Realistically, how much should good knitwear cost?

[WeirdArchitecture]

See a lot of threads on the pros and cons of buying expensive knits. One had links to several stores (small designer??) where a merino crew neck was over £300.

I hate cheap knits and am lucky enough to spend a little on natural fibres, but how far is too far? Brora? Uniqlo?
Personally i don't rate Uniqlo at all, and wonder 'who or what' suffers for the production of a dirt cheap cashmere cardi.

Im not looking for recommendations at all, i am interested how much you would be prepared to go, whether you think it is worthwhile to invest in a few higher priced knits, or if, alternatively, you think it is all a racket.

We are used to the quality of clothes becoming much worse as the years go by, so i would love to know other's thoughts on this subject. Many people have little choice wrt clothes spending, so that is obviously appreciated and understood (before anyone decides to land me a punch )

@2022FastForwardPlease ooh they are lovely. I do think small traceable brands are the way to go or buying preloved

@nordica

I've been reading a lot about British wool recently following a new brand Yan Tan that Jules von Hep co-founded. yan-tan.com/

I understand the £150 price tag but feel a little nervous spending that on wool because ideally I like my clothes to be easily washable and the advice seems to be these jumpers should not be washed at all, just aired out.

Some of my best winter knits are from Woolovers. Maybe they are not quite as ethical but paying £89 to for two cashmere/merino mix jumpers feels a lot less anxiety provoking somehow, at least those can be washed.

Thanks for the link to Yan Tan - I love two of their jumpers!

You can wash any wool. All wool is washed during processing
The key is to make sure all the water is the same temperature and never agitate it. wash by hand and dry flat
Obviously don’t try it on a brand new jumper but practice on an older one.
Wool that is labelled machine washable has been chemically treated to prevent shrinkage.

Very interesting thread. I am trying to go down the “less but better quality” path, particularly that the quality of so many wool and cashmere jumpers is so terrible and also there are the ethical considerations. I have bought from Brora in the past but they seem to have become even more expensive! I try to buy second hand and supplement with occasional buys of new things.

A (for me, anyway) related question: How much knitwear does one realistically need? How much do you have?

Last winter, I bundled on old jerseys and a blanket when working from home and had one thick Icelandic jumper for weekends outside on walks etc. I felt I needed hardly anything that was fit to be seen by others in (e.g. the nice but warm neat jumpers for dress down Friday at work) and that got me thinking - how much do I really need anyway? How little can I buy?

Realistically very few, quite probably.

Though I confess to a ridiculous number of cardigans (30+ currently) but only a few jumpers. Though that does include thinner, or pointelle-type summer cardigans.

I'm enjoying this thread, with all the new links to look at.

What puts me off buying expensive, high quality knitwear is that it takes a bit of looking after and I'd be worried about it getting damaged or going bobbly. I have a gorgeous colour block Sweaty Betty ultra-fine knit jumper and it gets little holes or threads pulled if you so much as look at it the wrong way! And a really nice lambswoop jumper which bobbles terribly. Not a disaster if it only cost £30, but if it cost £150....

Somehow I don't mind as much if I knitted it myself, as at least that way I git tye enjoyment out of making it as well as the pleasure of wearing it. Illogical maybe...

It's about maintenance isn't it? Good quality knitwear shouldn't go bobbly, or should be easily tidied up. Any garment might get torn or snagged, but it's possible to mend and darn knitwear invisibly.

I have plenty of hand knitted and bought jumpers that have never pilled, and plenty that have, I'm always trying to work out what makes the difference.

Exactly - you could buy a cheap one that wears really well or an expensive one that bobbles! But yes, I guess maintenance is the thing. I'm not used to being super careful with my clothes, because I'm not in the habit of spending lots on them. I definitely want to buy better and look after them better though. Going to make that a NY resolution!

Here’s an interesting thing. I dug out an old Monsoon brochure that I’ve hoarded since 1994. 1. The clothes are amazing and I wish I had a time machine. 2. The accessories look cheap compared to today, but the garments if anything are more expensive.

@NotMeNoNo

Here’s an interesting thing. I dug out an old Monsoon brochure that I’ve hoarded since 1994. 1. The clothes are amazing and I wish I had a time machine. 2. The accessories look cheap compared to today, but the garments if anything are more expensive.

Oh wow, that stuff is exactly my current style! I agree that the prices are comparatively higher, it's weird isnt it? If only Monsoon was the same way now.

I really, really like those images.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this fascinating thread.

@lazylinguist

Yes, you're right about the word 'methera' - I love that dialect sheep counting! The hat I'm making is available in Ravelry. It's called 'Seasons Hat' and it's a pattern by Jared Flood. I'm really enjoying making it actually! Picture attached of progress so far.

Btw, if you fancy further knitting chat and yarn/pattern purchase enabling, feel free to pop over to the knit and natter threads on the arts and crafts board.

I love your fab hat and great choice of colours!

Thanks also for the knit and natter recommendation. I've lurked in the past, may have posted once ages ago but will try to join in more often. It's great to share patterns that you know will really work.

I also love the recent Monsoon pictures and would totally buy these clothes if available today.

I agree, what a lovely thread. Loads more ideas of expensive jumpers to buy!

I used to buy mainly classic knits with a twist from Brora every season when they first started. Everything has washed and pressed beautifully over the years and is still in regular rotation so cost per wear is very little.
Since then their styling has changed and I have ceased to buy, but last week had the chance to go into one of their shops, and feel things. Didn’t buy anything.
Have a look at Aethel, family business in London with all the right credentials.

Oh my word, Monsoon! What a fab shop that used to be. I always used to ask for vouchers for birthdays and Christmas, now I don't even know if we've still got a branch round here and what's more, I don't really care.

And yes, it was quite an expensive shop back then.

@Floisme it was fabulous wasn't it? I started buying in about 1974. It's changed a lot since then!

My friends bought their wedding dresses there.

I like good quality knitwear - either cashmere or wool so I do tend to spend more

But I also wait for sales

@Floisme my most recent wedding in 1999 was in a burnt velvet monsoon evening dress

my most recent wedding

That’s a Betty Trask Award winner, right there!

[quote Sooverthemill]@Floisme my most recent wedding in 1999 was in a burnt velvet monsoon evening dress[/quote]
I bet it was proper velvet too, Sooverthemill not the shiny velour shit they try and fob us off with now.

And yes like Literally I'd definitely buy a book / go and see a film with a title like that

It’s only the Brora cashmere that is made in the UK.
Not true.
There are several local factories in Scotland producing cashmere knitwear. I buy from the factory shops.

I don't see the point in buying more expensive when cheaper may be just as good unless you have very particular views on the provenance of clothing.

The higher costs of other brands is down to their small buying scale, and they can't negotiate bigger discounts like larger companies.

Most cashmere from J Lewis, M&S and Uniqlo is £79.
Boden slightly more but always a discount.

As a by the way, I bought Monsoon in the late 70s and early 80s.

It is unrecognisable today compared to how it was then.

Then, it was upmarket and coveted.

Now, it's trash like the old C&A used to be.