Introducing Cosmic Cal 2018
As many of you, that know my designs, will know, I love the idea of thousands of people, from all over the world, and many diverse ways of living, connecting through a common love of a hook and some yarn.
The concept of the Cosmic cal is connection, and expansion. Whether you see the universe and stars, or the web of life within this design, this is your journey and I hope it is one of love and gratitude.
“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”
– Hermes Trisma“
“Cosmic consciousness, a consciousness of the life and order of the universe which is possessed by few men at present.
It is a further stage of human evolution which will be reached by all humanity in the future.”
Gistus
The idea started from some of the spiritual work I have done with Archangel Metatron, and what is known as Metatron’s cube, this is part of sacred geometry, and is often used in meditation and connection to higher levels of consciousness. Metatron’s cube also incorporates all possible shapes and is linked to “the flower of life”, which is a continual connection and growth symbol.
There is lots of information out there on the internet, should you wish to learn more about this.
♥ This Crochet A-Long is sponsored by Stylecraft yarns.
I am absolutely thrilled to be working with Stylecraft yarns for this CAL.
Stylecraft are my absolute favourite yarns to work with, and we have showcased some of their most popular yarns, in the most gorgeous array of colours, for you to hook along with us.
There is an Official Stylecraft Cosmic Cal Facebook group to share your progress and for all the latest updates and news.
♥ How does the CAL [crochet a-long] work?
There will be 9 parts, each week that the cal runs a new part will be published.
Starting with part 1 on Tuesday 17th April and ending with part 9 on Tuesday 12th June.
Each Tuesday Morning at 10am GMT [UK time] Stylecraft will post links to download the pattern in US and UK terms, and in Dutch, these will be photo tutorials. They will also post a link to the video tutorial, which will be on my Youtube Channel, you can sign up to get all my video tutorials.
I will also post on my Facebook page, and in my Facebook group, Helen’s Hookaholics, the link to my website, which will include translations in the languages listed below.
A huge thank you to the translations teams from the Cal Crochet A-Long group on Facebook.
♥ Bulgarian – Български
♥ Czech -Čeština
♥ Danish – Dansk
♥ Finnish – Suomi
♥ French – Français
♥ German – Deutsch
♥ Hebrew – עברית
♥ Hungarian – Magyar
♥ Italian – Italiano
♥ Korean – 한국어.
♥ Norwegian – Norsk
♥ Spanish – Español
♥ Swedish -Svenska
♥ Urdu – اردو
♥ We all work along together to make this gorgeous, rectangular, blanket.
♥ The pattern is free, and will remain free on my website forever, and is my gift to you.
♥ As with all my designs, Cosmic Cal is covered by copyright, you may download and print for your own use, or share a link to the CAL with any of your friends or on social media, however you are not permitted to publish or copy any part of the pattern.
♥ Please love and respect me, as I love and respect you. ♥
♥ What will you need?
There are 4 official yarn packs available for you to purchase, or you can go in your own colour direction.
Those of you who are members of my Facebook group will know all about colour boards, these are the colour boards I made for inspiration for the official yarn packs.
Creation
♥ Stylecraft Classique cotton Dk, this is the yarn pack I used for the photo tutorials.
Classique is a gorgeous, soft cotton, that is a joy to work with, and will give you a blanket that will last for years. The colours bring power, and impact on the creative mind, allowing us to see that anything is possible.
This pack is a limited edition, so when they are gone they are gone!
The Creation yarn pack includes: 49 x 50g balls and I recommend a 4mm G hook.
Stylecraft Classique Cotton Dk approx. 4508 meters – 4900 yards
Lapis x 12 – Greek Blue x 7 – Azure x 4 – Lavender x 5 – Wisteria x 3 – Fondant x 6 – Shell Pink x 4 – Sunflower x 4 – Ivory x 4
Finished size: approx. Short side: 54 inches/137 cm. Long side: 62 inches/157.5 cm
Harmony
♥ Stylecraft Special Dk, is a 100% premium acrylic. It is my favourite yarn to work with, and comes in the most amazing range of colours. It is soft, and washes and wears well, to give years of joy and comfort. The colours bring a sense of nature and neutrality, allowing us to see that everything blends together.
The Harmony yarn pack includes: 16 x 100g balls and I recommend a 4mm G hook.
Stylecraft Special Dk approx. 4720 meters – 5152 yards
Walnut x 3 – Parchment x 3 – Mustard x 3 – Lemon x 3 – Pistachio x 4
Finished size: approx. Short side: 54 inches/137 cm. Long side: 62 inches/157.5 cm
Peace and Tranquillity
♥ A mix of Stylecraft Life Dk, Batik Dk, and Batik Elements Dk, these yarns are an acrylic wool blend. They are very light weight and soft with a mix of solid and mottled colours.
Elements of the oceans and the land, the cool and calming blues and greens allow us to see there is always peace and tranquillity available for us to find.
This pack is a limited edition, so when they are gone they are gone!
The Peace and Tranquillity yarn pack includes: 9 x 100g balls of Stylecraft Life Dk, and 12 x 50g balls of Stylecraft Batik and I recommend a 4mm G hook.
Stylecraft Life and Batik mix approx. 4338 meters – 4746 yards
French Blue x 2 – White x 2 – Aqua x 3 – Ivy x 2
Teal x 5 – Krypton x 4 – Coral x 3
Finished size: approx. Short side: 54 inches/137 cm. Long side: 62 inches/157.5 cm
Love and Light
♥ Stylecraft Special Baby Aran, 100% acrylic, 100% soft and cuddly, this yarn is a real treat to work with. The soft pastel colours, with just a hint of depth from the Baby Denim allow us to see there is always love, there is always light, and even with a little darkness, we can make the light shine brightly.
The Love and Light yarn pack includes: 31 x 100g balls and I recommend a 5.5mm I hook.
Stylecraft Baby Aran approx. 5704 meters – 6231 yards
Baby Denim x 7 – Baby Cream x 6 – Baby Lemon x 3 – Baby Pink x 5 – Baby Mint x 4 – Baby Blue x 6
Finished size: approx. Short side: 69 inches/175 cm. Long side: 77.5 inches/197 cm
♥ Using your own colour choices
The yarn packs will give you an idea of how much yarn you will need, depending on the type and weight of yarn, and the number of colours you choose to use.
You will notice that the different types of Double knit yarn require different amounts, but as a guide go with the total amounts for the packs and this will give you plenty of yarn:
♥ When can I buy my yarn?
All yarn packs will be available from 5th March in participating local yarn shops.
To find your local Stylecraft stockist click HERE for UK and HERE for International.
All yarn packs will be available from 12th March through participating online stores.
Here are some of the online stockists:
Woolwarehouse UK and International
Deramores UK and International
Hooked on Wool UK
Love Knitting/Crochet UK and International
Laughing Hens UK and Worldwide (Laughing Hens only sell natural yarns)
I look forward, to you all joining us on this wonderful crochet a-long journey.
Remember you can ask questions in the Official Stylecraft Cosmic Cal Facebook group, or in Helen’s Hookaholics Facebook group, or by emailing me from the contact page.
Help please! I am really stuck with Row 79 the Cosmic Star – Is there a video tutorial for this row ?
each part has video tutorials, you can find the link in the post
I’m struggling with row 13 and 14 part one, when I watch the video tutorial the stitches used are different irnsays treble crochet on written pattern but says double on video…please advise
All videos are in US terms so a US double is a UK treble
After many years of not being able to crochet, I have stumbled across this beautiful pattern. I would love to do this for my mum in the Love and Light colours but she has an avid dislike for green (baby colour or otherwise). Would you have any recommendations as to what other colour would go in place of the green?
Also your patterns are exquisite and I cannot wait to begin this. Thank you so much for the work you put into your written patterns and the video tutorials.
maybe replace the green with more cream or one of the other colours … there are no rules to how many colours to use, go with what you feel your Mum would love 🙂
Thank you. I was thinking of a lilac colour but just wasn’t sure if it would look ok.
Do you have sonewhere i can find a guide on how much yarn is needed.
all the details are in the intro post 🙂
Would like to do this but demands are too numerous this year. Will you do one next year? If so, please notify me early as it took a month to get my yarn kit for the last CAL. I did. Also, love this pattern! I am a high level intermediate crocheter. Do you think I could do this later on my own?
the pattern and videos will remain available for ever, so you can do it in your own time 🙂
I normally do at least one CAL per year, and the intro and details are normally posted 6 weeks before we start.
HI Helen, if I was to do this in 4 ply how many meters would I need?
Thanks so much x
I am not sure, but maybe 15%less
Have begun the new blanket with great excitement! Have not found the key to which colour to use on each row – with Mandala Madness you did a chart for the various colourways each week, have I not looked in the right place?
just under PDF Downloads you will see in purple colours per round, click and download 🙂
Hi Helen,
I love the Creation colorway, but I don’t like coton for a lapblanket. Could you please recomend the colors in special DK wich are closest to the coton colors.
Thank you in advance.
Oh yes, I’ve already downloaded your swapping list.
ok, swap as follows
lapis – lapis
greek blue – aster
azure – turquoise
lavender- lavender
wisteria – wisteria
fondant – fondant
shell pink – candyfloss
sunflower – saffron
ivory – cream
Thank you very much, Helen.
I love the look of these blankets and definitely want to crochet one. I just wondered why the Love and Light version is so much bigger than the other three. Is it because the pattern is a little bit different or is it just depending on the yarn?
3 of them are made with double knit and a 4mm hook, the love and light is made with Aran and a 5.5mm hook, so it is weight of yarn and hook size that makes the difference 🙂
Thanks for the explanation 🙂 It’s so easy I should have thought about that.
I like the big blanket so maybe I’ll also crochet with Aran but choose some other colors. I can’t wait to start 😉
I am hoping to join you !!!
Wow what amazing looking blankets!! So beautiful. Cosmic indeed! Absolutely on my list of makes. Currently trying to finish 3 big blankets. I absolutely love this and will make in future x
I have a couple of friends who are beginners. Do you think they will be able to handle this pattern?
Yes, there will be full video tutorials and photo tutorials, and lots of help and support
Yay. Maybe this will give me my crochet mojo back. The last thing I crocheted was your sweet Caroline. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy your CALS.
I am not finding a guage listed anywhere. Can you please provide? I can never use the hook size recommended so need to play with swatches. Thank you.
I have just done a post on this and a few other questions,
Thank you! Timed perfectly. I finished my Big Earth Momma Mandala Madness last night and I was on the lookout for a new project.
The picture set for Love and Light seems to show two different blanket color ways. The girls blanket seems to be more white, or at least lighter in color. What colors were used for the lighter one?
they are the same, it may just be slightly different lighting 🙂
Helen, thanks for another great project. Only doing one at a time this time around doing two Mandal Maddness at the same time towards the end was a bit much towards the end.
Will there be written instructions as well as the video tutorials? I don’t like looking at the screen all the time!
Yes there will be pdf’s that you can download and print
How much are the kits please?
They vary in price, click on the links at the bottom of the intro post and it will take you to the yarn packs.
Hello Helen, will the videos be full Cal? Thank you very much for your work; Belgium friendship.
Yes full video tutorials 🙂
Helen I love your patterns
Feel so blessed to have the privilege of working on your beautiful designs. Thank you from all of us who appreciate your generously sharing your talent across boundaries, borders and languages! May God bless you abundantly.
Oh Helen! Once again you have me speechless!! You’re gift to us with your patterns never fail to amaze me!! 🙂 I simply can’t wait!! 🙂 Thank you so very much for sharing with all of us!!! You are AMAZING!!!! When I grow up, I pray I get a fraction of your talent! 🙂
I’m loving the sacred geometry center of this and look forward to a new project with you! Blessings!
I am wondering if the classique yarn fades much I’ve been looking for cotton to do a blanket that will not fade much TYIA
mine has not faded at all, but if you have very bright sunlight it will fade over time.
Can I participate without Facebook?
of course, I have sent a newsletter today with the detail on, but just bookmark the main cosmic cal page and you wil find all the info, and each weekly update , when we start
Where can I get the pattern. I can’t find the download for the introduction. Thanks in advance.
The pattern will be released in 9 parts starting on 17th April
I’ve ooh’d and aah’d over many different blanket CALs for over a year now. Your use of Kagaya images (probably my longest-lasting, all time favorite artist) has persuaded me to make this my first CAL. Thank you ever so much. <3
No dutch this time ? Many people in holland use stylecraft
Yes, it says in the intro post that the Dutch will be available on the stylecraft website 🙂
would like to join cal