Knit a Snake for the Year of the Snake

Lunar new year is here and it’s the year of the wood snake. If you want to celebrate with knitting, here are some fun snake knitting patterns for you to try.

Stitch up a snake dishcloth or add it as an afghan square to a blanket you knit up this year. This free pattern from Daisy and Storm uses a single color and purl stitches to make the snake design. The pattern is charted but there are also line by line instructions if you need them. It calls for DK or light worsted yarn but you can make it with regular kitchen cotton and you’ll get a slightly bigger cloth.

Make a snake with stripes to bust your stash or make a single colored snake if you’d rather with this pattern from Sarah Ann Thompson. It calls for worsted weight yarn and you can make it as long as you like, or go until you run out of oddballs. Does that ever happen? You can grab this pattern for free on Ravelry.

Or try the snake knitting pattern from Natty Knits on Etsy, which uses bulky yarn and it made to coil, so you work it in different sections to make it stack up on itself. So cute!

There’s also Stanley Snake from Fluff and Fuzz, which is made to be striped with all your DK weight odd balls, but you could make it a solid color if you’d rather. It’s a pretty simple knit that’s worked flat with a little shaping for the head.

Louise Walker’s snake scarf (on Ravelry) would be another fun one to do in lots of colors to use up your stash of bulky odd balls, or work in two colors as shown. It’s worked in two pieces that are seamed together for extra coziness, which also means you could lightly stuff it or add a layer of fleece for even more warmth if you want.

The adorable snake charmer sweater from Marit Krogstad (buy it on Ravelry) has a sweet spotted snake running across the body and down one sleeve. It’s sized for kids (ages 3/4 to 9/10) and calls for DK weight yarn. The pattern is available in English and Norwegian.

Stash Busting with Knitted Toys

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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