Would it be unprofessional to start a post with “Heeheeheee!”? Jenny and I have had the most glorious fun watching her 48 ‘Gardens’ grow as she worked her way through four different Sophie’s Dream colourways – one for each season. We are delighted to present the second of the four: Sophie’s Winter Dream.
As each colourway skipped from Jenny’s hook, I kept saying: “THIS one is my favourite!” But when she made the Winter version (last in creation, although I am sharing it second), I knew that it was, indeed, my favourite. I love using bright colours. Many! Bright!! Colours!!! But the elegance and calm of the colours in this version soothes my soul in a way none of my other projects ever have.
I found it hard to photograph this blanket the way it deserves. I tried taking a photo straight on…
I tried asking one of the boys to hold it for me (barefoot and freezing on the muddy grass, with sunshine and shadows everywhere)…
And my friend Daisy and I tried photographing it when I was at my last yarn retreat in Lyme Regis…
I’m afraid none of the photographs do this beautiful colourway justice. So if you have a gorgeous house and mad photography skills, please feel free to offer to take some better pictures for me!
To create your own Sophie’s Winter Dream, you’ll have to follow the original pattern HERE. Don’t click on the link yet, though! There are a few things you need to know about this colourway if you wish to recreate it:
- Materials
- Making the ‘Gardens’
- Deciding on Your Layout
Materials
Yarn packs for Sophie’s Winter Dream are available in my Wool Warehouse Shop HERE. Packs include printed instructions for turning 12 Sophie’s Gardens into this beautiful blanket. You can find the individual balls at any of the Scheepjes Stockists HERE.
- Hooks
- 2.75mm crochet hook (Parts 1 – 3 of Sophie’s Universe)
- 3mm crochet hook (Part 4 of Sophie’s Universe and Border)
- 3.25 mm crochet hook (Joining Only)
- Yarn
- Scheepjes Whirl (60% cotton/40% acrylic), 215–225g/1000m/1093yds
- Main Colour 1 (MC1) – 1 ball of Blackcurrant Squeeze Me (773)
- Main Colour 2 (MC2) – 1 ball of Blueberry Bambam (755)
- Main Colour 3 (MC3) – 1 ball of Mid Morning Mocharoo (766)
- Main Colour 4 (MC4) – 1 ball of Tasty Nom Nom (789)
- Scheepjes Whirlette (60%cotton/40%acrylic),100g/455m/497yds
- Border Colour 1 (BC1) – 2 balls of Luscious (869)
- Border Colour 2 (BC2) – 1 ball of Frosted (852)
- Scheepjes Whirl (60% cotton/40% acrylic), 215–225g/1000m/1093yds
Making the Gardens
Gardens A to C
With MC1 and working from the inside to the outside of your ball, make 3 squares, labelling them A, B, and C in order of creation.
Gardens D to F
With MC2 and working from the outside to the inside of your ball, make 3 squares, labelling them D, E, and F in order of creation.
Gardens G to I
With MC3 and working from the inside to the outside of your ball, make 3 squares, labelling them G, H, and I in order of creation.
Gardens J to L
With MC4 and working from the outside to the inside of your ball, make 3 squares, labelling them J, K, and L in order of creation.
Deciding on Your Layout
Jenny’s Layout
Deciding on a layout for this blanket was much easier than for the original (Summer) one. After I had photographed all of Jenny’s squares, I sent her two options/collages. The first was a rough mockup with all the squares in order of creation. The second was a random balance of light and dark squares. We both loved the random version:
Errata: Top left square corrected to J
We are aware that individual tastes vary greatly, so you are, of course, free to change your layout. You can find hints for doing so in the original pattern.
Although the joining instructions don’t change between colour versions, I am including a graphic for joining this specific colourway here. Hopefully it will help those of you who like to visualise things.
I am also including a photo of the border for colour-placement reference:
Thank you for choosing to make this blanket. If you share photos of your project, please use #sophiesdreamblanket or #sophieswinterdream so that we can all Ooh! and Aah!
All Four Sophie’s Dreams
- Sophie’s Summer Dream (original pattern)
- Sophie’s Winter Dream (This post)
- Sophie’s Spring Dream
- Sophie’s Autumn Dream
More Whirl Patterns
This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use. All opinions are my own.
Kayleigh Tranter says
Hi, I love this pattern and colour scheme. Do you know if it will be back in stock on Wool Warehouse soon? Thank you, Kayleigh
Jenny Lowman says
At the time of writing this reply, there are 9 kits in Dedri’s Wool Warehouse shop. Hope you got one!
Jenny :)
Tammie Aragon says
Hi, I am looking for the written pattern to purchase. This is a really beautiful blanket.
Thank you.
Jenny says
Hi Tammie. The pattern is free on the blog and all the links and information are all here in this post you have commented on.
BW Jenny :)
RUTH A CURTSINGER says
Hi again, Dedri! A few minutes ago, I left a reply/question about how to find the patterns for the Winter Dream squares. Alas!! I just discovered them online! I bought the Sophie’s Universe several years ago and made my first one this year for my sister! How gorgeous! :) Happy to know the pattern for the squares is Part 1 – Part 4 of the Sophie pattern! Thanks so much!! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones! <3
Dedri Uys says
I’m glad you found it, Ruth. Merry Christmas to you too x
Wendy Wakefield says
Hi, I love this pattern. I have all of the yarn in my basket ready to check out with my husband’s credit card ( except one out of stock) and I also have the Sophie’s universe book. I am not very experienced at crochet but I did successfully master Persian Tiles. Is this within my capabilities would you think?
Dedri Uys says
Hi Wendy,
All the Sophie patterns are written specifically for adventurous beginners. It is complex, but there are step by step photo tutorials and video tutorials, so I would def say it is within your capabilities. Especially if you have already made Jane’s gorgeous Persian Tiles!
The only thing that you might struggle with is gauge because Jenny and I crochet very tightly. Let me know if you have any hiccups and we can help you through them.
You can DEF do this :)
Dedri
Monica Perin says
Hello. When will it be back in stock on the Wool Warehouse site?
Dedri Uys says
Hi Monica,
I will find out for you.
Dedri
NINA says
What size is your yarn for Sophie’s Dream? Is it 3 or 4? If I use USA yarn that is size 4, do I still use a 2.5 hook?
Thank you. Another Nina
Dedri Uys says
It’s a fingering weight yarn. If you are not concerned about gauge, and won’t be using the same yarn as we did, you can use the hook size that best suits you.
Annalisa says
Hi Dedri,
I love your patterns … I would like a Sophie’s Dream version with wool for my mountain house …
Annalisa
Dedri Uys says
Ooh, that sounds like it will be beautiful!
Amy says
Hi. I am having difficulty finding these skeins in the United States (Chicago) where I live. Would be happy to play with any of the whirl color skeins, but looking for cool colors. Ideas on ordering from overseas?
Jenny says
Hi Amy!
Wool Warehouse are based in the UK but do deliver overseas.
Hope that helps!
Jenny :)
Vickie says
You can order from this store in Canada. Ships stateside all the time. http://www.artisanthropy.ca
Enjoy !!
Cindy says
Hi Dedri,
I love how your patterns keep expanding! Is there a possibility that you could link each of the Sophie’s Dream seasons to your main Ravelry page for Sophie’s Dream. That would make it really easy to find each of them from one place.
Dedri Uys says
Hi. I totally forgot about Ravelry. Thank you for reminding me. The links will all live in the Sophie’s Dream post too x
Nina says
Hi. I made the first part of Winter dream with a 2,75 needle, but it measures 10 cm, not 9 as recommended. How small a hook would you suggest?
Thanks in advance
Nina
Dedri Uys says
Hi Nina. I suggest reaching out to me via email so that you can send me a photo. Allowing me to see your work enables me to tailor my advice to you. You can use the contact tab at the top of the website :)
Dedri
Lee king says
I love this version and I think that it will become my favourite.
Jenny says
So happy you like my colour choices for the Winter Dream! They grew on us both as I made my way through the Whirls.
Jenny :)
Karen White says
This is so beautiful and atmospheric! I’m sure I’ll struggle to choose a favourite when they’re all released.
Jenny says
I am excited for all the four blankets to be released, Karen! I am itching to make a version that has all my favourite Whirls – I can see it becoming a very large throw!
Jenny :)
Linda says
HeeHeeHee, of course you can. I LOVE this, I hope beyond hope that one day I can make this pattern. I love it so much, I think it’s one of the most beautiful blanket patterns I have ever seen. Outstanding!
Dedri Uys says
Thank you so much xx