Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 18

This will be the last official post about the Sophie's Universe CAL.  In her pattern, Dedri ends the "official" CAL at Part 18, and continues with a few other optional add-ons, such as granny squares, surface crochet, and optional borders.  I chose to keep it simple and stick to the basic pattern, as I have so many other projects I'm working on.  To me, it seems that Sophie abruptly ended her yellow side, and so I'll probably incorporate some in a border, perhaps from my border book, but again, I'm using the yarn for other things, so that will have to wait.

So, today, I present to you my completed Sophie's Universe!  (I will probably block this week, but right now I'm cat-sitting for a friend, so there isn't any space.)

I used:

• Round 110: Avocado (21 g)
• Round 111: Sienna (31 g)
• Round 112: Coral (28 g)
• Round 113: Wine (56 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Avocado: 208 grams
• Sienna: 991 grams
• Caution: 105 grams
• Coral: 109 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 102 grams
• Orange: 105 grams
• Solstice Heather: 106 grams
• Tidepool: 90 grams
• Wine: 121 grams

• Total: 2 kg, 38 grams



• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79
• Part 12: 85
• Part 13: 109
• Part 14: 146
• Part 15: 165
• Part 16: 89
• Part 17: 153
• Part 18: 136

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 17

Having received the shipment of yarn for my Sophie's Universe CAL this past Thursday, I immediately got to work finishing it up.  However, on Friday after work, The Mister and I skedaddled to some much needed time away in the mountains, at Pinnacles National Park.

I brought my Sophie to keep working on her, but I forgot my hook, and when you're in the middle of nowhere, you can't just run to the store.

Fortunately, on our way to the other side of Pinnacles to do some different trails on Sunday, we passed through a decently sized town with a Joann Fabrics, and I jumped in to grab a hook, so Sunday night I was able to finish Part 17.

(However, these pictures were taken before I completed Row 109, because I just had to take pictures with to sunset on the balcony of our AirBnB.  Isn't it gorgeous?!  And can you tell we're in a drought?)


I used:

• Round 105: Sienna (19 g)
• Round 106: Sienna (45 g)
• Round 107: Avocado (25 g)
• Round 108: Sienna (30 g)
• Round 109: Sienna (34 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 960 grams
• Avocado: 187 grams
• Caution: 105 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 102 grams
• Orange: 105 grams
• Solstice Heather: 106 grams
• Tidepool: 90 grams
• Wine: 65 grams

• Total: 1 kg, 902 grams


• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79
• Part 12: 85
• Part 13: 109
• Part 14: 146
• Part 15: 165
• Part 16: 89
• Part 17: 153

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 16

I'm loving my Sophie's Universe CAL, and I'm beginning to wonder what the growing rows will look like in a few weeks!

Perhaps blocking again would be a good idea, but I'm too lazy this week, so maybe next time.  In the mean time, enjoy some pretty pictures!

I used:

• Round 102: Sienna (43 g)
• Round 103: Solstice (19 g)
• Round 104: Tidepool (27 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 832 grams
• Avocado: 162 grams
• Caution: 105 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 102 grams
• Orange: 105 grams
• Solstice Heather: 106 grams
• Tidepool: 90 grams
• Wine: 65 grams

• Total: 1 kg, 749 grams


• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79
• Part 12: 85
• Part 13: 109
• Part 14: 146
• Part 15: 165
• Part 16: 89

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 15

This week in Sophie's Universe CAL, we made another row of tulips, and included some Fairy Tale.  I love it!

However, I'm running into a situation where my corners are pulled in, and the blanket looks more curved than squared.  I like it still, but it's certainly interesting.  I think it's probably because I tend to make my single-crochets more tightly than my other stitches.

I used:

• Round 98: Fairy Tale (41 g)
• Round 99: Avocado (34 g)
• Round 100: Orange (52 g)
• Round 101: Sienna (38)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 789 grams
• Avocado: 162 grams
• Caution: 105 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 102 grams
• Orange: 105 grams
• Solstice Heather: 87 grams
• Tidepool: 63 grams
• Wine: 65 grams

• Total: 1 kg, 660 grams


• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79
• Part 12: 85
• Part 13: 109
• Part 14: 146
• Part 15: 165

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 14

This week in Sophie's Universe CAL, I used all Sienna yarn, as per Dedri's suggestion, and I love the result!  The butterflies are gorgeous, if a little lopsided, and they pop so much with the light background and the dark yarn.

I used:

• Round 93: Sienna
• Round 94: Sienna
• Round 95: Sienna
• Round 96: Sienna
• Round 97: Sienna (146 g Total)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 751 grams
• Avocado: 128 grams
• Caution: 105 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 61 grams
• Orange: 53 grams
• Solstice Heather: 87 grams
• Tidepool: 63 grams
• Wine: 65 grams

• Total: 1 kg, 495 grams


• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79
• Part 12: 85
• Part 13: 109
• Part 14: 146

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 13

This week in Sophie's Universe CAL was super simple!  What a breeze!  It came out well, too, and even though it was starting to uncurl, I decided to block it anyway.  Love the results!

I used:

• Round 89: Sienna (26 g)
• Round 90: Fairy Tale (20 g)
• Round 91: Sienna (27 g)
• Round 92: Sienna (36 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 605 grams
• Avocado: 128 grams
• Caution: 105 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 61 grams
• Orange: 53 grams
• Solstice Heather: 87 grams
• Tidepool: 63 grams
• Wine: 65 grams
  
  

• Total: 1 kg, 348 grams


• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79
• Part 12: 85
• Part 13: 109

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 12

My Sophie's Universe CAL still looks pretty rounded, and I'm starting to wonder if it's a problem that I haven't been blocking.  I think I'll do that this week and see how it works, but in the mean time, here's the update!  I loved these corners when they first came up, and I love them still!

I used:

• Round 85: Sienna (23 g)
• Round 86: Solstice Heather (20 g)
• Round 87: Sienna (30 g)
• Round 88: Caution (22 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 516 grams
• Avocado: 128 grams
• Caution: 105 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 41 grams
• Orange: 53 grams
• Solstice Heather: 87 grams
• Tidepool: 63 grams
• Wine: 65 grams

• Total: 1 kg, 240 grams

• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79
• Part 12: 85

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 11

Dedri said this week in Sophie's Universe CAL, our blankets would come out like bowls, and mine certainly did!  I do like it so far, though.  Mine has been "bowl"ing for the past few weeks, though, so I'm hoping I'm not doing something wrong!

I used:

• Round 81: Avocado (19 g)
• Round 82: Sienna (22 g)
• Round 83: Avocado (14 g)
• Round 84: Tidepool (24 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 473 grams
• Avocado: 128 grams
• Caution: 83 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 41 grams
• Orange: 53 grams
• Solstice Heather: 67 grams
• Tidepool: 63 grams
• Wine: 65 grams

• Total: 1 kg, 155 grams
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97
• Part 11: 79

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 10

You might recognize these pictures, since I forgot to take pictures of the end of the previous installment, so this week's Sophie's Universe CAL pictures are also the ones that I used last week.  So, here you can see them again.  Ah well!  No big deal.

I used:

• Round 75: Sienna (16 g)
• Round 76: Coral (19 g)
• Round 77: Cornflower (14 g)
• Round 78: Avocado (15 g)
• Round 79: Wine (17 g)
• Round 80: Sienna (16 g)  

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 451 grams
• Avocado: 95 grams
• Caution: 83 grams
• Coral: 81 grams
• Cornflower: 101 grams
• Fairy Tale: 41 grams
• Orange: 53 grams
• Solstice Heather: 67 grams
• Tidepool: 39 grams
• Wine: 65 grams

• Total: 1 kg, 76 grams
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113
• Part 10: 97

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 9

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures after this installment, so I'll have to use pictures from the next one!  This week in the Sophie's Universe CAL pattern, the short sides have officially become longer than the long sides.  Progress!

I used:

• Round 69: Sienna (11 g)
• Round 70: Avocado (16 g)
• Round 71: Caution (16 g)
• Round 72: Sienna (14 g)
• Round 73: Solstice Heather (39 g)
• Round 74: Cornflower (17 g)  

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 419 grams
• Avocado: 80 grams
• Caution: 83 grams
• Coral: 62 grams
• Cornflower: 87 grams
• Fairy Tale: 41 grams
• Orange: 53 grams
• Solstice Heather: 67 grams
• Tidepool: 39 grams
• Wine: 48 grams

• Total: 979 grams
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150
• Part 9: 113

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 8

I love the continued Octagonal shape in the Sophie's Universe CAL!  My prediction?  The long sides will continue to taper into a diamond, but we'll see!

The Fairy Tale is doing better, but still not my favorite.  I've decided to call it a learning experience.

I used:

• Round 62: Sienna (50 g)
• Round 63: Cornflower (17 g)
• Round 64: Tidepool (13 g)
• Round 65: Caution (14 g)
• Round 66: Orange (20 g)
• Rounds 67-68: Sienna (36 g)  

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 394 grams
• Avocado: 64 grams
• Caution: 67 grams
• Coral: 62 grams
• Cornflower: 70 grams
• Fairy Tale: 41 grams
• Orange: 53 grams
• Solstice Heather: 28 grams
• Tidepool: 39 grams
• Wine: 48 grams

• Total: 716 grams
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139
• Part 8: 150

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Oh, and Dedri asked to see our Sophie's with our men, so here's the Mister, reluctantly posing!

Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 7

This week in the Sophie's Universe CAL, we continued the Octagonal Shape, and it continues to blow me away every week!

This week called for Fairy Tale again for the first time since Part 3.  I was really hesitant since I hated it so much the first time it was called for, and I even ordered another purple and waited for it to come in, but that one didn't match with any of the colors, so I stuck with Fairy Tale, and it actually wasn't that bad.  It looks particularly dissonant in conjunction with the Wine, so I decided to just adjust if that combination is called for again, and I'm hoping the original round will look better as more Fairy Tale is used.

I used:

• Round 54: Solstice Heather (12 g)
• Round 55: Cornflower (15 g)
• Rounds 56-57: Sienna (40 g)
• Round 58: Avocado (19 g)
• Round 59: Fairy Tale (31 g)
• Round 60: Caution (12 g)
• Round 61: Sienna (12 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 308 grams
• Avocado: 64 grams
• Caution: 53 grams
• Coral: 62 grams
• Cornflower: 53 grams
• Fairy Tale: 41 grams
• Orange: 33 grams
• Solstice Heather: 28 grams
• Tidepool: 26 grams
• Wine: 48 grams

• Total: 716 grams
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146
• Part 7: 139

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 6

I was pleased to see that this installment of the Sophie's Universe CAL continued the Octagonal Shape, and I love it!

I've noticed in this round that my tension changes quite a bit.  Looking at the tulips from this section, as well as the one from the previous installment, and noticed that the Coral tulips were massive in comparison to the Orange ones!  We'll see which continues as we go on...

I used:

• Rounds 46-47: Sienna (28 g)
• Round 48: Avocado (11 g)
• Round 49: Sienna (20 g)
• Round 50: Orange (20 g)
• Rounds 51-53: Sienna (67 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 256 grams
• Avocado: 45 grams
• Caution: 41 grams
• Coral: 62 grams
• Cornflower: 38 grams
• Fairy Tale: 10 grams
• Orange: 33 grams
• Solstice Heather: 16 grams
• Tidepool: 26 grams
• Wine: 48 grams

• Total: 575 grams
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159
• Part 6: 146

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Sophie's Garden and Going Cold Sheep

By now, you've seen Parts 1-5 of the Sophie's Universe CAL, but today, you'll get to see the inspiration for my participation.

Lets set the scene.  January, 2015.  A new year.  Still on break from work.

I decide to go Cold Sheep.

That means no more yarn until what I have is feasibly used up.  You'll see more about this later, don't worry, but imagine me setting out the guidelines for exceptions.

• I can buy yarn if it is only to finish a project I already have.  For instance, I bought a third hank of Alchemy Silk Purse (more on that later) when I realized two was not quite enough to finish the scarf.
• I can buy yarn if it is for a gift or a special request.
• In February, when I go to Stitches WEST, I can buy yarn, but only for projects that I've already determined (no impulse buying!).
• Once my stash fits comfortably in one crate (instead of 4) and I have mostly small, unassigned bits left, I can lift the restrictions.

I open up my Ravelry tab and come across this delightful pattern.

"It's beautiful!" I think, "And perfect for stash busting!"

Soon, my Sophie's Garden is underway, a nice long-weekend of crochet before the frenzy resumes.

And then, I discover that Dedri is hosting a CAL to expand Sophie and make her into a six-foot blanket.  I have always wanted to join a CAL.  I want to be part of a community.  I want to make friends and have something to look forward to.  The mystery of it all, finding out each section as you go, intrigues me.  I get a rush just thinking about it.  I must participate.

But alas, I don't have the yarn...

So, I quickly make one more rule, and since it's during that first week of January, it doesn't count, right?

• I can buy yarn to participate in Sophie's Universe.

Now, of course, I have, since then, hemmed and hawed about purchasing the yarn to participate in another CAL, or maybe make a second Sophie, trying to justify it under stipulation four.  So far, I have stood my ground, so we'll see!

Anyway, here's my Sophie's Garden, which currently sits daintily upon a card table only slightly larger than she is!
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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 5

This week, we've expanded the Sophie's Universe CAL Square into an Octagon-of-sorts, and I love it!  Circle to square, square to octagon...I'm wondering what happens next!

Once again, the "Wine" Petals were next to the Sienna Background.  Since Dedri is using white, hers pop out, but mine tend to disappear.  I'm thinking about switching the Coral and the Wine next time there's a pattern like this.





I used:

• Round 37: Cornflower (16 g)
• Round 38: Avocado (14 g)
• Round 39: Coral (41 g)
• Round 40: Caution (12 g)
• Round 41: Wine (32 g)
• Rounds 42-45: Sienna (44 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 141 grams
• Avocado: 34 grams
• Caution: 41 grams
• Coral: 62 grams
• Cornflower: 38 grams
• Fairy Tale: 10 grams
• Orange: 13 grams
• Solstice Heather: 16 grams
• Tidepool: 26 grams
• Wine: 48 grams

• Total: 429 grams
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125
• Part 5: 159

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 4

In this week's installment of the Sophie's Universe CAL, you'll see how the Mandala finished in PArt 3 squares off.  I have to say, I haven't used any of the Fairy Tale since last week (it wasn't ever called for), and I'm still not sure about it, but the Caution is a win.  I love it mixing with the other colors!

This was also my first week using the Orange, which I was pretty nervous about, but it seems to work well with the Caution and Avocado.  We'll see what happens when it gets paired next to some of the pinks and purples, but for now it'll do!

I used:

• Round 26: Avocado (10 g)
• Round 27: Sienna (12 g)
• Round 28: Avocado (7 g)
• Round 29: Orange (13 g)
• Round 30: Sienna (14 g)
• Round 31: Coral (11 g)
• Round 32: Sienna (12 g)
• Round 33: Caution (9 g)
• Rounds 34-35: Sienna (23 g)
• Round 36: Solstice Heather (14 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 97 grams
• Avocado: 20 grams
• Caution: 29 grams
• Coral: 21 grams
• Cornflower: 22 grams
• Fairy Tale: 10 grams
• Orange: 13 grams
• Solstice Heather: 16 grams
• Tidepool: 26 grams
• Wine: 16 grams

• Total: 270
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86
• Part 4: 125

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 3

Previously, I posted about participating in the Sophie's Universe CAL, and my version of Parts 1 and 2.  Today, you get to see part three!

I really liked it at the end of Part 2, but now I'm not so sure.  The Fairy Tale and the Caution really seem to have an off-putting effect.  I decided to leave it, but if I get a mreh result, I'll probably just give it away!

I used:

• Rounds 16-17: Fairy Tale (10 g)
• Rounds 18-19: Caution (20 g)
• Rounds 20-21: Tidepool (22 g)
• Rounds 22-23: Cornflower (19 g)
• Rounds 24-25: Sienna (15 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 36 grams
• Avocado: 3 grams
• Caution: 20 grams
• Coral: 10 grams
• Cornflower: 22 grams
• Fairy Tale: 10 grams
• Orange: 0 grams
• Solstice Heather: 2 grams
• Tidepool: 26 grams
• Wine: 16 grams

• Total: 145
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39
• Part 3: 86

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Sophie's Universe CAL - Part 2

Previously, I posted about participating in the Sophie's Universe CAL, and my version of Part 1.  Today, you get to see part two!

I used:

• Round 9: Avocado (3 g)
• Round 10: Coral (10 g)
• Rounds 11-13: Wine (16 g)
• Rounds 14-15: Sienna (10 g)

Yarn used to date:

• Sienna: 21 grams
• Avocado: 3 grams
• Caution: 0 grams
• Coral: 10 grams
• Cornflower: 3 grams
• Fairy Tale: 0 grams
• Orange: 0 grams
• Solstice Heather: 2 grams
• Tidepool: 4 grams
• Wine: 16 grams

• Total: 59
• Part 1: 20
• Part 2: 39

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