Dana's Edit
New Year, New Knits? Nah.
Every year since I learned how to knit, I’ve challenged myself to learn new techniques, try new patterns and designers, and really push myself to diversify what I’m making.
But I’m going to be honest…right now, I just want what I want. Over the last fourteen years, I’ve knit (based on my Ravelry projects) 546 projects, and 331 of those projects were clothes. A lot of them were sweaters for family and friends—and a lot for myself.
When you’ve knit that many sweaters, you kind of know what you like to knit and what you want to knit more of. Why challenge myself when I feel like life is already challenging enough? What do I plan to make in 2026?
Raglan Pullovers
Some people prefer dropped shoulders or circular yokes but I’ve found I enjoy a good raglan pullover, especially if I want to just highlight a great yarn.
Last year I knit myself four of Jonna Helin’s Lento sweaters. It’s a satisfying knit that I go back to again and again. I have at least three other stashes of yarn I intend to make into a Lento. Honestly, it’s my when-in-doubt-just-Lento-it-out pattern.
Knit on big needles in a variety of yarn combinations and I have infinite possibilities of a satisfying knit that also looks good on me.
Another great raglan pullover that I want to knit multiple of is the Downbeat sweater by Elizabeth Smith. It’s worsted weight and has clear instructions to make it full-length or cropped. I have a stash of yarn in fun speckles and bright colors just itching to be turned into these simple pullovers.
Colorwork, Colorwork, Colorwork
I think the sweaters that bring me the most joy to make are ones covered in colorwork (exhibit A: my LiberTee I made last summer—see photo above!).
I’m most engaged in a project with all-over colorwork, so I’m looking at stranded and mosaic patterns that I want to throw myself into. I’ve had the Partner Pullover by Lydia Morrow in my queue forever and it’s time to finally figure out what vibrant yarn combo I can use.
And I’ve got the yarn already stashed to knit myself a second Pressed Flowers cardigan by Amy Christoffers. The mosaic knit pattern was so simple for me to memorize that it felt like it flew off my needles and now I want another.
Finishing What I Started
I also have a lot of WIPs that simply need sleeves or those last few inches on the body. Some projects may need to be unraveled so I can actually use the yarn for something that sparks joy—and some just need to be dug out and put in front of me to finish. I love wearing my knits but sometimes my brain can’t keep me from casting on whatever tickles my fancy at the moment.
I have enough yarn to last me a lifetime—but that also means I have enough yarn to make all of these things become a reality in 2026. So here’s to kicking off my new year with new knits from old favorites.
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Love a raglan!
Thanks for the links to new to me patterns- I need a cropped one!
Thank you Dana! I love your knits!
Yes, thanks, Dana, for these suggestions. I am now vacillating between making the waffle knit sweater featured for the BangOut (I already have the pattern!) and the simple Downbeat noted in your post. Despite knitting lots of sweaters for my daughters and a passel of grandkiddos, I have never init one for myself. 2026 is the year. Alas, having hand surgery this morning so everything will be on hold for a bit but your post is happily pushing my mind past that and looking forward to the making!
Gardenpoet — it’s definitely time to knit yourself a sweater, AFTER you are well-recovered from your surgery (good luck and good healing). I’m sure your family loves what you’ve made for them, but you are the one person to properly appreciate the work that goes into a hand knit sweater.
Oh, Dana, thank you! I always say “Yay!” to my cat whenever I see your name in my inbox. You are such a joy and inspiration! Many thanks to MDK for bringing you into my life.
Awesome! Thanks Dana! Sparked some new ideas for me!
I love your London tee❤️
Ditto
This was a good article! Some of these are new to me patterns and I want to try them soon. I have several sweater quantities of yarn in the stash queue and I thought this year could be the year of the sweater. The top down cardigan year to be specific. Happy New Year Dr. Dana!
Always love your post and creations! I too just want to enjoy the process and projects of my choosing. It’s what makes me happy! More coziness, warmth and joy – win win!
Thank you, Dana! I love your energy and point of view, and yes, I find myself going back to those things that I loved making the most. I’m going to dive into my stash and see which of these lovely sweaters will be on my to-do list – Lento maybe?
I get it, Dana. My challenging days have greatly subsided. Thanks for recommending some patterns in the “gentle”range. And thanks to knitting itself for bringing joy no matter where we are in our journey.
Love the sweaters..good ideas any you inspire me so much I will be watching for your new projects! Go girl..now off to the stash for me!
I share your love of color and have added these to my favorites list!
I have a large stash of variegated souvenir yarn…now some good options to really make it shine!
I’ve made the Pressed Flowers cardigan! And have enjoyed wearing it. I agree that it’s an easy pattern to follow. May need to make another one in different colors.
GREAT LiberTee!
All you comments make the sweaters too!
Dana, you are one of my inspirations. I have a lot of yarn to make sweaters, and I want to make these sweaters, and by golly, I can do it! Thank you for being so unabashedly a leader in the joy of knitting!
Love all these sweater ideas! Thsnks for a great article.
Dana,
I always love to hear and see the possibilities of knitting projects. You are always a sweater lover and you have knitted so many beautiful ones. What I love is that you know how to knit a sweater that fits you!!!
I’m ahead of you by 3 projects!
I do the same. If I find a pattern that becomes my favorite sweater to wear then that’s the one that I will make again. I do like a classic raglan pullover or cardigan in simple colors.
My favorite way of bringing in color is to use more than one yarn at a time. Since I’m one who loves buying cone yarns in luxury fibers I mix them up and the sweaters are wonderful.
Last year I did find out though that when you knit a 100% wool pullover you must remember that it’s not superwash.
Ask me how I know that………………..
Susan here who actually has studied textiles in college.
If it makes you feel better, I have been knitting for many years and recently turned my White/Red U of Wisconsin double knitted scarf for my brother into a lovely pink/red 🙁 (I used Soak and cold water….but obviously should have color tested….will definitely do this in the future (and also with the 2nd scarf that I am knitting)…guess I got away with short cuts for too long…but not this time.
When I first started knitting, I was consumed by the craft and would knit a sweater or something every six weeks.
40 years later, I have been through so many major life changing experiences, all devastating that I knit with only one intention and that is to enjoy the process and finish the item.
Love this! Yes, life certainly seems “challenging enough” at this point, and there is nothing more calming than sitting with needles, yummy yarn and a pattern that is fun but followable to calm oneself after a day of news. Thank you for giving me license to carry on.
I knit the Downbeat last fall and I can’t say enough great things about it. Really thoughtful, straightforward pattern. The fit is fabulous. Very happy with my sweater. I liked knitting my Lento, but not as much as the Downbeat.
I have had the “Lento” pattern in my library for awhile and have a yarn that I really want to use. However, when I reread the pattern after Dana’s post today, realized that it calls for yarn held double, a fingering and a lace.
This will be for myself and I live in a warm climate where fingering weight is right for sweaters. But adding a second yarn would make it too heavy for comfort.
How can I adapt this pattern to use only a single strand of fingering? My yarn tag has a suggested gauge of 28/4″, or 7/1″ on 2.5mm. It is Hand Maiden’s “Swiss Mountain Sea Sock”. My usual st st gauge is slightly below “normal” or a bit looser. The pattern guage is 15 sts to 4″ on 6mm/10, which seems incredibly loose.
Thank you for any suggestions or information.
I was going to say you could try going up a couple of sizes to compensate for a smaller gauge. Then I stopped short when I saw 15 sts. over 4”! On the pattern page it suggests size 10 needles, so essentially you are working with the equivalent of a bulky weight yarn.
I would advise you to abandon Lento as a choice for your fingering weight SQ. It’s simply too big a leap, even if Jillian might disagree. There are tons of lovely patterns designed for fingering weight yarn. You’ll find something you love.
If you’re in love with Lento, you could make yourself a sort of mesh sweater, knitting with your yarn to the specified gauge. It may turn out lovely… try a gauge swatch. Just keep in mind it will not look like the modeled sweater. Hope this helps!
I am really impressed by the amount of knitting you have done! I’m currently thinking about the bang out a sweater challenge because I honestly want to learn how to do a sweater! I have off and on the last 4/5 years been slowly doing socks so I would work up the nerve to do a sweater! However, even though I somewhat enjoy doing a sock, I have yet to find a sock pattern that I like. The sock pattern I have doesn’t really make me happy…meaning even Bigfoot would find the socks to big!
Thank you Dana. I too like to challenge myself with some new technique in my knitting each year. But I am taking to heart what you said about life being challenging enough right now and I know what I like. And as I turn 78 years young, my ability to use size 1 needles has gone with my perfect vision. I love sweaters knit on a size 5 needle or larger and so that’s what I knit. Thanks for your raglan suggestions and all your wisdom.
I am with you!
More knitting?
I’m terrified of trying to knit any thing structured. Those I’ve talked to say “just dive in.” I want to knit a sweater so bad. How does one truly know if a pattern is “easy” enough for that “very first” sweater? Love seeing your work and enjoy reading your articles!
Cheers for non-challenging knits, especially when current events make hope a challenge! Thank you, Dana.
I’m 80yo with plans to live to 100 in order to finish knitting my stash.
There also is 5 afghans to sew for my grands. My mom kindly left me enough circles for that project.
Xo
Me too! I am always so excited to see that MDK has a new column by you! Your enthusiasm is contagious! Keep knitting and writing!
Thank you for sharing! I’ll be making a Lento in Atlas Gracenotes held together with a silk sure lace weight. You should see and pet my swatch- it is divine.
You’re always an inspiration and I can’t wait to see your FOs!
Silk suri yarn. Darn auto correct.
Dana, I always love reading your column and seeing your beautiful knits. Such joy! I, too, love bright colors. But I got some lovely yarn in a knitting advent calendar last month that’s the color of beach sand and I’m loving a neutral for a change. It’s destined for a shawl with some slim stripes of bright colors. I’m branching out!! Like you, I’m trying to get some WIPs off the needles, but then…I discovered a gorgeous sweater pattern, shared it with a friend and now we’re both going to cast on something new. This will be the first sweater I’ve knit for myself and it’s going to be in bright blue. Yay!! Thanks for your joy and your wonderful sweaters.
Amen!
Thank you Dana, have always loved your sweaters. On investigation of Lento in Ravelr, I noticed a number of knitters mentioning that the pattern was full of errors. Did you find that as well?
Lento looks like a sweater that would be so useful and I have just the right yarn in my stash.
A few years back, I knit myself a Pure Joy shawl and have since knit it twice—both times were when I was incredibly stressed. In fact whenever things are difficult, I find myself turning to comfort knits.
I also love knitting the same patterns more than once. Looking at you Flax, Willa tee, Derecho tee, Lovenote, and Tolsta tee and many Hipster hats.