First Person
Dana’s Edit: Doodling My Way Into 2025
I write a lot about projects that I think of as fun and full of joy. Remember my London sweater? Remember the yellow dinosaur?
Both of those 2024 projects sparked joy. That made me think about a dinosaur-themed sweater for Serena, the little girl I made the yellow dinosaur for. Then I stumbled on something wonderful! Doodle Decks.
You may have already heard about the Doodle Cowl by Jamie Lomax/Pacific Knit Co. I always thought her patterns were fun. Plus there was a Doodle Bar at different yarn events where you could mix-and-match the perfect Doodle Cowl for you.
She’s taken colorwork to a new level by creating Doodle Decks—card decks (and digital charts) with small colorwork charts so you can mix and match motifs to make fun hats, cowls, socks, and sweaters.
It’s one of those ideas that makes you think, “This is so brilliant and why didn’t I think of this?” She calls the colorful motifs “doodles” and they’re made to work together.
Jamie recently released Destination Doodles, which makes it easy for other people to make destination sweaters like mine. Her decks work beautifully with the math in the Tin Can Knits Strange Brew sweater pattern, which helps you create your own colorwork sweater.
I love the idea of plugging in all kinds of different motifs to make the sweater of my dreams. And if you’ve been wanting to make a destination sweater, this is a great way for you to find fun motifs you want and make a sweater for yourself (or for someone else).
All these great colorwork motifs lead me to buying a couple of the Doodle Deck packs with winter and dinosaur doodles so I can make Serena the ultimate winter sweater.
I picked a neutral color for the body, then made all the doodles in bright colors because isn’t what any five year old truly wants? I can only imagine how adorable she will be in it.
I’ll be making a little something for her little brother, too, so they can coordinate.
Even if you don’t have someone little to make a dinosaur sweater for, you can always make yourself something with all the options the Doodle Decks provides.
I see a few fun hats and cowls in my future. There’s also a newly released Doodle Book, which could be the ultimate gift for any knitter who’s into colorwork like I am.
Happy doodling!
Cutest sweater ever! Love all your choices! Wish I had your patience and talent! : )
Creativity galore. That’s you! And the sweater is adorable.
I have several doodle decks, the basic cowl and hat pattern and the basic sock pattern, but have yet to make anything. Too many choices!
I love this – the only thing cuter would be seeing a photo of the adorable five year old wearing it!! Now I need to add “doodle decks” to my list of projects…
I hope you will be showing us that sweater when it’s finished, and also whatever you knit for the little brother.
Coinky-dink! I used the new doodle book for my adventure cardigan for a 4 year old. Super fun but I admit it was hard to choose the motifs, 200 patterns is too much cuteness.
This is so adorable!!! I love it so much! Your colors are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful idea!!! I too will be adding these ideas to my long list of upcoming projects!!!
I bet she will be adorable in her sweater! I just bought the the doodle book from Amazon and awaiting its arrival. A Christmas present to myself.
I gifted myself the Doodle Book and 5 Doodle Decks for Christmas! I will be starting Doodle Cowls for my two littles today! Cowls are so much better for toddlers (2 & 4 years old), as scarves post a choking hazard and are easily lost! Happy Holidays and Happy Knitting all!
I love this sweater! My daughter introduced me to doodling and we are both obsessed. Eager to see your next doodle project.
Oh my goodness!! Absolutely love the Doodle sweater. Thank you, Dana!
I love her patterns! The sweater is going to be well-loved.
I bought a deck to play with, but haven’t cracked it yet. You’ve inspired me!
I bought several doodle patterns, but I can’t get a handle on getting the tension right. My ribbing is too loose and the color work part too tight. Gotta get the right combo of needles and I’m too impatient to fuss too long. Maybe next year??
I suggest sizing down on the ribbing and then going up 1-2 sizes for the color work. When I first started I was tense with color work and this really helped me until it became second nature.
I love the winter Dino mashup!
This sweater is SO cute!
If you like these doodles, you’d love Andrea Rangel’s [she also designed Dissent] Alterknit Stitch Dictionaries– books of charts–so many charts! all kinds of motifs: animals, geometrics, leaves, waves… the animals are especially cute.
your stranded sweaters are always wonderful, but that yellow dino is just perfect!