If you crochet and have an internet connection, you’ve probably seen the Sophie’s Universe pattern that has been making the rounds over the last couple of years. If you’ve somehow missed the craze, you can find the pattern and pics on the blog “Look What I Made.”

People go crazy for this pattern and I watched www.reddit.com/r/crochet make these blankets all through last year.

Well… this is something the same, but different.

I wanted to try The Sophie, but I found myself in the camp of people who felt all of those colour changes were a bit much.

Hmm. After some deliberation, I thought a few balls of Elann Meander Yarn with slow and gentle colour variations should keep things interesting! I also used a size 5.5 hook, which wound up making the pattern looser, so you can see the pillow through it.

This pattern was so much more awesome than expected because of all the different stitches. It’s no good for in front of the TV, but it’s great for keeping you interested and motivated to keep hooking!

The other thing I wanted to mention is that sometimes, you can love a project and not feel the need to press ahead with it at a certain point. This Sophie was meant to be a pillow. I got the actual cushion on sale at Bed Bath and Beyond… and voila! A Christmas present for my Mom was born. (Yes I am only posting it now, shh.)

This was a good chance for me to work on my freehand crochet. I did the last few rows of squaring the Sophie and making stretched out corners that fit the pillow by just eyeballing it. I am pretty proud of finding a way to make this Sophie my own!

So, what did you make this week?

xo Jax.

An elephant with its trunk up represents prosperity, good luck and victory. All good intentions to pass on to a new baby and her mama — and that’s the inspiration behind my latest creation.

Front Blanket Before Applique

Front Blanket Detail

Elephant Detail

Lucky Elephant Baby Blanket

My best friend has always loved elephants and I knew that would be the basis of the blanket I’d make for her, now that’s she’s expecting her first child. I am so excited and the time is flying by. I can’t wait to meet the little one!

Will it be a little boy or girl?! Either one will be full of sweetness, but when you’re not sure, keeping colours neutral is important! I went with a turquoise, sea-foam, grey and white palette. I loved it! I had it ready JUST in time for the baby shower last weekend. I was also in charge of planning some games, so it was a busy one!

The pattern was inspired by this Repeat Crafter Me blanket, except the squares are single, half-double and double crochet. Just subtract one stitch of length for each larger stitch. (ex. 25 across for SC, 24 for HDC and 23 for DC).

I also made some multi-coloured squares. There are tones of patterns online for creative granny squares, but here’s how to do a solid one and then you can just change colours as you go!

The elephant applique was also inspired by Repeat Crafter Me’s pattern. I just added another round of stitches to make him a bit bigger! I think his little flapping ear really makes it.

Elephant Detail

I used Loops and Threads Snuggly Wuggly yarn and a size 4.5 hook. Machine washable!

I was thrilled she loved the gift when she opened it at the beautiful shower (in a bicycle-themed restaurant!) , but my heart will be even more warmed to see her baby wrapped up in it!

For now, here’s a pile of wrapped gifts! Lucky baby! You can see the diaper cake I made peeking out the top of the pile in the back there! 😀

What did you make this week?

xo

Jax

I met Holly when I was a baby.

Our moms, no doubt looking for camaraderie in the challenging and often solitary world of first-time parenting, had signed up for a local baby group. I was born in June, and then she came into the world in August.

In many ways, we’ve long been opposites. I was a precocious child, while she was painfully shy. I wore dresses – she hated them. As teens, I became the bookish and calculating one, while she got a part-time job and a boyfriend… and then eventually moved across the country after university, because why not?

She loved it out by the water, and never looked back.

Now, my longest-time friend has just delivered a baby of her very own. A sweet little nugget named Jack.

Since Holly was the one who inspired me to learn crochet (she also knits and sews – you can find her stuff here), I knew I wanted to bring some of my own yarn love to the little man who I’m excited to meet next month. I also wanted to represent the province where this family is making their home – on the coast of Newfoundland.

Inspired by a trip out East for her wedding last year (if you haven’t been, it’s a whole other world out there!), I went with a beach-and-boats theme for my gift. I took inspiration from a number of different patterns around the internet (linked below) to put it all together. So nice to sit after work, stitching and thinking about a new life set to begin.

Bonus adorable anchor ribbon from Michaels!

I loved making this blanket and I can’t help but think this could have been sweet and fun as an “Under the Sea” theme with more detailed aquatic appliques.

I was really happy with my sewing too. From the back view you can hardly tell there’s so much detail on the other side – I actually just like the simple wave pattern.

The Summer Ocean Views blanket:

The blanket itself takes its waves from a wavy chevron pattern. I drew inspiration from this simple ripple pattern.

I used an “I” hook and three kinds of yarn. The sandy effect came from (I think – there was no label) Patons Smoothie DK yarn. The blue was Red Heart Soft from Michaels. I alternated the two blue colours to make it look more like caps on a wave – not sure if you can tell the difference from the photos. I might use more varied colour if I were to do it again.

Then I did the appliqués!

Boats!

Here’s a link to the sailboat pattern/video I was inspired by.

Fishies!

Here’s a link to the simple fish pattern I was inspired by. It’s the goldfish one, but there some bonus guppy patterns too, if you prefer!

Crab friend!

Here’s a link to the crab pattern that I used for the CLAWS ONLY. The body was just an oval that I did freehand. You can do her body, if you want yours to be round. Or make your own oval! I’ve included a picture of me blocking it because it really needed it…

Starfish!

Here’s a link to the starfish pattern I was inspired by. I added a white border to mine…

So, what did you make this week?

xo Jax

All that comes in the mail these days is just (to quote Destiny’s Child) Bills Bills Bills. *Does a little dance*

But in the last few weeks I had something to look forward to, when I participated in the Reddit Gifts exchange, yarn edition.

For those unfamiliar, participants sign up for a Secret Santa program where they are matched with another fibre artist either in their country or abroad (depending on how far the person is willing to ship $$$). Then you read about your giftee and send them something they’d love. I went with some luxe fibers from a yarn store near my work that doesn’t distribute its yarns in the province of Alberta, where my recipient lives.

Then you wait for your own surprise yarn to arrive!

I had a god time running to the mailbox each day, waiting for my yarn to arrive. When it did, I found I’d received 5 balls of Elann in the “fire and fury” colour. I assume that’s because I said my favourite colour is red! Now I’m enjoying dreaming of what those strands will become.

I highly recommend participating next year. And if you love to knit or crochet, can I recommend the amazing community of hookers and knitters who inhabit Reddit’s community?

There’s something really lovely about connecting with people who have a shared interest. I loved scrolling through the gallery of gifts to see what other people received in the exchange! Some gifters were incredibly generous. Can you imagine if a GIANT TUB OF YARN showed up on your doorstep?

Dreaming of HDCs,

Jacquie

Fibre artists of the internet! I finished my FIRST BABY BLANKET! My fingers are sore and my heart is full of love and pride!

I am thrilled with this little springtime creation, which I began after Christmas and lovingly stitched until last weekend. Then I delivered it to a snuggly bundle of pure joy. (I had never held a new baby – it fills you with awe of our wondrous world, doesn’t it?)

I started out with a plan to make the Daisy Afghan from Repeat Crafter Me, since she posted her pattern. If you hang out on Pinterest, you’ve likely seen this adorable baby blanket. A cascade of grit-stitched squares, single crocheted together, with a scalloped border. Check out this perfection.

Now, mine didn’t come together quite as neatly. First of all… I bought some worsted weight yarn, and some lighter-weight baby yarn. WHY!? Why didn’t I double check the weights!? *Sigh* Annnyyyway, instead of taking some of them back, I just used a hook one size up for the #3 yarn, which made the squares basically the same size.

And then there were the damn daisies. First off, I couldn’t get them to come out right. I just couldn’t. They were al floppy and curled. And I also felt like I should find a flower that was a little bit more suited to a February baby. I think the ones I chose look a little like snowflakes, floating down the blanket. They’re called ‘Maybelles.’

The other major modification came when I was doing the border. By then, I was getting a little bit tired of this blanket. I was enjoying thinking about the arrival of its future owner, but other patterns and yarn were calling to me. Instead of single crocheting two rounds in every colour to make the border, I chose to do one row of half-double crochets. Yes, this decision was born of laziness, but the results were great. I’d do it that way again.

It’s been a brutally cold winter in Toronto and many other parts of North America, and a blanket seemed the perfect gift for a new baby girl at the end of February.

It was well-received by little Langley, just six days old. She made her approval known by sleeping through my visit. What beautiful girl — can you tell I’m smitten? Her parents are keeping her off the internet, though. So out of respect I won’t post her photos here.

Instead, here’s one of me, with the blanket I have affectionately named, The Langley.

So, what did you make this week? (Or this month…!)

Xo

Jacquie

P.s. Here are a few more snaps…