Josh Bennett Profiled in New York Times

I don’t really know what to say about this piece about knitwear designer Josh Bennett in the New York Times. I almost feel like it’s just men knitting season (exhibit A: the actually really nice story in the Wall Street Journal about men knitting at Bryant Park) but I don’t want to sound like Bennett isn’t worthy of a profile in the New York Times.

I will say that I hate the headline “Grandma Never Knit Like This.” I hate even more that the executive director of the Craft Yarn Council apparently invoked grandma, when she should know better. And I hate that photo of him knitting but clearly not knitting because that’s nowhere in the universe of how a person knits (and how are there three strands of yarn?).

The story is interesting in that it takes a different view on men knitting. Here’s a man who has had great success designing for big-name fashion designers, but he doesn’t knit in public. He learned to knit at age 8 and fully embraced it for a week until he thought “boys don’t knit” and stopped for 10 years.

It talks of the cattiness of the fashion knitting industry, the way ugliness can spread on the internet, and the idiosyncrasies of one knitter (no hats, socks or unnatural fibers, no sweater for his partner, even though they’ve been together eight years — the sweater curse does not have time limits).

And I think there’s some value to knitting being talked about in “mainstream” media, so I’ll just leave it at that. If you want to know about Bennett’s current fashion obsessions and favorite shows to watch while knitting, check out his list of five, too.

If you read the article I’d love to know what you think.

[Photo by Deidre Schoo, via the New York Times.]

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.

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