Searching for a replacement for an outgrown sweater

vsp · 12-04-2005, 09:54 PM

Gather round, chilluns. I wish to tell you a story, of a young lad and a wonderful sweater he once owned.

A long time ago, in a shopping mall not so far away, there was a store. The store was known as "Banana Republic Travel & Safari Co." The store contained all sorts of wonderful clothing and oddities, and it was good.

A young lad (we'll call him "vsp") once saw a sweater there that he liked very much. He put it on his Christmas list, and lo and behold, it appeared under his tree on Christmas morning. The sweater was made of 100% cotton, but was very thick and very warm. Its soft cotton fabric did not cause itching as wool sweaters were often known to do. Its primary color was that of oatmeal, with tiny flecks of earth tones all over for a little variety. It was known as the "Poet's Sweater," and it looked a little something like this:
<a href="http://img324.imageshack.us/my.php?image=poeta3np.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/363/poeta3np.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a><a href="http://img465.imageshack.us/my.php?image=poetb0ia.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/593/poetb0ia.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>

(The second photo is the better representation of its actual color. Damn bathroom lighting.)

The young lad loved his favorite sweater, and wore it whenever he could. It was the kind of sweater equally at home at a football game or a romantic dinner, a job interview or a shopping trip. It was a match made in heaven. Sadly, the good times could not last forever.

One sinister force, known as "puberty," did its evil work. The lad grew from a slender form into a more mature one, no longer capable of wearing a size Small. He now required a Large or even an Extra Large. The lad had hopes of replacing his beloved sweater with a larger one of the same make, color and style.

Much to his dismay, a second and more evil force had crept into town and shattered the lad's dreams. The force was known by the sinister appellation of "The Gap." This force had cast an awful spell over Banana Republic, transforming it quickly from a quirky store full of delight into a spawning pit for yuppiewear. No longer were 18th century British engineer's jackets hanging on the back racks. No longer could one find a leather helmet and silk scarf alongside a leather bomber jacket. Worst of all, the Poet's Sweaters had vanished, never to return!

The lad wailed over his loss, and many years passed, turning the lad into a grumpy, cynical adult who loathed the Gap and its mall-spawn. The grump decided to travel from town to town, web site to web site, and virtual coffeeklatch to virtual coffeeklatch in search of the replacement sweater of his dreams.

And, so it has come to pass that you, too, have heard the Tale of the Poet's Sweater and the Gap That Smells of Ass.

Bounties _will be paid_ to anyone who can locate such a beast for me in good condition.

ashke · 12-04-2005, 10:38 PM

Maybe someone can knit one for you?

I have a jacket that I feel the same way. Nowadays, I keep in my closet. I wish I could find it again...

Trilby · 12-05-2005, 08:16 AM

vsp--I feel your pain and sense of loss. I have the same longing for a ring that I once owned and adored and some eight year-old naughty boy stole (I think he may have suspected that the cubic zirconia was diamond.) Have you tried ebay or online Banana Republic? Why, of course you have. Good luck, my sad friend. I know what it's like to have loved and lost.

Cyclefrance · 12-05-2005, 10:48 AM

My grandmother knitted me a sweater (we call them pullovers - either name bears out a particular attribute they have) when I was a lad, which had an ability all its own to grow with me - it was affectionately termed a 'sloppy joe'. Sadly, as has recently happened in respect of the 'Wrights Inhaler' (not a garment but similarly indispensible), the recipe/pattern for this fine item of appareil passed with her when she kicked the proverbial bucket (answers please in 'wierd sayings' thread) some good many years ago now.

Have you tried eBay?

Cyclefrance · 12-05-2005, 10:54 AM

I think you should

vsp · 12-05-2005, 11:10 AM

I've checked eBay many times. The problem with a general search like the one in your link is that 99% of what it returns is the shit that the Yuppified BR sells.

A search like <a href="http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=%22Banana+Republic%22+vintage&category0=">this</a> works a little better, and does occasionally return things like their fabled old-school <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-BANANA-REPUBLIC-SAFARI-JACKET-COAT-ARMY-SZ-XS_W0QQitemZ5450122186QQcategoryZ63862QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">safari jacket</a>. The sweater of my dreams has remained elusive, however.

Cyclefrance · 12-05-2005, 11:33 AM

Guess I should have realised it wouldn't be that easy - still, worth keeping tabs on. Who knows, one day.....

Skunks · 12-05-2005, 04:41 PM

Thrift stores.

In my town, there are 3 Goodwills, a handful of St. Vincent de Paul's (3-4+), and at least one Value Village. Probably 300 sweaters across the lot of them.

warch · 12-05-2005, 05:15 PM

Search for "fisherman's rib" (the stitch is sometimes called that). Check celtic knits...natural flecked/ cotton tweed. or maybe aran... good luck.
I just replaced my beloved 20+ year old, threadbare black Woolrich parka with the 2005 version of the same damn coat. Close enough. I just love it.

another idea: Also search "Shaker" or Shaker sweater- crew neck....

12-04-2005, 09:54 PM	#1
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	Searching for a replacement for an outgrown sweater Gather round, chilluns. I wish to tell you a story, of a young lad and a wonderful sweater he once owned. A long time ago, in a shopping mall not so far away, there was a store. The store was known as "Banana Republic Travel & Safari Co." The store contained all sorts of wonderful clothing and oddities, and it was good. A young lad (we'll call him "vsp") once saw a sweater there that he liked very much. He put it on his Christmas list, and lo and behold, it appeared under his tree on Christmas morning. The sweater was made of 100% cotton, but was very thick and very warm. Its soft cotton fabric did not cause itching as wool sweaters were often known to do. Its primary color was that of oatmeal, with tiny flecks of earth tones all over for a little variety. It was known as the "Poet's Sweater," and it looked a little something like this: <a href="http://img324.imageshack.us/my.php?image=poeta3np.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/363/poeta3np.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a><a href="http://img465.imageshack.us/my.php?image=poetb0ia.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/593/poetb0ia.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a> (The second photo is the better representation of its actual color. Damn bathroom lighting.) The young lad loved his favorite sweater, and wore it whenever he could. It was the kind of sweater equally at home at a football game or a romantic dinner, a job interview or a shopping trip. It was a match made in heaven. Sadly, the good times could not last forever. One sinister force, known as "puberty," did its evil work. The lad grew from a slender form into a more mature one, no longer capable of wearing a size Small. He now required a Large or even an Extra Large. The lad had hopes of replacing his beloved sweater with a larger one of the same make, color and style. Much to his dismay, a second and more evil force had crept into town and shattered the lad's dreams. The force was known by the sinister appellation of "The Gap." This force had cast an awful spell over Banana Republic, transforming it quickly from a quirky store full of delight into a spawning pit for yuppiewear. No longer were 18th century British engineer's jackets hanging on the back racks. No longer could one find a leather helmet and silk scarf alongside a leather bomber jacket. Worst of all, the Poet's Sweaters had vanished, never to return! The lad wailed over his loss, and many years passed, turning the lad into a grumpy, cynical adult who loathed the Gap and its mall-spawn. The grump decided to travel from town to town, web site to web site, and virtual coffeeklatch to virtual coffeeklatch in search of the replacement sweater of his dreams. And, so it has come to pass that you, too, have heard the Tale of the Poet's Sweater and the Gap That Smells of Ass. Bounties _will be paid_ to anyone who can locate such a beast for me in good condition.

12-04-2005, 10:38 PM	#2
ashke Don't look at me! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 288	Maybe someone can knit one for you? I have a jacket that I feel the same way. Nowadays, I keep in my closet. I wish I could find it again... Last edited by ashke; 12-04-2005 at 10:40 PM.

12-05-2005, 08:16 AM	#3
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	vsp--I feel your pain and sense of loss. I have the same longing for a ring that I once owned and adored and some eight year-old naughty boy stole (I think he may have suspected that the cubic zirconia was diamond.) Have you tried ebay or online Banana Republic? Why, of course you have. Good luck, my sad friend. I know what it's like to have loved and lost. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

12-05-2005, 10:48 AM	#4
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	My grandmother knitted me a sweater (we call them pullovers - either name bears out a particular attribute they have) when I was a lad, which had an ability all its own to grow with me - it was affectionately termed a 'sloppy joe'. Sadly, as has recently happened in respect of the 'Wrights Inhaler' (not a garment but similarly indispensible), the recipe/pattern for this fine item of appareil passed with her when she kicked the proverbial bucket (answers please in 'wierd sayings' thread) some good many years ago now. Have you tried eBay? __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

12-05-2005, 10:54 AM	#5
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	I think you should __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

12-05-2005, 11:10 AM	#6
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	I've checked eBay many times. The problem with a general search like the one in your link is that 99% of what it returns is the shit that the Yuppified BR sells. A search like <a href="http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=%22Banana+Republic%22+vintage&category0=">this</a> works a little better, and does occasionally return things like their fabled old-school <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-BANANA-REPUBLIC-SAFARI-JACKET-COAT-ARMY-SZ-XS_W0QQitemZ5450122186QQcategoryZ63862QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">safari jacket</a>. The sweater of my dreams has remained elusive, however.

12-05-2005, 11:33 AM	#7
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	Guess I should have realised it wouldn't be that easy - still, worth keeping tabs on. Who knows, one day..... __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

12-05-2005, 04:41 PM	#8
Skunks I thought I changed this. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: western nowhere, ny Posts: 412	Thrift stores. In my town, there are 3 Goodwills, a handful of St. Vincent de Paul's (3-4+), and at least one Value Village. Probably 300 sweaters across the lot of them.

12-05-2005, 05:15 PM	#9
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Search for "fisherman's rib" (the stitch is sometimes called that). Check celtic knits...natural flecked/ cotton tweed. or maybe aran... good luck. I just replaced my beloved 20+ year old, threadbare black Woolrich parka with the 2005 version of the same damn coat. Close enough. I just love it. another idea: Also search "Shaker" or Shaker sweater- crew neck.... Last edited by warch; 12-05-2005 at 05:43 PM.

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