Can you see a pattern forming here?
January 8, 2017 7:41 AM   Subscribe

This guy makes sweaters of places and then takes pictures of himself wearing the sweaters at those places. No more inside; that's it. Sweaters. Places. You know you want to click.
posted by chainsofreedom (56 comments total) 90 users marked this as a favorite
 
Apparently a fella named Sam Barsky, who also posts video of his work on his fb page and who is my motherfucking hero holy shit.
posted by cortex at 7:55 AM on January 8, 2017 [8 favorites]


This guy is an absolute delight!

It's one thing to use your talents to create beautiful things. It's quite another to use your talents to crank your personal brand of weirdo up to 11. Dude is an inspiration.
posted by phunniemee at 8:00 AM on January 8, 2017 [46 favorites]


I absolutely LOVE his Facebook page, and now holy shit, this guy is my hero too.
posted by chainsofreedom at 8:01 AM on January 8, 2017


Short-sleeved sweaters, too, when the weather demands it.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:02 AM on January 8, 2017 [6 favorites]


What a god damn hero. He set a goal, and then he fucking achieved it so hard.
posted by dazed_one at 8:02 AM on January 8, 2017 [12 favorites]


Aw, that's adorkable!
posted by Quietgal at 8:02 AM on January 8, 2017 [3 favorites]


So awesome!!! Posts like this are why Mefi is awesome.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:09 AM on January 8, 2017 [3 favorites]


Yeah, the short sleeved sweaters might have been more of an eye catcher than anything else. It's like seeing something you never even imagined existing made real...
posted by Ghidorah at 8:19 AM on January 8, 2017 [2 favorites]


Well, honestly, think of the time saved by not knitting the sleeves.

I'm kind of sad that his Eiffel Tower photo isn't at the real Eiffel Tower! That's a Go Fund Me I'd contribute to.
posted by something something at 8:22 AM on January 8, 2017 [12 favorites]


OH MY GOD THE ONE WITH THE FUN FUR GRASS. (that stuff is a nightmare to work with. This guy is a HERO.)
posted by bibliogrrl at 8:29 AM on January 8, 2017 [10 favorites]


Also ALL THAT INTARSIA.

gods I hate intarsia. Stranded colorwork or GTFO
posted by bibliogrrl at 8:30 AM on January 8, 2017 [7 favorites]


Oh, this guy is awesome! What a cool and fun idea. High-five, dude. High-five.
posted by aka burlap at 8:40 AM on January 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


MetaSweater!
posted by lalochezia at 8:44 AM on January 8, 2017 [6 favorites]


This is the most goddamn adorable thing I've seen in months. I love his pleased, proud smile as he poses in front of his inspirations (that photo with the fun fur moss sweater is particularly heart-warming). And I love his short-sleeved sweaters! If you're going to pose in front of a beach with palm trees, it is of course both efficient and weirdly fashion-forward to skip the sleeves.
posted by ourobouros at 8:46 AM on January 8, 2017 [4 favorites]


This guy...I like this guy. This is what life should be about. Finding your thing and doing it hard.
posted by jenjenc at 8:49 AM on January 8, 2017 [13 favorites]


So Joyful.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:50 AM on January 8, 2017


Before I clicked more inside, I had already formed my comment: "I love the Internet. This guy is a fucking hero and his neighbors probably have no idea. Before the Internet he would have been just another weirdo, and possibly an outcast."

I'm so glad so many others had already correctly bestowed the title on him.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:55 AM on January 8, 2017 [4 favorites]


I read the comments. I heartily enjoyed seeing how the few attempts to mock this man were shot down in flames.

to wit: He looks exactly like what I'd expect someone who makes sweaters of places then visits them would look like.

next comment: You could laugh at him but he's seen more of the world than most of us.
posted by chavenet at 8:58 AM on January 8, 2017 [11 favorites]


In a comment on his Facebook page, he says that he doesn't design the sweaters in advance, he just makes it up as he goes... holy shit
posted by Frobenius Twist at 8:59 AM on January 8, 2017 [14 favorites]


gods I hate intarsia. Stranded colorwork or GTFO

I never got the hang of stranded colorwork - I always do intarsia if I'm switching colors. Shame, cause I'd love to do Fair Isle sorts of patterns!
posted by chainsofreedom at 9:00 AM on January 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


This is great! It takes real talent, dedication, and a quirky way of seeing the world to pull this off. I want to meet him and knit together!
posted by sockermom at 9:01 AM on January 8, 2017 [4 favorites]


I love this. He's the best.
posted by minsies at 9:12 AM on January 8, 2017


I love you Sam Barsky.
posted by latkes at 9:12 AM on January 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


I'm not sure why this makes me feel so delighted... but I do, and I will simply embrace that delight! This was an excellent post!
posted by bookmammal at 9:29 AM on January 8, 2017


I like his matched set for him and his wife for Rosh Hashana. Also he of course nots donation baby hats for the hospital! What a lovely creative person!
posted by chapps at 9:46 AM on January 8, 2017 [4 favorites]


Wait. Wait. There's one on his Facebook page that is a sweater with tiny images of his sweaters on it! The sheer and utter useless delight of such a thing has made my day.
posted by mcduff at 9:46 AM on January 8, 2017 [24 favorites]


I love how long he's been doing it, too. Or at least loads of those photos seem to have been taken on an Instamatic camera or the like.
posted by ambrosen at 9:58 AM on January 8, 2017


So much fun.
posted by gryphonlover at 10:07 AM on January 8, 2017


Looks like he cranks out a sweater a month and he's done at least a hundred so call it 8-10 years if he worked steady.
posted by Mitheral at 10:16 AM on January 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


A sweater a month! And here I am struggling to knit a baby blanket in that time . . .
posted by chainsofreedom at 10:26 AM on January 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


AMAZING
posted by clavicle at 10:40 AM on January 8, 2017


That powerline sweater. Perfection. How is it that no chain fashion retailer hasn't licensed that already?
posted by drowsy at 10:48 AM on January 8, 2017 [5 favorites]


Weird. Possibly crazy. Probably would make a better president than Trump.
posted by blue_beetle at 10:49 AM on January 8, 2017 [9 favorites]


I talked to Sam on Facebook, and he said that--due to the labor-intensive nature of his work--he does not make custom sweaters. But he *does* sell prints of his sweaters to anyone who is interested. It looks like he has an unfilled Etsy shop at the moment, and a few other websites that showcase his works. It is very clear that he hasn't let his Internet fame go to his head, so if you would like a print of one of his works or possibly the work itself...he is is very prompt on his Facebook messages.
posted by Mr. Fig at 11:25 AM on January 8, 2017 [5 favorites]


That is fantastic.
posted by holborne at 11:43 AM on January 8, 2017


Holy cow! I love these. What an amazing designer/knitter. I'm in awe.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:54 AM on January 8, 2017


Bravo, Sam Barsky. Bravo.
posted by billiebee at 11:58 AM on January 8, 2017


This guy makes sweaters of places

Is it possible that he has just one sweater, one that adapts to its environment?
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 11:58 AM on January 8, 2017 [19 favorites]


Ah, the Founders theory of winterwear. Does anyone know where Garak is? I feel like he might have some intel, if anyone does.
posted by cortex at 12:07 PM on January 8, 2017 [3 favorites]


How did he know the polar bear would be sitting like that?
posted by lagomorphius at 12:20 PM on January 8, 2017


The sweater of other sweaters. Seriously.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:28 PM on January 8, 2017 [3 favorites]


I'm kind of sad that his Eiffel Tower photo isn't at the real Eiffel Tower!

He did make it to Israel, though. This one is in Haifa, at the entrance to the Baha'i gardens on Hagefen St.
posted by camcgee at 1:06 PM on January 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


This is amazing and I am so impressed.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:39 PM on January 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


My delight on seeing his awesome work was matched only by my delight in the sure knowledge that when I clicked back here to see the comments, it would would be an absolute lovefest, and you didn't let me down, MeFites!
posted by HotToddy at 2:07 PM on January 8, 2017 [5 favorites]


It's such a delight to see someone just enjoying the hell out of what they like doing :)
posted by zenofsimplicity at 3:01 PM on January 8, 2017 [2 favorites]


I recognize that Sam doesn't do this in lieu of work, but when I dream of a world with basic income and universal health care, I dream of a world where we can all find our inner Barksy and do whatever our own amazing thing is all the damn day long. Can you imagine the delights of that world? Thanks for the inspiration, dude.
posted by maxwelton at 5:04 PM on January 8, 2017 [14 favorites]


Absolute legend. I really want a Sydney Harbour bridge one.
posted by Jubey at 6:01 PM on January 8, 2017


OMG OP, this is the best. You have made my day. Thanks!
posted by Bella Donna at 6:12 PM on January 8, 2017


I wasn't going to click but it said "you know you want to" and I decided that OK I actually did want to and I clicked and it was lovely. A++ would click again.
posted by shelleycat at 11:18 AM on January 9, 2017


In a January 4 video, he's working on a grapevine / raisins sweater while talking about how he's about to start a Martin Luther King, Jr. sweater "to honor Dr. King and wear for a few days around the holiday," and he ends up saying, "my wife's on her way home from work so I'd like to finish this video soon so I can greet her when she gets home." What a mensch!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:16 PM on January 9, 2017 [2 favorites]


He has a sweater of all of his sweaters. I'm in love!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:32 PM on January 9, 2017 [2 favorites]


Awwww. Love his passion and love his talent.
posted by daybeforetheday at 12:58 AM on January 10, 2017


Why, oh why, isn't this guy president?
posted by eggkeeper at 9:47 AM on January 10, 2017 [2 favorites]


I'm considering taping a note that says "Be More Like Sam Barsky" to my bathroom mirror so I am sure to remember my goal for 2017 every morning.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:22 AM on January 10, 2017 [5 favorites]


As a knitter, I have never ever ever loved Metafilter more than I do right this instant.
posted by hilaryjade at 2:52 PM on January 11, 2017


Apparently Sam has been deluged with media attention - just in the past week he's spoken with Jimmy Kimmel, done radio interviews in Canada, and was interviewed for several newspaper articles, as per his Facebook. All positive coverage too. Makes my heart smile.
posted by chainsofreedom at 7:15 PM on January 11, 2017 [2 favorites]


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