Universal Yarn News

Free Pattern Friday - Checkerboard Afghan

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:19:12 EST

Today's Free Pattern Friday is simple but impressive. The Checkerboard Afghan in Uptown Worsted uses a basic basketweave stitch pattern with a ridge between the squares for better definition. Easy to memorize, it's a great pattern for getting in the groove with your knitting and occupying your hands while you curl up with the TV for the night.

Uptown Worsted is a great choice for an afghan. The 100% acrylic will stand up to a lot of use and is machine washable for easy care. Plus it's very soft, making it a joy to snuggle up under.

There are more great projects to come in Uptown Worsted. Stay tuned!

Free Pattern Friday - Travelling Diamond Panel Cardigan

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:57:59 EST

Here's a sweet little cardigan light enough for warmer weather. The Travelling Diamond Panel Cardigan made in Dolce Merino, a 50% merino / 50% microfiber blend. The yarnâ��s high twist gives great definition to the cables.

Dolce Merino is one of those yarn balls that you pick up and find yourself squeezing over and over. The balance of merino and microfiber gives it such a luxuriously cushy feel.

Dolce Merino is an office favorite at Universal Yarn. In fact, weâ��re mulling over an office knitalong with this yarn â�� its 42 shades mean thereâ��s something to appeal to everyone.

Free Pattern Friday - The Hydrangea Cardigan

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:23:23 EST

We've featured some small projects recently on Free Pattern Fridays, but today we decided to expand our scope a bit. The Hydrangea Cardigan isnâ��t a brand new pattern, but it is a favorite that we wanted to be sure you knew about. It's a light and breezy project perfect for warm weather, using Nazli Gelin Garden 10 mercerized Egyptian cotton. Garden 10 has a great sheen and beautiful drape and is available in both 308 yard balls and 3062 yard cones. We love the way the cotton makes the crocheted motifs turn out crisp and clean for a well-defined look.

We've got two books out featuring Nazli Gelin Garden 10: The Garden Collection and Garden Party. There are more great designs to come for this versatile yarn. Keep your eyes open!

Free Pattern Friday â�� Ready for Ruffles?

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:51:57 EST

Fantasy ruffle yarns are still going strong, and Universal Yarn is pleased to add a new favorite! Opus is a wide ribbon with a railroad-style edging. Like Tundra and Tundra Glitz, you work into the edge and let the yarn do all the work of creating a shimmering cascade of ruffles.

Opus differs from Universal's other offerings in that it has a complementary-colored thread along the edge, dressing the yarn up for greater versatility.

We think it looks great as edging on garments, or alternating rows with other favorite yarns for a fun texture, or added as a fun accent to a finished piece. Fantasy ruffle yarns are fun to play with, and Opus is no exception.

Here's a one-ball scarf pattern to get you started. It knits up in a flash for instant gratification. We hope you enjoy showing off a great new look!

Free Pattern Friday â�� Casino Royale Clutch

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:50:20 EST

Today itâ��s a Free Pattern Friday with flair!

Let's face it, we all love showing off our craftiness. For myself, I want to have something on that really wows my friends, something that theyâ��ll notice without me having to draw attention to it. Something that lets me respond with a casual, â��Where did I get this? Oh, I made it.â�� Then I lean back and bask in the ooh-ing and aah-ing.

That's why I love the Casino Royale Clutch in Tundra Glitz. The shape is a fairly basic crochet in Uptown DK, but what makes it sparkle is the knitted Tundra Glitz exterior. Fold the bag together and stitch it up, add a snap, and youâ��re ready for a night on the town â�� and a good number of compliments.

If you're feeling generous, you can make one for your envious friends â�� or better still, teach them to make one themselves!

Free Pattern Friday - Striped Bubbles Baby Hat

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:46:09 EST

Happy Spring! Weâ��ve had some glorious days here recently, the kind of days where you want to venture into the garden and take a deep breath â�� although that's not always a great idea down here in the South when pollen season is in full swing. But the air has cleared lately and so we step out enthusiastically.

Today we present the Striped Bubbles Baby Hat, a small project thatâ��s easy to knock out quickly. It's a spot of protection for a little person in the sun, made in our Cotton Supreme Bubbles so it's not too hot for baby.

Knitted on size 7 straight needles, the pattern features simple broad stripes with the contrasting yarn carried along the edge. It's a quick little topper that would fold easily in the side pocket of a diaper bag, ready to be pulled out when needed.

Best wishes for a great week â�� we'll see you next Friday with another free pattern!

Free Pattern Friday - Nantucket Shawlette

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:08:46 EST

Today's free pattern is simple but elegant and solves a problem weâ��ve had this week. After record highs, the temperature dropped a bit. It's hard to know what the day is going to bring, so we want something light to cut the chill that we can use at a moment's notice. The Nantucket Shawlette designed by Carol Sulcoski fits the bill.

On size 9 needles, it's quite a quick knit in Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street Collection Rosebud. The garter lace is worked from the bottom of the triangle to the top, with symmetrical increases at each edge. And Rosebudâ��s springy superwash merino bounces back nicely after spending time in the bottom of a purse.

We hope you're enjoying your Spring, no matter how unpredictable the weather may be!

Free Pattern Friday - Soft Payette Trio

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:06:31 EST

It's Free Pattern Friday, with an abundance of riches! Three new patterns in Soft Payette, each only taking one ball.

First is the Easy Lace Scarf, shown here in color 158-14 Glittering Topaz. Itâ��s a dead simple one row repeat letting the sequins do the work in making the scarf really stand out.

Next is the Climbing Vines Scarf, shown here in color 158-13 Red Garnet. It's an easy four-row repeat that is quick to memorize, making it one of those patterns that look impressive even though you knocked it out while chatting with friends at your local yarn store.

Finally is the Yarnover Cross Scarf, shown here in color 158-15 Aquamarine. This is one which, when we bring it to shows, never fails to pull people from across the room to handle it and ooh and aah. The crosses are created by cleverly slipping and dropping stitches, a technique that produces striking results.

Using just one ball each, these projects are an easy way to put a little more sparkle in your step.

Happy knitting!

Meadow Shawl Crochet-Along

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:51:25 EST

There's nothing quite like the delicious feeling of opening up the mailbox and seeing a new magazine. It's always a thrill to see what others are doing, drawing inspiration from the combinations of colors and textures. But when the Spring 2012 Interweave Crochet arrived, we were floored.

The cover features the stunning Meadow Shawl by Kathy Merrick. It features eight colors of Nazli Gelin Garden 10 cotton thread coming together to terrific effect. It's an absolutely gorgeous piece.

Garden 10 has a great palette, and the editors of Interweave Crochet are taking advantage of that with a Meadow Shawl Crochet-Along which is just getting underway. It even features a coloring page so that you can plan out how you want your own personal shawl to look.

Interweave editor Sarah Read is doing hers in rich neutral tones, which got us here in the office thinking. So we've picked out our own personal selections for our shawls. The great thing about crafting is that you can match your project to your personality - we've got people picking gentle pastels, medium tones, and an earthy mix, and some are considering throwing in a little Garden Metallic for extra sparkle.

We're very excited for this crochet-along and canâ��t wait to cast on for this project. Weâ��re looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with!

Free Pattern Friday - Spring Sparkles

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:52:12 EST

This week's Free Pattern Friday shows off a new yarn for Universal, Cotton Supreme Sequins. This is one we're very excited about, and others are too â�� itâ��s been flying out the door as quickly as we can stock it.

Cotton Supreme Sequins is our classic Cotton Supreme that's been so popular in the new book Spring Forward, but with extra sparkle. Sequins are sprinkled throughout to catch the light for a very striking effect.

The Spring Leaves Vest shows how beautiful the sequins can look in the sunlight. The piece is a simple knit with minimal seaming, knitted as one piece and joined at the shoulders. And on size 6 needles, it's a pretty quick knit.

With the Spring Leaves Vest in Cotton Supreme Sequins, we hope that when you go out to enjoy the warm Spring weather you'll be able to let your inner glitter shine through.