Project Hail Mary Maxim: Latest Ryan Gosling movie brings back the vintage wool cardigan.

 

The Wolf-pattern Cardigan is back!

A trip to outer space to save Earth, befriending a faceless, spider‑shaped pile of rocks, and looking fabulous in nerdy T‑shirts and a vintage style wool cardigan.

In Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling tackles all of these challenges—and perhaps his most unexpected triumph is making old‑school knit sweaters suddenly feel very in.

Ryan Gosling makes cardigans cool.

Last weekend, we caught Hail Mary at Emagine Theater with our “locals.” The super‑wide screen delivered spectacular views of the universe and equally spectacular views of Gosling’s wardrobe. We were smitten with both, and—at least when it comes to the knitwear—we’re clearly not alone.

Along with the punny science-themed T-shirts (e.g. "AH: The Element of Surprise" and "I periodically wear this shirt" with an accompanying graph of the elements), Gosling dons a chunky cardigan with a wolf motif. The design is based on a vintage pattern from yarns and crafts retailer, Mary Maxim, and currently, the sweater kit, for the purchase price of $89.99, is sold out. 

With local family to see Project Hail Mary.

But wait! Citizens of Earth and Erid, do not give up hope. Mary Maxim does have a waiting list one can sign up for to be notfied when the Wolf Cardigan Knit Kit once again becomes available.

While waiting for one’s “Project Mary Maxim” to commence, a little bit of history.

Like Ryan Gosling, Mary Maxim has its roots in Canada. 

Per Mary Maxim's website, Willard and Olive McPhedrain started a spinning wheel and yarn company in Sifton, Manitoba in the 1930's. Originally named after their hometown, the company changed its name to Mary Maxim to follow the success of the personal marketing idea behind Betty Crocker. The pairing of graft style sweater patterns with yarn put them in a whole new stratosphere of popularity and success. 

BTS Podcast co-host - always "in" - dons vintage crafty cardigan.

Eventually, the McPhedrain's moved, along with their family and business, to Paris, Ontario. Son, Larry, seeing more opportunity across the border, moved his family to Port Huron, Michigan, bringing Mary Maxim to the U.S. in 1956. Now in its fourth generation of the family-run business, Mary Maxim continues to sell its products on-line, including, the now wildly popular wolf-pattern sweater.

The Hail Mary comeback cardigan taps into current trends (noted in BTS' In/Out List, 2026), such as vintage finds and granny hobbies. It even inspired half of the BTS Podcast team to search their own closet for retro chunky knits (hand-crafted by "Grandma G.") and don them in style and comfort.

We heartily recommend the movie "Project Hail Mary" and the Project Mary Maxim sweater!

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For more information on the wolf pattern cardigan from Mary Maxim, check out their website page: Wolf Cardigan Knit Kit (Project Hail Mary Version) – Mary Maxim.