Is anybody planning to do the Scheepjes Last Dance on the Beach CAL? Some useful info for you.

[NewYearSameMe]

I'm in a Facebook Yarnaholics group and we have been discussing this CAL as some of us are thinking of doing it. While investigating the colour schemes it has come to our attention that the colour codes for Scheepjes Colour Crafter and Stylecraft Special DK are the same, which means they are almost certainly exactly the same yarn from the same wholesale manufacturer just marketed as two different brands. At Wool Warehouse SSDK is £1.79 and Colour Crafter is £2.39, which adds up to a reasonable difference if you're doing a whole blanket. Prices vary slightly between retailers but the difference between the two brands is fairly consistent.

If you want to match one of the Scheepjes colour schemes in SSDK the colour names are different but you can use the colour codes to match up with the SSDK colours. It's also worth noting that on all the websites that I've checked the colours look different and that seems to be down to electronic alteration of the photos. For instance, on the Wool Warehouse site all of the Scheepjes colours look darker than the SSDK colours, by the same level of darkness. Whereas on the Deramores site it's the opposite, all the SSDK colours look darker than the Scheepjes ones, again with the same level of alteration across the range.

[NewYearSameMe]

I forgot to say that the kit includes a small donation to MIND in memory of Wink. It's a very small donation, I'm not sure how much exactly. So most of those on my Facebook group who are making it in SSDK have made a larger donation to Mind from the savings they have made in the price difference.

[Izzadoraduncancan]

That's useful to know. Am on the Facebook page for that cal.... Militant!

[NewYearSameMe]

I'm on it too, mostly to laugh at the dictatorial admins and the endless whinging about lack of availability of the packs. I reckon if I posted the above info on the CAL page it would stay up for about 1.8 seconds before being deleted and me getting kicked out of the group.

[FranHastings]

I have both Special DK and Scheepjes Colour Crafter and they are different to work with and in their feel. I also have a couple of similar shades and they are different. Not a huge difference, but it's there. Interesting that the codes are the same!

[GleamingHeels]

I think it's obvious and no surprise that this CAl is a marketing opportunity for Scheepjes. It is, in my opinion, a cynical thing to be using Wink's name for this. Her friends who made this should have made it free from commercial interests and just invited donations rather than connecting it to Scheepjes and this incredibly uninclusive Facebook group.

[SocksRock]

The donation per pack is €2

So not a staggering amount...

[NewYearSameMe]

Which do you prefer working with FranHastings? It could be that the yarn base is slightly different but the dyes are the same and any difference in resulting colour would be down to the yarns taking up the dye slightly differently.

[FranHastings]

CAL groups are always crazy? Why is that?! I've met people in real life who have bought CAL packs and been utterly, properly outraged that they were left with a bit of wool at the end. I don't get the rage. 😁

Going back to my previous comment, I'd say the Scheepjes is softer, has more of a sheen to it and is a bit thinner than the SSDK. Next to each other in a blanket though, you can't particularly tell they are different unless you were looking for it.

[FranHastings]

I'm a die hard SSDK fan, but I think I prefer the Scheepjes to work with. However, I'd go for cost reduction on a massive blanket, probably and stick with the SSDK. Also, I don't know how the Scheepjes will stand up to every day use, but I know how hardy the SSDK is from previous use.

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Like Fran, I think there is a slight difference between the two. I recently made a blanket in Colour Crafter because I couldn't find the right shade in Stylecraft. The Colour Crafter is slightly rougher and has more loose strandy bits. I would definitely choose Stylecraft instead.

Thank you for the information. I hadn't heard about the CAL, but saw posts about Wink. I am always on the look out for patterns for Woolly Hugs projects, so wil research this CAL :)

[FranHastings]

Ha! WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo, we've said completely different things about the colour crafter. Just goes to show you no 2 people will ever find the same thing.

I'm a huge fan of the Scheepjes Colour Crafter Eindhoven shade. That's my best one. 😁

I'd definitely make it out of SSDK still.

[SocksRock]

Like the Stylecraft Life. I bought the Lilypond CAL pack. Not only did I hate the photo once they released it, I couldn't stand the feel of the yarn. Some people prefer it to the SSDK. Mine is in a bag still waiting to be rehomed...

[FranHastings]

SocksRock, I get that. The sneak peeks of that blanket were markedly different to the end project. Poor you.

[SocksRock]

I swore never to get caught up in the hype of a CAL or KAL again and buy yarn before seeing a picture. I get a couple of yarn boxes a month now from my favourite dyers and plan my own projects.

[NewYearSameMe]

It was the same this year for the Frieda's Flowers blanket, the teaser shots looked really pretty but I didn't like the whole blanket.

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

I'm so slow at typing, I missed your later posts. I've only used Almelo, which was the perfect green for a baby blanket.

There might actually be a Stylecraft equivalent but it's so hard to tell from the website photos. I am going to buy a colour card thingy with my next wool order.

I enjoyed the Lily pond CAL, but the blanket itself was not to my taste, so I donated it.

I'm not keen on the Frida one at all.

[NewYearSameMe]

Would you say that Almelo is different from Spring Green (the same dye number in SSDK) WhatWould? It would be interesting to compare when you get a colour card.

I find that all yarn tends to look a bit different on screen, it's a little bit of a gamble to buy online. But then yarn shops are often a bit on the dark side (I'm not sure why) so sometimes even yarn that you buy in person can look a bit different when you get it home.

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

I've not use the Spring green, I don't think. But I will try and remember to compare when I get the card :)

[WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo]

Hm. I just looked at the photos out of curiosity.

In real life, Almelo looks very much like the Spring green photo here, but nothing like the actual Almelo photo

I think your theory about the dye and texture might be right. Also if you don't like Stylecraft Life I think you'd definitely prefer Special to Colour Crafter as I think the Colour Crafter texture is a little rougher, more like wool. I've not used Life, but felt it in the shop and didn't think it was worth paying extra for.

[itallsucks]

Now debating whether to cancel my order or just leave it as a reminder to do a little more "homework" before ordering!

I don't suppose anyone knows if there is an equivalent cheaper wool to their luxury kit?

[FranHastings]

I'm not sure on prices or colour ranges, itallsucks, but there are options listed here :
yarnsub.com/yarns/scheepjes/merino_soft

[FranHastings]

^ there are probably more options though, as the alternatives they suggest for Colour Crafter do not mention SSDK.

[itallsucks]

Thank you very much Fran, I'll check them out. Much appreciated

[NewYearSameMe]

I think the yarn in their Lux kit is more unusual, I don't recall seeing another brand with that same fibre mix. I haven't seen anything at all that has a colour range with matching dye numbers in the way that SSDK and Colour Crafter match, so if you used a different wool range it would be very obviously not Scheepjes and you wouldn't be able to post pictures in the official Facebook group.

I've never touched it so I don't know how it compares to other brands of wool blends, but if I was going to use something else and still wanted a soft wool feeling then I would either go with Cascade 220 Superwash (which would work out slightly more expensive but is all wool and masses of colours) or one of the Drops yarns like Karisma, Lima or Merino Extra Fine (cheaper and lovely quality but more limited colours).

[itallsucks]

Thank you NewYear, I ordered the basic kit and now debating whether to cancel or not, I did want the lux kit but obviously if there was a cheaper alternative that would be much better, not so many frowns from dh lol.

I'll have a mooch on the yarnsub site Fran posted to see if I can come up with an alternative and will definitely check out the drops yarns, I'll be honest and say I've never used them, I'm a stylecraft girl, love their range and prices but was going to do the CAL as a way of branching out in to different yarns, can't help but feel a little disappointed.