I’m facing a decision. I asked my husband if he wanted me to make him something for Christmas. He has forever wanted a big ole’ afghan made by me with super soft yarn. However, I’ve promised myself to only face one afghan challenge per Christmas, and I’ve already decided who gets the honor this year. SO, I’m trying to decide if I should knit him a sweater. We’ve been married for 2 years, so I’m not concerned with the “sweater curse”. However, he wants it to be surprise, so I can’t very well ask him if he wants it. I showed him the picture (I’m looking at the guy’s sweater from the Phildar Famille magazine) and he said he liked it. But, I didn’t mention it was for him. He has enjoyed the clothes I’ve bought for him, but I don’t want to put a lot of work in only for him not to wear it. I tell myself that if he doesn’t wear it, that would be fine. Because goodness knows I have made myself items that I don’t wear. But, what if I’m not fine with the fact that he doesn’t wear it. I know I could “take it back” and make it into something for me, but what a waste. I guess it’s just a gamble. Any experiences you guys could share may help me make my decision. Hope he’s not reading. 🙂
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onestitchshort 
At the risk of ruining the surprise, I think you want to find out for sure if he’s going to wear it. Having made 2 things (the quilt and the sweater) that Ryan has never worn or used, I can tell you I’m more than a little bitter about it. When we get married, the firs thing I’m going to do is take back Dark Side of the Moon and wear it myself.
Trust me. It’s worth the risk of ruining the surprise. You DO NOT want to spend your time making something he will never wear.
Just my two cents 🙂
I also think that the “knowing for sure” thing trumps the “I want it to be a surprise” thing. Find out if he wants a sweater. Then find out what sweater he wants. Then make the sweater. I think doing it that way will spare everyone’s feelings – I’m sure he doesn’t want you to feel bad if he doesn’t really dig it.
Plan B? Knit him a great pair of Koigu socks! 🙂
Ah, Sarah… a dilemma I know well. I want to make him a sweater, but I’m pretty sure he’ll never wear it – mostly because he’s a little furnace, and wears short-sleeve shirts year-round. But he did picked out a sweater and the yarn/color pattern already, so I think I’m going to have to do it, and then watch him wear it instead of a coat or something.
My advice is to make sure he wants it, too. You can suprise him with some of his other presents :).
Not to contradict my three girlfriends who already posted here, but I’d go for it and surprise him. How can you go wrong with a nice big comfy sweater? Why wouldn’t he wear it? If it’s nice and large and comfortable, he’ll love it, because it was made with love by his beautiful wife 🙂
I say go for it! I’m going against the curse this year and knitting a sweater for my boyfriend. We’ve been together 4 1/2 years so I do feel safe knitting it. Hope it doesn’t curse me!! I think he will really appreciate all the time and effort you put into his sweater
My first question would be, does he have a favorite sweater he LOVES? Does he actually WEAR sweaters? If so, Knit the sweater he said he likes and let him *help* pick out the yarn. Tell him you want it to be the best sweater ever, an heirloom that he’ll never tire of….he’ll have no idea what it will actually look like…Non-knitters usually, just DON’T have any idea. Let him feel the yarns and go with the one he thinks is nonscratchy/yummy…Honestly, I have to agree that it is a huge project, bigger than an afghan in some respects, and deserves to be LOVED from it’s inception. Good Luck!