Masha's Illustrated Sweaters

Masha Dutoit is an artist and writer working in Cape Town, South Africa. Following her blog for the last few months has inspired me to keep a sketchbook again and to start a short comic with a few friends. (Our comic is called FrankenBette and the first issue will be finished very soon!)

Masha's drawings explode with detail and texture.


They also frequently feature people wearing sweaters.


And sometimes even non-people wearing sweaters. I especially like those.


Masha also shares reviews of mind-blowing, illustrated books, photography and ideas that make your life just a little cooler-- like concerts from a shower or a homemade wind harp.

Spot the Sweater; Neutral Milk Hotel Edition

It's summer and I'm the only person I see wearing sweaters. But here we have Jeff Mangum wearing one as Neutral Milk Hotel performs "Ghost" in 1998, the last year they would tour as a band.

"Oh Comely" is my favorite Neutral Milk Song. Can you spot the sweater at this show? Hint: it looks like it's an Aran Island Cable Knit. This recording comes to us from goldenpuppy1 on youtube. The last was from defgav.

And here is "the Fool," which came next. More songs from this Knitting Factor show can be viewed here.

Help Me Solve the Mystery of Military Sweater Protocol

Suspiciously, Wikipedia is very hush hush about sweater protocol in the United States Military. I couldn't find page on military sweater etiquette. If I were an enlisted man, I wouldn't know the appropriate times to wear snappy little numbers like this Khaki Commando Sweater (priced from only 39.95 at Army Navy Stores).

Granted there would be more pressing issues. I think the khaki commando would be dashing over a cup of instant coffee, drunk with a group of fellow officers at camp. Tragically, The days when it was hip to wear a sweater on the front line have ended. This soldier looks a bit too...editorial to be taken seriously in accordance with our post-WWII standards of masculinity.