Knitting

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Giveaway: The Knitting All Around Stitch Dictionary

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knitting all around stitch dictionary giveaway

Martha is the winner!

My love of stitch dictionaries is well documented. They’re so fun to look through, play with and get inspired by.

One of the potential problems with using stitch patterns in projects, though, is that they can look quite different when worked in different ways, such as flat versus in the round or from the top down versus bottom up. And you might want to work different parts of the same garment in different ways (such as bottom up, flat pieces for a cardigan but working the sleeves top down in the round).

Wendy Bernard has devoted a lot of time to thinking about, swatching, twisting and turning stitch patterns so they can be worked in all directions. She’s written two books on the subject: The Up, Down, All Around Stitch Dictionary and her latest, The Knitting All Around Stitch Dictionary.

Both books contain 150 stitch patterns and have instructions — written and charted — for how to work them flat and in the round, top down and bottom up. They are great references whether you want to change the stitch pattern used in a knitting pattern you already have or you want to design something for yourself.

What’s even better about this book is that you can see more of each stitch. When a swatch is reversible, the back of the swatch is shown along with the front side. When a top-down version looks slightly different than the bottom-up version, both versions are now shown. The pictures are large and detailed so you can really see what the patterns look like.

There are also six projects in the book you can knit as they are or change up the stitch patterns, as well as some plain vanilla projects just waiting for you to thrown on a stitch pattern, which is great design practice.

This week I’m giving away a copy of the latest book as well as some Blue Sky Alpaca yarn like what was used in the swatches seen in the book. Thanks to STC Craft for the generous prize!

If you live in the United States and are interested in winning this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, May 29. I’d love to know if you have any stitch dictionaries and, if you do, if you have a favorite. I have to say volume one of Barbara Walker’s Treasuries of Knitting Patterns is almost never on my shelf because I use it so much!

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

Comments

  1. I tried knitting in the round. Gave up and used a pattern that gays stitched together.

  2. Hi! this book looks so fun and interesting! I do have 750 Knitting Stitches: The Ultimate Knit Stitch Bible and it’s pretty good, but I am always looking for more inspiration. Thanks for having this giveaway!

  3. I have looked at a few but I currently do not have one. I have checked them out of the library before.

  5. Looking at a book of stitches is so encouraging when I want to try something new. The only problem though is being sure about counting those stitches when doing a lace stitch pattern. Love the challenge though.

  6. Thank you so much for this giveaway. I hope I am the selected recipient. I have recently retired due to illness and now have time to knit.

  7. I’very started a knit and crochet group at our library and I need to have great visualservice for my knitters. This sounds like an answer to my prayers.

  9. I’m a big fan of stitch dictionaries! Among my faves are the Barbara Walker series and Vogue. I LOVE that the stitches in Wendy’s book are multi-directional!

  10. I don’t have any stitch dictionaries… yet! I love getting inspired by new (to me) stitches, so get many, many newsletters, but no compendiums yet. Thank you for considering!

  11. I have “Up, Down, All Around” and I’m kind of obsessed with it. I can’t wait to check out her new one!

  12. I have the 1977 edition of The Encyclopedia of Knitting & Crochet Stitch Patterns. I haven’t done much with different stitches yet, but I’d like to!

  14. I do not have any stitch patterns books but I love that it shows the difference from all angles and also front and back.

  15. I own the Knitter’s Companion, if that counts, but as soon as I saw the cover to this book, I was in love!! When I saw that Wendy wrote this book, I was practically screaming in my chair!! This is definitely a book that I have to have in my library!! What a useful book- especially due to the fact that I plan on doing some designing soon. Thank you so much for the terrific giveaway, and thank you, STC Craft for making it possible, too!!

  16. I have one, and I think I need a better one. I hear so much about Barbara Walker’s … I really should take a look at it.

  18. What a fantastic book and give away!!!!! Have always wanted a book of patterns, as it would make my knitting life so much easier than spending hours on the internet looking for new stitch patterns.

  19. I would love this book. I love knitting dictionaries but shortly after I learned to knit and was even aware there were these kinds of books I became a ‘gypsy’ moving around in a travel trailer and had no room for extra things. Now that I am in a permanent place again I need to start building my supplies and reference books. Good luck everyone!!!

  20. I usually get my stitch information off the internet. I never really thought of a book that would cover this. I just have collected some stitch info. in knitting magazines and off knitting sites. I am a fairly new knitter and this would be very handy to own. thank you for giving us knitters a chance to win this book!!

  22. I do not have a stitch dictionary, but it would be wonderful to win one. I’m sure it has tons of information I could really use. Thank you.

  24. What a great resource! I work at a Council on Aging and I’m sure the folks here would appreciate the addition to our resource library!

  25. I only have a crochet stitch dictionary and it’s an old one. Just learning to knit, I would love to lean other stitches. Thank you for this give away.

  27. I do have Two favorite go-to books, Nicky Epstein’s -Knitting On The Edge & Knitting Beyond The Edge- both just wonderful!

  29. I do not have a stitch dictionary – I do look up a lot on line! Thank you for the review and awesome giveaway!

  30. I have a bunch of stitch dictionaries on my wishlist, but none on my bookshelf yet. Would love to have one!

  31. I’m new to knitting and would love to have a stitch dictionary. Right now I hit up the ladies at the local yarn store for help. They are awesome!

  32. I have loads of stitch dictionaries, including the 4 Barbara Walker’s. I love how she personally did every single stitch. I have a McCall’s one from the 70’s I found online and a series of them by the British publisher Collins that are probably my favorites (they are republished here under another name) but that’s this month.

  34. I would like to win. I only have one stitch dictionary for Tunisian crochet. I would love to increase my knitting repertoire. Thanks

  37. Thank you for the chance to enter this contest. I do not have a stitch dictionary. I am learning, or rather teaching myself, to knit. I variety of stitches would be fun to learn!

  39. I love to knit although I do not live in the US. But fortuntaly if I win the book, I have several friends in the US you can send it to and they will take care of sending it to me! 😉

  41. I love and collect knitting books! The only stitch dictionary I have is one free e-book I downloaded and always forget I have. This book would be a great tool while I am trying to design my own patterns. ooooh, hope I win!

  42. I don’t have any stitch dictionaries. I feel like I’ve finally honed my skills enough to try to shake things up a bit and stray from written patterns. I’ve long admired Wendy’s work and own many of her patterns. She’s one writer I totally understand. 🙂

  43. I do not have one but have checked them out of the library. I knit in the round a lot and so I love Wendy’s first one. I would be so excited to win it and yarn!

  45. I have a Mon Tricot stitch dictionary, a Tunisian Crochet stitch dictionary and Up, Down, All-Around. I would love to have Knitting All Around.

  48. I am always looking for new stitches and techniques. Would be great to have an up to date version.

  49. I always say I’m going to try a new stich, and then I chicken out and do something tried and true. I’d love to win this stich dictionary and branch out!

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.