I have inherited my mom's collection of over 200 hand knit sweaters. She was a perfectionist and each sweater was created with meticulous detail. She used the best yarns and the most creative patterns for her sweaters.
There are a variety of sizes and span over a decade of period styles. As difficult as it is, I am ready to part with this incredible collection.

I welcome suggestions and ideas where I could sell, or consign, these very special sweaters. I have photographed and inventoried most of her sweaters, there are many more to add. This is a link to her sweaters. http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurasweaters/

Her name was Laura Mastrianni, of Hamden Connecticut. She gave hundreds of sweaters to friends in this community if anyone remembers her, I would love to hear from you.

I am her daughter, Lucy Miller- Ganfield, I live in Apex, NC
Please feel free to contact me via email at lucyganfield@gmail.com
Thank you for your help!

Oh My what wonderful work!

I am not sure what to tell you other than her work was exceptional.

Since people here are mostly knitting their own sweaters, I think you'll have better luck at e-bay or etsy. I also think you'll probably have to include fiber content (or at least wool; cotton; acrylic). Laura was certainly an accomplished and prolific knitter. I'm sorry for your loss.

What a wonderful collection of sweaters. It is neat to see and remember the Rudolph lighted nose sweater from Herrschners and other kits that I either have made myself or wanted to but didn't for some reason from various catalogues.
I have absolutely no idea what you might do with them other then to contact a museum and see if they would like to add the entire collection to their exhibits. I know I love to see this type when I get to go to a museum for inspiration.
What I would love to see are the pattern books that these came from. They would be a treasure trove as 99% of the sweaters are ones I would love to do. Especially the one with the dolphins as I have a DIL who is convinced she was one in a previous life and every holiday I make here something with dolphins on it. That sweater would be perfect.

The Ct. Historical Society, in Hartford has a woderful American textile collection, focused largely on quilts and clothing with history and documentation in the state. I have taught quilting classes there where a specific technique was practiced and then artifacts examined which displayed the same techniques.

This museum places great value on in state provenance, recent history and pop culture as well as "colonial" type subjects. I have seen exhibits of puppets, advertising memorabilia, family diaries and more there. The above post made me think - a joint offering of the knitted objects, the epehmera of patterns & equipment, and a family history of when the garments were made and for whome, might be a wonderful aquisition for them.

To me, the resale value of the sweaters would be minimal compare to the narrative history they can provide to the future.

Yarnmeg, what a great idea & wonderful contact, especially as she lived in CT!