April 6, 2018

I went to the first CAL session at the yarn shop today and it was lots of fun. I only finished the first four rounds (too much chatting) but I’m loving this yarn and these colors. There was only one other woman there today (besides the shop owner, Vickie) and she was doing a fingering weight version as well. Vickie is using worsted weight cotton so hers is much bigger.

Note to self: mark the last stitch since the pattern usually says to start after the join.

I’m embarassed to say that I thought the $20 was for the whole CAL, not each session! Needless to say, I won’t be going to these every other week after already spending so much on yarn.

May 22, 2018

I’ve finished Part 3, Sophie’s Mandala, today. I’ll add pictures tomorrow when it’s not dark.

June 14, 2018

I’ve completed the first two rounds of Part 4 (Sophie’s Garden).

I was wondering if I’ll have enough yarn to finish my blanket and I discovered a spreadsheet called Sophie’s Universe Colours per Round that I should be able to use to keep track and to predict.

June 18, 2018

I have finished Sophie’s Garden and it is beautiful. Time to leave the garden and into the first part I haven’t done yet.

June 30, 2018

I finished Part 5 today. I’m not too happy with my color choices. I’ll try to do it more deliberately going forward.

March 12, 2023

Well, it’s only been 5 years since I started Sophie! I’ve gotten her out of hibernation and determined I stopped on Part 6, rount 47.

It’s the end of the day and I have finished Part 6, which is through round 53. There are 18 parts. My goal is to complete one part per week until she is done, which is roughly in June some time. I hope I can maintain the motivation this time. The yarn and the pattern are both lovely but the small scale of the yarn makes it slow going.

March 19, 2023

It’s getting obvious that I won’t have enough of some colors for the whole blanket and I’m determined to get all the way to the end. So yesterday I went shopping in my light fingering/lace weight stash and added some yarns to the basket.

I have finished Part 7, just need to weave in the ends, then I’ll move on to Part 8 and try to get it done this week.

March 26, 2023

I just finished Part 9. Technically, that means I’m 50% complete if you go by the parts, but I’m 2/3 of the way through the pattern pages, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’ve used the alternate green, red, and teal so far and they blend quite well. Not really sure if I needed to supplement, but better safe than sorry.

The blanket is really blousy in the center and I’m worried I won’t be able to block it out, but oh well. I’ve already gone up to a 2.75 mm hook.

I am giving this most of my attention, other than keeping up with my Temperature blanket and two other year-long CALs, so I’m definitely doing more than one part per week so will have it done sooner than expected.

April 22, 2023

I am thrilled with how this came out! I waited until the end to block it, and had to do so rather aggressively, but it did the trick. And it is a good thing I introduced some harmonious colors because, in the end, the only color I had enough to use for the last round was the red that wasn’t part of the original palette.

The photos do not do this justice -- the colors are stunning and the silk in the yarn gives is a lovely sheen. And, being fingering weight, the blanket has a beautiful drape and, being mostly wool, it is cozy and warm. It is most definitely lap sized, and way too big for a wall hanging, but that’s fine for keeping by my desk chair for when I want something for the chill. I’ll definitely be keeping this one for me, me, me!