First Person
Dana’s Edit: Follow Your Whims
The other day I told one of my knitting buddies, Kanitta, that I’ve changed. Okay maybe I haven’t changed but my knitting has definitely changed. Suddenly, I want to knit all the fingering-weight sweaters. Who am I?
I’ve been knitting now for 13 years and over time we always evolve as we learn more, gain new skills, and grow our yarn stashes.
Over the years, my color palette has focused more on deep greens and blues—and those colors have been picked with a purpose.
Just like my wardrobe has changed as I’ve gotten older and changed careers and even philosophies on how I dress (I do not like tight fitting clothes and just want things to flow), I’ve slowly realized my knitting is changing, too.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love a DK- or worsted-weight knit, but lately, I’ve been drawn to fingering patterns to help build my wardrobe.
Photo © Rachel Illsley
I think I’ve had Ola’s Tundra by Rachel Illsley on my favorites list for forever and I finally downloaded the pattern recently.
I also have a lovely lavender and dark green flecked yarn from Earl Grey Fibers (who sadly closed shop but for a great reason: she’s getting her Ph.D.). I bought it because the color is called the Walrus and the Carpenter.
That name is also a poem by Lewis Carroll, which was one of my dad’s favorites. I know I’ll be thinking of him while I knit it. I want to pair it with a brighter acidic green for the contrast color to make the full-body colorwork fun to knit.
I also have in mind a really ambitious knit: a dress.
Photo © Lydia Morrow
The first time I saw the Stumble Dress by Lydia Morrow I bought the pattern immediately—but knew I would take my time with the knitting to enjoy the process.
My husband surprised me with a fingering-weight advent in 2022. It was absolutely beautiful but I didn’t have a clue what to make with it. Now I do! An ombre handknit dress will be a piece I cherish forever—so I will take my time and make this a project I work on for months at a time.
I’m no stranger to fingering-weight projects, I usually only take on one or two a year.
Photo © Veera Välimäki
One that I’ve made before in linen yarn for summer is the Lapponia by Veera Välimäki. I enjoyed it so much when I made it before that I want to make a full length version in wool for winter. It’s a great graphic design with easy to memorize charts and that’s what makes knitting colorwork fun for me.
I’m going to embrace change and my desire to make fingering-weight knits. Maybe I’ll get into a great rhythm and knit as quickly as I do with DK. Maybe I’ll be slow and methodical with multiple projects going at once.
Either way, I know I’m going to love whatever I make. Got any great fingering-weight projects I should know about?
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Row by row, inch by inch- whatever the gauge!!
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Dana, This was just what I needed to jumpstart my summer knitting! I think change is so critical to growth. But, I haven’t really thought about it in the context of knitting! I’ve tended to try to acquire more skills as opposed to knitting out of the box. ..( and always in those blue or green DKs and worsteds that you mentioned!!).
It’s just a little after 6am here in Connecticut and I have two new knitting projects.
You’ve inspired me to knit a Lapponia summer top in colors I’ve never knit with before! Your words and the new field guide have nudged me to try a pair of socks for the first time as well!
Thanks for the encouragement to try something different and for the walk down memory lane with a long forgotten poem that has special memories for me as well!!
They were such poignant….and practical words!
Gosh, I love being a part of the MDK community!!
Although I love a heavy sweater, I’ve found that fingering weight for color work gets worn more often throughout the year. Check out Pagan Sky by Zanete Knits. I’m doing the heavier version from handspun, but there is a fingering weight version as well.
And the finer gauge Pagan Sky pattern comes as a cardigan or a pullover!
You knit every day. I need to follow your example even if only for a few rows. Thank you for sharing.
Dana you have given me the nudge that I needed to tackle a fingering weight sweater. The Lapponia is on my list. Choosing colors and shopping for yarn will be fun too. Thank you.
I was extra happy to see your name in my inbox today, eagerly anticipating your gorgeous smile. Thank you so much, Dana – you have changed the beginning of this day for me – more smiles!
Dana , thank you for the inspiration. The Lapponia is on my list. Choosing colors and shopping for yarn will be fun too.
Looking forward to your fingering weight journey, Dana. I am sure your wonderful way with color will continue whatever your gauge.
Thanks for the encouragement! Keep us posted on your progress, especially on the Ola’s Sweater. I love the tribute to your Dad in your yarn selection.
The collection by Jacqueline Cieslack called “Embody” is wonderful!
You spoke to my soul! I also have embarked on knitting sweaters in fingering weight yarn. I love the fine stitches and the drape. They do take time to knit but that’s the fun adventure of it all. Happy knitting!
Love fingerling weight also at this stage maybe because it’s light to wear. Looking for a fingerling möbius pattern. Suggestions?
Some of my fingering weight sweaters my favorites to wear. I love the connection with the yarn name and your father’s favorite poem. I think non-knitters or non-crafters don’t understand the connection of crafting and thinking of our loved ones at the same time or memories of where we were when crafting it. I am knitting the WildFlowers Flowers Tee by Tif Neilan and I’m flying through it, even for a fingering weight project.
I made the Wild Flowers Tee last summer. It is a great knit and one of my favorites to wear. I hope you love yours!
No, no, no, all my wool is in 7 or 8 big boxes for a move! I love knitting finger weight sweaters but I have no time. I’m supposed to open a new store in July and not think about delicious patterns. I have been thinking about a knitted skirt mid calf length then I saw the dress… Planning and dreaming and maybe a bit of wool buying have to suffice for now…sigh
How about Sea Glass tee https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sea-glass-tee to do with all your precious leftovers?
That DRESS!!!!! Oh my goodness, it’s gorgeous!!!!! Can’t wait to see yours! Love everything about this post!
Your sweater in the picture on top is beautiful too!
Thank you for sharing these great patterns and your inspiring words!
Here is what you have done for me this morning – introduced me to Rachel Illsley, added several new projects to my Ravelry favorites, including Lapponia which will be lovely in linen and brought Ludovico Einaude into my life. Thank you!
I loved this article so much, Dana! Thank you for the small gauge recommendations! Such wonderful ideas. Onward!
Sea Glass–all the variations! i’ve made 2 swtrs using that 1×1 coloorwork, and easy way to pack lots of color into a sweater. You might need another fingering yarn advent gift ;-).
anyway, nice to hear from you!
Sea Glass! I am so glad I found that pattern–I’m using the tee version. I’m using up all my sock yarn scraps and some skeins I’ve been given over the years that I’m never going to use. They are not my thing at all knit on their own, but in a sweater like Sea Glass, they are magic.
I have a shameful stash of fingering weight yarn and I’m over socks so thank you for the inspiration! Now I have ideas.
Another thing I’ve started knitting is little animals. Dot Pebbles knits has a slew of patterns on Etsy. So cute
I admire your choices! And a fingering weight dress, yikes! Lots of relaxing knitting, though. I love knitted linen sweaters, but I must say knitting with linen is not my favorite thing. The end product is worth it, however. My mother read Alice and Through the Looking Glass to us as children, a chapter a night, before they were called ‘chapter books’ – thanks for a reminder of that.
I am with you Dana on fingering weight sweaters being a new development in my knitting life. I’m enjoying working on Caitlin Hunter’s Alpine Bloom: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/elenavetter/alpine-bloom
One word : Ranunculus sweater by Midori Hirose
I have knit SEVEN of these!! Fingering weight, size 10 needles, the most fun knit ever, and the best fit ever as well. The best sweater pattern ever!
I’m making not one but TWO fingering weight cardigans in 3x. I am OUT. OF. MY. MIND. I’m almost done with the first, though! The second is in the swatching stage–I’m making a pocket from it.
I do lots of color work in fingering weight yarns, especially Fair Isle. Such fun, and never boring. It makes for a lovely, warm fabric as well.
My favorite fingering weight sweater is Bottom Line pullover from MDK field guide # 10, knit in Mohonk Light . I feel like a million bucks every time I wear it.
Oooh I have yarn for this one and I’m really excited to make it. Hopefully soon!
I too have moved into more fingering weight projects. They are comfortable to wear and the drape is lovely. My favorite so far is Sabela by Isabelle Kraemer. You can see my version https://ravel.me/rocketsmomtoo/u2vi1c on Ravelry. It took forever to finish but I wear it all the time!!! I am looking forward to seeing your projects!
Love the idea of making a knitted dress
I love fingering weight yarn, especially cashmere. I can’t seem to find sweaters for 2ply Jade Sapphire cashmere. Any suggestions? Last fingering weight cashmere project was a lace blanket, took a year and I have yet to find a place to block it as it is for a queensize bed.
I love fingering weight yarn, especially cashmere. I can’t seem to find sweaters for 2ply Jade Sapphire cashmere. Any suggestions? Last fingering weight cashmere project was a lace blanket on US 00 needles (love my Addi turbo lace circulars!). It took a year and is in a cedar chest as I have yet to find a place to block it since it will fit a queen-size bed.
Dana, I love watching you creatively challenge every pattern, by using your artistic talents in choosing unique color combinations. Always an inspiration! Looking forward to seeing your rendition of the Stumble dress!
I too have become enthralled with fingering weight sweaters. The Arrigato Tee by Claudia Q and the Maya Tee by Gavriella are the two sweaters that started me on this trail. I enjoyed your Knit Stars workshop. I have made dog sweaters too!
I made Floozy by Libby Johnson with Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. The colorwork is simple because you use one color at time. What I love most about a fingering weight sweater is that it is warm while it is lightweight and not bulky when wearing an outer coat!
I love the lightweight feel of fingering weight sweaters and tees. I’ve knit several- one of my favs is the rocket tee by tanis lavilee. It’s quick a one so easy to wear. It’s a blank canvas too, so it’s easy to do stripes or fades.
I make more sweaters out of fingering weight so I can wear them indoors, plus I prefer finer yarns for most projects. I would recommend the Aspens sweater by Ann Podlesak. I made mine in Brooklyn Tweed’s Loft in Cinnabar. Also made First Raglan by Jared Flood even though the pattern called for a heavier yarn, again using Loft in a variety of colors for stripes. I wear them a lot.
Thanks, Dana. I love Rache Illsley’s patterns. Nightbook continues to impress, and was such a fun and interesting knit.
My current fingering weight sweater – just begun – is Caitlin Hunter’s Ghost Horses. I’m working in two contrasting colors of Spincycle, dark teal and red/oranges. I, as you, love color… even if my Nightbook is black and white. Sometimes a girl likes a graphic.
Re: yarn weight, DK is my sweet spot, but I truly dislike knitting with anything requiring size 8 needles and above.
Stripes gone crazy by alfa knits is my all time favorite sweater ever. I’ve made it twice, and a variation a third time, and always in the back of my mind is the temptation to make another. Also knit.love.wool has several lovely fingering weight pullovers (Gardengate!!!)