The Holiday
Yesterday I watched The Holiday, a sweet but rather predictable movie starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and Jude Law (always easy on the eyes, if nothing else).
In the end, I was more interested in the knitwear the main characters wore than I was in the storyline. (Although, if truth be told, I didn’t miss much by losing focus on the plot for a little while in favor of figuring out the sweaters.)
As a matter of fact, I had to load up the movie again this morning and do some selective forwarding, reversing, and pausing in order to get some sketches of those sweaters. Lots of good inspiration there.
I was particularly interested in this cabled sweater, worn by Cameron Diaz.
It has some very clever shaping on the back, which both moves the cables around in a flattering way and provides some waist shaping. Very cool.
Also, it has a striking attached shawl collar/buttonband which is one large, bold cable. Then that cable is repeated in a smaller incarnation on the fronts and back. The wheels in my head are turning…
I myself have been having my own little holiday–hanging out at my parents’ house and dogsitting while they’re away for a long weekend. I get to hang out with their bassett hound, Izzy. (Or as Harvey tells people, “Izzapoo.” Her full given name is Isabella Maria.)
                                          “Aren’t I sweet? How could anyone not love me?”
She is very sweet, and it’s a good thing, too, because she is also very spoiled. My mother fixes her oatmeal every morning, and she has her own couch. I think she’s been a little unhappy this weekend with the lack of breakfast oatmeal. Yesterday, when I went upstairs in their house (where she cannot go because of the steepness of the stairs) to write my post, she got mad and started pulling yarn and knitting out of my knitting bag. I guess she showed me. (Well, I suppose she really did, since today I brought her over to my place to write this post, where I can keep an eye on her.)
You will all be happy to know that I have been working diligently on Rumpelstiltskin, and I am almost finished with the main body of the shawl. Just 2 1/2 more repeats to go, and then I’ll start the edging.
(That’s my parents’ couch that Rumpel is reclining on.)
Two and half weeks to go. Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.
Oh, and one more thing. I forgot to picture this yesterday in the roll call of my garage sale finds.
An Oneida silver pitcher. $5. Pretty, huh?
June 4th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
It was wonderful to read your post, Sarah, and to see Izzy. She may be a bit spoiled, but as your father says, “She spoils us with all her unconditional love.” I have missed you, Harvey, and Izzy and will be glad to see all of you tomorrow.
June 4th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
I was similarly enamoured with that cream sweater when I watched the movie as well – I can’t wait to see what you make of it.
June 4th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Izzy is a “little” spoiled? Um, can we talk?
But she is a very, very sweet and funny dog. In spite of being a shoe thief and an incessant howler and barker.
Rumpel looks great, Sarah!
June 4th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
So you think Izzy is spoiled by having oatmeal every morning? Your mom may think she knows how to spoil a dog, but she’s a rank amateur compared to us. My Andy has breakfast every morning (3 strips of chicken jerky and a lamb dog biscuit) on my lap, cries until Tool Man gets out of the recliner, and has his own pillow (in the middle) of our Californina King bed. Two things I know how to do very well: knit, and spoil a dog!
June 5th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I too was quite taken with Carmen Diaz’ wardrobe – in addition to the cable, lots of pastel wispy/drapey sweaters (mostly in the California scenes). My daughter remarked that she would love something like that, so I have been watching for patterns for EASY lace cardigans.
June 6th, 2007 at 3:21 am
I just watched that movie last week myself. I see knit items in just about everything I watch now. It’s like after the military I became super scrutinous about the appearance of Air Force uniforms on tv or television. Now, knit items just jump out at me!
I’m curious to see where the cabled sweater leads you…
June 12th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I’m really interested in knitting the cream cabled sweater if anyone knows where I can get the pattern I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks
June 13th, 2007 at 10:00 am
I laughed when I first read this post — I’d just seen the movie myself, and I, too, was staring more at Cameron Diaz’s sweater than at Jude Law even! It’s taken me a while to get back and comment … one of the downsides of Bloglines, I suppose.
June 17th, 2007 at 5:06 am
I too am very interested in that white cable-knit sweater, does it seeem to wrap in front or does it have a front clousure? I’m excited to see what you make of it.
June 18th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
It seems to have 5 buttons on the inside edge of the cables. I would guess that it would curl if there wasn’t some sort of snap closure along the outside edge of the cable.
June 24th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I was also particularly interested in the cabled sweater worn by Cameron Diaz in The Holiday” and I was intrigued by your work up of the pattern. I was wondering if we could put our heads together and figure the rest out? I think I am going to start it in cream colored Alfa (if I make it in bulky wt.) or Lamb’s Pride.
Please let me know what you think, I would love to hear more about what you have done w/ the pattern.
Thank you.
Erika
July 27th, 2007 at 3:45 am
any progress with a pattern for this cable sweater, there is also a lot of interest for a pattern here in the UK
August 1st, 2007 at 1:00 am
[…] 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.) […]