Seattle milliner and clothing designer John Eaton (1914-1991) worked with a local custom knitter to create this sweater. Eaton was known mostly for creating women’s hats and clothing, but this was a personal gift for his son Geoffrey Eaton Stamm. John Eaton was gay and lived in Seattle with his partner Jim Neher. The couple met in 1950 and were together until John’s death in 1991. John had previously been married and had one son. Geoffrey grew up on the East Coast with his mother but reconnected with John when he graduated from high school in 1961. John gave Geoffrey this sweater on one of his visits to Seattle.