Fun
Get Ready: Bang Out a Sweater 2026 Is Coming!
Dear friends in search of February fun,
Yes, it’s true! The longest-running knitalong in MDK history returns. Bang Out a Sweater is back!
This is your invitation to join us for a month of beautiful knitting—it’s going to be a perfect combination of pattern, designer, class, teacher, and yarn.
Mark the start date on your shiny new calendar: January 30, 2026—we’re calling it a head start on February. By the end of the month, our goal is to have a finished sweater. (Which month, of course, is entirely decided by you. The fun here is to knit boldly and it doesn’t matter, really, when you finish.)
The Plan
We all decide to knit a sweater together during the shortest, wintriest month of the year. The collective joy involved in this is hard to overstate. Over the years, hundreds of sweaters have been banged out. Lives and knitting arcs have been changed. New skills, new friends, the satisfaction of working and succeeding on a project together—so much fun.
The Pattern
The Waffle Pullover by Amy Christoffers, from Field Guide No. 29: Mosaic. The minute we saw this design, we knew it would be The One—our next bang-out baby.
It’s so good. Kay has already made one, and declared it a sweet, friendly knit; it has been her most-worn sweater this autumn/winter season, from Rhinebeck to the NYC Subway to the Willa Cather Prairie.
This is superb design, with a delectable texture that is fun to work, and a body-skimming fit that makes it a favorite all-occasion sweater. Office to evening, dogwalking to dinner, skirt to sweats—however you roll, the Waffle fits right in. No muss, no fuss, just cute.
It’s an undeniably great sweater. When you add in the fun, learning, and support of a knitalong, the idea is irresistible.
The Workshop
We’ve created a brand-new workshop for this.
Bang Out a Sweater: Waffle Pullover with Lorilee Beltman. Three Zoom sessions, two hours each, will lead you through the steps to make this sweater. Tuition includes an ebook download of Field Guide No. 29: Mosaic, so you’ll have the pattern immediately when you sign up. Class recordings are sent soon after each session, in case you need to watch later, for as many times and for as long as you like.
The Teacher
The one, the only: Lorilee Beltman.
Lorilee is the OG Bang Out instructor. The accolades for her previous Bang Out workshops were five stars, off the charts, wow:
- I just delighted in the class. Lorilee is an exceptional teacher. Her organization is next level.
- Lorilee is the best online teacher I’ve “met.”
- Lorilee was fantastic and how she had her camera for us to see her work was excellent!!! So much fun, learning new techniques, customizing fit and trying new yarns!!!
- Lorilee is an amazing, patient teacher. Though I am not finished yet and did not really take advantage of the sessions live, I have the wonderful security of knowing that I have the recordings to refer back to!! Thank you, it was and is great!!
The Yarn
The Waffle Pullover can be made in a two-color or solid-color version, in MDK’s own Jane, a 100 percent British wool yarn, DK weight, made in Yorkshire, England.
Find size and yarn quantity information for the Waffle Pullover here.
Looking for great two-color combos? Have a look at the gallery up top.
Not to brag, but there has never been a palette more compatible and mixable than Jane. If you like both colors, they’re going to look great together in this waffle texture pattern.
As ever, if you’d like to use your own yarn, that’s totally great. There are many good options out there, including our forever love, Rowan Felted Tweed.
The Bang Out Conversation
We’ll be sharing and caring over in the MDK Society Lounge. If you’re an MDK Society member, this will be a good place to hang out as you bang out your Waffle.
How to Join
Register here for this class. If you’re a member of the MDK Society, you’ll save 10% when you use your member coupon code. (Members also get 10% off the yarn. And if you use your member’s $20 coupon, the membership math gets really good!)
Finally . . .
If you’re on the fence about taking a virtual class, here are comments from last year’s Bang Out a Sweater workshop.
- Thank you so much for these sessions. Each was more than worth the price. I have watched each 2+ times and am still learning from them. I will be referring to them in the future so am glad they will be available. Lorilee is amazing and most patient.
- Excellent instruction! I watched none of videos live (west coast/Alaska person) because the timing never worked BUT being able to watch the full recordings was great. I appreciate learning so many practical tips along the way.
- Hi, your knitting class was one of the very best that I’ve ever had. I’ve never done a sweater or used this type of yarn and I know I couldn’t have done it without your class!
Hope you’ll join us—sign up here!
Love,
Ann and Kay
Want to check in with all that’s on at MDK? Head over to the MDK homepage here.
Excellent choice. I love that sweater – knit it for myself and then my lovely daughter-in—law admired it and requested one – which came off the needles a couple weeks ago. Mine was higher contrast and hers was low contrast – both look great!!!! Not sure if I’m up for a third but……tempting – very tempting.
Amazing! And yes, the effect with two colors can be either vivid or subtle—or just use one color rather than two for another look entirely. Third time’s the charm?
Confession time: I have not knit for MONTHS. 2025 was spectacularly horrible and I’m thinking banging out a sweater is a good way to jumpstart good vibes for 2026. I’ve got some lovely Juniper Moon Farm BFL that I’ll use to make a one-color version. We shall see how I do . . .
For once I am on right side of fate having just ordered Jane last week in the Year End Sale. Hoping this bodes well for 2026 rather than using up my 2025 good fortune in the last 3 days. Either way, I’m looking forward to the class. Happy New Year!
So glad! Curious about what colors you’re using…
Pothos/Pathos as main; Cameo as contrast.
I am very tempted to join this one. Question for anyone who knows; does the waffle weave knit produce a 2 layer knit essentially and a warmer fabric because of that? It may influence the type of yarn I use, ie; less wool and more of a blend…
It doesn’t feel heavy; you only use one color per row, slipping the stitches in the color not in use.
Mosaic stitch is vertically compressed a bit denser and springier than a stockinette fabric.
The waffle weave produces a heavy fabric but I would not say it feels especially warm because of the looseness of the style. I think the Jane yarn is perfect for this project.
FYI, the “everything you need to know” pdf refers to what I assume is last year’s Bang out a Sweater event (Bolin Cardigan) with event dates listed as 2025. I sent an email to you but I see you are on break until next week so thought I’d point it out here in case anyone else notices and is confused!
Hi Wendy! Thanks for noting this—we’ll fix that and make sure everybody gets the proper pdf. Apologies for the mixup! So happy to hear you’re in the mood for a sweater—really touched that you’ll be with us!
Uh oh. The Navy (Celeste) is all gone. Will you be getting more in time?
Hi Deb! We have plenty of Celeste—a shipment just arrived. Please check back in the next day (if not sooner). Thanks for the heads up—it’s certainly a great navy, a popular color.
Since I’m just finishing up my main squeeze I may choose a different pattern for these festivities! These two seem too similar for back to back for me.
As ever, all banging out is welcomed! Curious to see what your pick will be, Stephanie.
Watch those raglan decreases! Don’t forget to warn them,Kay!
Lorilee has a fix to make this problem go away!
Perfect timing! I used my society bonus $ to buy Jane for this sweater a few weeks ago!
I might got back a season or two and do the Day Tripper while everyone does the Waffle. I already have the yarn. I have been a monogamous knitter lately but this might just break that habit.
I bought the pattern and yarn a while ago. Now that all the Christmas knitting rush is over I’m ready!
It’s probably obvious, but would you list the color names of the swatch pairs? Thank you.
Hi Deb! We’ve listed the color pairings over at the Bang Out a Sweater class page. Just scroll down at this link, and you’ll see them. One interesting thing about these swatches is that the effect changes a lot when you reverse which color is Color A and which is Color B. We knitted them two ways so you can see how this works. https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/shop/bang-out-a-sweater-virtual-workshop-with-lorilee-beltman/
Hi,
I would like to buy the pattern. Is that possible without taking the class.
Thank you
Definitely–the Waffle Pullover pattern appears in MDK Field Guide No. 29: Mosaic. Two editions available: print edition that includes a Ravelry download code for the ebook version. Or just ebook only. You can purchase these here on MDK: https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/shop/mdk-field-guide-no-29-mosaic/
Or you can buy the ebook on Ravelry:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/modern-daily-knitting-field-guide-no-29-mosaic
I finished this sweater a couple of months ago. It took me much longer than one month to knit as I am a slow knitter. I made it in Jane, Bluebell and Aubergine, and I love it! My only regret is that the neck keeps stretching, perhaps from the weight of the sweater. I should have used a smaller needle size for the neck. I’m thinking of 1) adding an elastic thread to the edge or 2) unraveling the neck and re-knitting with smaller needles. Recommendations?
I should have waiting for Lorilee’s class as I know her expert teaching would have helped me produce a better result.
I’ve read of folks adding elastic thread or, even, dental floss to a neckline!
Hooray! I bought the yarn for this last April, but haven’t even made the gauge swatch. I think this is just the push I need. I haven’t banged out a sweater since Stopover!
I have been waiting for this! Thank you! I hope Rowan Felted Tweed isn’t too scratchy on my skin. I have worn my Bolin cardigan all through the holidays. Thank you!
I have been wanting to make this sweater since the FG came out, and I’d even chosen my colors (Bluebell and Vista), so this is the kick in the pants that I needed to order the yarn. I’m excited for Lorilee’s class — she’s such a fabulous teacher! Thank you for posting about this event, and I sincerely hope everyone had a restful break at MDK. Happy New Year to all!
Will Lorilee be teaching the sweater class using the continental or English (throwing) method or both?