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Yarn Companies Make Finals for Martha Stewart American Made Awards

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martha stewart american made awardsDo you know about the Martha Stewart American Made Awards? This is a program, now in its third year, that honors companies in craft, food, design and style. Companies are nominated to take part, then the finalists are chosen and ultimately 10 awards are given, with most chosen by the Martha Stewart crew and one reader’s choice award.

In the craft category this year there are three knitting-related companies that made the finals:

  • Feel Good Yarn Co., maker of SilverSpun cotton and silver yarn (which allows you to wear it on your hands while interacting with touch screens) from Washington, D.C.
  • Mountain Meadow Wool, a Wyoming-based mill that produces wool yarn in as environmentally friendly a manner as possible as well as finished wool products
  • BagSmith, maker of giant knitting yarns, needles and other supplies, finished home decor objects and garments, which is based in Ohio

I’m not sure if they’re done picking finalists yet, because the calendar on the site says it will happen through Sept. 8. (It also says nominations are accepted through Aug. 29, so if you want to nominate yourself, get going!) Then online voting for the reader’s choice award happens between Sept. 15 and Oct. 13, with the winners being announced on Oct. 17. If more fiber-related companies make it into the mix I’ll let you know.

Winners receive $10,000 to help their business grow, a trip for two to New York for the awards ceremony and a feature on MarthaStewart.com, among other prizes.

This is a really interesting program that at least brings interest to thinking about American made products. Have you ever heard of or voted in it before? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

 

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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.