Dana Williams-Johnson

College Professor · Clinton, Maryland

Dana Williams-Johnson knits every day. Her claim to knitting fame is knitting 27 sweaters in a single year. When not squeezing skeins of yarn or knitting, Dana is working as a professor in Marketing at Howard University in Washington, DC, or spoiling her rescue dogs, Jellybean and Kiwi. Oh, and she spends time with her husband, too.

Knitting is what brings Dana joy, and she shows that through her use of color (hello, rainbows) and modifications of favorite patterns into replica sweaters for her dogs.

You can read about it all on Dana’s blog, Yards of Happiness, and watch her video podcasts on YouTube.

Dana Williams-Johnson's Networks:

Contributions From Dana Williams-Johnson

Dana’s Edit: Busy Hands

When you love to knit big things, it can be hard to go small.

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Dana’s Edit: My Favorite Knits 2024

A year of sparkle and intarsia is in the books. What's your joy for 2025?

Dana’s Edit: Doodling My Way Into 2025

New fun: a card deck of little colorwork motifs. Endless opportunity awaits.

Dana’s Edit: A Steeked Sweater

Face your fears and pick up your scissors to make the garment you want.

Dana’s Edit: Tackling Intarsia

Dana is in her intarsia era.

Dana’s Edit: For the Love of Cardigans

How dare you insult cardigans!

Dana’s Edit: Sweater Bingo

You heard it here first: Destination Sweaters are the hot new thing!

Dana’s Edit: Keepsakes

All creatures great and small deserve an heirloom handknit.

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Dana’s Edit: Finding Joy

What's the one feeling your knitting should inspire?

Dana’s Edit: Follow Your Whims

The heart wants what it wants—and sometimes it wants to take its time.

Dana’s Edit: Transitions

A favorite sweater spotter spies 4 ideas for your springtime sweaters.

Dana’s Edit: For the Love of Knitting

Matching your knitting project to the recipient is a superpower.

Dana’s Edit: How to Help a New Knitter

There are two simple rules for knitters, no matter where they are on their journey.

A Sweater for Kiwi

Lucky us. Dana takes us on the journey whipping up a wee warmer in Atlas.

Dana’s Edit: Coven Cardi

Shay Johnson's pattern for a brightly stripey autumn is for you ... and your familiars.

Dana’s Edit: Knitting Together

The joy of the mini-knitalong! Three patterns to knit with your fiber friends.

Dana’s Edit: Knitting the Rainbow

Four sweaters to knit in every shade of vivid.

What Do You Do When You Cannot Knit?

On feeling the love and healing that come from handmade gifts.

What We Do Makes an Impact

Reflections on the ripples of a post one year ago.

Dana’s Edit: In a Steek State of Mind

When you learn a new thing, you want wonderful ways to put it into practice.

Dana’s Edit: March Renewal

Spring forward with four fresh pattern picks.

Dana’s Edit: Mood Boosting Knits

Three designs to lift your mid-winter mood.

Dana’s Edit: Taking Comfort in the Known

Dana shares tried-and-true knits for kids.

Dana’s Edit: Holiday Knitting Plans

On plans that let in the light.

Dana’s Edit: Hope in Every Stitch

Keeping on—with hope.

Dana’s Edit: Dog Sweater Weather

It's sweater weather—lucky dogs.

Dana’s Edit: Coping with Stress

Coping strategies for stress, isolation, and shortening days.

Dana’s Edit: Representation Matters

Existing in a space where you feel comfortable isn’t just for white people.

Dana’s Edit: A New Direction

Let's be fearless together.

Dana’s Edit: See Me—Not Just What I Knit

Would you demand justice for me?

Dana’s Edit: Spring Is in the Knits

Knits to make your heart sing.

Dana’s Edit: What to Knit During a Pandemic

Soul-soothing knits to brighten long days at home.

Dana’s Edit: Vested Interests

A sweater knitter gears up for a sleeve-optional season.

Dana’s Edit: All About Love

Love is in the air. Even better: sweaters!

Dana’s Edit: 2019 Sweater Recap

A busy year didn't stand in the way of a lot of great knitting.

Dana’s Edit: Quick and Cozy

Even a recovering reindeer can fly through one of these speedy sweaters.

Dana’s Edit: Lady Sweaters

Four patterns to put some sizzle in your sweater collection.

Dana’s Edit: It’s in the Details

A small detail or special something can move a pattern to the top of the queue.

Dana’s Edit: Give Me All the Colors

Patterns that make it easy to get some color in your knits.

Dana’s Edit: Fall Transitions

The temperature: sweltering. You know what that means: time to think about wool!

Dana’s Edit: Cotton + Colors

When temperatures rise, a sweater knitter turns to cotton for her color play.

Dana’s Edit: Tank Tops

You don't have to fight for your right to party (in sleeveless tops).

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Dana’s Edit: Short Sleeves

The secret to a quicker knit and a cooler wardrobe.

Dana’s Edit: Four Spring Sweaters

Looking over the shoulder of a prolific sweater knitter: what will she knit next?

164 Sweaters: Knitting as an Act of Resilience

What happens when a knitter stops letting fear get in the way.

164 Sweaters: Knitting as an Act of Resilience

What happens when a knitter stops letting fear get in the way.

Custom Dog Sweaters: A Formula

When your sweater is really just a swatch for the main event: your dog's sweater.