My Favourite Knit of 2024

As 2025 gets into gear, I’ve been reflecting on the knitting projects that brought me the most joy in 2024 and hands down, my favourite has to be the Fungus Among Us cowl, a gorgeous design by Mary P Hunt.

Mary’s designs stand out not just for their beauty but for their scientific precision. With a background in scientific illustration, she has a knack for creating knitting and crochet charts that are as accurate as they are stunning. If you haven’t explored her work yet, I highly recommend it. Beyond fungi, her patterns feature birds, moths, and even dinosaur skeletons, making them perfect for both science enthusiasts and fibre artists alike.

You can find Mary's Ravelry store here.

The Fungus Among Us cowl grabbed my attention the moment I saw it. The detailed fungal motifs are not just decorative, they feel alive, like a tiny ecosystem captured in stitches. It only took me two days to knit, thanks to the clear chart and simple instructions. For yarn, I paired two skeins of Malabrigo Arroyo: Marte, a rich striped yarn, in shades of red orange, brown and grey, and Sand Bank, a soft neutral. The combination turned out perfectly, with the Marte adding depth to the fungal details and Sand Bank providing the perfect backdrop.

This was my first time knitting with Malabrigo Arroyo, as it's out of my price range for larger objects, and I loved it. It is buttery soft, light enough for detailed colorwork, and gentle on sensitive skin, ideal for a cowl that sits snug against the neck. It’s also warm without being heavy, making it perfect for those crisp, chilly autumn mornings.

Wearing this cowl feels like carrying a bit of the forest with me, a reminder of nature’s quiet, intricate mystery, with just a hint of dark magic too. I couldn’t recommend the pattern or the yarn enough, together, they create a piece that’s as functional as it is enchanting.

Have you knit any of Mary P Hunt’s designs? Or do you have a favourite project of the year? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about it!