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Giveaway: Sock Ruler

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sock ruler giveaway

Congratulations to Enid!

Here’s a great giveaway for all the sock lovers in the house. Have you seen the Sock Ruler?

It’s a wide plastic ruler with the measurements on the top (both inches and centimeters). You can slide it into the cuff or toe of a sock and more accurately measure the length of a cuff, foot or heel flap than you can with a conventional tape measure.

Of course you can use it to measure other tubes, too, such as hats and mitts.

It’s a really simple but really cool thing that might even help you knit more accurate socks. How great is that?

If you’d like to win one, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, Nov. 29. I’d love to know how many socks (or pairs of socks) you have knit. I think I’m close to 10 by now but I always want more!

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

Comments

  3. I think I’ve knitted about 15 socks. About 5pairs. No, my math isn’t faulty. I need to find some friends who only need one sock! Thanks for the chance!

  5. I’ve lost count over the years. I currently have around 14 pairs in my sock drawer. And I always have a pair on the needles as my go-to-meeting knitting.

  6. I think I’m close to 10 pairs. Hand knit socks are starting to take over my sock drawer, and I’m phasing out store bought socks with each pair.

  9. I’ve have only managed to finish one pair for myself, have another waiting for it’s partner and another started! I did knit 4 pairs from a WW1 pattern for an amateur production of the play ‘My Boy Jack’ a couple of years ago.

  11. I’ll be interested to know if this is useful for toe-up socks, too. I made about 6 pairs for myself last year, and 6 pairs as wedding gifts (to help them not get “cold feet!”)

  15. I took a sock knitting class – we knit baby booties, as they have all the parts. But I’d love to knit a pair of adult socks! I have some beautiful soft black yarn I’d like to use for my husband.

  18. My mom takes blood thinners,so she’s always cold. While I have 5 pair of socks, mom gets a pair every other month. A pair for the day and a pair to sleep in. Last year I knit 14 pair. A couple were Christmas gifts for my adult children.

  20. Well as I have yet to knit a pair of socks (intimidated) sizing holds me back however this sock ruler would be great to ease the questions I have

  21. I’ve lost count on how many socks I’ve knit. Maybe a dozen, possibly more. This looks like a neat little tool! Very handy!

  22. I have not knit any but I am praticing…..Ive read so much on sock knitting it scared…lol the turning of the heel, the ladders, etc…using reinforcing threads…..so much to learn…..it sure creates fear the way some ppl describe it…but I am attempting it as it is a dream to be able to make them so easy like in a day…..i am praticing my ribbing and increasing and decrasesing on dpns….some is easy, some are hard….but it is getting smoother and better tension,,,,,my neice has lots of tube dresses with crocheted overlay to hide the errors…lol

  24. I’ve probably knit about a dozen pairs, and if you count baby socks then more. This looks like a very handy gadget and I’d love to win one.

  27. I think i’m on my 5th pair of socks for this year. If my feet weren’t so large, I might knit many more. This tool would definitely be useful for me.

  29. Oo, what a clever thing! Hmm…. I’ve made.. maybe seven or eight pair of socks thus far. But I’ve made at least ten pair of fingerless gloves, & this would be useful for those too.

  30. Hi! Am on 14th pair of socks since august, Christmas pressies,I hasten to add!
    Just want to say how great the ruler colour shows off Hermione pattern in your yarn :

  31. I’ve been knitting socks for almost 37 years (started at 15) always top down on 4 dpns so that’s somewhere between 50-100 pairs in sizes from baby to size 14. I made over the knee sock for a man in size 14 with 20 inch leg length so I would like to know where to buy the ruler as I need more than one. Love hearing about other sock knitters

  34. I’ve only made two pairs of socks – the first took well over a year. Last month I learned to make TAAT in worsted weight – my next pair will be a pair in fingering. This is a great tool!

  35. I’ve only been knitting socks for about three years, but I’ve completed 47 pairs. Love my hand knot socks!

  36. I’ve made at least a couple dozen pairs. Measuring is always a challenge, and I’d love a sock ruler. I like to knit socks for friends and family because it’s easier to get a good fit than a sweater. And hats and scarves aren’t always welcomed.

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.