Breathe Between the Lines Socks (YARN Issue 9: Now Age)

Today Scheepjes released issue #9 of their YARN Bookazine: NOW Age, which is, as always, full of some really great knit and crochet patterns! Here is what Scheepjes has to say about this issue…

“Take your time to savour this issue, undisturbed. Create a mindful moment for yourself. Those of us who craft know the value of knitting and crochet, and understand the mindful benefits any crafting can bring.”

Taking inspiration from Eckhart Tolle’s books The Power of Now and A New Earth, our ninth issue of YARN Bookazine, NOW Age, presents four concepts across four carefully curated chapters designed to inspire and enlighten the creative within. Celebrate and wear the Bohemian Bralette to a local festival, or bring yourself calm crocheting the Celestial Mandala. No matter which design you choose, this issue reminds us that taking time to craft is something we can all benefit from.

Considering mostly every knitter and crocheter I know got into it because they wanted an outlet and way to relax, I think we can all understand the importance of crafting when it comes to our general well-being. This issue gives off that feel good vibe we are all in search of, I think. As usual, the photography and stying are absolutely gorgeous.

I do have a pattern in this issue and I’m so excited to share my new Breathe Between the Lines sock design with you! For those who are familiar with my previous Read Between the Lines pattern, these socks are using the same illusion knitting technique, with Scheepjes Metropolis yarn. I know so many enjoyed the RBTL pattern and who doesn’t love sock knitting, right? This is the perfect combination of the two!

Before we submit pattern pitches for the Bookazines, we receive a mood board from Simy Somer, which outlines the theme of the issue, including inspiration photos and the colour themes for each of the chapters. Sometimes an idea jumps out at me, sometimes it takes a while… other times I just come up completely blank. It just happened that, when I received the info for this issue, I had already been about to start on this design anyway. It’s something I’d wanted to do ever since I first released the Read Between the Lines pattern, so it was the perfect opportunity. Originally, the idea was just for regular socks, but when I saw the mood board for the Mindful chapter of the Bookazine, inspiration struck… a yoga sock!

I still wanted to include instructions for a regular sock as well, but the idea of the yoga sock fit perfectly with the theme, and then the name came to me instantly as well – Breathe Between the Lines – perfect! I think this was probably one of my easiest contribution to the bookazines yet in terms of the design process and finding inspiration!

The hardest part was deciding on a colour combination. My opinion changed with my mood, so about 100 times a day… I went through a lot of different options as I was swatching to try to decide.

I was busy swatching while at a family gathering, and their opinions were as varied as my own! So I kept swatching colours after I returned home.

The problem with Metropolis? Too many colour options! Even when I had to stay within a limited range of colours for the chapter, I still had tons of possible combinations! Agh! I liked each of them in different ways, but I think it’s a well established fact that I’m a total fussy-arse and will obsessively knit something until I feel like it’s just the way I want it. So I just kept swatching and swatching and swatching until I looked over into my knitting trolly and spotted the leftover Seoul colourway that I had from my Spice Market Socks.

Scheepjes Metropolis Seoul (035) and Nice (025)

Don’t ask me why this colour combination just worked for me, but it did. I was like the Goldilocks of yarn and it somehow felt just right! After this point it all came together in record time. The only real stressful part of this project was the colour choice, which was totally self-inflicted! The design process was quite fun, the pattern came together easily and my lovely tester got through it with no problem.

Once the socks were finished, the hardest part was waiting for the release, but it’s here now and nothing beats that moment when you crack open the new issue and finally get to see your design in print!

It may not have been instant, but the satisfaction was still pretty sweet and definitely worth the wait!

Where To Buy Metropolis Yarn for your BBTL Socks

UK and International buyers will find Metropolis at Woolwarehouse and Black Sheep Wools.
Canadian and International buyers have a great option with Knotty House.
Those of you in the Netherlands can find all you need at Caro’s Atelier.

You can also ask your preferred Scheepjes retailer or find a shop near you!

Before I go, I have to talk about the knit love!  It makes me so happy to see my fellow Scheepjes Bloggers doing more knitting, and also being introduced to new knitting designers to follow. Have a look at the other beautiful knitted projects included in this issue!

The Free Form Shawl by Tatsiana Kupryianchyk of lillabjorncrochet.com, which uses short rows with Scheepjes Secret Garden to create this lovely wavy design. Can’t you just imagine wrapping yourself up in this on a cool evening? Also, how much fun it’d be to knit?!

The Serenity Cardigan by Neringa Ruke from Rukeshop.com. This cardigan is made using Scheepjes Metropolis as well, which gives plenty of colour options. I could personally never pull this off with leggings like those lovely models, but it’d be super cute with a dress!

Something for the little ones! The Earth Day Sweater, by Lili van Wattum from Sticks & Cups, which was designed to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, 2020! This lovely sweater is knitted using the sustainably produced cotton yarn, Organicon, which is one of the newer Scheepjes lines. I haven’t used it myself yet but I did do a swatch a while back and absolutely loved it. I have all sorts of plans in my head, but well, you know me and my WIP-itis! Just look at how gorgeous this swatch is, though, omg!

Nothing makes me fall in love with a yarn more than some incredible stitch definition!

I could honestly go on for days but I think I’ve kept you here long enough. If you’ve made it all the way to the bottom of my post, or any of my posts, you’re a real champ! I hope you enjoy this latest issue and again, please be sure to tag me if you make the socks. I’m sure those of you who loved your RBTL Shawl will find this a lot quicker (although, what isn’t quicker, am I right? Sorrynotsorry!).

Byeeeeeee!

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