Oooooh it’s nearly Christmas. And whilst I’ve all but avoided the madness of making lots of gifts, I have finished all the sock yarn in my stash. More on those later, because my treat to myself for achieving this was to, finally, knit the Mind the Gap yarn from Trailing Clouds over on Etsy.
I bought this yarn at the beginning of August, following a tip from my lovely friend, Julia, who is happy to enable all the stripy sock knitting Chez Stitches. Within minutes of her text arriving with a link to the yarn, it had been ordered. And it’s been sitting patiently in a drawer until all less exciting yarns had been converted into socks.
I haven’t been so patient about wanting to knit it. But, it was well worth the wait!
The yarn is just delicious. Its 75% British Blue Faced Leicester, 25% Nylon. Crisp enough to get really nice stitch definition, yet squooshy enough to feel lovely in the hand. It’s not remotely splitty, and slips off the needles at just the right rate (I knitted these on KnitPro Symfonie DPNs).
The colours…..oh, the colours are deeply saturated and sublime, and represent each of the colours of the different lines on the London Underground. The name of the yarn is a reference to signage and announcements on the London Underground, which extoll you to “mind the gap” between the train and the platform, and therefore avoid untimely mutilation, or worse!
Thankfully, the yarn is dyed in such a way that you get perfectly matching stripes all the way through. Joy!
This is the first project in a long time that I was sad to finish. I really wished that Trailing Clouds did other, equally luscious, colourways, because I’d be sure to purchase more yarn from her then.
If you like a stripy sock then I cannot recommend this yarn highly enough. It’s just wonderful.
Hubby is overjoyed that they’re finished (to be fair, I did make him wait!). I’m trying to get him to save them till Christmas. I’m not sure I’ll succeed!
And speaking of Christmas…this time next week it will all be over. So I’m ducking out until the new year. 2017 has been a bear! Whilst we have much to be grateful for, and many blessings to count as the year bimbles to it’s close, there have been trials and tribulations this year that I am glad are behind us.
So for the rest of the month I shall be spending family time, chilling out with my loved ones, and edging slowly into a new year that I am hopeful will be gentler and lacking in drama.
Let me take this opportunity, then, to wish you and yours a peaceful and joyful Christmas, and a new year filled with happy adventures and dreams come true.
I’ll see you there!
What beautiful socks, Evie and I didn’t even twig about the yarn name and colours until you mentioned the Underground….doh! Sorry that this year has had some downs as well as ups. Here’s to a splendid Christmas and sending you and the family all the very best for 2018. As they say back home, “Lang may yer lum reek!”. Love & best wishes. Kelly Xx
I think you’ve had an eventful year too, my lovely. I’m hoping this next one is more settled for you. xxx
Gorgeous socks! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
And to you! xx
Beautiful socks as ever!
Happy Christmas to you and your family – after a difficult few months I will be doing exactly the same as you leading up to and during the Christmas period. I might even cast on some socks – it’s been a while 😉
I do hope this Christmas isn’t too sad.
My friend lost her mother too on the 14th, and it’s just all so indescribably hard.
Socks are very therapeutic. Meditation with your hands.
In case you wonder if you have any sway, I promptly went to purchase this yarn even though it cost me 44 CDN! Your socks are too good to resist.
And I wish you the best holidays Evie – with your lovely family. This year has been flat out rough (to understate it) so I can totally relate to your interest in less drama in 2018. Wishing you all stellar health and much dancing in the coming year 🙂 xo
In the midst of it all I’m always eternally grateful that the back of my house hasn’t been ripped off, and that I’ve not had to dig under my neighbours to shore everything up. Grim.
The blessing is that in 2018 your home will be perfect and you’ll be able to enjoy it and shore up your health. That is what I wish for you.
That, and beautiful stripy socks. Hubby says they are the nicest ever!
They’re utterly wonderful and yes, I did check there was a Northern Line stripe (the black one) which was my home line when I was still a Londoner! I’ll be glad to see the back of 2017, roll on next year but love and good wishes to you all!
And to you, my lovely.
Everyone I’ve spoken too has had enough of 2017. I hope the new year brings you all the happiness and health you wish for. And fun travels and good food, too!
These socks sing tidings of pure comfort and joy! They are absolutely stunning, and that husband of yours is spoiled!
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
He has done rather well for socks this year! But he’s absolutely worth every single stitch. Even the 3 ply ones! 😉
Wishing you the best Christmas and a joyful New Year.