WOW! Thank you all so much for the positive response to the Festival of Lights CAL announcement. Since there was so much excitement and I was excited, I took some time to compile a list of answers for some of the more common questions and concerns that I have been seeing.
Let jump right in!
Contents
- Where can I get the kits?
- I won’t be able to get a kit. What yarns are in the kit?
- What other tools will be useful for this CAL?
- Will there be videos?
- What is the difficulty level of this pattern?
- That is a lot of ends!
- How will we keep track of all those motifs/different colors?
- Can I make it with Scheepjes______Yarn?
- How much Scheepjes______Yarn would I need?
- Did you design this as a small blanket or a wall hanging?
- How can I make this larger?
- Support My Work
Where can I get the kits?
You can check for a Scheepjes Retailer in your area, or you can use my affiliate link below. Shopping through this link earns me a small commission to support my design work at no additional cost to you. Thank You!
USA: Jimmy Beans Wool, Metropolis Kit / Organicon Kit
A lot of retailers have sold out, but many are offering preorders, or you can sign up to receive an email when they are back in stock. Please be patient with all the retailers, especially the smaller local ones as I am sure they are doing their best.
I won’t be able to get a kit. What yarns are in the kit?
Scheepjes and I would like to encourage you to support your local retailers whenever possible, as they’re working hard to keep you connected with Scheepjes.
For the Organicon kit you will need:
Yarns A-H One ball of each colour: 211, 213, 215, 222, 223, 224, 228, 231, 233, 234, 238, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248,254, 257, 258, 259, 263, 266
Yarn I 261 Night Shadow x 2 balls
For those who already have a Metropolis colour pack and want to use that to take part, you will need an additional two balls of 069 Miami.
Here are a few more affiliate links where you can find Scheepjes Yarn. Shopping through these links earns me a small commission to support my design work at no additional cost to you. Thank You!
- Various Scheepjes Color packs in the Scheepjes Amazon Shop
- Scheepjes yarns from Jimmy Beans Wool
- Scheepjes yarns from Yarn Addicted and Co on Etsy (US shipping only)
What other tools will be useful for this CAL?
You will definitely need a 3mm crochet hook, some scissors or something to cut your yarn with, and a tapestry needle.
You might also like to have some stitch markers (or you can use scraps of yarn) and something for attaching labels to the motifs. Safety pins, straight pins, and paperclips will all work.
When we get to blocking the motifs, it would be helpful to have some blocking mats with grid lines, rustproof pins, and wool wash if you are making the Metropolis kit.
Here are some affiliate links for the tools that I have or are similar to the ones I have.
- Tapestry needles, this set has a good variety of sizes
- Stitch markers and Label pins, I use this set for both
- Blocking mats, mine are very similar to these
- Rust Proof Pins, these are my favorite blocking pins, I just ordered more
- Wool Wash, I use this scentless wool wash
Will there be videos?
Yes! I have made complete tutorial videos that go through every round of every part of the pattern. As well as an Introductory video that give tips and tricks mostly on staying organized and talks a little about my inspiration.
Videos will be available for both UK and US terms and I have tried to make them very clear visually so they should also be helpful even with the sound off.
If you would like to be notified when the videos are released, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel and turn on notifications.
What is the difficulty level of this pattern?
My favorite answer to this question is from Niamh in the Facebook group.
“It can be difficult to place a difficulty level on a project. Something might normally be considered intermediate because there are many different types of stitches in the pattern including post stitches and cluster type ones, so that would include most of the previous Scheepjes CALs. However, that being said, we have many members who have actually learned to crochet with the previous Scheepjes CALs, so it’s open for interpretation. What we can say is the pattern very detailed and well written, there are videos in support of the written pattern, together with photo tutorials for the odd trickier part. The designer will be around in the group to answer any questions and there’s also the support in here from the mod team. We have numerous newer crocheters who are taking the plunge and are excited about it all (as well as probably a bit nervous).”
That is a lot of ends!
Yes, it is, I can’t deny that fact.
However, I give a lot of tips for dealing with them both on my blog and in the video tutorials. If you use the suggested techniques (mostly crocheting over the ends) and keep up with them they shouldn’t be too overwhelming. And hopefully the end result is worth it.
If you really hate ends you can also make your own color way with solid-colored motifs. I will include note on making the motifs in a single color on my blog.
How will we keep track of all those motifs/different colors?
The pattern will come with a complete schematic and color placement table. On my blog, I will provide a printable PDF with tags to label your motifs with. My main information page for the pattern and introduction video will also both include tips for staying organized.
Can I make it with Scheepjes______Yarn?
Yes! I love the kits that Scheepjes has released, and I have put a lot of time into the color placement for them. AND I love seeing all the unique colorways that people come up with! I even made a coloring page to help. Please do share your ideas and tag me I would love to see what you come up with.
How much Scheepjes______Yarn would I need?
Ok, I got a little excited last week, pulled out one of just about every type of Scheepjes yarn I have and made a sample triangle. So now I have some very rough estimates on how much yarn you might need of each of these types.
BIG DISCLAMER!!!! These are very rough estimate, the pattern has not been tested for any of these yarns and the amounts listed are very approximate. You can use them as a starting point, but I recommend getting extra just in case. I will also not be doing anymore calculations on these then I have already done. AND I have not estimated the yarn needed for joining and border.
Let’s start with yarns that come in color packs.
- Scrumptious color pack: this color pack is large there is more than enough for a full blanket, possibly two.
- Terrazzo color pack: If you get two color packs there will be plenty
- Stone Washed/ River washed color pack: two color packs will just barely be enough, get a few extra of your favorite colors just in case.
- Cahlista color Pack: if you get two color packs there will be plenty
- Catona Color pack: one color pack is just shy of what you need, get a few extra balls of your favorite colors to have enough.
| Yarn | Hook (mm) | Ball Mass (g) | How many (excluding border and joining) | Estimated blanket size (cm) |
| Catona | 3 | 50 | 25 | 100 |
| Whirl | 3 | 215 | 3 | 100 |
| Our Tribe | 3 | 100 | 7 | 100 |
| Soft Fun | 3.5 | 50 | 25 | 123 |
| River Washed | 3.5 | 50 | 25 | 123 |
| Terrazzo | 4 | 50 | 18 | 123 |
| Scrumptious | 4 | 100 | 10 | 123 |
| Colour crafters | 4 | 100 | 11 | 131 |
| Woolwise | 4 | 100 | 20 | 146 |
| Cahlista | 4.5 | 50 | 46 | 146 |
| Truly Scrumptious | 5 | 100 | 38 | 177 |
And if you want to double up your Organicon that would make the blanket about 131cm square. (PS I love the way my doubled Organicon sample felt)
Did you design this as a small blanket or a wall hanging?
I did design this a small blanket. Personally, my sample lived over the back of my recliner, and I pull it over my lap when I sat there (until my kids started using it for blanket fights, then I put it away at least until the CAL starts). I do think it would also make a nice wall hanging.
I also live where it doesn’t get that cold, so for me it’s just a little bit of snuggle and it makes me happy. If you would like something bigger, I have some ideas below.
How can I make this larger?
I am sure that many people will come up with lots of ideas to make this larger but to get you started here are some ideas. I have based the scaling up on multiples of Metropolis kits as this was the simplest calculation for me to do. The Organicon kit comes with a fair amount of extra yarn, and I haven’t done any calculation for them.
BIG DISCLAMER!!!! The pattern has not been tested for any of these configurations so use at your own risk. They also will not come with color placement guides so you will have to get creative for that.
Two Metropolis Kits ~ 126-130cm
These are two Ideas for enlarging if you have two metropolis kits or equivalent amounts of yarn. On the left we have the original layout with border, then add rounds after the border to bring it up to the right number of stitches and add a section of squares and triangles and then another border. On the right we have a new layout of motifs that is larger in the center before the boarder.
Three Metropolis Kits ~ 175cm or ~130x162cm
These are two Ideas for enlarging if you have three metropolis kits or equivalent amounts of yarn. On the left we combine the two ideas from two metropolis kits and make a larger center and a second section after the border. On the right we have a repetitive motif design that can be repeated throughout a rectangle.
Four Metropolis Kits ~ 190cm
This is one idea for enlarging if you have four metropolis kits or equivalent amounts of yarn. The original layout has been repeated around the edges of the original with a slight adjustment to fit.
Happy Crafting!
Support My Work
Thank you for reading my blog, you are supporting my design work just by being here! Here are some other ways you can support my design work.
- Follow me on Instagram or Facebook – I post new pattern releases and such on my Instagram feed and Facebook page, following, liking, and commenting will keep you up to date and help other find my design work.
- Browse my self-published patterns – I have several patterns on Etsy and Ravelry. My portfolio of designs is not extensive yet, but I am continuing to add new patterns.
- Watch my Videos on YouTube– Video tutorials for each part of this CAL will be available on my YouTube channel along with a (very) few other tutorials I have made. Watching the videos, subscribing to my channel, commenting on and liking the videos will all support my design work. I would like to reach 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours this year.
- Affiliate links – Shopping through my links supports me at no additional cost to you as I get a small commission through my affiliates. Scheepjes Amazon Shop, Jimmy Beans Wool, Yarn Addicted and Co on Etsy (US shipping only)
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