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Sophie's Universe CAL 2015

Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015

Hello and Welcome to the Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015.

You have no idea how excited (and how nervous) I am about this CAL.  I hope that you will enjoy making this blanket with us.  May you learn lots of new stitches and make many, many good friends along the way!

Sophie's Universe CAL 2015 Lookatwhatimade

Those of you who followed the Block a Week CAL 2014 will know that the CAL (crochet-along) was hosted by the Official CCC Social Group on Facebook.  The mastermind behind the CAL was my good friend Kimberly Slifer.  For Sophie’s Universe, I will be teaming up with Kimberly again.

Sophie's Universe CAL 2015 Lookatwhatimade

Sophie’s Universe:  Small Cotton 8 Version

Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015

The CAL started on the 18th of January 2015 and ran for 20 weeks.  Even though the crochet-along has now finished, the instructions will remain available on this website (for free) indefinitely.  Sophie’s Universe is now also available as a 216-page step-by-step book.  You can find all the details HERE.

At the bottom of this post, you will find a list of all the weekly tutorials and their related links.

 

Sophie's Universe CAL 2015 LookatwhatimadeIndex

Resources

  • Book:  Sophie’s Universe is now also available as a 216-page step-by-step book.  You can find all the details HERE.
  • Tutorials:  You can find the links to all the weekly photo tutorials under Timeline below.
  • Printing/PDF:  There is a Print-friendly button in the bottom right-hand corner after every post.  Please use this print-friendly button to print/save the tutorials.  Take a look at THIS TUTORIAL if you don’t know how to use the print-friendly button.
  • *Video Tutorials*:  Esther Dijkstra from It’s All in a Nutshell has made step-by-step video tutorials for each part of Sophie’s Universe.  You can also find a link to the relevant video at the start of each weekly part.
  • Facebook:  You can share your journey on the Official CCC Social Group if you would like to be a part of the friendly, supportive community on there while you work through the tutorials.
  • Ravelry:  Add the CAL to your Ravelry Queue
  • Instagram:  If you are on Instagram, you can find me HERE.  Please add your photos using #sophiesuniversecal2015
  • Pinterest:  You can find the links to all the tutorials HERE on Pinterest.  If you share your Sophies on Pinterest, please consider using #sophiesuniversecal2015.

Translations

Difficulty

Intermediate.  Although this is an Advanced pattern, it has been written specifically for adventurous beginners.

Gauge

The best way to check your gauge is to work up Part 1 of Sophie’s Universe.

Large Medium Small
At the end of Part 1: 18 cm  (7″) 14 cm  (5.5″) 10 cm (4″)
The measurements you get at the end of Part 1 (in other words, at the end of Round 8) will be roughly a tenth of the predicted final size of your blanket.

Size and Materials

The pattern was designed for worsted weight yarn and a 5.5 mm crochet hook  (US I/9  UK 5), which will give you a finished size of 1.8 meters squared.  That’s just shy of 6 feet, for those of you who live on the other side of the pond.  You are not, however, limited to worsted weight yarn.  I will be using Scheepjeswol for the CAL and I will be making 3 blankets, each in a different yarn weight (and therefore a different size).  You can find more details about that below.

Please note that the table below does not include the yarn needed for the Optional Squares and Border.  You will find the yardages for that under Helpful Templates below.

Large Medium* Small
Finished Size: 1.8 m x 1.8 m  (6′ x 6′) 1.4 m x 1.4 m  (4’7 x 4’7) 1 m x 1 m  (3’3 x 3’3)
Yarn Weight:  Worsted Weight (#4) Double knit (#3) 4 Ply (#2)
Hook Size**:
  • 5 mm hook (US H/8 UK 6)
  • 5.5 mm hook  (US I/9  UK 5)
  • 3.5 mm hook (US E/4  UK 9)
  • 4 mm hook  (US G/6  UK 8)
  • 2.5 mm hook (UK 12) or 2.75 mm hook (US C/2)
  • 3 mm hook  (UK 11) OR 3.25  (US  D/3  UK 10)
Yardage: 3900 meters (4265 yards) 3400 meters (3720 yards) 2500 meters (2730 yards)
I am using: Scheepjeswol Stonewashed XL Scheepjeswol Softfun Scheepjeswol Cotton 8
Sophie's Universe CAL 2015 Lookatwhatimade Sophie's Universe CAL 2015 Lookatwhatimade Sophie's Universe CAL 2015 Lookatwhatimade
Colours***: 23 x Moon Stone (841) 2 x Canary (2518) 1 x Canary (714)
3 x Amazonite (853) 2 x Light Rose (2513) 1 x Light Pink (718)
3 x Green Agate (855) 3 x Rose (2514) 2 x Fuchsia (720)
3 x Blue Apatite (845) 2 x Bordeaux (2492) 1 x Pink (719)
6 x Canada Jade (846) 3 x Cyclamen (2534) 2 x Moors (726)
3 x Lemon Quartz (852) 3 x Olive (2531) 2 x Light Green (642)
3 x Deep Amethyst (851) 1 x Dark Turquoise (2511) 1 x Turquoise (712)
3 x Garnet (850) 6 x Light Blue (2432) 5 x Light Turquoise (622)
3 x Corundum Ruby (848) 2 x Pink (2480) 1 x Violet (529)
3 x Coral (856) 2 x Heath (2493) 1 x Heath (721)
2 x Violet (2519) 1 x Light Purple (651)
All these yarns are available from Wool Warehouse and Deramores.  Both offer worldwide shipping.  You can find the direct links for the colour packs below.

* 16/9/16 I am busy making a new Medium version of Sophie in Colour Crafter, following the bright colourway of the Small version.  You can read more about it HERE.  Yarn packs are available in my Wool Warehouse Shop HERE.

** There are 2 hook sizes listed for each size.  Please see Important Tips before you start.

*** You can find all the colours and amounts used (per round), as well as the yarn needed for the Optional Squares and Border, under Helpful Templates below. 

Colour Packs for Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015

Please note that these packs contain enough yarn to complete Sophie if your tension matches mine.  If you are a ‘loose crocheter’, please see the Helpful Templates below to figure out how much more yarn you will need.

Wool Warehouse

Deramores  

Optional Squares and Border Colour Packs

If you are wanting to add the optional squares and border, you can now find colour packs (and information) for that HERE.

Sophie’s Universe Timeline

IMPORTANT:  Please do not copy, reproduce, or distribute this pattern in part or as a whole.  This pattern belongs to me and I retain all rights to it.  Copyright is protected by Scheepjes.  Please see my Terms of Use if you would like to read more.

Thank you,

Dedri

Update:  If you would like to make a much larger version of Sophie, please have a look at Sophie’s Alternate Universe.
Week 1: 18 January 2015 Part 1:  Rounds 1 – 8
Part 2:  Rounds 9 – 15
Week 2: 25 January 2015 Part 3:  Rounds 16 – 25
Week 3: 01 February 2015 Part 4:  Rounds 26 to 36
Week 4: 08 February 2015 Part 5:  Rounds 37 – 45
Week 5: 15 February 2015 Part 6:  Rounds 46 – 53
Week 6: 22 February 2015 Part 7:  Rounds 54 – 61
Week 7: 01 March 2015 Part 8:  Rounds 62 – 68
Week 8: 08 March 2015 Part 9:  Rounds 69 – 74
Week 9: 15 March 2015 Part 10:  Rounds 75 – 80
Week 10: 22 March 2015 Part 11:  Rounds 81 – 84
Week 11: 29 March 2015 Part 12:  Rounds 85 – 88
Week 12: 05 April 2015 Part 13:  Rounds 89 – 92
Week 13: 12 April 2015 Part 14:  Rounds 93 – 97
Week 14: 19 April 2015 Part 15:  Rounds 98 – 101
Week 15: 26 April 2015 Part 16:  Rounds 102 – 104
Week 16: 03 May 2015 Part 17:  Rounds 105 – 109
Week 17: 10 May 2015 Part 18:  Rounds 110 – 113
Week 18: 17 May 2015 Part 19:  Optional Squares
Week 19: 24 May 2015 Part 20:  Growing Options
Week 20: 31 May 2015 Part 21:  The End of the Beginning

Helpful Templates

Colours Per Round (Official)

Here you will find the colours and yardages used per round for each of the 3 sizes (small, medium, and large).

Colours Per Round Template (Blank)

You can use this spreadsheet to keep a tally of your colours and usage per round.  You will notice that there are some values (in orange) already entered on the template.  This is just example text and should be replaced with your own values.

Printable Colours Per Round Template

Brandi Kasper-Theisen designed this one-sheet template to help you keep a tangible record of which colour you used per round.

Printable Colours Per Round Template

Optional Squares and Border Template

Here you will find the (additional) colours and yardages used per round used for the optional squares and border.

More Helpful Resources

Important Tips

Some people have had problems with the centres of their blankets ‘bulging’.  To avoid this, I suggest starting with the smaller of the 2 hooks listed for each size and then changing to the larger of the 2 hooks after you have completed the initial Mandala (Parts 1 – 3).

If you are making the large version with worsted weight yarn and a 5.5 mm hook, for example, start with a 5 mm hook and complete the initial Mandala (Parts 1 – 3) with that hook.  At the start of Part 4, change to the recommended hook size (in this example that would be a 5.5 mm hook).

This is especially important if you are a complete beginner as your tension will improve as the blanket grows.

I also suggest blocking Sophie at the end of Part 7 (see Blocking below).  If your centre starts bulging again, go up another hook size at the start of Part 8.  Please keep in mind that doing this will affect the amount of yarn you end up using.

It is important to note that Sophie is meant to be blocked regularly to straighten her out.  Do not base any decisions on an unblocked Sophie!

When making Sophie, you will realize that some rounds bulge and some rounds buckle.  This will be corrected in later rounds and is part of the intricate shaping of the pattern.  It is extremely important that you do not go down a hook size to compensate for this (at all, ever)!

Blocking

From Part 7 of Sophie’s Universe onward, I suggest blocking your work.  Annie’s has some good advice for Blocking Afghans and Other Large Pieces.

Quite a few people think that you cannot block acrylic yarn.  You can, in fact, block acrylic yarn quite successfully!

If you are going to use foam squares to block on, consider buying these Interlocking Foam Exercise Mats.  They are similar to these Knitter’s Pride Lace Blocking Mats, but cheaper.  You will also need some of these Clover Fork Blocking Pins.

Examples of Sophie

If you would like to see some inspirational versions/colourways, you can find them here:

Please remember to subscribe to my Newsletter if you would like to be kept in the loop. You can also like my Facebook page or follow me on Bloglovin, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram.

Happy Hooking!

Dedri

This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use.  All opinions are my own.

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615 Comments

Comments

    • Hi Kelly. The pattern is available as an 18-part free crochet-along. You can find the links to each individual part at the bottom of this post under ‘Timeline’. Alternatively, it is also available as a book through my wool warehouse shop.

  2. Hello, what a beautiful pattern! I have two nieces getting married in the next year and plan to make them both this afghan. I am on part 5 now and was refreshing myself with your notes on blocking. Your instructions read to block after part 7 of Sophie’s Universe. Once I block this part, is there any further blocking needed for this afghan? If yes, how often and after which parts? Thanking you in advance.

    Reply

    • Hi Elisa. Blocking after part 7 is entirely your choice. If you have gone up a hook size where suggested (twice) and you are happy that your centre remains flat, you can block again at the end.

  4. I made the Sophie’s Universelast year it tooo me 4 months to sitting in front of the YouTube. Taking instructions from it. I Enjoyed crocheting Sophie. I also won 1st prize in the show I entered.
    I am just sorry that there is nowhere to post a photo

    Reply

    • Hi Barbara. Congratulations :) You can post photos on Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, or any other social media site, using #sophiesuniversecal2015 so that we can find them. You can also use the contact me tab to open up a line of communication via email, which will then allow you to email me a photo. I hope that helps. Dedri

  5. Dedri, I have thoroughly enjoyed crocheting this throw. However, I foolishly ignored all instructions to block as I went along (head in the sand and all that!) and now find myself with a very beautiful but quite ‘bulgy’ throw. Will blocking at this point (the end!) put it right do you think or should I just live with it? I would be grateful for any advice you can give.

    Many thanks, Sheila

    Reply

    • Hi Sheila. There are two places in the pattern where we recommend you go up a hook size if you feel you need to (based on your blocked work at those two points). If you did go up a hook size, blocking should fix the bulge at the end. If you did not go up a hook size where suggested, blocking at this point probably won’t get rid of the bulge. Is it very bad?

  6. I have had the pattern for this beautiful blanket saved for quite a while. I finally started it July last year. I made a blanket for my daughter. She watched me make it and I gave it to her for Christmas. It is summer here and she has it on her bed. I am making another one for my older daughter now.

    Reply

  7. Hi I am contemplating making the small CAL 2015 in Scheepjes stonewash yarn as I really like the colour tones. What size crochet hook would I use and approx what size/weight would this work out to? Kind regards, Lesley

    Reply

    • Hi Lesley. The size of the blanket is determined by the weight of the yarn you choose to use (and the hook sizes). The instructions for all 3 sizes remain the same. If you would like to make Sophie’s Universe in Regular Stonewashed (NOT Stonewashed XL), you will need to use regular stonewashed, following the colours per round for the large version and the hook sizes and gauge suggested in the medium version.

      This will give you a blanket that is slightly smaller than the medium version. If you feel that the resulting tension is too loose (I crochet very tightly and the details of the blanket become slightly lost if the tension is too loose), feel free to start with a 3mm hook, then go up to a 3.25mm where indicated, and finally go up to a 3.5mm should you feel it needs it (again, where indicated in the pattern). You will need to buy the following amounts of regular stonewashed: 13 balls of Moonstone, 4 balls of Canada Jade, and 2 balls each of Amazonite, Blue Apatite, Lemon Quartz, Deep Amathyst, Garnet, Corundum Ruby, and Coral. I hope that helps.

      Dedri

  8. Hello. Just stumbled on this and find it beautiful. Is your pattern written in US or UK crochet terms? Thank you…Denise

    Reply

    • Hi Denise. This specific pattern is only available in US terminology. This is a personal preference to keep online peer-to-peer help as simple as possible.

  9. Hi Dedri! I absolutely love this pattern and even moreso your ability to make the instructions clear. I started this project when I was an “adventurous beginner” and I found your directions so easy to follow.

    At the time I knew nothing about yarn packs. I bought and used yarn from Hobby Lobby. I’ve since seen the labels that came with the kits and I’m curious if there are any still available. If so, can they be purchased separately?

    Thank you so much for your beautiful designs and wonderful instructions. You taught me some of what made me become a more advanced crocheter.

    Reply

    • Hi Susan. I am so glad you enjoyed your Sophie journey and delighted that learned so much from it. The labels were provided by Scheepjes specifically for the ‘official’ Scheepjes kits sold through Wool Warehouse. Unfortunately, they are not available separately.

      Thank you for your lovely comment and for getting in touch.

      Dedri

  10. Hi there , I am a beginner improver and I’m really enjoying my Sophie’s stool recently gifted to me . Do have any tips for round 20 and the Fpdtr stitches? I keep getting very saggy stretched top loops ?

    Many thanks
    Su

    Reply

    • Hi Su. The tops of longer stitches will always be a bit loose, but in this pattern they are largely hidden in subsequent rounds. You could try tugging on your working yarn just a little bit after making all your yarn-overs until you remove half a yarn-over, if that makes sense. This will pull the previous stitch up onto the top of your hook. By the time you get to working those last two loops off, they will be tighter but not too tight. I don’t know how to explain it better without pictures.

  11. I’m so glad I found this pattern. I’m in the process of converting it into a skirt and it’s turning out wonderfully so far!

    Reply

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