What Are We Making This Time of Year?

I’ve been writing about knitting for a long time (on this site and others, more than 15 years!), so I can tell you that it seems like people don’t knit as much when it’s hot outside. This based on pageviews, which tend to be higher in the winter months than in the summer (except this year, y’all have been friendly and I so appreciate it!).

A story in The Washington Post looked at Ravelry’s data since 2019 to determine when crocheters are starting more projects and how long they tend to take. I assume the data would be similar for knitters.

The month when the most projects are started? January. Though that could be all the crafters who have “use Ravelry better” as one of their new year’s resolutions.

The exception to that was the spring of 2020, when more people took up yarn crafts, are were probably making more, when they were home during the pandemic.

The month projects are most likely to be finished? December. Probably a combination of holiday crafting and “I’ve got to finish this before the end of the year!”

The data showed that projects started in the summer (in the Northern Hemisphere) tend to take the longest. Because who wants to work with yarn in this heat?

But what kinds of projects are we making at different times of year? Again this is crochet, but I imagine it’s similar for knitters:

Blankets are most popular in January
Tops and bags are started most in the summer months
People start making hats in August
September is when scarves become popular
More people are making sweaters in October

They also looked at the projects most likely to remain unfinished and found that more than half of the crochet coat and jacket projects listed as started on Ravelry haven’t been finished. But people who use Ravelry to keep track of their projects are, in general, finishers: 75 percent of all projects on Ravelry have been completed.

This is not my life. I use Ravelry as a project tracker in fits and starts and have plenty of projects that look abandoned because I never bothered to update them.

What about you? Do you use Ravelry to keep track of projects? How good are you at keeping up with it? Do you agree with these notions of what’s popular each month?

If you want to look at the article I’ve got a gift link for you here.

[Photo via The Washington Post.]

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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