Good morning and welcome to Part 14 of the Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015. Grab a cuppa, because I have to credit two special women before we can start crocheting.
This week we will be completing the “butterfly band” we started last week. These butterflies were inspired by Chris Simon’s Butterfly Garden. You will probably remember that Sophie’s Universe started its life inspired by Chris Simon’s Lace Petals Square. Obviously I am a huge fan of Chris’ work. You can find all her patterns HERE on Ravelry. You can also find her on Instagram as thecolorfulom, or on Facebook as YarnCrazy.
Before we started with Sophie’s Universe, Kimberly Slifer made this gorgeous blanket by growing Sophie’s Garden using parts of other patterns. Notice the butterflies?
So this week is a tribute to Chris Simon and Kimberly Slifer, two very special women without whom Sophie’s Universe would never have existed.
Ps. A special “Thank You!” to Kay for helping me out again this week (hence the lefty Stonewashed XL).
Sophie’s Universe Part 14
©Dedri Uys and Kimberly Slifer 2014. All Rights Reserved.
Special design credit: Chris Simon.
Resources
- Add this CAL to your Ravelry Queue
- Sophie’s Universe CAL 2015 Information
- Use the Print-friendly button at the bottom (right) of this post to print/save this tutorial. Don’t know how? Find out HERE.
- **Part 14 VIDEO TUTORIAL** by Esther Dijkstra from It’s All in a Nutshell.
Translations
- Dutch Translation by Dianne Baan
- German Translation by Maja Heidingsfelder
- Spanish Translation by Lynda Hernandez
- French Translation by Sandra Larvin (with Video Tutorials by Géraldine Cymer)
- Danish Translation by Tina Poulsen
- Russian Translation (with Video) by Natalie V. Alimpieva
- Swedish CAL Information by Emma Vingqvist, Agnetha Magnusson, Åza Karlsson, and Ulrika Larsson
Materials
See the Information Post.
| Colours for Part 14 | |||
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| Cotton 8 | Softfun | Stonewashed XL | |
| Round 93 | Light Turquoise | Light Blue | Moonstone |
| Round 94 | Light Turquoise | Light Blue | Moonstone |
| Round 95 | Light Turquoise | Light Blue | Moonstone |
| Round 96 | Light Turquoise | Light Blue | Moonstone |
| Round 97 | Light Turquoise | Light Blue | Moonstone |
* Before you start, check that you have enough yarn to complete all 5 rounds in one colour! If you are making the medium version and following my colourway, you should have 118 meters of Light Blue left at the end of this part.
Yarn Needed for Rounds 93 – 97
- Small: 46 g (156 meters)
- Medium: 80 g (225 meters)
- Large: 167 g (251 meters)
Abbreviations
US Terminology Used (Basic US/UK comparison chart here)
- Ch – Chain
- Dc – Double crochet
- Hdc – Half-double crochet
- Sc – Single crochet
- Sl st – Slip stitch
- St/st’s – Stitch/stitches
- Tr – Treble crochet
- * – Repeat instructions between asterisks the number of times specified. This is a hardcore repeat and will consist of multiple instructions.
- () – Repeat instructions between parentheses the number of times specified. This is a lower level repeat.
Special Stitches
- Standing Stitches: Standing sc’s, hdc’s, and dc’s are stitches used to start the round without the need for the traditional beginning chain. Links to tutorials are supplied in each relevant round.
Anatomy of Stitches
It has come to my attention that some of you have missed the post about Corners and the Elusive Hidden Stitch, which looks at the anatomy of your stitches when working in the round. If you are still finding it hard identifying which loops belong to which stitch, please look at THIS POST.
I have noticed that a few people are confused by my mention of the first (hidden) stitch. It is true that this stitch is not always hidden, especially if you know what to look for, but by placing emphasis on it I am gently reminding you (and myself) to pay attention to the placement of that first stitch.
Instructions
Rounds 1 – 92
You can find the links for Rounds 1 – 92 HERE.
Round 93
- If you are using the same colour, sl st into the next dc and into the ch-2 space. (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same ch-2 space.
- If you are using a new colour, join your yarn by making a standing double crochet in any ch-2 corner around. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same corner space.
*Skip the first (hidden) stitch. (Dc in the next 14 st’s. Ch 5 and skip the next 5 st’s) 8 times. Dc in the last 14 st’s. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next ch-2 corner space.*
Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the top of the beginning ch-3 (or the standing double crochet) with a sl st.
Stitch Counts:
- Total: 520 dc’s, 32 ch-5 spaces, and 4 ch-2 corner spaces
- Per Side: 130 dc’s and 8 ch-5 spaces
Round 94
- If you are using the same colour, sl st into the next dc and into the ch-2 space. (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same ch-2 space.
- If you are using a new colour, join your yarn by making a standing double crochet in any ch-2 corner around. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same corner space.
*Skip the first (hidden) stitch. Dc in the next 14 st’s (see Photo 1). There should now be one dc left before the ch-5 space. (Ch 7. Skip the next dc, the ch-5 space, and the next dc. Dc in the next 12 st’s) 7 times – see Photos 2-5. Ch 7. Skip the next dc, the ch-5 space, and the next dc. Dc in the next 15 st’s. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next ch-2 corner space (Photo 6).*
Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the top of the beginning ch-3 (or the standing double crochet) with a sl st.
Stitch Counts:
- Total: 468 dc’s, 32 ch-7 spaces, and 4 ch-2 corner spaces
- Per Side: 117 dc’s and 8 ch-7 spaces
Round 95
Your butterflies will look a bit scruffy at the end of this round. Just tug on them a little bit to straighten them out.
- If you are using the same colour, sl st into the next dc and into the ch-2 space. (Ch 2, hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the same ch-2 space.
- If you are using a new colour, join your yarn by making a standing half-double crochet in any ch-2 corner around. (Hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the same corner space.
*Hdc in the next 16 st’s (Photo 1). Don’t accidentally skip the first (hidden) stitch. (Ch 2 – see Photo 2. Make a tr between the second and third of the 5 skipped stitches from Round 92, encasing the ch-5 and ch-7 spaces from Rounds 93 and 94 – see Photos 3-5. Ch 2 – see Photo 6. Hdc in the next 12 st’s – see Photos 7 and 8) 8 times. You should now have 5 st’s left before the next corner space. Hdc in the last 5 st’s. (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the next ch-2 corner space.*
Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the top of the beginning ch-2 (or the standing hdc) with a sl st.
Stitch Counts:
- Total: 516 st’s, 64 ch-2 spaces, and 4 ch-2 corner spaces {484 hdc’s and 32 tr’s}
- Per Side: 129 st’s and 16 ch-2 spaces {121 hdc’s and 8 tr’s}
Round 96
- If you are using the same colour, sl st into the next hdc and into the ch-2 space. (Ch 1, sc, ch 2, sc) in the same ch-2 space.
- If you are using a new colour, join your yarn by making a standing single crochet in any ch-2 corner around. (Ch 2, sc) in the same corner space (Photo 1).
*Skip the first (hidden) stitch. Sc in the next 17 st’s (Photo 2). (Make 3 sc’s into the next ch-2 space – see Photo 3. Sc in the next tr – see Photo 4. Make 3 sc’s into the next ch-2 space – see Photo 5. Skip the first (hidden) stitch and sc in the next 11 st’s) 8 times. You should now have 7 st’s left before the next corner space. Sc in the last 7 st’s. (Sc, ch 2, sc) in the next ch-2 corner space.*
Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the first sc with a sl st.
Stitch Counts:
- Total: 680 sc’s and 4 ch-2 corner spaces
- Per Side: 170 sc’s
Round 97
- If you are using the same colour, sl st into the next ch-2 space. (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same ch-2 space.
- If you are using a new colour, join your yarn by making a standing double crochet in any ch-2 corner around. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same corner space.
*Dc in each of the 170 st’s across, making sure that you don’t accidentally skip that first (hidden) stitch. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next ch-2 corner space.*
Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the top of the beginning ch-3 (or the standing double crochet) with a sl st.
Stitch Counts:
- Total: 696 dc’s and 4 ch-2 corner spaces
- Per Side: 174 dc’s
Note About Curling
You will be relieved to know that this is the last week (apart from at the very end of the blanket) that I will be asking you to block. Remember that this isn’t necessary. Your blanket will straighten itself out in the next few weeks. But if you want to take a pretty picture, block, block, block.
Annie’s has some good advice for Blocking Afghans and Other Large Pieces.
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
This part of the pattern was tested by Kimberly Slifer, Claire Martin, Maja Heidingsfelder, Lynda Hernandez, Susan Wilkes-Baker, Venetia Smith, and Dianne Baan.
This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use. All opinions are my own.
Honor Wimlett says
I’ve picked up my Sophie again this week after a two year hiatus. Found the yarn but just couldn’t remember where I had put the book! Then I remembered it was online at one time and found it still here! So I just wanted to say thank you so much for keeping the pattern online and free! I’ve now refound my book but I would have wasted several frustrating days otherwise.
Jenny Lowman says
So happy to hear you found your book!
Rhena says
I did the butterfly band in the colors of a rainbow.
I think it works :)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8gpOIVG71A/XpDFV43kEYI/AAAAAAAABjg/WqMusR2ig_4Bb-9dgDjcO9RK6ysbmk3DACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200224_112653.jpg
Dedri Uys says
Hi Rhena. That is gorgeous! I would love to share it on my Instagram feed if you would let me?
Dedri
Rhena says
Hi Dedri! Yes, you can share it!
Thank you :)
Rhena
Beth says
Thank you for this beautiful pattern. It has been totally addictive as I await to see what each part is going to look like!
I wonder if you can help me. I would like to stop after Sophie’s garden and just add rows of some of the beautiful stitches from Sophie’s universe.
Do you know if anyone else has done this and created some guidelines which will help me?
I am farily new to crocheting. Thx
Jenny says
If you Google Around the Bases Afghan, some people have used Sophie’s Garden for the centre of that blanket :)
Jenny
Leslie Madden says
I’m almost done with Sophie’s Universe and WOW! 12 rows to go… This was so much fun with all the different stitches, colors, and textures! I started last year but had to put it down because of work,went back to it but the bulging really did bother me (it didn’t help that i used different yarns for certain colors) so i ended up taking out 30 rows and started playing with different hook sizes (i used 3 different depending on the stitch) and solved my problem…it lays flat and i couldn’t be happier. I’ve not done CAL’s before…this was my first and now i’m hooked. I have my eye on 2 others and I want to do another Sophie’s Universe with the Alternate. Thank you so much for you creativity and for sharing this awesome project…this was a labor of love!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Leslie. I am so pleased to hear that you are almost done with your Sophie. And if you make the Alternate Universe, I would love to see it!
Suzanne says
I figured out what I did, not getting that there’s 12 dc before the 5 dc!
Sorry to have bothered you.
Suzann
Dedri Uys says
Hi Suzanne. No bother at all. I was at work, so couldn’t respond, but yes. There are 17 dc’s left after the last butterfly, but 12 of those are included in the last repeat, meaning that you have 5 dc’s left after the last repeat. I am glad you managed to figure it out.
Suzanne says
At the end of round 95 just before the corner, the instructions say I should have 5 dc before the corner but I have 17!. Could this be a typo?
Round 96, in the same part of the instructions, has a similar strange nu her of dc.
This has been a super enjoyable project for me. I’ve ordered another kit to make the small blanket and the colours are fabulous!
Thanks!
nikki scholl says
made it this far!!!!Yay!! Got a late start. Cannot thank you enough for the talent and dedication that went into this Masterpiece.
Jenny says
Better late than never, Nikki! I still have another Sophie to finish as well :)
Lorna says
Thank you so much for this beautiful pattern I have learnt so many new stiches, it has been a joy to work on and filled a lot of lonely hours xx
Lilly says
Hi, May I ask where the name came from. Sophies Mandalay then garden then universe. Who is sophie? I have been looking and can’t find the answer. Sorry if someone has asked before. I’m just curious. I started calling mine sophie use and the kids are amused. I love love love this little blanket. Thank you for designing. Hope your boys get over their chicken pox. I had 3 of mine down with it at once and my daughter was only 3 months old.
Dedri Uys says
Eeek. Glad mine didn’t have it at 3 months, but this is the second bout for all of them!
All the Sophies were named after Kimberly Slifer’s granddaughter (she suggested it). Kim is co-host of the CAL and an admin of the Official CCC Social Group that hosts the CAL for me.
Lilly says
Thank you. I thought it must be someone special.
My daughter who was 3 months old when she had the chicken pox is now 21 and doesn’t remember anything about it and smiles at her picture laying in her pram covered in spots.
A quick recovery and hopefully no more chicken pox to your children xx
mary Hatcher says
Can you give me advice on making this 2015 Cal in Bloom. I bought the color pac in Stonewashed XL but would also love to work one in Bloom. What would be the colors and how much to order? Thank you for all your great work.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Mary.
That is not something that that I can answer off the top of my head. Let me see what I can come up with over the next week.
Dedri
Mary Hatcher says
Thank you. You are so talented and very busy!! I have enjoyedfollowing your projects since the CAL 2014. Loved it! Thank you again
Sue says
I posted a picture of the shawl on FB but you know how fast the group wall moves. Here’s the link in case you miss it. :) https://www.facebook.com/groups/officialcccsocialgroup/permalink/832117600195835/
Dedri Uys says
I saw it and responded. Thank you so much, Sue x
Amber says
I am so hooked on this CAL! I have just finished week 14. Will give my hands a rest until tomorrow and hopefully knock out 15! It is absolutely amazing and your instructions/tutorials/pictures have made this soooo easy! It’s going to be hard to find a project to compete with this one once this is over! Thanks again!!!
Jenny says
I have also been wondering what on earth could fill such a void when Sophie is done, Amber! I think I will have to make a full colour version lol
Lilly says
I already have a few more colour schemes in my head I want to try and different size yarns too. Can’t see anything else topping this beautiful blanket design
Sally says
Absolutely wonderful, thank you so seems not enough..
Nothing gets me to crochet in the wee hours of the morning just to what’s next….
Jenny says
She sure is addictive :)
Susan says
I have to complement you on your extraordinary instructions. Not only are the written parts very descriptive, but the pictures are the icing on the cake. When I find my head saying “What….?”, the pictures allow my eyes to say, “See? Just like that!” Then, for the unusual stitches, there are separate instructions and even links to more tutorials. Wish all directions could be as good as yours. Thank you for your attention to detail!
Donna Nix says
I have totally caught up and now anxiously awaiting Part 15!!! This is absolutely the most wonderful blanket I have ever made or seen. Thank you so much for the opportunity to create it!
Donna