Yesterday, I launched Knit Madness, a 64-bracket tournament to determine the Best Cinematic Sweater across film and TV. And now, let the chaos begin.

You can find a detailed rundown of Knit Madness here.

Sweater: A purposely distressed white Aran pullover with a level of organic internet virality Lionsgate could’ve never bought.

Who Wore It: Professional shit-stirrer Hugh “Ransom” Drysdale (Chris Evans), who is an affront to sweater care.

Replica: Yes

Notes: Interviewed costume designer Jenny Eagan about it in 2019. This is the only sweater I’ve banned from being selected for Knitwear of the Week—and one several people made sure I included on the list.

Sweater: A light gray cable-knit sweater fit for a bit of murder.

Who Wore It: Mrs. Voorhees (Betsy Palmer), the real antagonist of the first film.

Replica: Yes

Notes: Having never seen any of the Friday the 13th films—unless Freddy vs. Jason counts—I had no idea Mrs. Voorhees was 1) a character; and 2) such a big part of the first film.

The Sweater: A grayish-brown honeycomb cable-knit sweater perfect for deep-oceanic exploration in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Who Wore It: Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton), the roguishly charming pirate treasure hunter whose discovery of a safe in the wreckage of the Titanic kicks off the entire movie.

Replica: No

Notes: A previous recipient of Knitwear of the Week. Bill Paxton has never looked hotter.

Sweater: A classically Irish white honeycomb Aran sweater.

Who Wore It: Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney), Derry’s most over-it-all nun with great taste in film.

Replica: No

Notes: Previous Knitwear of the Week recipient. Not the only Aran in a nearly perfect season of television. (Watch Derry Girls ASAP.)

Sweater: A chunky white Aran sweater.

Who Wore It: Harry Burns (Billy Crystal), one-half of one of the rom-com genre’s greatest slow-burns and fully in his divorcé era.

Replica: No

Notes: This sweater was Knit(ting) Flicks’ first-ever Knitwear of the Week, and it’s so iconic that nobody can replicate it, not even Billy Crystal—and he tried!

Sweater: A cozy white Aran sweater.

Who Wore It: The titular Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen), a bored millionaire businessman in the midst of conning an insurance agent.

Replica: Yes

Notes: He was the coolest to ever wear it—even though he was apparently a giant asshole IRL.

Sweater: A yellowish-brown cable-knit sweater.

Who Wore It: Hoban "Wash" Washburne (Alan Tudyk), the Serenity’s resident wife guy.

Replica: Yes

Notes: A cozy knit makes a fan-favorite even cozier.

Sweater: A purple cable-knit sweater fit for an in-movie Broadway number.

Who Wore It: Aspiring actress Amanda Dell (Marilyn Monroe)

Replica: Yes

Notes: Let’s Make Love is almost universally considered one of Monroe’s lesser films, but there’s no denying how culturally significant that sweater was for the rise of Arans as a status symbol.

Sweater: An oversized white Aran sweater.

Who Wore It: High schooler Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), who’s clearly drowning in it.

Replica: Yes

Notes: An Aran sweater in an idyllic fictional Connecticut town? A likely place for it to be.

Sweater: A brown twisted cable sweater.

Who Wore It: "Mac" MacIntyre (Peter Riegert), an aspiring oil company executive tasked with purchasing a town in Scotland. (I’m guessing he doesn’t buy the town by the film's end.)

Replica: No

Notes: I’ve never seen Local Hero, but it’s now on the list after this sweater was recommended as a contender to me on Bluesky.

Sweater: An olive green cable-knit sweater complete with ribbed shoulder pads.

Who Wore It: Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), the U.S.S. Enterprise captain who just wants to enjoy his damn retirement in peace.

Replica: Yes

Notes: Granted, I’m not a huge Star Trek person, but a show where an older Picard hangs out on a vineyard with his dog and gets to relax sounds like a fun one-off.

Sweater: A chunky white Aran sweater fit for living in a remote French chalet.

Who Wore It: Sandra (Sandra Hüller), a writer who may or may not have killed her husband over a steel bass drum cover of “P.I.M.P.” (and some other significant factors).

Replica: No

Notes: Previously reviewed—and a great sweater movie.

Sweater: A light blue twisted cable sweater.

Who Wore It: Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who’s having a disastrous first day at Runway.

Replica: No

Notes: Miranda Priestley might smite me for thinking it, but I don’t think this sweater is the disaster everyone at that magazine thinks it is!

Sweater: A chunky white Aran so warm that no coat is required.

Who Wore It: Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal), a WASP who comes from old money and falls in love with a working-class Italian American woman. Which, in the time/place that this movie takes place in, is pretty frowned upon.

Replica: No

Notes: A film that almost definitely contributed to the preppy reputation sweaters have nowadays.

Sweater: A white Aran sweater fit for skiing in the Alps.

Who Wore It: Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) on a holiday while on the lam from the Italian authorities.

Replica: Yes

Notes: Previously reviewed. Interviewed costume designer Janty Yates. An a stark difference between how viral it went and how long it’s actually in the film.

Sweater: A teal cable-knit sweater getting used how it was historically meant to be.

Who Wore It: A Mon Cala Dock Worker (Frank Ippolito) who just wants to do his job in peace.

Replica: No

Notes: For a galaxy rife with lavish costumes, there was very little knitwear in it before this episode aired.

If you enjoyed this newsletter and want to directly support my work, you can leave me a tip on Ko-Fi!