Inspiration
Dana’s Edit: My Favorite Knits 2024
How is it a brand new year already?
As 2024 was wrapping up, I was really thinking about the things I loved making over the last year, what I wore repeatedly and what I want to make in 2025, because I seem to always be thinking about knitting.
Every year I try my best to learn a new technique or practice a new skill and 2024 was the year of intarsia for me. It was probably one of the more intimidating skills for me to learn because of all the yarn bobbins and balls of yarn in play and potential tangling.
But when I let my uptight, perfectionist tendencies ease up a bit I found that intarsia was just like colorwork but with a few extra twists. I made the Warp Vest, twice! Just so I could get the techniques down and I loved both of them. What’s on my intarsia list for 2025? The Last Cardigan because I still need to expand my cardigan wardrobe.
The Last Cardigan by shinysuperhero
This was my year of cardigans but I also knit a few vests that I loved. When Kay shared on Instagram Beth MacDonald’s version of the Agave sweater, but as a sleeveless vest I think I cast it on immediately.
It was just the kind of layer I was looking for and I even had a lovely cotton blend yarn in my stash to make it an all season appropriate piece. It is incredibly simple construction, a little bit of lace and a lovely curved hem that gives it just the feminine touch I was looking for. I’ve worn it on its own and over long sleeves and it’s become one of my most worn pieces this year.
What vest do I want to knit next? V Neck Chokki in a deep teal to wear with some of my super bright layers.
V Neck Chokki by Noriko Ichikawa
One thing about me is that if I love a pattern it will get made repeatedly in different variations of yarn. So far, I’ve knit six versions of the Lento sweater. I’ve given four away as gifts and made two for myself and the last one I made is probably my most dazzling version.
The Lento sweater is one of those patterns that is just easy to knit. You can hold either two strands of yarn together or a single strand of DK weight to make a slightly cropped raglan sweater that seems to look great on everyone I’ve ever seen make it (it’s like the universally flattering Love Note sweater that I’ve also made nine of in the past).
I’ve combined all kinds of yarns together for the Lentos I’ve made but my favorite one was the one I finished in December (pictured above) with a very fun and sparkly sequin yarn (Unicorn Tears by PRU Yarns). It was easy to knit with the sequins (they aren’t scratchy at all) and I’ve made a sweater that is dazzling and bright and that just makes me smile whenever I put it on. And isn’t that what knitting is all about? The joy!
So what will I make that sparks more joy? Probably more textural knits this year, especially with boucle yarn. I love all the new yarns out there that give me more than just a simple fabric. Sometimes you just want to mix things up a bit and add more interest to your outfit.
What are you looking forward to making this year?
I love all of these and I also would love to see what your dog got this year!
It always brightens my day to see your sweaters, Dana, and I’m always amazed at how prolific you are. Your sweaters are so beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Dana
I LOVE your use of color! (And your pink door 🙂
Thank you for your inspiration to try new things. I just retired and second only to travel, is my goal of advancing my knitting skills.
(I would also like to know where you get your awesome pants. )
Happy new year Dana! What a fabulous selection of sweaters. The green sequins are perfection and have got me thinking about my own 2025 knits! I’m working on The Classic, then moving on to Aiwa from Laine and then maybe a Dagmar sweater. All from stash!
OK, you’ve inspired me to drag out the unfinished sweater in the drawer, thanx!
I LOVE your sparkly lento. Thanks for the joy of seeing it, and for the recommendation – if Lento is as good as Lovenote, I’ll be investigating immediately! I adore your yellow trousers too. Love from Ireland.
I’m practicing being more optimistic (not an easy year for this) and your posts are such perfect inspiration! Your sweaters are gorgeous – and those yellow pants! Wow! Thanks so much Dana for your excellent posts – I would love them even if I wasn’t a knitter.
Thanks! You’ve now given me 2 more patterns (V Neck Choki and Lento) to add to my never ending knit-to-do list. Will this pleasure never end? Noooo
Last year I made two vests which are very much wardrobe staples… Weekend Slipover from PetitKnits and Summer Fog by Lori Versace. Thank you for some more wonderful ideas!
Thank you for sharing–it’s so fun to see what you’ve been up to!
Always impressive and inspiring!
And motivating!
Your enthusiasm is inspiring & your smile lights up those photos! What a great shot with the wings—great sweater too! I’m working on a modular shawl, my 2nd, will take a long time; finishing more hand warmers for friends; and, will try a new technique in one of the MDK field guides using one yarn carried with Kidsilk Haze then dropping the KH in places to create subtle shapes (not sure if a shawl or sweater yet). Always fun to dream about what’s next! Love your writing!
The sequin yarn is calling my name! I looked it up on the internet but did not see a US distributor. Could you please tell us where it is available here? Maybe MDK could begin carrying it (hint, hint)? Thank you.
Its always so fun to read your letters Dana, creative and inspiring. I love that you dive in and make sweaters on repeat using so many different gauge yarns, not easy and admirable!
Happy New Year, Dana! Your work is beautiful and your columns are inspiring! Keep knitting and writing! We do need them this year! Thank you for letting us know about Shinysuperhero! Her work is great!
Seeing your sweaters makes me think 2025 needs to be the year of the sweater for me. I got some Plotulopi in the year end sale to make (non-matching) sweaters for me and my husband. Somehow sweater making intimidates me, even though I can knock out a Westknits shawl in a couple months. I want to try the EZ formula first.
I’m getting ready to try intarsia – my son gave me a wonderful little book for Christmas with several botanical motifs and I’m excited to give it a try!
First up – an oak leaf cushion! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oak-leaf-cushion I think it’s sweet that he spent the time to pick a knitting book. I’m also charmed that he told me that if I liked it (intarsia) maybe I could teach him how. He’s a very proficient knitter – he knit his very tall girlfriend a suitably long scarf, and has knit so many beanies for himself and friends – I’m certain he can do intarsia, and I can too!
I love your sparkly sweater! Thank you, Dana, for brightening my cold, gray day here in MO.
Thanks for the new ideas for sweaters!
Dana – Happy New Year! Thanks for the great sweater ideas. You look good especially in that sparkly green number! Changed your hair style maybe?
I just moved to Kentucky from Interior Alaska, so I need to get excited about knitting with linen, cotton, and hemp fibers. However, we are currently experiencing the arctic blast, so I can carry on with all my squishy wool yarns for now:)
Thanks for your article. I just added the V Neck Chokki to my favorites.
Thank you for the inspiration! I didn’t know I needed to knit a sequined sweater, but after seeing your Lento, I realized I absolutely do 🙂
That sequin sweater is fantastic! what a great upgrade to a favorite pattern.
Dana you are such an amazing knitter! Your enthusiasm is so contagious! I hope to knit get back to sweater knitting this year. Thank you for the continued inspiration!
I think my next sweater will be a Brume with a boucle yarn in white.
Dana, you are so inspiring and delightful. Truly, reading one of your posts never fails to lift my day and inspire me to take on new knitting challenges. Thank you so much!
I love them all!
I love all of these potential sweaters, and your pants are amazing! I’ve made a lot of Love Notes myself, altering the sleeve length and body length to fit the weather. Unicorn’s Tears is now on my list of potential yarns.
You are absolutley AMAZING! I’m trying to source the PRU black unicorn yarn to bring a little sparkle into 2025. I have been charmed by all over color work sweaters. I casted on a mosiac sweater just after the new year! This year, I am also commited to freeing up my needles (by completing my WIPs or Frogging). This wintery weather has certainlty motivated me to get me needles moving.
I love you, Dana. Reading your columns definitely brings joy. Happy New Year!
Always beautiful. I love your playful approach to color. I am always amazed by your ability to knit so many sweaters!
You are always so inspiring, Dana. I have trouble finishing one sweater in a year and keep turning them out. 🙂
And you leave me with things to consider making. Thank you
Priscilla
Love to see your creative work. Thank you.
I see two Love Notes patterns on Ravelry. Are you talking about the one from Tin Can Knits?