Inspiration
Dana’s Edit: A Steeked Sweater
I didn’t knit a new sweater for Rhinebeck this year—I’ve been nursing an elbow and wrist injury and knitting has taken a backseat—but because I knit an insane amount of sweaters, I decided to pull one out that hasn’t gotten as much love as I think it deserves.
My neon heart sweater was a sweater I made all on my own and then decided to steek!
I know, scary, but also fun.
I was asked about my sweater a lot at Rhinebeck. Although I made a really fun reel on Instagram about it after I made it, I realized I never shared it anywhere! So I’m sharing it here on MDK.
In January of 2023, I sat down and wrote out a pattern for a sweater covered in hearts with bracelet sleeves. I created my own heart charts and just played around with how I wanted to make a circular yoke sweater because I just needed to get the idea out of my head and I had some time over my winter break.
I used some of the brightest La Bien Aimee colors I had and made a very neon pullover but when I put the pullover on, I didn’t love it. I realized it needed to be a cardigan and so I got very brave and decided I wanted to steek it.
Because of the heart pattern and how I started the sweater, it was very symmetrical, which made it super easy to find the center. I made a crochet chain up and down the body (like I learned in a previous online workshop) to reinforce the edges of where I would cut. I also needle felted the stitches so they had extra security for when I did cut the sweater.
After setting up where I would steek, I knit on a ribbed band for the buttons and buttonholes. I knew it was time to finally steek. So, I said a silent prayer, set up my camera, hit record, then I cut.
It was the most terrifying and yet satisfying thing I’ve done in a long time. But as soon as I started cutting I knew I made the right decision. This needed to be a cardigan.
I even pulled out my polymer clay and made neon yellow buttons to match, that’s how excited I was about this special little project.
When it came time to pack for Rhinebeck this year I thought about what sweater was I most proud of in my collection. This one was the first thing that came to mind.
I was asked a lot about whether or not there was a pattern available or if I was making one, but grading isn’t something I know how to do. Maybe one day I’ll get there.
But for now, I wanted to show off something that gave me so much pride and had colors so bright it always made me smile when I caught a glimpse of it. Be brave and embrace the steek!
Wow! That’s a very spectacular cardigan. I love it. And the buttons are just perfect. You are extremely talented.
Beautiful.
It needed to be a cardigan!
The buttons are perfect!
That is fabulous! It changes it so much and now it’s so very wearable! Great work.
You should be proud. Great design, great execution and making your own buttons to match color and design – chef’s kiss!! As they say, wear it loud and proud!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your journey with your sweater.
Love that you made the buttons too!
It suits you so well and I can imagine it making you smile every time you pick it up. You really made this top even better than originally one Well done!! I’m interested in the ribbing/button band. You picked up stitches prior to cutting?
Love what you did with the sweater and thank you so much for sharing your process. I have steeked sweaters before and knitted the bands on afterwards encasing the cut ends in the process. This seems like a much simpler process. Happy wearing!
I like this way because picking up the stitches is so secure when you do it before anything has been cut.
Beautiful sweater. I embrace the cardigan because a pullover is too hard to put on and take off. Lovely job.
Looks beautiful! I did my first steek cardi recently Solbhein by Mary Jane Mucklestone. Really proud! The only other steek was the rug by our fearless leaders Kay and Ann. Ready to steek again!
Love the cardigan. All those hearts in such bright colors were a bit much but it’s perfect with the steek and matching buttons!
WOW WOW WOW! It was a pretty spectacular sweater (those sleeeeeeeves!) Kudos for doing the brave thing and making even moreso! Gorgeous!!
There are some knitters who are just fearless, the “let’s try it and see what happens” people. Dana you are one of those. Wonderful work.
I have been entertaining the idea of doing this to a sweater I knit for my granddaughter. Thanks for the encouragement!!
Fabulous cardigan Dana. I love your color choices, they make me smile❤️
Love this. I have a few that I would like better as cardigans. How t do you do each step?
That is gorgeous! So perfect.
What a cheerful cardigan! Thanks for being a fearless knitter–it’s inspiring.
I love everything you knit. so talented- please keep on sharing, your posts always make me happy.
This sweater is fabulous! Thanks for sharing Dana, a great lesson for everyone. I too have knitted a pullover and then realized it would be better as a cardigan. Jumping into the unknown, I was bolstered by many tips I have learned here at MDK, like, https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/how-to-make-a-needle-felted-steek/. Enjoy your beautiful sweater.
Beautiful! I love it.
Love the sweater.
Sunshine on the overcast and rainy day we have today. I’m in awe.
Wowzer!!! That is a beautiful sweater… and so clever and brave of you to do that fancy steeking with the pre knit band. I am about to try steeking but only on a doll sweater❤️
Wow!!! That sweater (and its owner) are super cute and cheerful!!! Awesome job.
Wonderful sweater!!!
Thanks for setting an example for bravery in steeking, helped encourage me to get mine done!
Beautiful! And came at such a great time as I said to a friend last night I want to learn to steek. This came from knitting several cardigans with all that purling!!! Maybe this will give me the courage to try it.
Wow! Genius.
Yep! This took a lot of nerve, but don’t discount your know-how. Great project.
Love it, and those yellow heart buttons – perfect!! Dana, you are amazing!
Love it!!!! Cardi was def the way to go. I’m so scared of steeking. I have a UFO cardi waiting to be prepped for steeking…. Perhaps that will be a good thing for me to focus on in these very trying times. Btw, love all your posts and sweaters.
Good for you! You are absolutely correct and totally vindicated: it needed to be a cardigan. It is adorable and looks wonderful on you. I’ve been eyeing a steeked garment for longer than I care to admit – maybe you’ve just given me the courage to proceed!
Thank you – beautiful garment on a beautiful lady!
Dana, what a great idea! I loved the sweater either way but the steeked cardigan is sooo cute on you! Love the colors!
very inspiring, thanks. i adore both your design and your bravery.
This is the sweater of my 80’s dreams!
This sweater is pure love! I’ve only “made up” a few sweaters in my knitting life, but it’s so satisfying — to have a vision and then create it — not for money, but because you want to and you can.
Quelle bonne idée c’est ravissant et bien plus joli avec ces boutons coeur !
Brava! Beautifully done.
I love that you knit the bands *before* cutting the steek. Brilliant! Your cardigan is perfect!
What a beautiful, bright cardigan! I do hope you’ll get brave enough to publish it some time.
This is fantastic! I love that you even made the buttons for it. Wear it proudly!
I always look forward to your column on MDK and every time I admire the things you are creating and the colors that you use. This contribution answered so many of my questions about steeking and addressed my fears. You are amazing and that sweater is beautiful!
So adorable! A sweater full of love.
What a great job, and maybe you could look into someone who could help you with grading, so the pattern could get out sooner.
Thank you for the inspiration and the great photos!
Dana you are amazing! I feel like I can’t finish anything lately and you are making sweaters and steeking!
Beautiful!
Amazing. I love your confidence and ability to follow your ideas with actions. Beautifully done!!
I love it! I thought it looked super super cute as a pullover, but you are right, it’s even better as a cardigan. When I have steeked, I have cut first and then knit on the button bands, but I can see that doing it the other way around would have some advantages. Next time, I’m doing it that way!
Your sweater is gorgeous!
This is amazing! Thank you for walking through the steps you took to convert the sweater to a cardigan. I love it and now I know I could give it a try one day. I’m definitely saving this article!
I love your sweater, especially the colors! I have been knitting and steeking for a long time, and needle felting for the steel is the absolute best!
What guts! Not only did you design the sweater but you had the guts to steek it!!!
Proud of you
This is beautiful and made me smile, Dana. Thank you for brining much needed sunshine and sparkle to my week!
You are so right! this sweater needed to be a cardigan. It looks so much better (which is hard because it was beautiful before!) I love your creativity and courage.
Absolutely love that. I spent decades changing up patterns that called for steeks so that I didnt have to do it and there were some I couldnt make as I couldnt figure out how to adapt for no steeks. Then on a trip to Iceland my husband fell in love with a pullover in the Handknitting Association of Iceland shop and asked if I could make it. I said sure and then he added “could it be a cardigan with a zipper” Before I could say no, a kind sales person said ” Of course “and told me how to do it. We bought the wool and after knitting countless samples and cutting them, he nowhas his zippered Icelandic cardigan. Learning the steek was life changing!
Thank you for the inspiration! I love your sweater and it looks great on you.
It’s gorgeous! Thanks for giving me courage to steek my first sweater.
So smart to knit the button bands before steeking! I’ve steeked before but I think next time I will definitely knit the button bands first.
Also yes, such a sunny, smile-inducing sweater!
Gorgeous! Practice bravery. For big things and small things. So beautiful to know you are wonderful and capable when courage and hope must carry one forward. I admire and applaud you. Especially in these recent daunting days. ❤️
The cardigan looks so great on you, too!
I did exactly the same with Kate Davies Bluebell sweater. I loved it and realised I’d wear it a lot more if it was a cardigan. It’s knit in Shetland wool so I knew it would sreek ok. I like your method of picking up and knitting the button band before you cut. I covered the steek raw edges with a narrow satin ribbon and it’s worked well.
Looks fabulous I haven’t had the nerve but now I have a granddaughter I may try it on something small very small these things still take a long time to knit
I am (gently) throwing down the gauntlet, MDK. This lady is ready for a little booklet of patterns of her own. You know someone, I am sure, who could help her learn grading (or even collaborate with her to achieve it) and we would get a small pattern book with this adorable cardigan, maybe some mitts, a hat, a scarf (infinity or straight), and/or a lap blanket with hearts. I can’t think of a better way to show the MDK love (and solidarity, which is sorely needed right now.)
Ms. Dana, thank you always for being such a bright light in this community and sharing your patterns and practice with us, both as a knitter and a writer. Your pieces are often the first ones I read here, and even though we have never met, I wish you every good thing.
What a lovely idea.
Brilliant conversion! It’s what I always expect to see associated with your name. I love it!
Brilliant conversion! I always look forward to seeing what you have been working on.
I love this cardigan!
That is an inspiring story and a wonderful sweater. Thank you for sharing your process and creativity! I’ve been stalled trying to re-engineer a sweater I just knit (very weird arms coming from super big armholes, what was I thinking?), and your success motivates me to get back to work!
Love it! I am a fan of bright colors, and you nailed them! Thanks for sharing the learning process!
Both versions are lovely but I think you made a great decision to steek it. It wanted to be a cardigan!
Beautiful sweater. I have a pullover that I knit years ago. I would love to make it a cardigan. Maybe I will have the courage now that I read your article.
Wow! Congrats, it’s beautiful. I’m confused: How did you knit the button band before steeking? Did you pick up stitches on each side of the soon-to-be steek and make them live?
Love it! “Embrace the steek” made me giggle. I made the day tripper cardigan and that is steeked. It was actually kind of fun.
I love seeing your creations! My only disappointment in this article is the lack of dogs!!! Where are they? Thanks for sharing your love and expertise in knitting!
Gorgeous work, and I agree, this really wanted to be a cardigan. I know steeking strikes trepidation in the hearts of many, but maybe because I sew, it hasn’t ever worried me? Now there’s no stopping you!
Brava! Mazel tov! It’s great!
Dana, Just seeing this, you made my day. Over the past few days I’ve resolved to knit more and you’ve inspired me!
Gorgeous & brave !!
That is utterly charming and absolutely beautifully made! You look great in it.
This is so incredible!!!! How cool that you designed this yourself and then steeked it after the fact!!!! I completely amazed!!!! You SHOULD be very proud of this beautiful sweater!!!! I LOVE it!
i loved this column!!! my friend and i also got brave and made our first steeked cardigans (Andrea Rangel’s Dissent cardigan). it was very scary – until i made the first cut, at which point i realized the world was not going to end and the sweater was not going to unravel. It was GREAT!
thanks for reminding me of that journey.
CRR
I never thought about doing this switch after I finished the sweater. I have a few sweaters that I love but wish were cardigans so I can take them on and off easily when I get hot and cold as I move through my day. This is a great idea and one that I plan to steal. I am pretty fearless (I remind myself that it is just knitting and no one will die if I mess up) and some of these beautiful pullovers sit on the shelf begging to be worn so this idea is definitely a keeper. Thank you Dana!