How To Knit Ryan Gosling’s Sweater from Project Hail Mary

If you’re a science fiction geek you may already be familiar with the movie Project Hail Mary, based on the book of the same name and starring Ryan Gosling.

What you might not have seen if you haven’t watched the movie yet is his character’s amazing knit cardigan, featuring fox faces on the fronts and full bodies of foxes on the back, as well as paw prints along the edges.

It turns out the original design is a vintage Mary Maxim knitting pattern, which originally featured wolves instead of foxes.

Chris Miller, one of the directors of Project Hail Mary, said the foxes were an important choice for the character, whose clothes are often marked with personal history (and sciencey dad jokes).

Mary Maxim has released a kit for making the fox version of the cardigan, which has already sold out, but there is a wait list for future kits.

The project uses bulky weight yarn and is considered for intermediate knitters. I assume it uses intarsia rather than duplicate stitch for the foxes (Tom Daley made a version that uses duplicate stitch you can see on his Instagram).

The kit offers two sizes, with a chest measurement of 38-40 inches or 44-45.5 inches (that’s 96.5-101.6 cm or 111.76-115.5 cm). The pattern and yarn are included but not the zipper you would need to complete the project as it is shown in the movie.

You can also buy the pattern not as a kit for the original wolf cardigan sweater. The original was published in the 1950s (the original pamphlet is shown on the pattern page and it is fantastic) and uses bulky weight yarn. It comes in four sizes.

This looks like a fun project and the knitting without the colorwork is probably pretty easy. If you make one I’d love to know how it turns out!

[Photo: Mary Maxim]

Whether you love the cottagecore vibe, are heading to a Renaissance faire, stitching something fun for your Halloween costume, or just want to keep cozy on your fall rambles in the woods, the Wandering Woods Knit Hood from Yarnspirations should be your next knit.

The skill rating is easy, and it calls for worsted weight yarn to knit the hood with an integrated seed stitch border worked in a contrasting color. The hood is worked flat and seamed, then you pick up stitches along the bottom to knit the cape portion.

The cape part is shaped just like a raglan sweater, with increases on each side of four points across the cape. If you’ve ever worked a raglan project before this will be simple for you. And if you haven’t you’ll be ready for your first raglan sweater after this project! The front edgings are worked at the same time as the body, and you’ll finish off with the contrasting bottom edge, as well as I-cord ties for the hood.

This cape is pretty short, just covering the shoulders, but you can knit it as long as you like and even make a full length cape if you’re going for high drama (and warmth!).

There are four size options for the cape, to fit a chest measurement ranging from 28 to 60 inches (71 to 117 cm). As shown the cape edges don’t meet in the front, so if that’s something you want you can work more increases, which will also make the project longer. I’d love a version that’s longer and with a fun clasp to make it even cozier, but you can make it your own way.

The pattern calls for Red Heart Super Saver, but this would be a great project to knit in wool or a wool blend for extra warmth.

You can grab a free copy of the pattern from Yarnspirations, and if you want to make it as shown you can also get a kit that includes the two colors of yarn you need and other supplies if you want them.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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