Projects
Get Yourself a Knitting Group
I just got back from a whirl of a weekend in Nashville. I have been wanting to be in town for one of MDK’s monthly knitting parties at MDK World Headquarters, and the timing of the December 14 meetup and holiday gathering dovetailed with Team MDK’s holiday hibachi lunch, so off I went.
Thing I learned: there is no encouragement as encouraging as having a bunch of knitters you admire, admire your WIP.
Here’s The Kay’s The Twigs, at the precarious stage of sweater development known as the start of the second sleeve.
Bitter experience has taught that all my good work on this sweater could end up jammed in a bag for a couple of years, waiting for me to forget everything I ever knew about this project. I did not want to give myself permission to stray from the path of righteousness at this make-or-break moment, so I brought The Twigs with me to Nashville instead of starting some thing new and more airplane-friendly.
I got so much supportive feedback from the knitters gathered at MDK last Sunday that I am now fully committed and flying through the second sleeve. Thank you knitters of Nashville!
The top item on my list of things that worry me, because there are always things that worry me when I’m this close to the end of a project: fit.
I’ve tried it on, and in its unblocked state, The Twigs is short in the body on me. I’ll keep the faith until I’ve blocked it, but I’m girding my loins to unravel the bind-off and add length to the 3 x 3 ribbed hem. I have enough yarn, and I think a longer ribbed hem will look great; I just need the strength of character.
One thing I’m going to find out is whether I am a stylish puffed sleeve person. I think I am—I sure want to be!
About Those Knitted Letters
In the group photo above, I’m demonstrating how to knit the word HELLO in the Knit Hello typeface. Kelley Dew is looking on—casually, even indifferently—over my right shoulder.
Twenty minutes later, this was Kelley:
(National Treasure Jan Quarles looks on supportively.)
Later that same evening, this was Kelley:
Kelley Dew, go to the head of the class!
Details about Kay’s The Twigs sweater can be found here.
Join the MDK Society 2026 now and you’ll have a lot to look forward to. Early birds join for $99 through Dec. 31—and charter members renew at only $89. (Use that member coupon code!)
That’s pretty inspirational!
Love The Twigs sweater.
I’m intrigued by the headquarters. It looks like an aircraft hanger. Is there a mezzanine? Can you tell me more about it?
Wow, Kay. Considering those size 1 needles you must have been working day and night! Don’t stop now!!!!!!!!
Kay! You will look amazing in that sweater, and bravo to you Kelley!
I’m itching to get back to my Atlas stash to make some HEADBANDS with my favorite words of the year.
Encouragement from my beloved online knit posse has led me to complete a few lingering projects – rather than stow them away… I’ve been wearing the heck out of my Jane pullover!
Hoping for many more FO’s in 2026 :fingers crossed:
Holiday love to all. x
Headbands!
Headbands????? Nell I demand an MDK piece telling me how to make a Knit Hello headband with my 2026 word of the year—whatever it might be. Can you and Ann and Kay make this happen?
YES!
Puuulllleeeez! I will grow my hair out for this
Re lengthening the Twigs – you could rip back the ribbing and add another narrow color border (or 2) under the last motif – then do your 3” rib.
I think you need a new second sleeve attitude! I love second sleeves, the first one is a constant worry – about fit, how will it look, is my row gauge ok (often not – which means rethinking decrease rates), is it too long, too short, etc.
And then the second sleeve! I’ve got all my notes, know it’s all ok, and I can sail through the knitting in half the time. No try ons, no worries.
Sweater looks beautiful!
Love the Twigs! Can’t wait to see you model it for us!
Your Twigs is just killer Kay!!! Can’t wait to see the glamour shots. And from what I’ve seen in her feeds I’m pretty sure Kelley Dew can make anything!
The Twigs is stunning!! Can’t wait to see you modeling it—you inspire all of us! My knitting community (Tuesday afternoon knit together at The Craftivist in Atlanta) is the reason I am still knitting and inspired to do the hard stuff!
That sweater is gorgeous! The color you chose is one of my favorites. I know you will love wearing this. I have a suggestion for a future column. If you choose to lengthen the sweater, would you please post how you did it? I would love to know how. Thanks! And Happy Holidays to all of MDK.
I was lucky to be at MDK HQ on Sunday and got to see the Twigs sweater line and in person. It’s beautiful Kay!
That was supposed to be live and in person.
The sweater is looking gorgeous! I have a knitting group. We used to meet in person, before Covid. We started zooming to get ourselves through. Now we are spread out all over the country, so still zooming. It’s not the same as meeting in person, because different conversations can’t take place at the same time, and techniques can’t be shared as easily, but we’re still going strong. We need each other. Some of my best friends were made in this group. Knitters “get”each other.
Holy moly, that is a thing of beauty!!!!! The indigo just makes the pattern sing!
I’m still dreaming about Kay’s Twigs and still knitting letters too. Thank y’all for a fun afternoon!❤️
1. YES to get a knitting group – or three – we need community, we need creative and intellectual stimulation, we need love and support, we need to knit! B. YES to the headband for our 2026 word of the year, and let’s optionally make it wider for use as an ear warmer. Thank you all for creating and fostering this MDK community!