Knitch Magazine

Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson in the new Sherlock HolmesDr. Watson sweater pattern by Trudi Brown of the UK. Photo by Caitlin Stevens.Call it the case of the cable-knit clamor: a contemporary version of Sherlock Holmes arrived on PBS in October, with loyal sidekick Watson (played by Martin Freeman) attired in an oatmeal-hued, cabled pullover. Forget whodunit: The Internet rippled with knitterly cries of “I want to knit that!” A hunt for the pattern and perfect yarn was on—and even Sherlock has no clue how many knitters are replicating Watson’s look. “If I knew earlier that sweater would be huge, I would have requested more photos during production,” says Olivia Wong of WGBH TV, who handles publicity for PBS’s “Masterpiece Mystery!” franchise.

Watson’s pullover isn’t the only hot pick from the tube. “Today Show” host Hoda Kotb’s buttoned shrug set viewers clicking through cyberspace to find their own version of the warmly flattering piece.

Because knitters often knit while watching TV, there's a sharp awareness of knits on TV, leading to a stitch-by-stitch version of a director’s commentary.

Mitten pattern by Rachel Bearse of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.The flowing scarf on Detective Kate Beckett (actress Stana Katic) of “Castle”—looks hand-knit, but would brusquely busy Beckett ever knit anything? Those must-have red Maple Leaf mittens at the Vancouver Olympics, why buy a pair—so popular, back-orders stacked up till spring—when we can knit our own!

Wait, was that a blue Debbie Bliss Riding Jacket on Patricia Heaton in “The Middle” (at last, a flattering look for this harried sit-com mom!)? A chunky knit hat on a local anchorwoman standing in a snowstorm—- cute accessory, or too juvvie ? (Note to anchorbabe: Wanna get to the network? Would Riding Jacket from The Big Easy by Debbie BlissDiane Sawyer wear a pink braided cap?). Check it: Kyra Sedgwick in a bulky, cabled cardigan as “The Closer” nabs another confession. That pastel striped shrug on the woman in some commercial—you may not recall the product (Cell phone service? Dog food? ) but you definitely want that shrug.

And TV’s most famed hand-knit has to be the familiar cardigan worn by the iconic Fred Rogers. Knitted by the mother of “Mr. Rogers,” it’s now on display at the Smithsonian.

Berroco's Fatissim DesignFrom the jewel-tone mohair berets on actress Patricia Routledge in “Hetty Wainthropp Investigates,” to the spiral scarves of those “Related” tweens, primetime brims with purls and knits that catch the fancy of knitters. Even a TV rerun of theatrical film “The Devil Wears Prada” offers a glimpse of actress Anne Hathaway’s bright green garter stitch purse—the twin of Berroco’s Fantissimo design.

Vintage TV programs offer plenty of classic knits. Remember Sharon Gless’s intricate ski sweaters on “Cagney & Lacey,” the landmark female cop drama? Didn’t every kid on the block cheer as young Jerry Mathers schemed to shed a knitting aunt’s gift on a vintage “Leave it to Beaver”? And multicolor, dazzling pullovers were as much a part of “The Cosby Show” as Dr. Cliff Huxtable’s wit.

Oh, the padded-shoulder glory of “Dynasty!” Joan Collins and Linda Evans displayed the art of subtle warfare while wearing glam gowns and sparkling, stylish knits. When a Joan Collins sweater appeared in a popular magazine, “EVERYBODY had to have that sweater,” recalls Peggy Schmidt, whose late-80s knitting boutique specialized in chic styles and trendy yarns. The sweater, a lush medley of angora and novelty yarns, had customers lining up at the door. “We went through boxes and boxes of angora,” Schmidt says. “And people were always asking me to recreate looks they’d seen on TV. I once did the Virginia Slims sweater that was also featured on their billboards.”

In this text-message-happy millennium, knitters no longer head for their LYS, or hope a magazine showcases their fave must-have look. They tap the Internet when they’re inspired by a TV knit. That gray horseshoe cable sweater on “Private Practice”? Yes, you can knit your own knockoff!

If you like the lovely knits on British import “Foyle’s War,” the elegant period drama that graced PBS for several years, an entire Ravelry discussion group awaits. You’re not alone in noting the pretty feather-and-fan top on Sam (actress Honeysuckle Weeks), or the floral embroidered sweater adorning a victim in the series’ first episode. While there is no “Foyle’s War” pattern book, links to timeless designs let you bring home the understated lines of those 1940s looks.

Occasionally, knitting itself takes the TV spotlight. Yes, we know that Miss Marple knits. Virtually every incarnation of Agatha Christie’s sleuth shows her knitting, even if some actresses (no names here!) portraying her are less believable when casting on. But does Miss Marple ever cruise a yarn shop, or finish a project? Or is she too busy nosing into police procedure to follow a pattern?

The quirky, now-defunct, series “Pushing Daisies” starred actor Chi McBride as a private investigator who knits. McBride learned to knit for the role, and his character’s props included a knitted holster (Please, no duplicating: Isn’t Homeland Security stressed enough?). An “Army Wives” storyline included a young war victim proudly completing a scarf, and Patricia Arquette’s “Medium” once traced a killer to a yarn shop. And actor Kyle Massey, who recently stitched up a turn on “Dancing with the Stars,” memorably turned knitting (by others!) into profits on the Disney series “That’s So Raven.” A career in knitting may seem an unlikely plot point for a TV film, but Hallmark Channel movie “You Lucky Dog” celebrated not only knitting but spinning, as a sheep farmer and his sister struggle to turn fleece into a fortune, or at least, knitted haute couture.

Our own projects will never make it to Hollywood— unless we carry them along while touring the Paramount studio. But seeing knitted pieces on the small screen is satisfying proof that knitting, a celebrity in its own right, will always find its way to center stage—and will stick around long after Miss Marple binds off her last case.

Note: British dramas “Foyle’s War” and “Hetty Wainthropp Investigates” are available on DVD from AcornMedia.com.

Looking for the right yarn for your Dr. Watson Sweater?

The original DK weight pattern calls for Patons UK Diploma Gold DK which is available in the UK but difficult to find for North American shoppers. Yarn expert, Jan Gratz, makes the following suggestions:

• Debbie Bliss Rialto DK — This is the same gauge but 100% merino and a little less yardage per ball—115 yds. instead of 131 in the Patons.
• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK — This is the same gauge with a blend of natural and synthetic fibers. It's closer to the per ball yardage of the Paton s — 120 vs. 131
• Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street Rosebud — This yarn knits up into 21 sts on a 7 U.S. needle, so going to a size 6 U.S. needle would give the same gauge. This yarn is 100% merino and 137 yds. per ball.
• Filatura Di Crosa's Zara — This knits up into 23 sts on a 5 U.S. needle so going to a size 6 U.S. needle would give the same gauge as the Patons. This yarn is 100% merino & 136.5 yds.

The Aran weight pattern calls for Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool. You could also consider:

• Caledon Hills Chunky Wool — This knits up into 15 sts on a 9-11 U.S. needle so going with the smaller needle size would probably give you 16 sts. This yarn is 100% wool, too, but comes in smaller hanks.
• Cascade Ecological Wool — This is the same type of wool, color palette and large hank size with even a little more yardage per hank. 14 sts on a size 10 U.S. needle are recommended. If the needle size goes down to a 9 U.S. , then you should get close to 16 stitches.
• Karabella Aurora 8 — This 100% merino is a nicer wool option and taking the needle size up to a 10 U.S. from a 7-8 U.S. should give you fewer stitches and close to the 16 called for in the pattern.
• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran — This requires the same gauge adjustment as with Aurora 8 but this yarn gives a blend of natural and synthetic fibers.