I cannot tell you how hard it has been for me to keep this Sophie’s Stool a secret!! Every time I walk past it (or steal it back from the boys), I get such a rush of happiness. I’m so pleased that I can finally tell you about it :)
When Scheepjes asked me if I would like to design a stool cover, I immediately thought of using Sophie’s Mandala, which is the centre of Sophie’s Universe.
I decided to keep the sides and socks plain so that they would complement the top, not fight with it. I also wanted a sturdy fabric that would hug the stool well. Linen stitch has always been one of my favourite ‘plain’ stitches. It is quick and easy to make, but it doesn’t look boring – especially when each round is done in a different colour.
The cover and socks are made in Catona, which is 100% mercerized cotton (sturdiness again). I chose the same shades as those used in the Cotton 8 version of Sophie.
Each stitch of this project was a joy to make. I think I smiled more working on this than I have in the past year – and I have smiled (and laughed) A LOT this year. The Sophie pattern in all its guises has become a companion and trusted friend. I cannot imagine the day when working it up will no longer bring me joy. We wanted a way to celebrate this joy, so when it came to choosing an inscription for the buttons, what better than ‘Live, Love, Laugh’?
Sophie’s Stool Kits
Each Sophie’s Stool kit contains the following:
- 9 skeins of Catona (50 grams each)
- 1 stool – 42 cm (16.5″) high and the seat is 30 cm (11.8″) in diameter
- 1 ‘Authentic Sophie’s Universe’ label
- 4 unique olive wooden buttons with the inscription ‘Live, Love, Laugh’
Please note that the kits do NOT contain a printed version of the pattern. You will find the pattern below under ‘Sophie’s Stool Pattern‘.
Kits will be available in stores from November 1st, but I believe that some stores will offer the option to pre-order. I was pleasantly surprised with the price of the kits, and I think they would make wonderful Christmas presents. Kits have a recommended retail price of € 34,95/£ 31,95/US$ 41,99 and will be available from the following stockist:
- UK
- International
- Yarn.com (Webs) – US
- Amazon.com – US
- Stitched Naturally – US
- Knotty House – Canada
- Favoritgarner – Sweden
- Other Scheepjes Retailers.
Please Note: Due to the size and weight of the kits, most UK sellers will NOT be shipping internationally.
I love the way the promotional material matches the look of the Sophie Book!
Sophie’s Stool Pattern
© Dedri Uys and Scheepjes 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Resources
- Add this Pattern to your Ravelry Queue
Translations
- Dutch Translation by Dianne Baan
- French Translation by Sandra Larvin
- German Translation by Maja Heidingsfelder
- Spanish Translation by Lynda Hernandez
Materials
- 3 mm crochet hook – for Parts 1 – 3 and bottoms of socks
- 3.25 mm crochet hook – for sides of stool cover and sides of socks
- Catona, 100 % Cotton, 50g/125m/137yds – 1 ball each
- Yarn A – Yellow – 208
- Yarn B – Light Pink – 238
- Yarn C – Medium Pink – 222
- Yarn D – Dark Pink – 114
- Yarn E – Light Blue – 397
- Yarn F – Green – 245
- Yarn G – Light Purple – 240
- Yarn H – Dark Purple – 394
- Yarn I – Dark Blue – 146
- Stool – 42 cm (16.5″) high, seat is 30 cm (11.8″) in diameter
Colours Per Round
Abbreviations
US Terminology
- BP – Back post
- Ch – Chain
- Dc – Double crochet
- Hdc – Half-double crochet
- Sc – Single crochet
- Sp/sps – Space/spaces
- St/sts – Stitch/stitches
Punctuation
- * An asterisk indicates pattern repeats. You will need to repeat all the instructions between asterisks the number of times specified. This is a hard-core repeat and will consist of multiple instructions.
- Parentheses () indicate repeats. You will need to repeat the instructions between parentheses the number of times specified. This is a lower level repeat. Parentheses are also used to indicate a group of stitches to be worked into the same stitch/space.
Notes
Please check your gauge! You might find that you crochet looser than me (most people do), in which case you will need to go down a hook size (or maybe even two).
When you have completed your stool cover and socks, you want them to fit quite snuggly over your stool and stool legs. It should be a bit tricky to get the socks onto the legs. If they slip on easily, they can slip off again just as easily.
Sophie’s Stool Cover
Make 1.
Gauge
At the end of Part 1, your circle should measure 10 cm across.
Size
30 cm (11.8”) in diameter, 10 cm (4”) high.
Top
Using a 3 mm hook, make Parts 1 – 3 of Sophie’s Universe (including the Optional Round 25) following these three photo tutorials (or Parts 1 – 3 of the Sophie’s Universe Book):
*Cover Coming Out Too Big?
If you think that your cover will be too big, even though you have tried to match tension, please see ‘Making Your Cover Smaller‘ at the bottom of this post.
Sides
The sides are made with a larger hook.
Round 1
With a 3.25 mm hook, join your yarn by making a standing BPhdc around any FPdc from Round 24. BPhdc in each remaining st of Round 24. Join to the first BPhdc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. Make sure that you don’t accidentally skip any sts. If you count in 20’s, the first st of each ’20-stitch repeat’ should fall in a FPdc from Round 24. {240 BPhdc}
Round 2
Join your yarn by making a standing sc in any BPhdc around. (Ch 1, skip the next st, sc in the next st) until one st remains. Ch 1 and join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. {120 sc and 120 ch-1 sps}
Round 3
Join your yarn by making a standing sc in any ch-1 sp around. (Ch 1, sc in the next ch-1 sp) until you have worked into each ch-1 sp. Ch 1 and join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. {120 sc and 120 ch-1 sps}
Rounds 4 – 29
Repeat Round 3.
Round 30
Join your yarn by making a standing sc in any ch-1 sp around. Skip the next ch-1 sp. Make 7 dc in the next ch-1 sp. Skip the next ch-1 sp. *Sc in the next ch-1 sp. Skip the next ch-1 sp. Make 7 dc in the next ch-1 sp. Skip the next ch-1 sp.* Repeat from * to * 28 more times. Join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away ends. {30 Scallops and 30 sc}
Sophie’s Socks
Make 4.
Gauge
The socks should measure 5 cm at the end of Round 4. This is important! Measure them against the base of the stool leg. They should be the tiniest bit bigger than the base.
Size
5 cm (2”) in diameter, 5.5 cm (just over 2”) high.
Instructions
Round 1
With a 3 mm hook and working into a magic ring, ch 1 (doesn’t count as a st throughout). Make 10 hdc. Join to the top of the first hdc with a sl st. {10 hdc}
Round 2
Ch 1, make 2 hdc in each st. Join to the first hdc with a sl st. {20 hdc}
Round 3
Ch 1, make 2 hdc in the st at the base of the ch-1. Hdc in the next st. (Make 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next st) 9 times. Join to the first hdc with a sl st. {30 hdc}
Round 4
Ch 1, make 2 hdc in the st at the base of the ch-1. Hdc in the next 2 sts. (Make 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts) 9 times. Join to the first hdc with a sl st. {40 hdc}
Round 5
Ch 1, make an hdc in each st around. Join to the first hdc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. {40 hdc}
Round 6
Change to a 3.25 hook. Join your yarn by making a standing sc in any hdc around. (Ch 1, skip the next st, sc in the next st) until one st remains. Ch 1 and join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. {20 sc and 20 ch-1 sps}
Round 7
Join your yarn by making a standing sc in any ch-1 sp around. (Ch 1, sc in the next ch-1 sp) until you have worked into each ch-1 sp. Ch 1 and join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. {20 sc and 20 ch-1 sps}
Rounds 8 – 17
Repeat Round 7.
Round 18
Join your yarn by making a standing sc in any ch-1 sp around. Skip the next ch-1 sp. Make 7 dc in the next ch-1 sp. Skip the next ch-1 sp. *Sc in the next ch-1 sp. Skip the next ch-1 sp. Make 7 dc in the next ch-1 sp. Skip the next ch-1 sp.* Repeat from * to * 3 more times. Join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away ends. {5 Scallops and 5 sc}
Finishing Off
Sew the label to the side of your stool cover, lining the bottom of the label up with Round 26.
Sew the buttons onto the socks, lining them up with one of the Scallops. I sewed mine to Round 14 of the socks.
Making Your Cover Smaller
Depending on your personal style of crocheting (throwing/picking and yanking/lifting/riding), you might find it hard to obtain or maintain gauge, even if you do go down a hook size or two. If you find your cover coming out too big, don’t worry. All is not lost. You can still make it fit.
Before you make Round 23, measure your ‘Top’ against your stool.
If it is already the right size, make the following adjustments:
- Continue on to Round 25 (Crab Stitch Round), skipping the first FPdtr of each FPdtr pair in Round 22 for a total of 228 sts.
- Then complete Round 1 of the ‘Sides’ as follows: Still using the 3 mm hook (or the hook you have been using up to this point), join your yarn by making a standing BPhdc around any st from Round 22. BPhdc in each of the remaining 239 sts of Round 22. Join to the first BPhdc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. Make sure that you don’t accidentally skip any sts. {240 BPhdc}
- Continue the pattern as written, still using the same hook.
If it is ‘almost there’, but you just KNOW that all 24 Rounds will be too big, make the following adjustments:
- Complete Round 23 for a total of 228 sts. You might find it necessary to use hdc instead of dc.
- Continue on to Round 25 (Crab Stitch Round) for a total of 228 sts.
- Then complete Round 1 of the ‘Sides’ as follows: With a 3.25 mm hook (or one size bigger than the one you have been using up to this point), join your yarn by making a standing BPhdc around any FPdc from Round 23. BPhdc around the same st. BPhdc around the next 18 sts of Round 23. (Make 2 BPhdc around the next st of Round 23, which should be the FPdc. BPhdc around the next 18 sts of Round 23) 11 times. Join to the first BPhdc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends. Make sure that you don’t accidentally skip any sts. {240 BPhdc}
- Continue the pattern as written.
But What About My SOCKS?!
If you feel that the bases of your socks are way too big at the end of Round 4, make the following adjustments:
- Frog Round 4 (I know!) and re-make it in sc instead of hdc for a total of 40 sc. It is ok if they are still slightly too big at this point. If they are absolutely ginormous, you might have to re-make both Rounds 3 AND 4 in sc instead of hdc.
- Complete Round 5 as written.
- Complete Round 6 (and the remainder of the rounds) WITHOUT changing hook sizes!
I hope you are as excited about this project as I am! If you make Sophie’s Stool, I would love it if you would share photos using #sophiestool so that I can see them.
This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use. All opinions are my own.
Lily wood says
Hiya I bought a kit but the label wasn’t in the box I just wondered where I could get another one
Dedri Uys says
I’m sorry to hear that. If you contact the shop you bought it from, they will send you a replacement label.
Anna says
I’m struggling to get the bases of my socks to sit flat what am I doing wrong?
Dedri Uys says
Hi Anna. Have you got a photo? If you use the contact me tab at the top of this website, we can open up an email dialogue which will allow me to receive photos from you to better help you. I am at a loss as to why they won’t lie flat. Do you have the right number of stitches in each round?
Loraine says
Hi just making Sophie’s stool. Instead of using 3.00mm hook I used a 2.5mm hook and the tension was perfect. I am now going to start the sides. Even thou I dropped a hook size am I best dropping a hook size for the sides to a 3.00mm hook even thou it states a 3.25mm hook. Just don’t know what to do.
Thanks.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Loraine. 3mm hook will be perfect for the sides.
Rosie says
Please ignore my last question. I worked it out and did the optional round and I am so glad asked it looks good.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Rosie. I’m glad you figured it out. Round 25 is an embellishment round only. Regardless of whether you do it or not, the first round of the sides will be made into Round 24. Just in case anyone else has the same query :)
Rosie says
Hi. I am making the stool and I just wanted to clarify something. The information above says make parts 1-3 including the optional round 25 but the pattern for the sides say crochet into the stitches of round 24. Should it say NOT including round 25?
I am doing ok with gauge but have done sc instead of dc for round 23 to make it a better fit. Fab pattern. Thank you.
Chiharu says
Hi Dedri!
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern and selling kits make me easer!
Your instruction was very easy to follow even I’m still beginner.
Problem I had was my stitches were not tight enough and my first trial for Part 1 was size of the seat even
I was using 2.75mm hook lol So I re did but was still 2cm larger than yours and I had no idea how I can fix it anymore so I made adjustment in last few round with sc. Also socks for legs were 30 stitches instead 40.
I’m going to post on Instagram with # hope you can see it. I also changed base color of socks because I just wanted to save blue for other project :)
By the way, I’m wondering that if there any 2nd print come up for the book for blanket?
I checked with Amazon and sold out but used was doubled price.
Thank you for the opportunity to learn some thing new!
Aloha
Dedri Uys says
Hi Chiharu. Thank you for your message and your feedback. Occasionally people crochet so loosely that not even going down hook sizes makes enough of a difference. I’m glad you managed to tweak it to work in the end. I will have a look on Instagram to see if I can see your stool.
There are loads of prints available, so I am not sure why it says sold out. Can you have a look on Amazon.com? They have them back in stock.
I hope you manage to find one :)
Dedri
Chiharu says
Hi Dedri,
I checked Amazon US again yesterday and purchased new with regular price. Thank you for your reply :)
JODI HARTE says
Hi. I’m hoping to make the stool cover and want to make sure I have all the correct tools. You suggest some people may have to go down a hook size. Can you specify hook sizes? For example, when you say go down 1 hook size from a 3mm does that mean use a 2mm? Or a 2.75mm? Sorry to be so pedantic. I understand this is difficult to answer exactly as we all have a different tension so it will depend on my gauge but I dont have any hooks between my 2mm and 3mm so am just wondering what else i might need to buy just in case. I dont want to be stuvk without something once i jave started. I hope this makes sense. Thanks in advance for any tips or advice you can offer.
Regards
Jodi x
Julie Salter says
Im having a lot of difficulty with sizing. In the end my hubby has padded my stool to make it big enough. Just started the socks and after going down to a 2.75 hook after 5 rounds measured 7cm. I have done numerous attempts with smaller hooks. Im now trying a 1.5mm hook. Has anyone else had my problems.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Julie. I am sorry to hear that you are struggling so much with sizing. It sounds like your tension is much looser than mine. May I ask how you hold your yarn and hook? Do you hold your hook and your yarn in the same hand or do you hold your hook in one hand and ‘tension’ your yarn with the other hand? Do you throw your yarn like a knitter, or do you pick it in the more traditional way? I know these questions seem odd, but it will help me understand how to better answer you in your specific situation.
I have seen a couple of covers that have come out bigger, but for the majority, going down a hook size when this is the case has fixed it.
I look forward to hearing back from you so that we can figure this out.
Have a lovely day.
Dedri
Zohra says
Hi I was wondering if there is a video tutorial for the Sophie’s stool
Dedri Uys says
Hi Zohra. No, we don’t have a video tutorial for the stool cover itself, but there is a video tutorial for each of the 3 parts of Sophie’s Universe that form the top. If you click on the links to each part, you will find the link to that specific video tutorial under ‘Helpful Resources’.
I hope that helps.
Dedri
Joyce Dodkins says
Trying to get Sophie’s stool pattern, why not in with kit?, have bought kit no idea what to do next, Is this going to be a waste of money, such a lovely project too, please help with pattern & instructions.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Joyce. The pattern for the top of the stool cover has been available for free here on my site for almost 3 years. As the pattern is free and a lot of people either already have it or have access to it, we decided to keep the cost of the kit down by not including it. If you scroll down in this post a bit, you will find the instructions for making the stool cover, with links to the parts needed for the top and the video tutorials for those parts.
The community that has developed around Sophie is a caring and generous one. I hope that you will enjoy joining us. If you are still unhappy with your purchase, you are welcome to return it to the shop you bought it from and they will refund you.
Have a lovely day.
Dedri
Alison Livesey says
Just received my Sophie Stool for Christmas. Can’t wait yo get going. However, my family will complain if I don’t cook the Christmas dinner! Thank you Dedri for such an inspirational patterns.
Wishing you and your family have a lovely Christmas.
Best wishes Alison :)
Dedri Uys says
Hi Alison :) I’m sure you managed to get dinner on the table on time… unlike me! One part of our oven stopped working, so squeezing all the food into the remaining part was daunting and not exactly successful, but I don’t care. We ate. The food was good. We spent the day with family. Three wins, no? x
Joy says
I’m making my stool now! I’m really excited about it but can’t seem to bring my gauge down because I have muscle weakness in my hands from a disability :(
Jenny says
Joy, have you tried using a smaller hook size? This may help a bit.
Jenny :)
Heather laing says
Can you please tell me why the pattern wasn’t in with the kit
You buy a kit thinking it’s all there
Shirley Wooding says
Just finished the crab stitch row. Now need the apple!!!
Thoroughly enjoying the stool project. Now for the sides and little socks. Will go beautifully with my Sophie Blanket that I made when you first did the CAL.
Hoping to finish it soon as I want it to be “show and tell” at my Christmas Craft Group.
Thankyou Dedri for your wonderful patterns and instructions.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Shirley. You made the slip stitch! I’m so glad you are enjoying the project. I am sure you’ll finish it in plenty of time x
Jan Stuart says
Dedri,
Just a question about the crochet hook sizes: the Materials list has 3.00mm and 2.50mm crochet hooks, but the Pattern mentions 3.00mm and 3.25mm hooks. Is the larger 3.25mm hook the right one, rather than the smaller 2.50mm one?
I’m down here in Australia, so I’m going to make it fit onto a padded footstool that I have but have never really liked that much. So it’s going to be a Sophie footstool now! :)
Dedri Uys says
Jan! That was a typo. Thank you for asking your question otherwise I might not have seen it before it was too late to avoid a mobbing! The 3mm hook is for the top of the stool cover and the bottom of the socks, the 3.25mm hook (slightly larger) is for the sides of both. Linen stitch has a tendency to ‘pull in’, so it requires a slightly larger hook when married with other stitches.
I hope you will share a photo of your Sophie Footstool so that I can see it :)
Lyn says
It’s November 1st!! Still eagerly awaiting the stool kit……
Dedri Uys says
Wool Warehouse have stock now, and so does Black Sheep Wools (links in post).
Narelle Lowcock says
Sadly stool kit is too expensive in freight to Australia.
Would it be possible to have kits made without stool?
Dedri Uys says
Hi Narelle. I did inquire, but unfortunately, the kits will only be available WITH the stool. I’m hoping an Australian supplier will pop up soon.
Carole says
Hi Dedri, Do you know if the ‘Sophie’s Stool Kit will be available without the stool for those not living in the U. K. ?
It would be a shame to exclude the rest of the world from obtaining the authentic Label and buttons along with the yarn.
I love your design ♡
Jenny says
Hi Carole.
The stool kit will be available to people in Europe and the UK at present and should also be available in the US eventually.
Jenny
ELIZABETH RIVERA says
This is so cute. I wish I had a use for a stool now. You are addictive.
Dedri Uys says
Thank you :)
Sandra says
I just LOVE that little stool and the wonderful crochet, especially the little crocheted socks!!!
Dedri Uys says
Thank you Sandra :)