 20% off Uptown Bamboo DK.

Keep on knitting on!

Afifa

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Flash Pattern Friday – forest Slipper Socks

A pair of fuzzy looking slippers is shown with a cup of coffee and the title "Flash Pattern Friday. Forest Slipper Socks."

Hi friends, and happy Friday. This is the last Friday of January, 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 the Forest Slipper Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman.

These slippers combine Bamboo Pop Sock Solids and Minou for a wonderfully warm combination for your tootsies. Bamboo Pop Sock Solids comes in 100g balls made of 37% cotton, 55% bamboo, and 8% pbt. It’s available in 22 shades, some of which match perfectly with the featured, fuzzy carry-along. Each 50g ball of Minou is made of 40% baby alpaca, 8% merino wool, 52% nylon and is available in eight bespoke colors. Both yarns called for are held together through the whole project to create the fur-like texture.

The Forest Socks Slippers are knit from the cuff-down, in the round, with a heel flap and gusset. The heel is shaped using short rows and stitches are grafted together for the toes to finish the project seamlessly.

To get the Forest Slipper Socks 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, 1/28.

Happy Stitching!
Ashley Jane McIntyre

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Our 2024 Crafting Goals

We hope you accomplished all the crafting goals that you set out for in 2023, but if not, 2024 is a new opportunity! Our team has gathered together to come up with exciting personal crafting goals for the new year, and we want to hear yours as well. We invite you to take a peek below to check our teams aspirations for the year ahead!

Aubrey: “In 2024, I hope to get back into doing more hand embroidery on knitwear and ready-to-wear clothing! I loved designing the Verbena Pullover and getting to do the hand embroidery on that sample, so it would be exciting to expand my knowledge of hand embroidering on knits this year. We have some yarns in our line that will work fabulously for this, like Magnolia. This fingering weight yarn is delicate enough to show off complex embroidery designs and has a silky-smooth finish. Embroidery adds a touch of uniqueness to your projects or your everyday clothes, and the customization element makes them feel extra special and artistic.”

Verbena Pullover
Magnolia

Ashley Jane: “I am a crocheter, but I have been taking on more and more knit projects. This year, my big resolutions are to try some new projects that would help me grow my knitting skills! First up, I want to try out the Forager Socks, designed by Rachel Brockman. They feature some beautiful lacework, which I have yet to try, so I am very excited about them. These socks call for Filly, which is a blend of 46% cotton, 33% superwash merino, 12% polyamide, and 9% PBT. It comes in 6 self-shading hues that are perfect for springtime. I think the color choices, along with the open lace design will make for a perfect warm-weather pair.

Filly
Forager Socks

The other skill I want to try is cables, so I want to make myself the Carillon sweater, designed by Aubrey Busek Gray. I adore the twisting design on the front, and the overall elegance of this piece, which is enhanced by the 100% wool yarn, Deluxe Worsted. This yarn is available in over 80 colors, some of which are natural, undyed marvels. While the cabling may be a new challenge for me, I think the hardest part of this sweater will be choosing a favorite color!”

Carillon
Carillon

Afifa: “I knit my very first pair of socks last year and am now obsessed and want to hone my sock-knitting skills. I am excited to work on the Tempera Socks designed by Aubrey Busek. I love the combination of stripes and lacework in this pattern. The pattern is designed for Uni Merino, a blend of soft superwash merino wool and nylon, perfect for socks. With the wide range of shades available, the potential color combinations are endless. Here’s to having a drawer full of hand-knit socks by the end of the year!”

Tempera Socks
Uni Merino and Uni Merino Mini

Robert: “As someone who never crafted much before my time here, 2023 was full of trying new things. As 2024 continues, I would like to take more time to weave and crochet, as I find these crafts relaxing. Universal Yarn has a beautiful display of yarns, but I am eyeing Zesty Sock for a few squares on the Zoom Loom.”

Zesty Sock

We want to hear from you! What are your crafting goals for 2024? Let us know in the comments below.

We love to see customer projects! Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see the creativity that exists in the crafting community. Plus, use #universalyarn when using our yarn for a chance to be shared in stories or on our feed!

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert

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Free Pattern Friday – Feather in My Cap

Kicking off 2024 right with a satisfyingly quick and cozy Free Pattern Friday. Designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre, a Feather in My Cap is just the antidote for the post-holiday blues.

Ashley Jane designed this hat to show off the plump new Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran. The hat is crocheted in turning rounds from the bottom up with a feather motif that brings the old idiom ‘a feather in your cap’, to life. Her version uses the color 001 Mustard for a much-needed pop of color during dreary weather. With over 30 colors to pick from in this deliciously soft yarn, you can make a version that is truly your own.

Let’s talk about the yarn – Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran is a luxury merino yarn from Italy that is gorgeously round and bouncy giving it excellent stitch definition and a supple hand. It lends itself well to textured patterns allowing motifs to really pop. Not only is this yarn lovely and soft, it’s machine washable! What more could you ask for?

Get 20% off your order of Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran this weekend, through Sunday, January 7th at 11:59 PM EST. A great yarn choice for everything from accessories to garments.

Keep on crafting on!

Afifa

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Flash Pattern Friday – Cladonia

On the last Friday of every month, we give away a paid pattern for free! It’s a always fun to grab a freebie, but this month is especially wonderful as it’s the LAST Flash Pattern Friday of the year! We are sending off 2023 with the festive Cladonia sweater.

The striking colorwork brings to mind holiday ornaments twinkling on a tree, and the rich burgundy color evokes a desire for sweet mulled wine by a fire. The yarn called for is Fibra Natura Kingston Tweed, a soft and warm blend of 50% wool, 25% alpaca and 25% viscose. It comes in 19 nature-inspired hues, spun up in 50g hanks of 194 yards each. This DK (light) weight yarn is perfect for texture and colorwork, creating items with a natural look and feel. For project inspiration, check out our collection of patterns featuring Kingston Tweed at this link.

Cladonia is knit in the round from the bottom up. The front and back are separated at the sleeves, where the sleeves are then picked up and worked in the round from the top town. Short rows shape the shoulders and neckline, which is designed to sit higher in the front than in the back, enhancing the femininity of the sweater.

To get Cladonia 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 Tuesday, January 2nd, to coincide with our Be Bright sale!

Enjoy more savings during the sale by purchasing the Cladonia Kit! From Friday, 12/29 – Tuesday, 1/2, we are celebrating New Years with 20% off of all kits and muud items. It’s the perfect time to have your pattern, and make it too!

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