***EDITED ON JANUARY 15th to add the pattern at the end of the post***
Have you ever seen the movie - The Fog? It stars the very purdy Tom Welling as a fisherman in crazy peril. The movie was just OK but a bright spot was spying a sweater purdy Tom wore:
Matt said, "Hey, I like that sweater. Could you knit me one like it?" Foolish, foolish me said, "Sure. It looks easy enough." Many many days and weeks of 4x2 and especially 1x1 ribbing torture later, my interpretation of the sweater is completed:
The color is slightly different than the one in the movie, and the turtleneck isn't as long, but I think it looks pretty good, right?
Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, copious notes, rewrites, reknits, cursing and there you have it. This book is seriously awesome. Math? Bah! The math's all done for you in the book. You just have to do the designing. I think that purdy Tom's sweater had set-in sleeves but I didn't want to fuss with 1x1 rib in a cap shoulder so I made Matt's sweater a modified drop-shoulder one:
The sleeves were knit extra long so that Matt could roll them up:
The sweater was knitted with Cascade Ecological Wool in silver on US #7 and US #8 needles. I only used the US #7 needles for the hem to make it tighter so it pulls in at the bottom:
I'll say one thing, all that ribbing sure makes the sweater warm. Matt said that it's now going to be his skiing sweater, his everyday sweater, his favorite sweater. I believe all the work was worth it. He's very happy with it. Me too!
Oh, and yes, I think Matt is purdy too!
Thanks for all the interest in the pattern! This is my first sweater pattern so please e-mail me if you find any errors or have any questions. Here it is:
Great job on the sweater. It turned out beautifully. It is better than the one in the movie. It's made with love:)
Posted by: Jenny Girl | January 10, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Hi, I have been reading your blog for a while and just impressed by what you knit, but this one is sooo special! It looks gorgeous on him. Your ribbing encouraged me to go on round knitting on my hubby's sweater. Hopefully I can succeed, too.
Posted by: mapleknits | January 10, 2008 at 01:35 PM
this looks GREAT!!! I would love to see that pattern and seriously make it for me and my bf in a few colors!!
LOOKS GREAT!!
Posted by: laura | January 10, 2008 at 01:39 PM
GIRL!!! You are amazing!!!!!
That looks GREAT!
Posted by: Pensguys | January 10, 2008 at 01:44 PM
That looks awesome. Great work! There's nothing nicer than a hand knit becoming a FAVORITE item! 1X1 ribbing = lotsolove :)
Posted by: Lisa | January 10, 2008 at 01:52 PM
Awesome. That is all. Awesome.
Posted by: Mandy | January 10, 2008 at 01:53 PM
The sweater would be great in itself but is obviously made even better by the good-looking model ;-)
And then I spotted the background scenery - is that near where you live? Give me some mountains - it's all gently hilly here (and that's putting it kindly) and snow? we had a few ice crystals here a few weeks ago - give me some proper snow!
Posted by: Cybèle | January 10, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Saw this on Flickr and had to come over to read all about it! It's fantastic and your knitting is impeccable!
Posted by: Alice | January 10, 2008 at 02:14 PM
You've done a fab job on this jumper...I don't know who looks the most hunky in it either! I still love Cobblestone...
Posted by: Marianne | January 10, 2008 at 02:16 PM
I absolutely love this! Well done!
Posted by: SJ | January 10, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Woops. Just correcting my link. Still loving the sweater. :)
Posted by: SJ | January 10, 2008 at 02:19 PM
very, very pretty. Is the ecological wool soft?
Posted by: lekkercraft | January 10, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Wow! What a great job! I love that Ecological wool! It knits up great!
Posted by: cactusneedles | January 10, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I think Matt qualifies as "purdy". And the sweater DEFINITELY does. Nicely done! :D
Posted by: Ella | January 10, 2008 at 02:42 PM
That is gorgeous, Tiennie! The drop shoulder is much nicer than the set in sleeves, I think. Great job!
Posted by: Karen in Toledo | January 10, 2008 at 02:50 PM
There is a special satisfaction in working a pattern out from just a look at something else isn't there? Congratulations on such a successful project on all fronts!
Posted by: Marie | January 10, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Holy criminy, great job!!! Your versions (sweater, model) could easily stand up to the silver screen. And isn't that book the best?! SO handy.
Posted by: Amy | January 10, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Wow! If not for the blog post, I'd have assumed you found somewhere to buy the movie sweater! Color me impressed, once again. Excellent work
Posted by: Stacee | January 10, 2008 at 03:20 PM
That's a really good interpretation of the sweater. Incredible work. :D I hope he wears it to death.
Posted by: Sacha | January 10, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Yowza! You really are amazing. The sweater is gorgeous, and I am so impressed that you designed it yourself. How nice that your man appreciates your fine work.
Posted by: Cecilia | January 10, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Pretty good? Wow, it looks GREAT!!! Better than the one in the movie, imo! Congrats, Tiennie! :)
Posted by: Saffron | January 10, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Oh my gosh! I just saw this on Ravelry, but I had no idea that you designed it yourself! It's amazing! You go girl....
Posted by: SamSam | January 10, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Wow Tiennie! This post is fabulous - the sweater, the mountains and the men are all gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Kirsten | January 10, 2008 at 03:42 PM
There's nothing better than putting a lot of work in your project and knowing that it's loved. It looks fantastic on him and I like yours better than the one you copied.
Not that my hubby wears sweaters, but are you considering publishing the pattern?
Posted by: ~Kristie | January 10, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Nice job! That turned out great! Now, can you write up a pattern?! LOL
Posted by: Jenni | January 10, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Amazing sweater, and background! Great job!
Posted by: Erin | January 10, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Beautiful! I, too, like it more than the movie version. Isn't Ann Budd's book amazing?
Posted by: Brie | January 10, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Tienne, you have excelled yourself with this one, the jumper I mean ;) your man is pretty hot too, hehe!
No seriously that is a fabulous mans sweater and I encourage you to write up the pattern as it is a beauty.
Posted by: Sharon | January 10, 2008 at 03:53 PM
What a fantastic sweater- and I especially love the photographs you took of Matt with the mountains in the background! Incredible!
Posted by: Dana | January 10, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Wow, gorgeous sweater. I can't imagine doing all that 1x1 ribbing, but I think the final result is certainly worth it. Well done!
Posted by: Dave | January 10, 2008 at 03:57 PM
beautiful! I could so see my sweetie wearing this, but only in the mountains.
Posted by: chrispy | January 10, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Great sweater...it looks amazing! I agree with some of the other folks that the pattern should be added to the list of fabulous men's sweaters!
Posted by: Rachel | January 10, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Your sweater is definitely much nicer than the one in the movie -great job & Matt looks great in it. I am sure all the designing efforts paid off.
Posted by: Ann | January 10, 2008 at 04:08 PM
What a great sweater! You did an awesome job.
Posted by: Leslie | January 10, 2008 at 04:11 PM
What a fabulous interpretation of the sweater! All that ribbing... you must love Matt very, very much.
I'm blown away by the beauty of the photo shoot.
Posted by: Jodi | January 10, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Just gorgeous! You did a wonderful job of making that sweater - it looks fabulous on.
Posted by: MrPuffy | January 10, 2008 at 04:14 PM
What a handsome sweater! So, when can we expect a pattern? Hee! Truly amazing!
Posted by: Tanya | January 10, 2008 at 04:23 PM
Wow! That looks pretty great. Love the mountains in the background, too!
Posted by: Kelley | January 10, 2008 at 04:24 PM
I have no words. Just beautiful.
Posted by: Jeanne B. | January 10, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Umm...Amazing! It looks better than the stills. I especially love the rolled sleeve feature. Fabulous! You are a knitting genius, tiennie!
Posted by: Kara | January 10, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Just gorgeous. I can't show Rick or he'd be too jealous - and he doesn't like turtlenecks. Wow.
Posted by: Julie | January 10, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Wow, it's almost a dead ringer for the sweater in the movie! I hope Matt appreciated all of the (extra) effort that a self-designed sweater takes. I mean, he's wearing a Tiennie original! (and yes, to second all the above posts, he is quite purdy indeed)
Posted by: Bella | January 10, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Wow! That is one beautiful sweater. What a lucky guy you have!
Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | January 10, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Beautiful!!!
I wish my husband was a sweater kind of guy-
Posted by: rene' | January 10, 2008 at 04:44 PM
WOW Tiennie! What a handsome sweater - I like your version better than the original. Dave has pointed out sweaters that he liked, but I've never even attempted to make them. You are a good sweater designing/knitting wife!!! Beautiful job!
(and I love The Handy Book too)
Posted by: Pat | January 10, 2008 at 04:46 PM
I have been really curious about that Ecological Wool--it looks fantastic and the sweater is gorgeous, I'd say you've got a new Cobblestone on your hands!!
Posted by: Heather | January 10, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Another awesome knit!!
Posted by: Nurseshar | January 10, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Great job on the sweater. I've never seen the movie and based on your pictures it looks like you pretty much got it totally right!
Posted by: Bea | January 10, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Oh wow! That looks amazing! I like your shoulder better too! Wonderful job! That looks SO cozy!
Posted by: Jess | January 10, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Beautiful job on the sweater!! How lucky your are to have such a photogenic hubby who loves to wear your fabulous knits!
Posted by: Ruth | January 10, 2008 at 04:58 PM