Vulcan County's Jasmine Entz has taken her sweater-making hobby to an entirely new level. Known for crocheting sweaters for her miniature dairy goats, she has now started creating custom garments for a full-sized cow, a horse, and even a record-setting steer.
A Fun Idea That Gained Momentum
Entz, who lives on an acreage south of Calgary, initially made sweaters for her baby goats to keep them warm. Using leftover yarn, she soon expanded to adult goats. Then came the idea to dress up her retired dairy cow, Josie. "I thought, 'Wouldn't it be funny if I made one for the cow?'" Entz said. The first sweater, a pink Valentine's Day-themed design for February, was a hit.
She posted a video of Josie wearing the sweater on Facebook and TikTok, and it quickly gained popularity. "It seems to bring smiles to a lot of people," Entz noted. Encouraged by the response, she decided to create a full calendar featuring 12 themed sweaters.
From Goats to a Full-Sized Cow
Each sweater takes between 25 and 30 hours to complete. "For the most part, it's a couple of hours in the evening while you're watching TV," Entz explained. March featured a green St. Patrick's Day sweater with a matching leprechaun hat, while April showcased a pastel design with bunny ears for Easter. The May sweater, a purple floral pattern, was made for her horse to involve another animal.
Entz is also crafting a sweater for Beef, her massive steer whose birthday falls in August. She anticipates this sweater will require double the yarn compared to the others. "This is just kind of a fun project, and it kind of just took off from there," she said.
Planning the Calendar
For June, Entz is working on a summery floral design. July will feature a red-and-white Canada Day theme, followed by August's sweater for Beef. September will have fall colors, October a Halloween theme, and December a Christmas design. She is still deciding on themes for November and January. To have the calendar ready for 2027, she expects to be busy this fall finishing the remaining sweaters.
Entz remains unsure what she will do with all the sweaters once the project is complete, but she is excited to see the finished product. "Now I'm really excited to see the finished project," she said.
