First Person
Dana’s Edit: Busy Hands
I love sweater knitting. I always have sweaters on my needles and sweater WIPs tucked in bags. I give lots of my sweaters away. Lately, I’ve been focusing on making sweaters I need in my wardrobe or casting on sweaters I feel a sudden rush of love for as soon as I see a pattern or an inspiration.
But sometimes, I need accessories to keep me warm. These are the things I don’t cast on because the eternal procrastinator in me knows I can do it—and then I never do.
So I’m forcing myself to focus on my outwear wardrobe. Plus, a tight focus keeps my hands busy and stops me from doom scrolling … as one likes to do sometimes.
The Sophie Shawl by PetiteKnit
I see the tiny Sophie Scarves everywhere, but they’re just not my style. (Perhaps I could knit a tinier one for Kiwi?)
Instead, I decided to knit the Sophie Shawl, a bigger version of the phenomenon. It was such a wonderful and easy knit that I’m already plotting knitting a second one in another color.
Once you get the rhythm of the pattern down, you can work on it while you’re listening to an audiobook or binge watching a series. My husband and I watched the last season of Survivor while I worked on this perfect project.
I knit the large size because I wanted to make sure I had something to really wrap around me on the super chilly days, but I could make smaller sizes to go with some of my other coats.
The Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague
With over 30,000 hats made, how did this one just come on my radar?!
You can make this hat with fingering up to DK-weight yarn. The pattern gives you the formula to adjust. It’s brilliant!
I have lots of single skeins or two leftover skeins that would be perfect for this. I can whip up a hat (or two or three) for myself so that I always have one on hand. I’m still kicking myself that it took me five years to notice Ysolda Teague’s pattern.
Robinia Mittens by Anne Ventzel
I love mittens but rarely make them for myself. I also love the look of Anne Ventzel’s Robinia sweater. I thought, why not make myself a pair of mittens with the same motif as the sweater?
I love matchy-matchy things, so these will only encourage me to knit a sweater version based on whatever color combination I make for the mittens.
Synced Shawlette by Susanne Sommer
Although I said the Sophie Scarf was too small for my tastes, the Synced Shawlette has a bit more fabric to it. It’ll be something to pick up when the weather is getting warmer but I need to keep the chill at bay.
As an added bonus: there’s two-color brioche so I’ll definitely be engaged in the knitting and won’t be scrolling mindlessly on my phone.
Honestly, the world is so much right now. Knitting brings me the most peace and comfort. It helps me to focus and tune out some of the chaos that so easily distracts me.
So I might as well make myself a few things to keep me warm and cozy as the chillier temperatures linger. Of course they’ll all be colorful to ensure I’m always covered in joy.
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I just started the Modern Quilt Wrap, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/modern-quilt-wrap, and it’s filling all of my senses! All that color! All that softness and yarn light as air! Challenging, but not stressful, construction! This will become my “how I got through 2025” project. Power to the people. March/call your congressional rep/canvass/vote… just don’t lose your ability to have moments of joy in the process. Happy knitting!
Dana, your smile is enough to lift me out of whatever funk I’m in! And what a wonderful list of projects. That hat is calling to me.
Thank you for the inspiration! If Phil is to be believed, we’ve still got plenty of time to wear our cozy stuff and time to knit something new. Cheers!
The mittens! And the synced shawlette! I need…. Thanks for your joy
I have to have a small project every so often. A palate cleanser???
Oooh, I’m knitting the Sophie Shawl too! It’s my go to car knitting. Thanks for the other recommendations – will add them to my Ravelry queue.
“Casting on sweaters I feel a sudden rush of love for … “ is exactly what I’m doing right now.
Oh my gosh–those mittens! Must have! Thanks for the inspiration.
Covered in joy! Great plan!
What about the a cowl with Resist on one side and Hope on the other!!!
Knitting has helped me weather many of life’s storms!!
When my Mom’s pup, who I inherited for 8 years, ran across the rainbow bridge to greet her, I donated her sweaters to a shelter!! I had used a very old doggie sweater I had in an old book and used JellyBean’s sweater colors for inspiration. Thanks to you and JellyBean I have discovered a new source to volunteer knitting!!
Hi Dana, where is the pattern for the Synced Shawlette, it’s not in Ravelry?