Good morning you beautiful not-so-patient bunch! I thought that I would feel a huge sense of relief when I wrote my last post, finally outing myself as the designer for the next official Scheepjes CAL. Instead, I have been bouncing up and down since Friday, too excited about showing you what it looks like to sit still for more than a minute at a time. And now I can finally show you (!!!!) AND tell you all about the Ubuntu CAL 2018.
This is Ubuntu! This is my new baby and my absolute pride and joy.
Ubuntu (n): the belief that we are defined by our compassion and kindness towards others.
If you would like to know more about why we chose this name and theme, please see my previous post HERE. You can also find links to all the parts HERE (as they become available).
What IS the Ubuntu CAL?
I have designed a hexagonal blanket that celebrates unity and humanity towards others. The design is detailed, but not overwhelming. For the overall feel, I took inspiration from traditional painted African huts (Google Image Search HERE). The inspiration for the shape, however, came from the carpet at the last Blogtacular I attended in 2017. Up until that point, I was still very unsure of which direction my design would take, but when I looked down at the carpet, surrounded by dear friends and flying high on all the talk of supporting each other and lifting each other up, I had a little ‘Eureka’ moment.
Finished Blanket Size
Due to the shape of the finished blanket, we have provided three measurements: Sides, Short Diagonal, and Long Diagonal. Below, you will find the measurements for all three ‘sizes’.
| Small | Medium | Large | |
| Long Diagonal | 120cm/47.3” | 151cm/59.5” | 192cm/75.5” |
| Short Diagonal | 104cm/41” | 131cm/51.5” | 167cm/65.5” |
| Sides | 60cm/23.6” | 75.5cm/29.7” | 96cm/37.5” |
Dates and Pattern Release
The CAL begins on the 12th of September 2018 and it will run for 12 weeks. Written-only PDF pattern pieces will be released weekly at 12:00 UK time for the duration of the CAL. You will find them via the official Scheepjes CAL groups (on Facebook) and the Scheepjes website:
You can also add the pattern to your Ravelry Queue HERE.
Resources
- Ubuntu Inspiration
- Ubuntu CAL Information (including links to my weekly photo-alongs)
- Special Stitches and Techniques
- Add this Pattern to Your Ravelry Queue
Pattern Support
Video tutorials will be available from It’s All in a Nutshell (UK terms and Dutch).
Although I have not done step-by-step photo tutorials for this CAL, I will be following along with you, sharing a photo of each complete round and tips and tricks for tricky parts. My testers all managed to create the blanket with only a couple of photos, so with Esther’s excellent video support, I am confident that you will thrive. Please see Suggestions below.
Translations
Official PDFs will be available in UK terms, US terms, Dutch, Czech, German, French, Finnish, Hebrew, Swedish, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Official Ubuntu CAL Kits
There are 3 kits: Small, Medium, and Large.
Kits will be available from most Scheepjes retailers on the 22nd of August 2018.
- Wool Warehouse (International)
- Black Sheep Wools (International)
- Deramores (International)
- Caro’s Atelier (Netherlands)
- Knotty House (Canada)
- Jimmy Beans (USA)
- More Retailers
All three kits contain an official CAL label, a button, and vintage stitch markers (I love the stitch markers).
The Medium and Large kits (only) also contain a goody pack – see Goody Pack below.
Small Ubuntu CAL Kit
This kit contains:
- Scheepjes Cotton 8
- an official CAL label
- a button
- vintage stitch markers
Price : €39 / £36 / $48
Medium Ubuntu CAL Kit
This kit contains:
- Scheepjes Stone Washed
- an official CAL label
- a button
- vintage stitch markers
- goody pack (see Goody Pack below)
Price : €108,50 / £98 / $133
Large Ubuntu CAL Kit
This kit contains:
- Scheepjes Stone Washed XL & River Washed XL
- an official CAL label
- a button
- vintage stitch markers
- goody pack (see Goody Pack below)
Price : €210 / £189 / $259
(I shouldn’t have favourite children, I know, but this large version is my favourite of the favourites I ‘don’t have’.)
Goody Packs
The Medium and Large kits come with a goody pack that contains everything you need to make your own beaded friendship bracelet (inspired by the CAL design). Instructions for making the bracelet will be provided, don’t worry!
I’m very excited about the fact that we will get to learn a new non-crochet skill (quite a mindful skill, actually). And when you have made your bracelet, you can wear it with pride or gift it to a friend :)
Suggestions
If you have never followed one of my patterns and would like to familiarise yourself with my written style or the techniques you will use in this CAL, I highly recommend having a look at my Special Stitches and Techniques post (especially the bit about gauge), written specifically for this CAL.
You can also try one of the following three (free) patterns while you wait:
Social Media
Please use #ScheepjesUbuntuCAL when you share on social media so that we can follow your progress and marvel at your work.
I cannot wait to start this journey with you!
This blog post contains affiliate links. I only link to products I personally use or would use. All opinions are my own.
jeanny says
Hello, tq for such a beautiful pattern. i want to use my stash. is there any info about how many grams for each colour?
Jenny says
Hi Jeanny.
All the info is HERE
Enjoy!
Jenny :)
Suzette Huyzers says
Thank you for your wonderfull work. I’m looking for the Ubuntu US termanology pattern but can’t find it. Dankie
Jenny says
Here
Here is the link to the CAL Suzette. At the bottom of the pattern there are links to all languages available.
Jenny :)
Debbie Davis says
Hi Dedri, Thank you so very much for this new Cal. I got so excited when I saw it. OMG , l love it. It is so beautiful. How happy you must feel knowing that you are making so many people happy. And isn’t this what the Blanket Stands for. The price is a little high, but it is well worth the money. I got the large one, I love the colors of the yarn. It is so rich in color. Thank you again, I’m counting down the days to get started.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Debbie. Thank you for your enthusiastic comment. The price for the large is steep, I agree, but I LOVED every minute of working on it and I hope you will too x
eloisilla says
Ciao!
I want to make the large version, I have a lot of Drops Paris, I used this yarn also to make Sophie Universe, I would like to use this yarn , can I still access the cal?
Thank you
Dedri Uys says
Hi. The pattern will be available for free to everyone who chooses to follow along, regardless of which yarn/hook/brand is used.
suzanne Larsen says
hello
will the Ububtu be translatet ti Danish also
Dedri Uys says
Yes, it will :)
Batb says
I have a lot of Stonewash XL on hand from a previously planned project so I dont want to buy the entire kit. How can I find out which Stonewash and River Wash colors and amounts are used in Ubuntu so U can just order individually the yarn I need?
Dedri Uys says
Scheepjes will release all the information next week :)
Sarah says
Dedri – your design is amazing! The large blanket pictured has different main colour than the large kit though – do you have any photos of one with the Crystal Quartz used? I’m considering ordering some Moonstone instead.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Sarah. I am not sure what you mean. The large in the photos is the one I made with the colours specified.
Alison says
Hi Dedri
I can’t tell you how much I love your Ubuntu design. I haven’t done a a CAL since Sophie of which I loved every second. I have ordered my yarn and I’ll be ready to go. Thank you so much for your inspiration and beautiful crochet, it makes the world a happier place. x
Dedri Uys says
Hi Alison. Thank you. I am so glad that you are excited. I’m VERY excited!
Angela says
I’m so excited to start this journey with you – love my Sophie dearly – so does everyone who sees her & I will love Ubuntu! You are amazing Dedri! xoxo
Dedri Uys says
Thank you Angela xx
Wendy Green says
Oh Dedri what are you doing to me!! I’ve just finished my third Sophies Universe and then found Charlotte, I did a sample square and loved it, so I brought the wool which was so thick it didn’t work, I thought, okay I’ll take it back and get the right ply, in the meantime I’ve come across Ubuntu which looks INCREDIBLE!! So now I’m torn between Ubuntu and Charlotte, well I’ll sleep on it. Thankyou for all your work
Dedri Uys says
Sorry! I hope you’ve decided now :)
Christine Donaldson says
It’s simple – you need to do both. That’s all. :)
Dedri Uys says
Haha
Gia says
Hi Dedre,
I am a fan of your work from Australia. You inspire me as you mentioned in your ‘about me’ that you are a busy wife and mother. I would love to be like you.
I feel inspired by the work you have created and have fallen in love with the Ubuntu. I have just bought my small kit yesterday. I just wanted to say thank you for the time you put in to create something so wonderful that helps many of us around the world happy and content. When I crochet, nothing else really matters and I get caught up in counting and learning. Makes me feel confident and proud to learn something that others marvel at. I have been crocheting since I was 5 years old and am 24 now and only this year have I found out what a CAL is and Ubuntu will be my first time following along week by week. I’m so excited to do my first one along with you.
Thank you again from Aus.
Gia
Dedri Uys says
Hi Gia. Thank you for your lovely comment. I hope you thoroughly enjoy this (first) CAL with us x
Kimber O'shea says
Hi! Love your pattern- thank you so much for sharing. I have never done a CAL before, but I think I will give this one a try. I have an aversion to acrylic so I think I will use the cotton 8. Can you tell me if this cotton is mercerized or shiny? Or is is more flat like their Cahlista? I don’t like shiny either. Thank you
Dedri Uys says
HI. Cotton 8 is unmercerized (so flat/not shiny). I really like working with it, which is why I chose it. If you like Cahlista, you’ll love Cotton 8. It doesn’t split and stitch definition is beautiful.
Shelley Krueger says
I would love to buy one of the kits, but I wish that the background colour was darker, maybe grey or light brown. The pale colour just doesn’t work for me.
Veda Eddy says
Hi. Lovely pattern but the kits are too expensive for me as i have a limited budget. Will there be a Colour Crafter kit available to buy? I know I could put the colours together myself but then I would miss out on the extra goodies.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Veda. I appreciate the fact that the kits are dear and I am sorry that you won’t be able to buy even the small one (which would cost about the same as a colour crafter version). As far as I know, there are no plans for releasing a colour crafter kit, but that doesn’t stop you from putting your favourite colours together yourself :)
Sue says
Is there any way you could tell us in advance how many yards of each color we need? While I would love to use the yarns in the large kit it is a bit pricey for me. I plan to use a tweeded acrylic alpaca blend which has twice the yardage of the Stonewashed for about the same price. I need to order it so can’t wait too long.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Sue. All the yardages per colour will be released in the information post a week before the CAL starts, so you will have time to buy your lovely tweed :)
Gisela says
Hi,
Since the pattern will be available for those who buy the kits, will you be making it available after the CAL for sale? I can’t join the CAL now but would like to make it in the future. It is one gorgeous blanket and congratulations on your incredible creation! All the best.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Gisela. The pattern will be available for FREE as a 12 part PDF, regardless of if you choose to buy the kit or not. You can find the link to where the free pattern PDFs will live if you scroll down to ‘Dates and Pattern Release’. I hope that helps,
Dedri
Sara says
Hello- just a quick question: will this pattern be worked in the round from the center (using all colors at once), or in pieces (one color at a time) that will be assembled before adding a border to complete it?
Dedri Uys says
The diamonds and half-diamonds are made as pieces and assembled before the border is added.
Linda Snyman says
Hi Dedri, ek het so pas my Kit bestel, en is sooo opgewonde. Baie dankie vir nog ‘n wonderlike reis wat ons saam met jou gaan doen. Ek is ook dankbaar dat dit in US terme gedoen word, ek raak deesdae maklik confused. LOL
Dedri Uys says
Praat jy! Ek gebruik net US – dit maak soveel sin – maar die keer MOES ek UK ook doen want die videos is in UK. Stekrte en bly asb. in kontak x
Veda Eddy says
I’m on a limited budget and can’t afford expensive yarn. Will there be a colour crafter version available as I love the design and message behind it. Thanks.
Bettina says
Hi Dedri, thx for giving me the possibilitiy to start stash diving for this meaningful beautifully designed treasure you so graciously share with us. If I had the funds I would love to figure out a possibility to use some of the Tribes Yarns for Ubuntu. I am no fan of river or stonwashed (but i have never touched or worked with it).
I will be using 100% acrylic yarn, which looks (and feels!) nearly like mercerized cotton and works up like a dream (it is thinner than i.e. color crafter but behaves very well when worked with a 4 mm or 3,5 mm hook). I can get it from my local chinese shop and in a surprisingly big color range. Maybe for the natural tone, i will use a not-shining different acrylic yarn but am still looking for an affordable solution.
Cannot wait to see the amounts needed (I know, one week before start of CAL :-).
Thank you and you and your family have a lovely weekend