The Eye of Starfish

Holiday shopping often goes off the rails for me. It all starts very rationally with a plan and a list in November and then typically in mid-December (approximately 10 days before Christmas) something snaps and I start wildly buying gifts for myself along with “back-up gifts” (alternate sizes, selections) for others. And then when everything has arrived my reaction is, What happened here?

 

So, what happened here?

In the frenzy this year, I decided that a large boxy fishermen’s knit sweater from JCrew would look good on me.

It doesn’t. It makes me look like a starfish, or a person wearing a sandwich board sign — but it’s kind of charming and I think it will be ever so cozy on a cold day, so I kept it.

I promised I would show you and so I shall!

 

Allow me to demonstrate.

Here goes!

Unfurling
Starfish at full sail

 

Ok Ok Ok; it’s not the least flattering thing I own

 

Can we agree that no fishermen’s knit sweater is likely to be flattering? Bulky sweaters are hard. This one is, however, fun. It’s not a continuous knit.  It’s actually a patchwork of cabled squares. And, I think some of them have been felted, because the sweater is oddly stiff. I think I could set it on the floor and it would stand up, holding its shape.

See the patches?
Do you see now?

 

Hope you’ve been cozy wherever you’ve been during this cold spell! Brrr.

Sweater: JCrew x Anna October Patchwork Cable-knit Crewneck;  Pants: Prana Halle II Straight Leg; Shoes: Bass Weejuns

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5 thoughts on “The Eye of Starfish”

  1. I’m glad I’m not the only one who buys herself presents while shopping for presents for other people. I feel guilty about it, yet, I persist.

    I think the sweater is cute on you!

    Reply
  2. The sweater looks great! I love the patchy, asymmetrical cables, and the white shirt underneath helps it seem not too cropped. This is what my friend Susanne and I would call an “Ottawa” sweater (-25 C / -14 F here today), so I’ll be watching the sale and resale sites for this one, but S will probably find it first. 🙂

    Reply
  3. I think it looks better on you than on the model! Perhaps they have her in an oversized garment, which I think just looks sloppy. It looks quite tidy on you, and will certainly be warm.

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  4. If snuggly, the shape is so worth it. I’m a knitter and I’m telling you – this is an amazing sweater. The patchwork is wonderful!

    I do the gift thing too… I also wrap the gifts up and put them under the tree for myself. My spouse does it too… it’s called our “Fred and Ethel” gifts to each other. Still a surprise what the other one gets themselves!

    Reply
  5. I love it! I do the same thing, and nobody ever appreciates the duplicates I give them as much as I appreciate the ones I save for myself.

    Reply

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