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What are the best jumpers made from?

39 replies

Bahhh · 01/10/2020 08:18

This might be a stupid question but I've spent my whole life so far just buying based on what they look like and price. Now I actually care about being WARM. But when I look at what jumpers are made of its rarely 100% wool. Do I need to buy 100% wool? If not, what should I be buying? Half wool, or a cashmere mix or...? I can't believe how expensive some nice stylish jumpers are that are still made of polyester! Or is a polyester mix ok?!

OP posts:
Buggedandconfused · 01/10/2020 08:25

Cashmere is the best, lasts forever and is so lovely to wear. I just found this site for affordable cashmere - very good prices! Just wash them on cold using wool wash.

www.nearlynewcashmere.co.uk/collections/womens-cashmere

Itsokthanks · 01/10/2020 08:28

100% wool is always warmer, sometimes too warm! I find a mix of wool and man-made better and easier to wash. Toast do some lovely wool jumpers, I always wait for the sale as it's quite pricey.

LeGrandBleu · 01/10/2020 08:28

I like wool/cashmere if possible 100% or blended with silk.
Massimo Dutti has a nice range of knitwear www.massimodutti.com/gb/women/collection/jumpers-%26-cardigans/view-all-c911188.html
Uterque is another shop from the Zara group but the most expensive. It is often a bit of hit and miss but their jumper really feel nice
www.uterque.com/gb/collection/knitwear/view-all-c1864014.html
Complete different style but their knitwear is really nice. www.eseoese.com/knitwear I think it is still too soon for Spain to have warm jumper so you might want to come back to eseoese later in the year.

AgathaX · 01/10/2020 08:45

Avoid acrylic, it looks cheap, doesn't keep you wam and doesn't wear well.
Wool is good but can (usually does) go bobbly, and lambswool can be itchy. It will keep you warm though, and is a natural product.
Cashmere is lovely to wear, keeps you warm and wears reasonably well. Need to be careful washing it. It's expensive to buy, although long term is probably justified as it does tend to last.
Cotton is another option for jumpers. Tends to wear well and doesn't go bobbly. Warm, although not as warm as wool. Cheaper to buy than wool and looks good too.

minipie · 01/10/2020 08:48

Cashmere definitely, but not the loose weave/floaty ones as they wear very badly IME. Have to wash on cold and stretch while wet to avoid shrinking. Occasionally debobble. Do all this and they will last years.

Craftycorvid · 01/10/2020 08:53

Really good cashmere in a simple classic style will be your friend for many years, won’t itch and won’t add bulk under a jacket. If you want something to throw on that looks good and be hardwearing but less pricey, wool/acrylic blends can be great.

lazylinguist · 01/10/2020 08:53

I have taken to buying jumpers in the men's department at TKMaxx. Much better choice of good quality lambswool, merino and cashmere or cashmere mix jumpers in nice plain colours than in the women's section (where they are often acrylic or have annoying little design features).

Martinisarebetterdirty · 01/10/2020 08:55

Definitely cashmere - but I find the cheaper stuff bobbles and doesn’t last. Brora cashmere is amazing.

JonHammIsMyJamm · 01/10/2020 08:58

For me, cashmere. Warm but not boiling and coolish when the weather is mild. Great when going from chilly outdoors to indoors with heating. Also not itchy, I cannot abide itchy jumpers (looking at you, lambs wool). I also like merino but it isn’t particularly warm, it’s more of an autumnal or layering knit.

eaglejulesk · 01/10/2020 08:58

Merino wool

JonHammIsMyJamm · 01/10/2020 09:00

Acrylic is that weird combination of sweaty but not warm. I don’t know how it does it.

JaceLancs · 01/10/2020 09:03

Natural fibres best
I usually buy cashmere or wool cashmere mix
Merino for lighter weight layering
Cotton can work if chunky enough
I bought a fab Barbour cotton jumper in tkmaxx a few weeks ago for £19.99

FlyingByTheSeatof · 01/10/2020 09:03

I really like my cotton jumpers rather than wool. I find them much more comfortable to wear. When it gets really cold like freezing I'll wear my cashmere cardigan as an extra layer for warmth because it's thin but warm.

HandInGove · 01/10/2020 09:04

Thin layers keep you warmer and are more comfortable to wear for a while than big thick jumpers imo. Don’t know if that’s scientifically true though!
The points people are making about materials are important but OP you will have your own priorities about affordability, durability, what feels comfortable to you to wear, ease of washing, environmental credentials, etc.

If you can specify further people might be able to be more specific to what you are looking for.

I have no idea if it’s proven that natural materials keep you warmer than artificial for example, but I do know that natural materials can shrink and personally I don’t want to hand wash so there are various things to bear in mind. Second hand will always be more environmentally friendly than new though, and often cheaper obviously.

AsCoolAsKimDeal · 01/10/2020 09:04

Cashmere

Bwlch · 01/10/2020 09:09

Avoid Swaledale wool. It is very hard wearing and my husband has a jumper made from it that he bought in his late teens but it feels like it was knitted from hairy string.

ShaunaTheSheep · 01/10/2020 09:11

Merino
Cashmere

beautifulmonument · 01/10/2020 09:11

If you can afford it then definitely go for quality cashmere (Brora).
If you don't want to spend loads then choose merino or wool blends. Anything with more than 30% wool will feel warm.
If the wool is mixed with synthetics it will often wear better without bobbling, hang more nicely and feel softer. But it will be less warm than 100% wool.
Acrylic is completely pointless, no warmth at all.

WrinklesShminkles · 01/10/2020 09:14

I loathe cashmere, I find it sweaty and high maintenance. The jumpers I love are machine washable merino or lambswool. Merino feels smoother and is smarter, lambswool is cosier.
I don't like synthetic jumpers because of the static, but wool sometimes has about 20% nylon added to make it longer lasting. Horses for courses 🐴 Grin

Branleuse · 01/10/2020 09:15

i love cashmere but it has to be a machine washable one, so i tend to look for supermarket brands, M&s or boden, that type of thing, because I know I wont get round to handwashing enough, or ill accidentally put it with the other washing

PrincessButtockUp · 01/10/2020 09:15

Some wool sweaters bobble really quickly because the fibre length is quite short and so despite the spinning process, little fibres can work loose and bobble up under friction which is why you see them around underarms etc. It's called the staple length, and is to do with what you could imagine as a chunk of hair from the fleece of the sheep.

Merino has a slightly longer staple length so is slightly less prone to bobbling, and because that makes the yarn a bit smoother, it feels softer and less itchy against the skin.

Lambswool is a short staple length, and the little ends sticking out of the yarn are what feels scratchy.

Consider what clothing farmers and hikers wear to manage in cold conditions. Wool is good for regulating body temperature and copes with being damp, which is why fisherman's knits were such a thing. Cashmere is luxurious but benefits from being looked after properly.

Fine acrylic knits are fine for indoors but aren't particularly warm in my opinion.

I cannot wear mohair or angora, anything with a "halo" of fuzziness around the fibre sets my skin on edge.

Source: I'm a knitter with an interest in the sheep to sweater process.

Branleuse · 01/10/2020 09:33

any wool jumper is brilliant at regulating temperature. I find I get too hot and sweaty in acrylic, even if it feels lovely and soft, whereas wool keeps me at a warm but comfortable non sweaty temperature. Most wool I find too itchy though

TheSpottedZebra · 01/10/2020 09:41

Ooh, PrincessButtockUp that is very informative! Can I ask, when I see 'Pure New Wool' what does that mean, apart from the obvious?

SewingBeeAddict · 01/10/2020 10:04

Acrylic is ghastly.
Freezing and looks cheap and the static !
Investing in decent knitwear is worth it but you need to know how to care for it.
I like cashmere ( not supermarket), merino( cruelty free) or wool/ cotton.
Imagine you are caring for your own hair.
No harsh rubbing, scrubbing, hot washes.
Gentle, I use a spot of baby shampoo in tepid water, pop it in and leave to sit.
Gently rinse in the same temp water and roll in a towel, reshape and lay flat to dry.
I store all my knitwear in moth proof bags.
Shave any bobbles with an electric debobbler.
Ive picked up some gorgeous cashmere in charity shops, just because its got a few bobbles, people get rid.
Toast knitwear is expensive and surprisingly poor quality.
Brora sale , Seasalt also do excellent knitwear for everyday.
Be wary of moths
So essentially you cant just chuck wool knitwear in a mixed wash and think it will retain its shape and quality.
Some people do have a wool setting on their machines but I like doing it by hand.
As for the keeping warm thing.
Sheep dont wear acrylic Wink

SewingBeeAddict · 01/10/2020 10:17

@PrincessButtockUp

Some wool sweaters bobble really quickly because the fibre length is quite short and so despite the spinning process, little fibres can work loose and bobble up under friction which is why you see them around underarms etc. It's called the staple length, and is to do with what you could imagine as a chunk of hair from the fleece of the sheep.

Merino has a slightly longer staple length so is slightly less prone to bobbling, and because that makes the yarn a bit smoother, it feels softer and less itchy against the skin.

Lambswool is a short staple length, and the little ends sticking out of the yarn are what feels scratchy.

Consider what clothing farmers and hikers wear to manage in cold conditions. Wool is good for regulating body temperature and copes with being damp, which is why fisherman's knits were such a thing. Cashmere is luxurious but benefits from being looked after properly.

Fine acrylic knits are fine for indoors but aren't particularly warm in my opinion.

I cannot wear mohair or angora, anything with a "halo" of fuzziness around the fibre sets my skin on edge.

Source: I'm a knitter with an interest in the sheep to sweater process.

Im a knitter too. Alpaca is actually my favourite,light and warm Blue faced Leicester second choice.