Sweater curse

Knitters use the term "sweater curse" or "curse of the love sweater" to describe a situation in which a knitter gives a hand-knit sweater to a significant other, who quickly breaks up with the knitter.[1] In an alternative formulation, the relationship will end before the sweater is even completed.[2] The belief is widely discussed in knitting publications and some knitters claim to have experienced it;[3][4][5] a recent poll indicated that 15% of active knitters say they have experienced the sweater curse firsthand, and 41% consider it a possibility that should be taken seriously.[6]

Despite its name, the "sweater curse" is treated in knitting literature not as a superstition governed by paranormal forces, but rather as a real-world pitfall of knitting that has real-world explanations and solutions.[3][7] Several plausible mechanisms for the sweater curse have been proposed, but it has not been studied systematically.

Contents

Existence

No controlled studies have investigated this phenomenon, and the available evidence is largely anecdotal, which is generally of low reliability due to cognitive bias.[8] Particularly important in this effect may be confirmation bias, as knitters may remember breakups more clearly after giving a hand-knit sweater, which represents a significant investment of money (typically over $100), effort (~100,000 stitches), time (as much as a year)[9] and romantic imagination.[4]

Proposed mechanisms

Although the existence of this effect remains uncertain, it is a common belief amongst the knitting population and several plausible and non-exclusive mechanisms for the Sweater Curse have been suggested within knitting periodicals and books:

Avoidance

For many knitters, making a hand-knit gift is an emotional experience, an extended affectionate meditation on the person receiving the gift.[4] A metaphor commonly used by knitters is, "I knit my love into every stitch."[12] Since giving too significant a gift too early in a relationship can evoke apprehension,[10] knitters have been advised to match the knitted gift to the stage in the relationship, beginning with hats, mittens, scarves, or socks before graduating to sweaters.[13] Many knitters wait until marriage before making a sweater for a significant other,[5][10][13] or ask their affianced to sign a "pre-knitual agreement".[1]

Common-sense advice to knitters is that they should determine whether the recipient would ever wear a hand-knitted sweater.[3] For example, a sweater may not suit the intended recipient's clothing style or it could make them uncomfortably hot. More serious problems include wool intolerance,[14] which is particularly severe in people who suffer from atopic dermatitis.[15] Knitters have also been advised to involve the significant other in designing the sweater (e.g. in choosing its design, colors and materials] and follow their suggestions, even if the knitter objects.[16] Several books offer practical design advice for avoiding the sweater curse.[3][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Stoller, Debbie (1994). Stitch'n Bitch Nation. New York: Workman Publishing. p. 120. ISBN 0-7611-3590-1. 
  2. ^ Sarah Kerner (2006). "Having a ball with knitting". The Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/solutions/stories/DN-nso_knitting_0417liv.State.Edition1.75c246d.html. Retrieved 11 May 2007. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Manning, Tara Jon (2003). Men in Knits: Sweaters to Knit that He WILL Wear. Loveland, Colorado: Interweave Press. ISBN 1-931499-23-3. 
  4. ^ a b c d Roghaar, L; Wolf M (2002). KnitLit: Sweaters and their stories. New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-609-80824-9. 
    Roghaar, L; Wolf M (2004). KnitLit (too): Stories from sheep to shawl. New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 1-4000-5149-5. 
    Roghaar, L; Wolf M (2005). KnitLit the third: We spin more yarns. New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 1-4000-9760-6. 
  5. ^ a b c Welsh, K (Winter 2002). "The sweater curse". Knitty 2. http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter02/FEATsweatercurse.html. 
  6. ^ "Who Are We? The Anatomy of a Knitter, As Revealed in the KR Polls". Knitter's Review. 2005. http://knittersreview.com/article.asp?article=/review/profile/050310_a.asp. 
  7. ^ a b Pearl-McPhee, Stephanie (2006). Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks. Storey Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1580178340. 
  8. ^ Podsakoff PM, MacKenzie SB, Lee JY, Podsakoff NP (2003). "Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies". The Journal of applied psychology 88 (5): 879–903. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879. PMID 14516251. 
  9. ^ Righetti, Maggie (1990). Sweater Design in Plain English. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-05164-6. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Sweater curse". everything2.com. 2005. http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1772702. 
  11. ^ a b Kit is Knitting (2006). "My thoughts behind the sweater curse". kitknits.blogspot.com. http://kitknits.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-thoughts-behind-sweater-curse.html. 
  12. ^ Pearl-McPhee, S (2005). At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much. Storey Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 978-1580175890. 
  13. ^ a b Durant, Judith (2006). Never knit your man a sweater (unless you've got the ring). Storey Publishing, LLC. ISBN 1580176461. 
  14. ^ Wollina U, Abdel-Naser MB, Verma S (2006). "Skin physiology and textiles - consideration of basic interactions". Curr. Probl. Dermatol. 33: 1–16. doi:10.1159/000093926. PMID 16766877. 
  15. ^ Bendsöe N, Björnberg A, Asnes H (1987). "Itching from wool fibres in atopic dermatitis". Contact Derm. 17 (1): 21–2. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1987.tb02638.x. PMID 3652686. 
  16. ^ Feeley, P (2006). "Avoiding the curse of the Boyfriend Sweater". High Country Knitwear. http://www.highcountryknitwear.com/tips.shtml.