Knitting

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Giveaway: 3 Leisure Arts Pattern Stitch Booklets

by

Congratulations to Teresa!

I’m a sucker for a good pattern stitch dictionary, and I’ve got way more of them on my shelves than you’d expect for a person who sticks to basic stitch patterns most of the time.

But these books can be a lot of fun for inspiration, and this week I’ve got three little booklets by Rita Weiss from Leisure Arts and the Creative Partners, LLC, that are sure to inspire some swatching and fun knitting projects.

One winner will receive a copy of each of these three books:

Each book offers big pictures and written instructions for each stitch pattern. Each pattern takes up a full page (or more, with some) so you get a good look at how the stitch pattern looks over several repeats.

These would be great as blocks for a throw or to make a full afghan, or incorporate them into other projects.

If you’d like a chance to win these, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, September 28. I’d love to hear how you incorporate different stitch patterns into your knitting projects, or if you’re a stitch pattern book hoarder like I am!

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  1. I look at stitch pattern books as a subset of cookbooks. Reading them makes me happy, integrating new ‘recipes’ into scarves, afghans make me happier.

  2. I like stitch dictionaries for both reasons: to make my library more complete and best of all, I love finding new patterns to incorporate into my favorite projects – cowls!

  3. I don’t currently incorporate many stitch patterns into my knitting but I do hope to branch out into doing that. I think I would start with something simple like dish cloths and work up from there. I do love to collect knitting books and pour over them dreaming of the possibilities.

  5. I’m a stitch book hoarder. I print out stitch instructions off the internet and make my own stitch book collaborations.

  6. I’m a stitch book hoarder.I find stitch patterns off the internet, print them out, and make my own print book collaborations.

  8. I love stitch dictionaries. It boggles my mind how people find so many ways to play with sticks and strings. I love the challenge of seeing wonders unimagined emerge from my needles.

  9. I’m a beginner knitter, and I’m working my way through a stitch dictionary, making 6″ swatches of each stitch. It’s a lot less daunting than learning a new stitch as part of a whole pattern. With reasonable effort you can always get a small swatch right and you’re not messing up a big project while you learn. In addition to learning a lot of stitches with low stress, I get the thrill of a completed project every few days. Really great for motivation and growth as a knitter.

  12. So far, I’m still a by-the-pattern gal, but I love stitch books because they help me figure out difficult amateurish patterns!

  13. I love stitchionaries. Sometimes I just page thru them, dreaming of what I might make. Sometimes I knit sample swatches of various stitch patterns, particularly when I’m asking a yarn what it wants to be. And sometimes I actually incorporate those stitch patterns into FOs.

  14. I’m still really a beginner knitter but I’m already obsessed with new stitches and wanting to learn them, I’m making a sampler afghan this would be awesome to have since I’m not using a specific pattern just any stitches I like to make the right size squares. So the more options the better (I plan on making a huge afghan, more like a comforter really).

  15. I don’t have many stitch books so these would be awesome to add to my collection. I’ve started doing more designing and sometimes I have a general idea in my head but just want to add a different touch – which is where stitch dictionaries help tremendously

  16. When I first started knitting my sister told me to find my favorite pattern in a scarf, hat, sweater and mittens. Then collect pattern stitch books to change up all your old favorites for new and exciting knits! I love pattern stitch books and now I also have a favorite crescent shawl pattern and a triangle shawl pattern that I am able to incorporate and dress up these accessories, too! What a great give away! My books are very old and I would love to see the more modern stitch patterns and give them a try! Thank you!

  17. I am an aspiring knitter. My mother sat me down twice when I was young and said “I know you don’t want to learn to knit now, but someday you might be glad you learned how”. That time came when my daughter wanted me to make scarves for her out of fun fur (which is great for covering up imperfections). I would love to win these books to have incentive to try more stitches. It would please my mother, who is now 88 to know that I am still trying! Thank you for the chance to win!

  18. When you find a pattern that you like, as in the case that I did for a particular sweater, and wanted to re-make it, but switch it up a bit by using a different stitch, books such as these are a Godsend!! I’d also like to design my own sweater in the near future, and I’m sure that I’ll be able to find something out of one of these books!! I’ve also started to hoard different knitting and crochet books, because there are so many stitches that I’m unfamiliar with since I’ve started doing my needlecrafts 30 + years ago. Thank you for such a generous giveaway!!

  19. My Mum would love these. She is always trying new patterns and makes little blankets for my daughters’ dolls to try out new stitches!

  21. I love stitch dictionaries, whatever niche they cater to – cables, lace, textured, colorwork – whatever. In fact, I Just bout on on Fair Isle stitches at the thrift shop this morning! Most of what I knit is “my own design”, which is to say that I’ve taken a cable from this book, the saddle shoulder and shawl collar from that sweater, some colorwork from these magazines, and a bit of lace from the internet and turned them into something totally original. Sort of.

  22. crochet is great, so is knitting!! I have no patterns for knitting, and
    would love to start over again as it has changed a lot since I tried
    some years ago

Have you read?

Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern – A Cozy Little Gift Project With Old-Fashioned Charm

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a pair of handmade bed socks, isn’t there? They are practical, pretty, and just the sort of project that feels like it belongs beside a cup of tea, a good film, and a basket of wool that is pretending not to be overflowing.

This vintage Bed Socks knitting pattern is one of those sweet little patterns that still feels useful today. Originally from the Jaeger Hand-Knit Series No. 44, the design features a simple garter-stitch foot, a ribbed cuff, eyelet holes, a crochet chain tie, and little tassel-style pom-poms at the front. The original pattern even describes them as “a very acceptable present,” and honestly, I don’t think much has changed there.

These would make a lovely handmade gift for someone who is always cold, someone recovering or resting, or anyone who appreciates a bit of old-fashioned comfort. They would also be beautiful as a Mother’s Day gift, a winter birthday present, a Christmas stocking filler, or a “just because you deserve cozy feet” project.

The pattern itself is delightfully simple in construction. The socks are knitted flat, beginning at the lower edge, with the foot worked in garter stitch before moving into the ribbed upper section. The decorative eyelet row allows for a crochet chain cord to be threaded through, and the finishing tassels give the socks that charming vintage look. The top edge is finished with a row of double crochet, which adds a neat handmade touch.

The original measurements list the socks as approximately 10½ inches from the top to the lower edge of the heel, with a 9¾ inch foot length, and the pattern notes that the size can be adapted. As with many vintage knitting patterns, modern knitters will want to check gauge carefully and choose a soft yarn that feels comfortable against the skin. A cozy wool blend, soft acrylic, or washable yarn would all work depending on whether you are making these for everyday use or as a special gift.

I especially love that this pattern has that “giftable” quality without being a massive project. It is small enough to feel achievable, but still special enough that the finished pair looks thoughtful. And let’s be honest, handmade socks with pom-poms are always going to beat a last-minute candle from the supermarket.

The PDF version has been cleaned up and formatted for easier reading while keeping the original vintage design intact. It also includes a modern pink mockup image and the original vintage scan, so you get both the historical charm and a fresh idea of how the finished socks could look today.

If you enjoy vintage knitting patterns, cozy handmade gifts, or quick projects that feel useful rather than just decorative, this sweet little bed socks pattern is a lovely one to add to your collection.

You can find the Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern PDF in the CraftGossip Etsy store.

For supplies, this is also a nice stash-friendly project. A soft yarn from Mary Maxim or Amazon would work well, and if you make pom-poms regularly, a small pom-pom maker is one of those inexpensive tools that saves a surprising amount of fiddling.