Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Sophie's Universe Crochet-a-Long Blanket 2015

This is what I am working toward. It was made by the lovely Dedri Uys from the website Look What I Made


Project Name: Sophie's Universe CAL 2015
Pattern Name: Sophie's Universe CAL by Dedri Uys
Designer's Ravelry Project Page
Designer's Website (Great Tutorials for each Part)
Craft Type: Crochet
Size: Large (King Size Blanket)
Hook Size: 3.25 mm (D)
Yarn used: 4,851 yards


Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids
How much? 2 skeins = 630.0 yards (576.1 meters), 340 grams
Colorway: 9712 Soft Blue
Color family: Blue

Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
How much? 1 skein = 251.0 yards (229.5 meters), 142 grams
Colorway: Joshua tree
Dye lot: 113108
Color family: Green


Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
How much? 1 skein = 251.0 yards (229.5 meters), 142 grams
Colorway: 105 Glacier bay
Dye lot: 117446
Color family: Blue
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
How much? 1 skein = 251.0 yards (229.5 meters), 142 grams
Colorway: Everglades
Dye lot: 111857
Color family: Green

Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids, Heathers & Twists
How much? 2 skeins = 340.0 yards (310.9 meters), 200 grams
Colorway: 300 Denim mist
Dye lot: 74034A
Color family: Blue

Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids, Heathers & Twists
How much? 2 skeins = 340.0 yards (310.9 meters), 200 grams
Colorway: 306 Tangerine mist
Dye lot: 51453
Color family: Orange
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids, Heathers & Twists
How much? 2 skeins = 340.0 yards (310.9 meters), 200 grams
Colorway: 303 Purple Mist
Dye lot: 73904
Color family: purple


Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solids, Heathers & Twists
How much? 2 skeins = 394.0 yards (360.3 meters), 170 grams
Colorway: 140 Rose heather
Dye lot: 74040
Color family: Pink



Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solids, Heathers & Twists
How much? 2 skeins = 394.0 yards (360.3 meters), 170 grams
Colorway: 139 Dark Rose heather
Dye lot: 73076
Color family: Pink


Yarn: Purl Essence Sincerely Everyday Solids
How much? 5 skeins = 1660.0 yards (1517.9 meters), 850 grams
Colorway: 103 Sincerely Cream
Dye lot: 7421
Color family: White/Cream


I chose to make the large size blanket, which is suppose to be around 7 ft square when it is done. I did not use the suggested yarn because I could not find it locally. Below are the conversions of the colors from the original pattern to what I used.

Moonstone = Sincerely Cream
Amazonite = Soft Blue
Green Agate = Glacier Bay
Blue Apatite = Denim Mist
Canada Jade = Joshua Tree
Lemon Quartz = Everglades
Deep Amethyst = Purple Mist
Garnet = Dark Rose Heather
Corundum Ruby = Rose Heather
Coral = Tangerine Mist


Part 1: The outer edge of cream that make up the last four rows were a bit tricky. I had to take out the final row a couple times before I got it just right. I do love how it looks though. The flower turned out beautiful, and the high contrast between it and the cream background is really nice. (7 inches in diameter at finish)





Part 2: Round 13 was a tough one to get exactly right. I almost whooped with joy when my stitch count was still right on the last stitch. I had never done a picot stitch before. I am not totally sure I did it correctly, but I liked the way it turned out. The two shades of rose add a nice complimentary color to the cream and blues. (13.5 inches in diameter at finish)




Part 3: I love the pops of light green and blue that were added during part 3. Getting the V shape right was tricky, but it wasn’t too bad once I was able to visualize what to do. The trickiest thing about part 3 for me was the last row of crab stitches. Crocheting backwards takes some serious concentration. (20 inches in diameter at finish)




Part 4: Part 4 is taking much longer than the other parts to finish, but I’m getting there. My beauty is growing exponentially in size, and there are so many color changes in this part. It finally has at least one row of every color that will be used in the blanket. Opinions are still out on if we like the contrast that that coral/orange color brings to the table, but I don’t hate it. More to come as I finish the last couple of rows, block, and take pictures.

Whew! Part 4 is finally done. I stopped around row 32 to make a few hats and a blanket for my dad because he’s going through chemo treatments, but I just picked it back up a couple days ago. The contrast between the jewel tones and the cream is really nice, and I really like the optional flowers. My count is still spot on!!! I was really afraid it wouldn’t be. Now on to part 5. (26 x 26 inches at finish)

Part 5: Round 41 = UGH! This is the first time my count has been off … by 1. Insert sad face here. I did find out the problem and was able to pretty easily fix it. Thank goodness! I finished my first skein of Purl Essence Simple Cream (332 yds.) about a third of the way through the last round. This is the first color that I have finished a full skein of so far. I haven’t blocked anything yet. I think I will do that after part 6. (30x30 inches at finish)

Part 6: The last row of part six (round 53) made me question if I was doing it right. I took the first side apart a couple of times. Because of the way the arches form, it causes the edges to curl in a bit under the tension, but I think it will all lay flat again after the first couple of rounds of Part 7 are stitched. So far that is how it has always worked out with previous rounds I have questioned due to curling. I have faith that it will all lay flat again shortly. Otherwise, this part of the blanket went very smoothly if slowly (slowly not due to the difficulty but because I took some time off to make crocheted wedding bouquets for a friend). I am almost finished with my second skein of Purl Essence Sincerely Cream at the end of this part. I have just a tiny ball left, maybe a yard to a yard and a half of yarn. Lots of cream in this section! (36x36 inches at finish).