That sweater from “The Holiday”
You know the one I’m talking about. The white cabled one that Cameron Diaz wore in the charming little cottage in England.
It’s time for me to clear up a little misconception that seems to have arisen, all unbidden, on the knitting-blog world and taken on a nasty little life of its own.
Now, it’s true that I did watch that movie. I did see that sweater. I was intrigued by that sweater, and I did make a sketch of that sweater in my sketchbook (see above).
But I never, ever, intended to copy that sweater verbatim, as it were, and create a replica of it. In fact, I believe my exact words were: “Lots of good inspiration there.” (Emphasis mine and new.)
Nor did I ever intend to create a pattern for that sweater and publish it here on the blog or elsewhere.
Why? Because that sweater is someone else’s design, and for me, there’s really no excitement or pleasure in the exact duplication of someone else’s design.
I have a whole notebook full of pictures of garments I’ve torn out of magazines and catalogs, and another notebook slowly filling up with sketches of sweaters and garments from movies and TV shows. In every case, I chose those garments for one or more details that I find intriguing or creative. I look at those pictures and sketches for inspiration, for new ways of thinking about garments, for a jump-start to my own creativity.
I try to look at it in this way: “What specifically is it about this design that I find interesting or creative? Are there details here that could be used in my knitwear, and how could I make that work?”Â
I attempt to look hard at the details of others’ designs and think about not only how to use those details in my own way, but also what it is about those details that catches my imagination. Sometimes that process can lead me far away from the original source, as I attempt to reconcile the inspiration with the medium. Â
Now, that is not to say that there is anything wrong or bad in looking at that sweater from “The Holiday” and wanting to duplicate it. It’s just that it simply doesn’t interest me.
And another thing!  I hate the idea of good, intelligent knitters sitting around waiting for someone else to provide them with a pattern, when I know very well that you’re all quite capable of knitting that sweater or any other sweater that might strike your fancy.Â
Here’s how I would go about it:
1. Check out from the library or buy one of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s knitting books. Read it and take it to heart! Remember, if you want it, you can knit it! You do not have to be a slave to already-written patterns.
2. Take a good, hard look at the sweater in the movie. Rent the DVD and pause it in the scenes with the sweater. Write down your observations and make some sketches.  Ask yourself: “What is it that I’m really drawn to about this sweater? Is it the front band/collar? The cabling? The shaping on the back? The length? Some combination of these elements or all of these elements? Could I make my life easier by making a version of the sweater using some of those elements instead of all of them?” (And, just as an aside, the sweater might be more flattering to you without all those elements. I’m fairly certain it would be to me–I’m no Cameron Diaz.)
3. Buy a ball or two of good wool in a natural white and start swatching.
4. Take your measurements, get out your calculator, and crunch some numbers.
5. Start knitting! Measure as you go, and if you don’t like what you’re getting, rip it out and start over.
At the risk of sounding simplistic, that’s really is all there is to it.
Think of it this way: this is probably the one area in life where you can take a risk without endangering yourself or anyone else in any way. Â
If you want it, you can knit it. Brace up, little friend.Â
August 1st, 2007 at 1:40 am
Thanks for the pep talk. You make it sound easier than it is, I’m guessing, but it makes me think of what you said in the last post. Focus. Set Goals.
More thoughts on the “Holiday” sweater. You probably fixed your attention on the sweater to take away the sick feeling in your stomach from Cameron Diaz’ abysmal acting/miscasting OR all things are made intriguing and desirable by their proximity to Jude Law.
Just a thought.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:23 am
I am always a slave to patterns and wish I wasn’t! Also, I can’t believe that your previous blog about the holiday sweater would have caused so much controversy. People do get on their high horse about the strangest things…
August 1st, 2007 at 10:09 am
Good way to sum up the process. I’m just starting on those steps for a fall sweater!
August 1st, 2007 at 10:30 am
Well said, Sarah. I think that design work can seem really difficult, but in fact, there’s a lot to it that just requires a willingness to experiment, make mistakes, frog, frog, frog, and enjoy the process.
That won’t make all of us great designers, but I think we all can come up with something pleasing using elements we like and playing around….
August 1st, 2007 at 11:30 am
You are so right about that! I have always wanted to design my own sweater, but there are so many good patterns out there that I keep getting distracted! I’d like to do it to have a garment that is truly made for me, but also to prove to myself I can. Good for you, for give people a gentle nudge in the direction of independent knitter-hood!
August 1st, 2007 at 12:28 pm
I know the exact sweater you are talking about! I saw that movie on a plane and I keep coo-ing over that sweater. Enjoy!
August 1st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Excellent advice. It really isn’t terribly hard to make something up yourself, especially if you have an idea of how things ought to be constructed.
And that sweater from The Holiday IS adorable.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Wow, you mean there are people who knit from patterns? Whooooooa!
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I saw this movie about month ago and I have planned to knit similar sweater. I have even bought white yarn already. I was lucky to find your notes here. I found your blog accidentally while looking more pictures about this sweater. My blog http://www.isetegija.net/index.php?ind=blog&op=home&idu=6 in Estonian.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Yes, about the “set goals” thing–I tried to find a quote that I kept on my desk for the longest time. I’ll misquote it, but the upshot was that setting a goal sets into motion powerful forces in the universe. Goals make things happen. About the designing thing: I went through that with quilting. Quilted for 20 years then decided “I can design that” whenever I saw something I liked. Problem was, I didn’t (not, “I couldn’t). Finally decided to take that pressure off myself. I don’t need to be a designer. I don’t need to do it myself. I can just relax and follow the pattern. It’s not that I don’t think I can design–it’s just that I don’t need to pressure myself into that. Sometimes we need encouragement to try something new. Sometimes we just need to chill and take it easy on ourselves.
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:29 am
Being able to make changes to suit me is one of the reasons I knit…besides being fun. We won’t mention that I learned how to spin before I knew how to knit, so was growing stash regularly and needed a good way to use it!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
HELP HELP HELP
I am one of these boring people that knits only from patterns. I have just watched the The Holiday dvd and loved “that sweater” and would love to knit it. Is there a pattern out there somewhere!!!!!!!!
January 11th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Dear Sarah ,
Right now I’m watching that film and so delighted that I found the sketches of that pullover on your blog. Thank you very much .The moment I saw that pullover I thought that I must make it. I loved it . Thank you so much ……