Knitterview With The Vampire (part 1)
Welcome to post 1 of many about the knits I noticed in IWTV/TVL, with suggestions for patterns to recreate these looks. First up is Louis de Pointe du Lac's cabled cardigan from Season 1, episode 5.
Louis' iconic blue cardigan was the first piece of knitting that caught my eye in this show as something truly knitworthy. It's an all-over cabled raglan cardigan with sewn-on pockets, a double knit button band, and a shawl collar. Cuffs and hems appear to be knit in 1x1 rib, and if I had to wager a guess, I'd say this was made with a heavy worsted to aran weight yarn. It's knit in a gorgeous shade of blue that reflects Louis' mood.
This cardigan (and others like it) contrast sharply with Louis's sharp suits and businesslike attire (which tend to be in warm tones). In some ways it represents the softer, domestic side of Louis - but it also reflects his depression and need for comfort in any form.
The pattern that immediately sprang to mind for me is one I've wanted to knit for a very long time, Timberline by Jared Flood. Before Brooklyn Tweed ceased yarn production, I fantasized about knitting this in Shelter in their colorway Old World.
Just look at those gorgeous Timberline sweaters! The main difference is in the types of cables and Timberline's set-in shoulder, but it otherwise captures the effortless swag and domesticity of Louis' blue cardigan.
A close runner up is the Ashby Cardigan by William Hou aka Will Knits (left), which features a drop shoulder and multiple textures. Tamarack by Jared Flood (right) features moss stitch rather than cables, but has raglan shaping.
Three more pattern options (shown L-R) include Bee's Knees, Chocolate Stout, and Oban by Thea Colman, all drop-shoulder cabled cardigans with shawl collars.
For a yarn that matches the vibe of Louis' 1930s cardigan, I'd suggest a tried and true worsted spun variety such as Kelbourne Germantown, Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride, Cascade 220, etc. Any commercial yarn will do - the pattern is the central focus so the yarn matters less.
Funnily enough, as I really looked at the cardigans Louis wears, I noticed echoes of this style across seasons. In season 1 episode 2, he wears a dark grey shawl collared cardigan with an all-over rib pattern, while in season 2 he wears mostly soft, dark colored "athleisure" type clothes. Fast-forwarding to season 3, where he has a light blue, burgundy and yellow patterned cardigan, one can't help but wonder if his style reflects an integration of his business (warm tones) and domestic (cool/dark tones) personae, especially as he's sitting in a cafe waiting for Regina. However, it's made of mohair, so he's still self-flagellating.
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