Knit Toys Made Out of Squares

Many years ago, when my now-ninth grader was in kindergarten, I did a couple of summer camps at her school dealing with fiber arts for kids. One of the projects I made in one of those weeks was a little cat made out of a square, which you folded up and sewed down at the top to make ears. (I can’t find a similar pattern online but this and lots of other simple toys knit from squares and rectangles can be found in A First Book of Knitting for Children.)

One of those early Easters my mom made my daughter a bunny out of a square, and remembering that as I’m thinking about Easter projects this week got me thinking about animals that you can knit from squares.

The bunny there are a lot of different versions of, but I think the one she used was from StudioKnit. It’s such a cute and easy little project, and if you happen to have a square swatch lying around, you’re almost done with this project. This would be a great one for teaching little kids to knit because they can use their practice piece to make a sweet little toy.

Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer has another version of the knit square bunny, where the body and head of the bunny are made from a square and you add on ears and a tail after. This one is shown worked in stockinette stitch, but you could do it with garter stitch too of course!

How about a knit sheep from a square? This one from Jo So and Sew adds a bit of felt for the head and ears and uses a square of garter stitch for the body. So cute for kids and knitting friends!

Resurrection Fern made a cute little rooster (it could also be a hen or a chick with different embellishments) out of a square of knitting. This one is fun because it also allows you to use some colorful fabric scraps for the tail feathers.

The square bear from Gina Michele has more than one square involved, but all the pieces are flat garter stitch with no shaping involved to make this cute little bear.

This one is a little more complex in that it’s a rectangle and you need to change colors throughout to make the different parts of the doll, but I love the ready teddy pattern from Aussie Knitting Threads. With one piece of knitting you can make a whole fully dressed bear (or cat, or make it a person and add some hair) that would be great as a little gift or to donate to charity.

If you’re looking for more easy and fun knit animal toys made with squares, check out Nicky Epstein’s Knit a Square, Create a Cuddly Creature or Knit a Square and Make a Toy.

Book Review: Finger Knitting for Kids

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.

Have you read?