Fun
Game On! Bang Out a Sweater Is Here
Dear knitters,
In case you haven’t been keeping track, February 1 is upon us.
The glorious day has arrived! At 12:01 am tonight, it’s the launch of Bang Out a Sweater, our knitalong in which we all crank out a whole, entire, complete sweater during the shortest month of the year.
This is the easiest Bang Out project ever: Jen Geigley’s smooshy, lovable Main Squeeze Cardigan featured in MDK Field Guide No. 12: Big Joy. It makes the most of fluffy, chunky Rowan Big Wool.
Up top, you can gaze upon a gallery of gleeful knitters who have already completed one. Just saying, Kay made her first Main Squeeze in a week, literally. And she is not a fast knitter, though a dogged one.
Taking the Plunge
Some have been plotting, planning, and swatching for Bang Out a Sweater since we announced it.
Others just woke up this morning and said to themselves, What the hell—LET’S DO THIS THING.
That’s the fun of banging out a sweater. Life falls away, and your spare moments are filled with knitting and friends old and new.
Order up the Main Squeeze Cardigan pattern here.
Pick out your Rowan Big Wool here. Or feel free to use whatever yarn you like. We will point out that we’re offering a sweet 10% off Rowan Big Wool when you use the coupon code MAINSQUEEZE at checkout.
We have size 11 and 13 double point needles here, and Addi Rocket size 11 and 13 circulars here.
All Are Welcome
MDK is an ever-expanding tent of knitting love that is open to all knitters, every day of the year. From Texas to Turkey, we welcome everybody who loves to knit.
An MDK knitalong is a great place to jump in and have a great time, yakking away and making new friends.
If you want to knit one of these sweaters, in good company, but don’t think you have a hope in heck of finishing in 29 days . . .
If you can’t start for another week so you think it’s impossible . . .
If you want to use a different yarn from the one used for the pattern sample . . .
If you know the basics of knitting, but you are not sure you can really knit a sweater . . .
If you’re not on Instagram . . .
If you just want to knit quietly on your own and read along . . .
. . . we welcome you.
This will be our fifth Bang Out a Sweater knitalong. The fun is in the trying, and the glory is in finishing whenever you finish. It’s a delight to see sweaters started three years ago pop up on the #bangoutasweater hashtag, or in real life.
We talk a good game about banging it out, but knitting is never really about speed. It’s about fun.
Sharing and Caring Ahead
Where can you share your pictures and ask your questions?
Three places:
- The MDK Lounge, in the thread “Bang Out a Sweater 2020: Main Squeeze Cardigan.” This is typically a very lively place, where you’ll get help when you need it and enthusiastic likes when you post photos of your progress.
- Ravelry, where you can share your photos in your notebook.
- Instagram, where we will use the hashtags #bangoutamainsqueeze and #bangoutasweater2020.
It’s going to be a great month!
Love,
Ann and Kay
Choosing a color has become my only obstacle. My LYS has the yarn in stock and my birthday is this month. And I have never done “A Bang Out “ so I am in and so excited ! At this time last year, I couldn’t feel the needles in my hands because I had a spinal surgery that caused a neuropathy. I can now hold tiny dbls.
That is something to celebrate !
Annie! What fantastic news—we’ll all celebrate this with you! Let us know how it goes (color choice is my favorite part of a new project). There’s already conversation in the Lounge: https://forums.masondixonknitting.com/t/bang-out-a-sweater-2020-main-squeeze-cardigan/4045
I’ve got gauge and I’m ready to begin! I’ve decided to knit Cristina Shiffman’s pullover version, but not as cropped. I’ve measured and marked and feel more prepared than usual for knitting a sweater (i.e. really trusting my measurements and giving them thought). I will cast on this afternoon….it’s rainy and cold here, which translates to perfect sweater knitting in front of a beautiful fire! Thank you for lighting my February knitting fire!
YAHOO!!! I cannot wait!!
I am using a different yarn, since I wanted my sweater to be machine washable and dryable. I have done my gauge swatch and am ready to cast on tomorrow morning. Since November 1, 2019, I have knitted three pullover sweaters, four cowls, and crocheted two ladies coccoon shrugs. I finished the last sweater yesterday, so my hands are ready to start something else. Being retired gives me plenty of time to knit, so I am confident about finishing this beautiful sweater in 29 days. I chose a gray similar to the sample, since it’s a wonderful neutral shade.
Is it cheating to count as a bang! kitchener-ing the underarms of Hélène Magnusson’s Gamaldags in Lettlopi? That and blocking, and then bang! I have a gorgeous sweater I can wear a few times a year in Dallas in the cold snaps! I may have to find somewhere cold to visit . . .
I love the photo gallery. Aren’t women modelling their handcrafted garments beautiful!! I’m still hoping to join in. Just need to work out how many yards of yarn I have then I will be able to work out what style I can do.
I’m ready to try this, again. First attempt, too small:(
I’m not going to be able to bang out a sweater this year BUT this weekend I am wearing my Liberty Tree sweater I banged out last year. I just love it and I learned a lot while knitting it.
I’m going with Cristina’s pullover version. Winding yarn tonight!
I really enjoy seeing the different colors and the different ease allowances. And fun to see ladies I met at Shakerag, too.
Well, what great timing! I have just re-swatched for my Superbulky Grandpa. (Pattern and yarn purchased last year.) I was inspired by the inestimable Dana Williams-Johnson right here one your inestimable blog! I have kept hesitating because, well, it’s a sweater, even if one on big needles that promises to go quickly. It will be good to have the virtual support of other sweater knitters. It’s what helped get me through my only other sweater, the Stopover by the (of course) inestimable Mary Jane Mucklestone.