SWEATER
CultureCanadian
Date1958
Geography
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Dimensions60.5 x 53 cm
Object numberHF.01.14.70
DescriptionHand-knitted long-sleeved "skating sweater" with a shawl collar and zipper. Predominantly green in colour, the sweater features yellow geese flying above a line of red and yellow flowers. Black cuff extensions were added to the ends of the sleeves. Based on a Mary Maxim pattern. Narrative
This sweater was made in the Fall of 1958 by Charlotte Cairns Johnston for her niece, the donor. These types of sweaters are also known as curling, skating or ski sweaters or by the brand name Mary Maxims. Mary Maxim is a long-standing Canadian business, founded in the 1950s in Manitoba. Mary Maxims were created as a more affordable make-yourself version of the well-known Cowichan.
Due to the heavy knit, the sweaters were used as outerwear. Sleeve extensions have been to this sweater after completion, extending its life but it is unclear if they were added as the donor grew or if the cardigan was passed to another Cairns child.
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