Hello and Welcome to the Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015.
If you are new to this journey: Welcome! 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: Small Cotton 8 Version
Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015
The CAL started on the 18th of January 2015 and ran for 20 weeks. This pattern has proven to be extremely popular, with over 7000 projects on Ravelry. Seven years later, the majority of my online engagement with fellow crocheters still centers around Sophie.
Followed by thousands of people, ranging from complete beginners to experienced crocheters, Sophie’s Universe is a crash course in crochet and a wonderful adventure! Above all, my goal with this pattern has always been to show people that every stitch is ‘just a stitch’ and to help them learn the skills that will allow them to approach any complex pattern with confidence.
Sophie’s Universe: Medium Softfun Version
Two warnings, though:
- Pets LOVE Sophie, so prepare to be ambushed!
- Partners and spouses are not immune to her either, often helping to choose colours or checking up on progress (and very occasionally starting one too – like my husband).
Even though the crochet-along has 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 crochet book.
Index
- Resources
- Translations
- Difficulty
- Gauge
- Size and Materials (Includes Available Colour Packs)
- Sophie’s Universe Timeline (With links to all the relevant tutorials)
- Helpful Templates
- Important Tips
- Blocking
- Examples of Sophie
- Sophie-related Patterns
- More Colourways
Resources
- Photo Tutorials: You can find the links to all the weekly photo tutorials under Timeline below.
- 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. If you struggle with any aspect of the pattern, I strongly suggest having a look at the video for the relevant part as they are extremely detailed and helpful.
- 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.
- Book: Sophie’s Universe is now also available as a 216-page step-by-step book. Read more about the Sophie’s Universe Book and where to find it.
- 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 while you work through the tutorials.
- Ravelry: Add the CAL to your Ravelry Queue
- Instagram: If you are on Instagram, you can find me as Barbertondaisy. Please add your photos using #sophiesuniversecal2015 so that we can all Oooh! and Aaah!
Sophie’s Universe: Large Stonewashed XL Version
Translations
- Dutch CAL Information by Dianne Baan
- German CAL Information by Maja Heidingsfelder
- Spanish CAL Information by Lynda Hernandez
- Finnish CAL Information by Mervi, Pippa, Sari S, and Sari Å
- French CAL Information by Sandra Larvin (with Video Tutorials by Géraldine Cymer for the first few parts)
- Danish Translations by Tina Poulsen
- Russian CAL Information by Natalie V. Alimpieva
- Swedish CAL Information by Emma Vingqvist, Agnetha Magnusson, Åza Karlsson, and Ulrika Larsson
- Arabic Video Tutorials by Banan Felimban
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 Scheepjes 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*: |
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| Yardage: | 3900 meters (4265 yards) | 3400 meters (3720 yards) | 2500 meters (2730 yards) |
| I am using: | Scheepjeswol Stonewashed XL | Scheepjeswol Softfun | Scheepjeswol Cotton 8 |
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| 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) | ||
| * There are 2 hook sizes listed for each size. Please see Important Tips before you start. | |||
Official Colour Packs for Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015
Colour Packs for Sophie’s Universe are available from my Wool Warehouse Shop. Please note that these packs contain enough yarn to complete Sophie’s Universe (without the optional squares and border) 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.
- Cotton 8 (Small)
- Softfun (Medium)
- Rainbow Colour Crafter Pack (Medium) – You can read more about the Rainbow Colour Crafter Sophie HERE.
- Stonewashed XL (Large)
Sophie’s Universe: Medium Rainbow Colour Crafter Version
Sophie’s Universe Timeline
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.
| 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 (Small Version)
- Colours Per Round (Medium Softfun Version)
- Colours Per Round (Medium Colour Crafter Version)
- Colours Per Round (Large Version)
Colours Per Round Template (Blank)
If you want to use your own colours, you can use the spreadsheet below to keep a tally of your colours and usage per round. If you do, 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.
Colours Per Round Template (Printable)
Brandi Kasper-Theisen designed this one-sheet template to help you keep a tangible record of which colour you used per round.
Optional Squares and Border Template
Here you will find the (additional) colours and yardages used per round for the optional squares and border.
- Optional Squares and Border Cotton 8
- Optional Squares and Border Softfun
- Optional Squares and Border Stonewashed XL
Colouring Templates
You can download blank colouring-in templates from the 5-year Anniversary Make-along Page HERE.
Example of the Ubuntu Sophie Colourway featured in the Make-along
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. Then, 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 has started bulging again, go up another hook size at the start of Part 8, but please keep in mind that doing this will affect the amount of yarn you end up using.
When making Sophie, you will realize that some rounds bulge and some rounds buckle. This will be corrected in later rounds (apart from the above-mentioned instance at the end of Part 7) 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
Examples of Sophie
If you would like to see some inspirational versions/colourways, you can find them here:
- Ravelry – you can see some awesome examples (along with colours and yarn used) HERE on Ravelry.
- Instagram – you can find all the images tagged with #sophiesuniversecal2015 HERE on Instagram.
- Sophie’s Universe in a Single Colour
- Sophie’s Universe in Scheepjes Whirl
- Micro-Sophie
Sophie-related Patterns
- Sophie’s Alternate Universe – an extension of Sophie’s Universe by Sonja Holland
- Sophie’s Dream – POPULAR
- Sophie Stool
- Sophie Cocoon Cardigan
More Colourways
- 5 Year Anniversary Make-along with 3 new colourways (2020)
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- Ubuntu Colourway
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- Metropolis Colourway
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- Bamboo Soft Colourway
This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use. All opinions are my own.
dawn says
I am about to print off the pattern for Sophie I hope to make her this year I started to crochet again last year after about a 60 year absence. My grandmother taught me when I was very young but like riding a bike it did not take long before it all came back and I look forward to making a beautiful Sophie.
Dedri Uys says
It is indeed like riding a bike! I had an 18-year absence (slightly less than 60 years), and it came back the moment I picked up my hook again.
Von ireland says
I simply want to thank you for this project/CAL. I learnt to crochet in primary school when I was about 10, over the past 40 years I have crafted in different mediums but am back to crocheting in a big way all thanks to Sophie. She is the most fun I have ever had crocheting. Thank you.
Dedri Uys says
You are most welcome. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment :)
Kathy says
I want to thank you for the obvious hard work you’ve put into this CAL. This is the first project of this magnitude I’ve ever tried, and it’s just been a breeze. Your instructions are absolutely perfect. I had very few times I had to undo to fix errors. VERY few. This is just coming out gorgeous, and I can’t wait to start another in brights. This one is in pastels with a few bright rounds mixed in for “pop”. Thank you again. You are outstanding at what you do. The very best!!!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Kathy.
Thank you so much!
Cyndy Bowman says
Love this project, working on it slowly but surely, Did not know it got this big!! Hope to Have it on my Bed one day! Thank you for sharing!
Linnea says
Hi, Dedri! This project is so beautiful and my husband is constantly telling me how my skill is improving as this blanket grows. Thank you for sharing this beautiful creation with us!! I will hate to finish because I am loving the flattery. Haha.
My question for you is if I bought the stonewash xl color pack, what round will that get me through? I could not find an expansion pack on Deramores’ website for this yarn like they have for the small and medium versions. I apologize if this question is right in front of me because the CAL pages are very organized. I must be passing over it.
Thank you again for this beautiful pattern. Every completed round is such a gift.
Linnea
Dedri Uys says
Hi Linnea. How great to hear that your husband is impressed with your skills. It is always nice when people notice things like that, isn’t it? The stonewashed XL pack is enough for the whole square blanket up to the end of Round 113, provided that your gauge is similar to mine (and I crochet quite tightly). Wool warehouse has an ‘expansion pack’ as you call it, and they ship internationally too.
Have a great day!
Melissa says
Hi! I am just starting this and I’m very excited. This may be a dumb question, but are you weaving in the ends with each round? And do you fasten off when you finish with a color?
Thanks!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Melissa.
I weaved my ends in at the end of each part. You do not have to change colour on each round, unless you want to use the invisible join for each round.
Instructions have been supplied for starting each round in the same colour OR a different colour. The only exceptions are places where I specifically tell you to fasten off at the end of a round, which happens if the new round starts in a different spot to where the old one ended.
Dedri
Carrie says
Hi Dedri. I love this pattern which I came across through Facebook. I am a beginner and thought I would have a go with the beautiful tutorials and YouTube video and voila! I have a gorgeous 6 part of the first week done. Shame in bad colours as I was practising typical!
My question is I want to do one in dk weight do I use cotton type of wool? And what size hook should I use for dk. I’m in the UK so using mm hooks.
Secondly am I to YouTube the American version if the stitches thank your for the pattern beautiful x
Dedri Uys says
Hi Carrie.
If you want to make a dk version, use the hook sizes specified for the Softfun (Medium) version, remembering to start with a slightly smaller hook and go up to the suggested hook where indicated. You can use any type of yarn you fancy. I used acrylic for my medium one and cotton for my small one.
As for the stitches, you can use youtube, but esther’s videos are incredibly clear, so you can see how many times she yarns over for the specific stitches.
The pattern is written using US terminology. Do you usually use UK terms?
UK to US conversion is easy and by the time you have made one or two parts you should be able to flip them in your head. The US stitch names are always one ‘smaller’ than the UK ones. A UK dc, for example, is a US sc. A UK tr is a US dc. It might help if you have a look at my comparison chart and maybe print it out?
I look forward to seeing your progress,
Dedri
Melody says
Hi Sophie,
I love your CAL. I made two of them . I’m so excited. Thanks so much for really good explanations ,and clear photoes . How could I send my photos to you?
Dedri Uys says
Hi Melody.
Thank you very much.
If you use the contact me link at the top of the website to contact me, I will email you back so that you can send me whichever photos you choose to show me. Alternatively you can share on my facebook page, in the Official CCC Social group on facebook, or on instagram using #sophiesuniversecal2015.
Dedri
melissa davis says
What colors of yarn was used in the photo above index on this page please.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Melissa. The photo right above the index shows all three blankets (the small, medium, and large) that I told you about in my first reply. Which one are you interested in? The top, middle, or bottom one in the stack?
Melissa says
I am sorry, not being notified that you replied. I think it’s the bottom one. It’s shown larger on part 5. I will keep checking back to see if you replied.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Melissa. The bottom one is the large one, which is made in Stonewashed XL. All the colours are listed in the Materials tabel on this page, which tells you how many skeins of each colour you would need to make the large stonewashed xl version. For yardages per round you can see the tables listed under helpful resources on this same page.
Melissa Davis says
I am just finding this and would really like to make it. i would like to do the colors in the picture posted above the index. Could you tell me if those colors are in one of the kits?
Thank you
Dedri Uys says
Hi Melissa, I am not sure which one of the 3 colourways you are referring to. All the photos on this page reflect one of the colourways. The very bright one is the small Cotton 8, the more subdued bright one is the medium Softfun. The predominantly cream one is the large Stonewashed XL.
melissa davis says
I think i have finally figured it out. I will order the stonewash for my next one. Do I just match the number that is used for the med. one?
Sorry if I am being dense!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Melissa. You use the colours and yardages supplied for the large one, which is the stonewashed one.
Lisa Stern says
Hi,
This is so beautiful. I am wondering if most people plan their colors, or just pull random colors out of the stash. Most of the finished projects look very planned but I just don’t know. I see that you give a “patterrn” to the colors you have used. I can’t wait to start this .. thanks !!!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Lisa. Quite a few people have made Sophie’s Universe with scrap yarn. If you have a look at the Ravelry projects, you will find over 3000 Sophies, each different and unique.
Joanne says
Hi, I am trying to decide my colours for a Sophie, in the first session there is a picture of a folded sophie, that seems to have a lot of white on the outer rounds. Could you please tell be the colours used in that Sophie. Thanks Jo
Dedri Uys says
Hi Joanne. That is the ‘large’ version of Sophie (made in Stonewashed XL) and the colours are listed at the start of each part. There is also a template with all the colours under ‘helpful templates’ in this post.
Joanne Tyree says
Hi Dedri. I am about to start the medium Sophie!! Do you suggest a 3.75 or 3.5 hook for the first parts to avoid the bulging center? Thanks so much,
Joanne
Dedri Uys says
Hi Joanne.
I would start with a 3.5 and go up to a 4. Good luck!
Simona Dedek says
a friend sent me link to some pins few days ago, and I have been completely obsessing over this, and have to join in the madness….
My question: I don’t want a worsted weight blanket, but I want it to be LARGE. What do you suggest as a way to adapt using the small blanket weight yarn, but still getting 6″ x 6″ blanket? Shall I just “wing it” with extra rows or something as I go along? (experienced crocheter here)
Dedri Uys says
Hi Simona.
The ‘Around the Bases‘ CAL is an excellent option for growing Sophie further. Alternatively you can use the Stitch Sampler pattern mentioned in Part 20 of Sophie’s Universe.
Judy D says
do you have a written pattern without the tutorials???
Dedri Uys says
There is no written-only version, but you can remove the images from each part (in Print-Friendly) before saving as a pdf.
Tamra Smith says
I would love a template of a picture of this to plan out my colours…templates are great, but don’t do the project justice. To explain what I mean, like in a colouring book….a picture, so one knows when flowers, leaves, etc are coming up to plan when pinks, yellows, etc are needed rather than blues & greens. Any plans for this?
Dedri Uys says
Hi Tamra. Someone is working on a drawing, but it is proving tricky due to all the surface work.
Shirley says
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I started this a couple weeks back and I’m completely addicted…..
Just finished part 8. And part 9 page won’t load, part 10 says under construction……
It’s not fair what am I to do now.
Arggggggggg, it’s only been 5 minutes and I’m getting the shakes already lol, hope there sorted soon,
Dedri Uys says
Hi Shirley. We had a little bit of a hiccup last night, but it is sorted now. You should be able to access everything as normal. I hope you didn’t get the shakes too bad!
Shirley Hughes says
I “stumbled” across Sophie’s Garden on the internet. Don’t remember how now. I love kaleidoscopes so, naturally, this pattern intrigued me! I’m just amazed by the whole process. Not only do you offer the pattern for free but the instructions are so beautifully detailed, even with pictures for every step along the way and links to tutorials on various stitches. And THEN you make yourself available to help if people get stuck along the journey!! I think your pattern is wonderful and you must be a very sweet and giving person to share as you do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I started my Sophie this week and just finished part 3 and have started on part 4 (squaring up). I’m loving every second! Yes, even the crab stitch, which was a new stitch for me! Can’t wait to see what the weeks ahead have in store! Thanks again!!
Shelley says
Will this ever be made into one pattern?
Thank you!
Shelley
Dedri Uys says
Hi Shelley. Yes it will. We are working on that.
Mandy Swinbourne says
Hi Dedri
I am LOVING crocheting my Sophie my only problem is I’m left handed and trying to watch the YouTube and the corners do get complicated. Is there any chance of a left handed YouTube vision.
Mandy
Dedri Uys says
Mandy, the only thing I can suggest is that you watch the videos in a mirror?