Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knit for Guys with These Great Sweater Patterns

by

boyfriend sweatersThis week my husband and I are celebrating 15 years of marriage, and we’ve actually been together about 21 years (!) in all.

I have never knit him a sweater.

I’ve knit him a scarf he’s never worn, and a rat tail for a Halloween costume. That’s about it.

He prefers rather lightweight sweaters, in either basic textures or with argyle-style patterns, and I just haven’t been able to bring myself to take on the commitment of either. Maybe because I don’t want to spend all that time working on something and then have him not like it (the sweater curse might not be real, but that would certainly annoy me).

I happen to have two copies of Boyfriend Sweaters: 19 Designs for Him that You’ll Want to Wear by Bruce Weinstein, and I’m giving them away this week so maybe you’ll do better than I have all these years.

There are some great sweaters in here that I would totally wear; check it out on Ravelry. You’ll also find hats and scarves and lots of great tips for getting a good fit, finishing things well and more.

If you’d like a chance to win one of these books, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, May 21. If you have a significant other, I’d love to know how long you’ve been together. Otherwise, tell me about your experience knitting for people with a gender other than your own. Or both!

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

Comments

  1. I do indeed have a significant other with similar tastes in knit garments to those of your husband. Met him in 1966 when he was 15 and I was 12, started dating in 1967 and married in 1976. This October will be 41 years, six (now adult) kids, and 5 grandkids later. Needless to say, the Sweater curse didn’t pan out for us.

  2. Years ago i knitted an arran jumper for my then boyfriend. He was a big guy so it took time to knit and finish off. We had at this point been going out for 4 years. The curse is real. Boy do i regret the time i spent on that man. The sweater was perfection however.

  3. This looks like a super cool book with a lot of great patterns. Thanks for the chance to win. I have been married 8 years and together 13. Happy anniversary and wishing you many more years of happiness and love.

  4. Of all the knits that I have made for my husband, he has only ever worn 1, a sleeveless vest, which he loves and now wears to death. The others are left in the cupboard, but admittedly I never did have the patience to use finer needles in the old days so it was always aran knits. Now that I have mellowed and grown older, I am more prepared to use 2.5 or 3 mm needles and am prepared to try those too. My husband and I have been married 30 years, but have been together for 40 years!! We were sweethearts from Sixth form, and no, never the thought of divorce was ever entertained in all our years together……but murder, yes, several times!!

  5. I’ve been married nearly 24 years and have only ever knit my husband one sweater which was when we were engaged. I keep putting it off as his size would take me forever to knit!

  6. Happy Anniversary! My husband and I started dating more than 30 years ago. I knit a lot of things for him when we were younger, which he wore, but hadn’t knit for him in years. This winter, though, he found some merino/silk yarn he really liked. I finished a vest for him on size 3s, but had to knit it almost twice. The first time, I got up to the armholes before I realized I would run out of yarn.

  7. Since there are about 2759.393512 women’s sweater patterns to every 1 for us men, I seem to knit a lot more for Mom than I do for myself. Winning this collection would help to balance the equation. Plus, if I understand this curse stuff, when I do knit myself a sweater, receiving it could prove to be just the impetus I need to leave myself – something I’ve been considering for quite a while.

  8. One of my first cable projects was a sweater for my dad. It wasn’t perfect, but true to form, he wore it proudly – I love him even more for that! I started knitting a sweater for my boyfriend a few years ago – still haven’t finished it… we’re no longer together, so I went through a few stages where I first considered ripping it down, then I thought better of it and left it alone. Now that the ex and I have settled into a good friendship, I’m hopeful of finishing it for him.

  9. What a great book! Well, my husband and I have been together for 14 years! I knitted him only 1 vest. He likes to golf and it was my gift. Btw, I spun the yarn myself too!

  10. I would like to make a sweater for my father-in-law! I am making it a point this year to knit/crochet something for the entire clan and I know that he would love a hand-made sweater.

  11. My hard drive crashed and burned and kicked the bucket and melted like the Wicked Witch of the West in a monsoon downpour this morning. I was dejectedly leaving the house to see about a replacement when I spotted a padded envelope on the stairs. I saw the name Sarah White and my little heart grew three sizes! Thanks so much for this, it was just the pick me up I needed on this frustrating day. Now I just have to get used to Windows 10 on my new computer – eeewwwww!

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.