Knitting

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Giveaway! Harmony Guides 101 Stitches To Knit Card Deck!

by

harmonyOne of the greatest challenges a knitter can face is finding the perfect stitch pattern for a project. Whether you want to create a highly textured lace scarf or revamp a basic sweater silhouette with a new stitch pattern, 101 Stitches to Knit is the perfect portable one-stop source for stitch inspiration.

Each card features a stitch design on the front side and concise easy-to-follow instructions on the back. A color-coded system which divides the cards into themes – Knit & Purl, Lace & Eyelets, and Cables & Arans – makes organization a breeze. Forget about carrying a hefty book or crinkled photocopy of a stitch pattern! These sturdy cards can be slipped into a handbag or wallet as a quick reference, making knitting during your commute or lunch break easy as pie!

Furthermore, the cards and eight-page booklet on basic knitting techniques are packed in a sturdy box frame. Whether you’re a beginning knitter or an expert, these handy compact cards promise inspiration for any knitted project.

The Harmony Guides have been longstanding references for handcrafters for more than thirty years, offering clear, concise instructions and photographs for stitches. British designer Erika Knight, author of the Simple Knits series, lends her expertise in the series redesign, updating The Harmony Guides with new stitches and know-how.

Wanna win this card set? Simply leave a comment, letting me know some of your favorite knitting blogs and I’ll put you in the contest to win. March 31 will be the last date!

Comments

  2. The blogs I check daily include The Yarn Harlot, Vickie Howell, The Rainey Sisters, Knitgrrl, And She Knits Too, The Heathen Housewife, and this blog, in addition to several others and some spinning blogs. Takes me forever to get through them all! LOL

  4. I’ve only recently begun to think seriously on designing complex knitwear, and have thus been more and more intrigued by stitch dictionaries in their various forms. I would love one to start playing with!

    I follow so many craft and knit blogs that it makes even my head spin, but here’s a few good ones:

    http://ysolda.com//wordpress/
    http://monstercrochet.blogspot.com/
    http://marniemaclean.com/words/index.html

    They happen to be the blogs of some of my favorite designers, and also the blogs that have really inspired me to start giving this “designing” thing a try.

  6. Not any specific blogs, I just like looking at the patterns and tutorials. Especially those on Knitty.

  14. I love stitch pattern guides and books. This year I fell in love with cowls and made several of them; the possibilities are endless with a good stitch reference. Thanks!

  17. Just the thing for when you have impulse yarn and a gift to make but no pattern — right where I am now! I answered on the other give away but more blogs I like are Knitters Anonymous and my daughter-in-law’s!

  20. Every morning starts with Yarn Harlot, Franklin Habit, Brooklyn Tweed and this site!

  21. I read a lot of knitting blogs, but a couple of my favourites are Cosmicpluto and The Plucky Knitter.

  23. Please enter me in this great giveaway – my favorite blogs are Vickie Howell, Yarn Harlot and Rachael’s Knitting Blogspot. Thanks!

  25. I am such a new beginner to knitting I haven’t really started to look up sites. I have used Lion Brand yarn site for many ideas and how-tos. I will be looking on many of the blogs that are mentioned. Thanks

  26. I’m an absolute newbie to knitting and haven’t looked up any knitting blogs yet…but that book looks like perfection and I’d still love a chance to win it!

    Kiki
    ParkingGoddessFTW at gmail dot com

  28. I am new to knitting. I am trying to knit on my own. This book will be very good to learn different things.

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.