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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What is a jumper?

73 replies

WideFootWelly · 17/04/2023 17:23

Lighthearted, but reoccurring argument with my DH over what a jumper is.

Context: I'm doing a wool wash and ask if he has any Jumpers to go in (the only things he has that are wool), he says no. Then picks up some washing, which includes a jumper, but he says it isn't a jumper...it's a t-shirt because he doesn't wear anything under it.

YANBU: a jumper is a long sleeved top made of wool (although I wouldn't argue with someone calling a similar non wool top a jumper)

YABU: even if it is a long sleeved top and made of wool, if you don't usually wear anything under it then it's called a t-shirt

We're in the UK.

OP posts:
toomanysausages · 17/04/2023 17:49

He could have meant a sweat shirt but I'd still consider that under the jumper category.

eatdrinkandbemerry · 17/04/2023 17:51

Anything made of wool is a jumper if you wear it on your torso 🤷‍♀️

Sabretoothedgerbil · 17/04/2023 17:54

A ‘jumper’ is long sleeved, thick/thickish knitted, felted or sweatshirt material.
If it has short sleeves, it’s a ‘short sleeved jumper’.
A ‘t-shirt’ always has short sleeves.
Unless it has long sleeves, in which case, it’s a ‘long sleeved t-shirt’, or a long sleeved top.
These definitions are absolutely correct and not up for debate in any way.

ActDottie · 17/04/2023 17:55

I’m just cringing at the thought of wearing something woollen directly on my skin!! I’d be so itchy!

IDontWantToBeAPie · 17/04/2023 17:56

I think it depends on if he's just being a weirdo who wears a jumper with nothing under it or if it's a jersey g shirt

LumpyLoo8 · 17/04/2023 18:02

If he goes commando does that make his trousers underpants?

A jumper is thicker than a t-shirt. I’ve a few nice jumpers that aren’t designed to be worn over anything.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 17/04/2023 18:02

Based on an episode of Frasier, I think it is someone threatening to throw themselves off a high building in Seattle.

Okunevo · 17/04/2023 18:05

There are wool base layers that I would not call jumpers, then there are cotton or acrylic jumpers. If you mean wool then say wool.

Original poster
WideFootWelly · 17/04/2023 18:10

It's not a base layer. You wouldn't wear anything over it...except a coat

OP posts:
Newuswr · 17/04/2023 18:13

I don’t always wear a top under every jumper every time (I tend to run hot and tend to wear a jacket/coat). So his definition doesn’t really make sense to me. A t-shirt doesn’t have long sleeves either - I would call a long sleeved cotton top a jersey top.

Smallyellowbird · 17/04/2023 18:36

I'm annoyed by your husband just reading this - lif. His 'not a jumper' jumpers should just go into the regular wash, why t

RattlewhenIwalk · 17/04/2023 18:38

Same as a sweater....hes being awkward 😁

TopBitchoftheWitches · 17/04/2023 18:41

A t shirt is literally what it says, a shirt in the shape of a t, with short sleeves. What a knob he is.

PuppyMonkey · 17/04/2023 18:41

I’m annoyed at your DH but I’m also annoyed at PPs claiming t-shirts can have long sleeves and jumpers can have short sleeves. This is very very offensive imho.

CombatBarbie · 17/04/2023 19:06

I have loads of jumpers I wear with only a bra underneath. A jumper has long sleeves 🤔 is he trying to differentiate between a sweater and a jumper perhaps??

That said, I do have a hand wash basket for knitted/delicates. Mainly mine tbh, all the rest mainly sweatshirts and hoodies go in the main wash.

determinedtomakethiswork · 17/04/2023 19:13

Put them on a boil wash and he'll soon complain that his jumpers are ruined.

unsync · 17/04/2023 19:24

I'd pop it in a nice hot wash with the rest of the t-shirts. He's an arse.

Fairislefandango · 17/04/2023 19:37

I think if this thread proves one thing, it's that there often aren't universally agreed definitions of categories of garment! As a knitter, I feel I have to point out that lots of garments which aren't woolly are in fact nevertheless knitted. Most t-shirts are (extremely finely) knitted. On a machine, admittedly, but then so are most jumpers nowadays.

BertieBotts · 17/04/2023 19:40

I think I kind of agree with him, to me jumper strictly means a woollen/knitted Pullover, but i also use it as a catch all for any thing that is worn as a layer over the t-shirt later. Sweater, hoodie, cardigan are all under the umbrella of jumpers.

This came about because of having too many items of clothing with no exact name eg a knitted or sweater type garment that is closed with a zip. What's that called? It's not a cardigan, cardigans have buttons or ties. It's not a hoodie as it has no hood. It's just easier to call the whole category jumpers.

But I find it really really weird when people wear layers out of order. To me it's vest (optional), top, jumper, coat. I would never wear a jumper with nothing underneath and it would also feel wrong to wear a coat directly on a top. DH frequently treats long sleeved tops for our toddlers as jumpers, or puts jumpers on without a top underneath and will just put coats directly on over t-shirts with no jumper in between. (On himself too) It's madness!

Fairislefandango · 17/04/2023 19:40

Obviously I'm not saying a t-shirt is a jumper, but some of the attributes people are using to define a jumper apply equally to other clothes. Arguably the only difference between a long-sleeved t-shirt and a cotton jumper is the size of the needles and the thickness of the thread.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 17/04/2023 19:45

Can you share a photo of it.

typically would think that a jumper is something that would be worn over another top but understandably some people might choose not to. If no one would wear anything under it/it would be weird to wear something under it then I don’t think it’s a jumper.

Soubriquet · 17/04/2023 19:51

A very cute species of spider.

Oh you mean the clothing item? Something thick you pull over your head

Sewingdufus · 17/04/2023 20:11

A jumper is a layer worn over a shirt or T-shirt. Fabric type can vary - wool or sweatshirting, fleece, alpine fleece or jersey, natural fibres or synthetic.

Chickensoup88 · 17/04/2023 21:29

T shirt to me is short sleeved. I have never heard of a long sleeved t shirt, regardless of its yarn consistency and the percentage of wool in it.

Okunevo · 17/04/2023 22:22

Chickensoup88 · 17/04/2023 21:29

T shirt to me is short sleeved. I have never heard of a long sleeved t shirt, regardless of its yarn consistency and the percentage of wool in it.

What is a top made of t-shirt material but with long sleeves?