The term “ugly sweater” dates back to the early 1980s when thrifty gift-givers in North America began recycling out-of-style sweaters for the holiday season. Wearing a thrifted sweater became a festive joke among friends, family, and coworkers, who donned homemade sweaters covered in reindeer, snowflakes, and other holiday accouterments.
Ugly sweater parties surfaced in the late 1980s, with participants vying for the title of the “ugliest sweater. ” Chances are you’ve participated in this festive tradition and even purchased an ugly sweater of your own.
Today, ugly sweaters are all the rage. Designers create ugly sweater themed prints, and even big fashion companies like H&M and Zara, who once shied away from turtlenecks and wool blends, are now making room in their holiday collections for ugly sweaters.
But more than a kitschy holiday tradition, ugly sweaters represent a kind of lo-fi DIY, collaborative culture. These sweaters have the power to bring people together, putting a smile on everyone’s face.
In a world of fast fashion and throwaway culture, ugly sweaters are a cheerfully ironic reminder that objects—and sense of style—have lasting power.
Why are ugly sweaters ugly?
Ugly sweaters are often seen as “ugly” because they often feature unconventional or outdated design elements that are brighter, louder, and/or more stylish than what is traditionally seen as fashionable.
These sweaters can feature a range of intricate or nonsensical designs, including Christmas themes, fun phrases, crazy patterns, and louder, brighter colors. They can also be chunkier than a typical sweater, often featuring puffier materials or embellishments like pom-poms.
The overall effect of this is that ugly sweaters stand out in a crowd, often at the expense of looking fashionable. So while ugly sweaters can be quite trendy, they are often viewed as being “ugly” or out of date because they are so far outside the boundaries of what people consider to be stylish.
What is the history of the Christmas sweater?
The Christmas sweater as we know it today has a surprisingly long and interesting history. Initially, hand-knitted “Woollen Jerseys”, or sweaters, were popularised in the late nineteenth century, primarily in Scotland and Ireland.
In America, these “ugly sweaters” really began taking off in the 1950s, with knitted cotton or wool garments becoming popular gifts from mothers or grandmothers.
However, it was only in the late 1980s that true “ugly Christmas sweaters” – often featuring garish designs, tinsel and other festive elements – began to see a resurgence in popularity. Around this time, “ugly Christmas sweater” parties began to take off as an alternative Yuletide celebration, bringing the sweaters out of the closet and into the mainstream.
Today, there are an ever-increasing variety of Christmas sweaters and other festive clothing items available on the internet and in stores. The “ugly Christmas sweater” trend has been embraced and taken to the extreme, with everything from light-up jumpers to (literally) inflatable clothing items available to the discerning festive fan.
From the bottom of our ugly Christmas sweaters, we raise a glass to the humble garment’s long history of keeping us both warm and stylish during the festive season.
Where did the Christmas jumper tradition start?
The Christmas jumper tradition can be traced back to the early 1900s, when sweaters were known as “pullovers” and were popularly worn around the holidays in the United Kingdom. At first, these pullovers were primarily seen as practical clothing items, but soon enough they were adopted in the holiday decorative style.
The practice of wearing the Christmas sweaters gained greater popularity during the 1950s with the increase of material production and the addition of holiday decorations, such as bells and snowflakes, to the garments.
This made Christmas jumpers more playful and fun and very popular in the eyes of kids and adults alike.
The Christmas jumper craze came back with a vengeance in the 1980s and 1990s, when the sweaters became a fashionable symbol of the holiday season. On the fashion runway and across the entire clothing industry, knit sweaters decorated with festive snowflakes, reindeer, Santas, and other holiday designs became the go-to holiday look.
This sparked the trend of people wearing these sweaters for parties, family gatherings, and simply around the home, leading to the wearing of the Christmas jumpers being an enduring holiday tradition.
What is a gansey pattern?
A gansey pattern is a traditional pattern found in British Isles seafaring sweaters. It features cable and texture patterns based off of ancient Celtic and Nordic designs that have been adapted to withstand being used in the marine environment.
Ganseys are knitted using closely-knit stitches that make a dense pattern, so it would offer strong insulation and protection against the elements. They have a distinctive construction, with an all-in-one shoulder and a vertical line of knit and purl stitches along the sides that become part of the intricate cabling.
This vertical line was known as a “seam line” because it closely followed the line of a boat seam and was easy for sailors to replicate. Gansey sweaters were initially made for fishermen, but now the traditional style is often seen in everyday fashion.
What is a yoked sweater?
A yoked sweater is a type of knitted garment that has a section of knitting set above the rest of the sweater to create a raised collar around the neckline. This style of garment has been popular for centuries and is often associated with traditional Nordic and British designs.
Yoked sweaters usually have an intricate pattern that plays off the shape of the sweater and the pattern of the yoke. This style looks great when paired with jeans or a long skirt and boots and can also be dressed up by adding a scarf or belt.
In addition, the loose fabric and relaxed fit of a yoked sweater can add warmth and comfort to any outfit.
What is a saddle Strip in knitting?
A saddle strip (also referred to as a saddle stitch) is a popular decorative knitting technique used to create panels of stitches that stand out from a garment, such as a neckline, cuffs, or hem. This stitch consists of a horizontal strip of knitted stitches, connected on both sides by vertical columns of stitches.
The vertical columns’ stitches rise and fall in alternation, creating a “saddle” shape. This saddle shape is where the stitch gets its name. Saddle strips can be worked with a basic stockinette stitch, garter stitch, or other decorative stitches.
For a more dramatic look, a combination of stitches can be used to create a unique texture. Saddle strips help set apart certain features of the garment, making it a great element to use for contrasting patterns or colors.
How do you top down when knitting?
Topping down when knitting refers to starting at the top of the piece and working your way down to the bottom, as opposed to knitting from the bottom up. This can be achieved by casting on the required number of stitches and then knitting the rows in the desired pattern, working your way down to the bottom of the pattern.
When knitting a garment such as a sweater, working from the top down can be beneficial for a couple reasons. To start, working from the top down allows for trying the garment on as you’re working to ensure the correct fit throughout the different sections.
Another benefit of working from the top down is the ability to easily adjust the fit of the garment by simply adding additional length to the bottom. It’s also possible to customize the size of individual sections such as the sleeves or body if needed.
The top-down method also allows for the opportunity to customize the neckline such as adding a ribbed neckband or shawl collar. Lastly, it may feel more satisfying to knit your way down as opposed to starting from the bottom, forming the piece towards the success of a completed project.
How can kids make ugly sweaters?
Making an ugly sweater can be a fun and creative project for kids! Here are some simple steps for kids to make an ugly sweater:
1) Find an old or plain sweater. This could be a thrifted sweater, a blank colorful sweater, or an old sweater from the back of the closet.
2) Decorate the sweater. Get creative here–let kids do the decorating however they want! They could draw on it with fabric markers, glue on sequins or rhinestones, attach old buttons or patches, or use puff paint to create a fun design.
3) Add ribbons and tinsel. Kids could add ribbons, tinsel, and other trims to give their sweater a festive look.
4) Add fun accessories. You could also let kids add fun accessories to the sweater. For example, they could attach jingle bells, pompoms, or mini stuffed animals.
With a little creativity, kids can make some really ugly, but very fun sweaters!
Can you wash a sweater with lights?
Yes, you can wash a sweater with lights. However, there are a couple of steps you’ll need to keep in mind before doing so or you could risk damaging the lights or sweater. When washing a sweater with lights, always use the delicate cycle on your washing machine and make sure to turn the sweater inside out.
You’ll also want to use cold water to prevent the sweater from shrinking and a mild detergent or soap specifically designed for washing delicate clothing. Make sure the lights are securely set on the sweater before laundering.
After washing, you should avoid wringing the sweater or using a machine dryer to dry it. Instead, hang the sweater up in a well-ventilated area to air dry.