Rip it up and start again...
The Jessica Fletcher Fish Jumper Reboot
Chums, I made a schoolgirl error. After knitting two sleeves of my iconic J.B. Fletcher fishy cardigan
and the rib for the back, I realised the jumper was going to be WAY TOO SMALL for me. ARG.
My mistake was mathematical. I was a good girl and knitted my tension square as all good knitters should do…
In the original Mary Maxim pattern
the recommended gauge is
and in my tension square I had 4 stitches to the inch and I thought to myself, “well, this may come up a little bigger than I expect but that’s OK.” But my friends, there was my mistake. 4 stitches to the inch comes up SMALLER.
Maths was never my strong suit…
So I am going to have to “frog” the sleeves and start the whole thing again.
I have knitted another tension square on needles one size larger those recommended in the pattern and this time it IS 3.5 stitches to the inch.
I shall listen to this song on repeat when I rip out the sleeves I so lovingly knitted, so that I remain stoical about the whole thing…
Join the Knitalong
If you have been contemplating making your own Jessica Fletcher Fish Jumper (aka the Cosy Cabot Cove Cardigan) then NOW IS THE TIME. As I am starting from scratch we can be in this thing together. Here’s a link to a detailed post about the pattern, and some tips about what yarn to use.
But my biggest piece of advice. Listen to Mary Maxim when they say 3.5 stitches to the inch!
Click on this pic to go directly to the Mary Maxim site to buy the downloadable pattern.
Let me know in the comments or via email if you are getting the needles clacking. The more the merrier.
Would you like to knit a museum piece?
The Kelley House Museum in Mendocino (the real Cabot Cove) has put a shout out for a kind knitter to make a fish jumper for the museum. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a piece of your handiwork in a museum?!
If you are game - the contact details for the museum are at the bottom of this page - Kelley House Museum.
I will give your sweater a squeeze when I go to the Murder, She Wrote Festival in 2027!
Shout out to everyone going this year - send me photos!
Have you see The Ballad of Wallis Island?
Thanks to my beloved food writing guru and chum Jenni Muir of Ffoice who tipped me off to the fact that there was a cardigan similar to Jessica’s in this film. Behold the splendour!!!
Designer Susanna Carolina Dunn adapted the Angler’s Pride pattern and turned the fish on the front and back into whales. Isn’t it glorious?!
Here’s a link to her Instagram page where the designer writes about seeing her creation on the big screen for the first time. How lovely.
I hope that she won’t mind me sharing these photos from her instagram feed - a miniature version of her creation that she made…
SO CUTE!
The whale cardigan really contributes to the character of Charles in the film. It’s almost a character in itself! I really loved The Ballad of Wallis Island, and naturally immediately wanted the whale jumper as well as Jessica’s fish jumper. These Cowichan-style jumpers from the 50s and 60s are becoming an obsession for me, as this snapshot of my Etsy search page confirms…
It is possible that I might have half-accidentally bought myself this one…
Bear energy!
Plus my friend Lucy did this amazing painting for me for my birthday…
I absolutely LOVE it and will be framing it.
There is boundless creativity in the world!
I am absolutely in awe of Christoperb on Ravelry who knitted a version of Charles’ whale sweater in TWO WEEKS. Admittedly it was over Christmas, but I take my hat off to you Christoperb!
If you are a knitting nerd like I am, it’s really interesting to read all about Christoperb’s processes in adapting the original pattern. Here’s a link to the Ravelry page.
WANT - WANT - WANT a fish jumper but don’t knit?
There is a beautiful vintage one for sale on Etsy right now…
Here’s the link
Or you can commission one from Camp Kitschy Knits on Etsy
Calling all fish jumper owners
Last, but not least. If you do own a Jessica Fletcher Fish Jumper or are knitting one, do get in touch, I am keeping a list so I can invite you all to a ZOOM PARTY when I’ve finished mine, so we can all parade around in our jumpers and admire each and every one.
Watch party!
Details coming soon about our February free online watch party. Open to everyone - paid and unpaid subscribers alike. Here’s the date for your diary.
You’ll need to have the episode on DVD or on a local streaming service. To join in with the chat, you’ll need to be have access to the Murder, She Cooked special chat room. You can join it ahead of time so you are ready to go!
Star-spangled recipe books!
My books are available worldwide via Amazon (switch to your own country for the correct pricing)
or via my Etsy shop - these will come directly from me and can be signed if you wish - mugs, aprons and other goodies are available here too.
This is a Many Splendored Thing. I love the miniature Ken cardigan xx
Oh poor you Jenny! I live in a place where there are some excellent knitters but yes they do have to unpick their creations. I loved the Charlie Brown sweater! You just have to think of the finished article!