GAYLETTER

Knit from cashmere, a marigold sweater warns “EVERYTHING WILL BE TAKEN AWAY.” From silk, a chocolate brown T-shirt declares “TODAY WE REMEMBER OUR DEAD.” And from mohair, a tiny beige thong boldly reads “WRATH OF GOD.”

Haunting phrases like these are integral to Summon Elemental, the emerging knitwear project by writer and artist Patrick Carroll. “It’s all mourning costume,” he says of the project. “It’s how to dress for loss across scales, person to world.” Inspired by artists, philosophers, and poets, Parick’s one-of-a-kind garments range from shirts and dresses to thongs and balaclavas.

Grief served as the catalyst for Summon Elemental, which Patrick began toward the end of his father’s life. He’s since come to view knitting not only as a hobby but as a source of ongoing solace. Now, with his clothes featuring in fashion editorials and selling out in notable boutiques, Patrick’s faced with an existential question: Is he… a fashion designer?

“I call myself a clothesmaker,” he tells me, “which feels more accurate than fashion designer.” For Patrick, the distinction comes down to labor. While the fashion industry is notorious for its exploitative practices, Summon Elemental is a wildly transparent one-person operation. “I don’t design anything to be made by other people,” he says. “Ever.” The result is an assortment of intricate knitwear styles, each of which require between one and twelve hours to complete.

The garments are documented through a series of self-portraits, highlighting Patrick’s lithe frame and his remarkable skill as a knitter. …

Tell me about the name Teesaddy. It’s just like a name that stuck in high school. That’s what people would call me. It was also my Myspace name.

I thought your name was a play on the word zaddy. It’s not directly related.

When did you start posting sexy photos of yourself? I guess I started posting selfies in college to get attention from guys that I liked.

What were you studying in college? I was president of a small fashion newspaper in college. I started writing for a few fashion journals. My dream was to sit in the front row and analyze things. I used to post on Twitter, and a lot of the tweets that I would make about fashion wouldn’t get any attention at all, but the shirtless pictures that I posted after the gym would get lots more attention. In order for me to get featured as a writer, I would have to have a following, so I was like, “okay, I’ll just throw a jockstrap on!”

Hiring people based on what their social numbers are is silly. It’s really crazy that skills are less important than the amount of followers you have.

Are you interested in modeling? I wanted to go to New York and study design, so I have been interested in menswear and of course male models.

What’s your favorite part of your body? My legs are long.

How did you get into OnlyFans? My ex-boyfriend, he lives in Michigan where I lived during the pandemic. …