More Bernie Mitten Inspired Knits

After nearly a dozen Bernie Mitten knitting patterns popped up in a matter of days, knitters are now getting into other projects inspired by those now-iconic mitts. Lots of patterns are now available on Etsy also.

They actually have a great pattern of multicolored chevron and simple crosses that will still be fun to wear long after the memes have died down.

Let’s start with Caitlin Hunter’s Feel the Bern cropped top, which is based on her popular Soldotna Crop with the colorwork added on top. It hasn’t been knit or tested so it is available as a free pattern on Ravelry.

Feel the Bern is also the name of a hat pattern using the same colorwork designs, this one designed by Christine M. Watson. The worsted weight hat uses four colors of yarn and is available on Ravelry for $3.

The Weekend at Bernie’s Beanie is another free pattern, this one designed by Rosee Woodland. It uses aran weight yarn, is available in four sizes and has the classic colorwork designs we’ve all come to love.

Bernie’s Socks by Stone Knits include what looks like a slightly fancied up version of the mittens, with the colorwork around the leg and bottom of the foot. They are worked in fingering weight yarn and are available in three sizes. The pattern is free on Ravelry.

It seems like Bernie’s motifs have graced everything in the knitting world other than a scarf or cowl (that I’ve seen). I’m working on a cowl version right now that I hope to have released by the end of the week.

Have you started a Bernie mittens-inspired project? I’d love to hear about it!

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I feel like when it comes to things that people are afraid to knit, socks probably top the list. I’ve heard people say they would never knit socks because they look too hard, but really you just need to know a few basic things (and trust the pattern even though it sounds wrong the first time you do it) to master socks.

Denise DeSantis aims to take the worry out of knitting socks with No Fear Sock Knitting. Based on a class on her YouTube channel, it includes all the basic information you need to make sock knitting feel easier, along with eight patterns for both top down and toe up socks.

The book generally covers types of needles and yarn you might use to knit socks, as well as other supplies you will need. It looks at the parts of the sock, different knitting needle configurations used to knit socks, how to read a pattern (including abbreviations and terms you might find in sock patterns), discussion of ease, how to measure your foot and choosing the correct size to knit.

It includes two options each for casting on cuff down and toe up socks, as well as four options for cuff treatment. It explores the heel flap and turn method for top down and toe up socks, as well as short row heels using a shadow wrap (worked with a leg from the stitch below) and a square heel. There’s a discussion of avoiding holes and fixing other problems in heels.

Likewise with toes there are several options, including a wedge toe, round toe and anatomical toe (different on each foot) for both cuff down and toe up socks. There are also tutorials for grafting and Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind off, depending on which direction you’re going. There’s also a tips section that covers things like avoiding ladders, changing colors. matching stripes and more.

After all that preparation, there are eight patterns to choose from: short socks worked from the top down that are a perfect first-sock sock, a basic ankle-length toe-up sock, a DK weight sock worked from the top down with different length options, a “vanilla” sock with a short row heel worked top down, an ankle sock with a garter stitch cuff, one with a leg worked in alternating colors with a contrasting heel and toe, a sock worked in a helical stripe pattern and a striped sock with a garter stitch heel.

Three of the patterns are rated at skill level two on a scale of three, while the rest are level one. They’re all pretty straightforward, they just use different techniques you might not have tried before. Since only one is made to be toe up, there are also tips for converting the other patterns to toe up if you’d rather work that way. Each pattern includes three size options.

This book is a nice introduction to sock knitting, with lots of techniques to reference and simple patterns to take the fear out of the process. I’m not sure these are patterns you’ll come back to time and again but they are a good place to start if you’ve never knit socks before.

About the book: 128 pages, paperback, 8 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

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