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.
I just finished a Sophie shawl as well in one of the Noro yarns. Visiting East Coast office for my company this week and two of my danish colleagues were wearing Sophie scarves (one not hand knit so clearly this is a trend). One also wore a commercially made slip over that was very Petiteknits. She certainly understands what Danes like to wear and so go the rest of us.
I am also making a Musselburgh hat out of doubled silk mohair as suggested by Melissa of Sonder Yarns. It’s super lux and just touching it soothes my spirit (which I guess is a coping mechanism and who doesn’t need that 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!!
Love the Resist Hope cowl! What designer wrote the pattern? Is it on Ravelry? I’d love to make one – really needed now, what with current events. Thanks for you help!
Oh your cowl idea is BRILLIANT!!!! I think this needs to jump on my needles!!!!
Hi Dana, where is the pattern for the Synced Shawlette, it’s not in Ravelry?
Oops, found it, I was in the wrong category in Rav.
Dana – you are always a breath of warmth, happiness, and inspiration (just what I need right now in these crazy times!) Thank you for these lovely ideas! I’ve had that hat in my queue for years but have never made it yet, and now I think I need to…and those mittens are gorgeous!!!
Musselburgh seems boring to me, but this recently released Autumn Waves hat is going to be my February hat project. I love the idea of having one end patterned. I’m thinking a fun variegated yarn would be great peeking through the lace.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn-waves-hat
Thanks for this post.
I did not know about the Synced Shawlette – it looks fun indeed.
Sophie makes a great gift, and is so easy to knit while travelling or chatting or while reading. I have already made a few of the larger ones.
Enjoy your break from your beautiful sweaters.
Dana — agree, agree with Anne below. Your smile is so genuine and uplifting. And I will just add — a “small” project for me is a ball band dishcloth. Do you know how many stitches are in a Musselburg hat????? Keep cozy and keep smiling.
Just thinking about Kiwi in a little matching scarf is making my morning. If you have time, I think most of us would love to see that happen!
The Sophie scarf looks wonderful in the longer length. Thank you for all the other project ideas. I have the yarn and pattern for the Musselburgh hat ready to go. And I would love to see a mini Sophie scarf on Kiwi. How adorable! The world needs more knitting right now.
As always, you are a joy and an inspiration. Thank you!
Thanks, as always, for the inspiration and your spirit! I have made a number of Musselburghs this past winter, perfect mindless knitting to keep on hand as “emergency knitting” – might replace socks in that category for a while. Also, thanks for the tip on the Synched Shawlette. I’m looking for projects to recommend to students after they finish my Basic Brioche class. I better make one to try it out…
The pink of your Sophie shawl is the best thing ever.
Ooh the sophie shawl, what yarn did you use? needle size? did you start with 6 stitches?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Thanks, Dana. Knitting is my respite too! Part of that is casting on whatever brings me joy and of course color!
The Musselburgh hat just popped up on my radar, too — and suddenly it seems to be everywhere! So I’ve got one on my needles now, and it’s the perfect mindless knitting that I needed.
Dana,
I love your projects, especially the color of the Sophie Shawl. As always your smile is the what lifts our hearts as well as our knitting!!
I love you, Dana. Knitting is SO much better than phone scrolling. Your sweaters are always things of beauty, but this stuff is fun too.
spot on with all of these !
Ditto!
I love your column! I always am so happy when it lands in my in box I’ve made two Sophie shawls and one of the scarves, they are so potato chippy!
Thank you for your service to the rest of us. Reading the comments I can see how many people you uplift every time you post. Joy is essential and it’s an honor to share yours: your bright colors, your genius at knitting, and even your tiny dog are all a tremendous gift. We are lucky to share in it.
You are a fabulous knitter, meticulous and inventive. I’m always delighted to see a contribution from you in these newsletter. “What is she up yo now?”
Thank you for another great Saturday morning read!
I was late to the Musselburgh party too. I just finished my second. Once you get to the straight knitting it is the perfect knit to do while watching or listening to whatever. I wonder which of the many skeins in my stash will become number three. Also love your other suggestions. Thanks!
I’ve meant to knit that hat for years! thanks for the reminder- it will be a perfect plane project next week!
Hi… I’m new here… just wanted to say you have a GREAT smile!!
Dana…you are always covered in joy and your smile makes me smile. Thank you for sharing your joy with all of us. And thanks for reminding me of the Sophie shawl. I’m an avid shawl knitter and will add that to my list.
Thanks for sharing your joy. Your smile brightens my day.
Thanks for the tip about the Sophie Shawl! I’m with you about tiny scarves, I love the look of the Sophie Scarf but want something bigger so thank you for bringing it to our attention. And Kiwi would look cute in anything. 🙂