What should a hard wearing jumper be made of?

[Beforetheend]

I have a few cashmere jumpers that are great for winter warmth but I also need some jumpers that are a bit more hardwearing. Any idea what fabric composition to look for?

I bought a couple of cheap jumpers - one from F&F and one from Primark that didn’t make it to the first wash without becoming bally and too scruffy looking to wear in public,

I find wool and cotton mix wears well together, and is warm but not too scratchy. I have some old White Company ones still going strong.

Wool is definitely warmest, felted wool is super toasty but can be liable to shrink.

Virgin lambswool, definitely. Merino is thin and I find wool/cotton looks faded.

80% wool and 20% nylon is a good fabric mix for a hard wearing jumper.

Merino tends to wear the best. I like lambswool it's very cosy, but you do have to wash it carefully and debobble regularly.

Good old wool. Needs careful washing with wooloite detergent and drying flat to keep it looking lovely but worth it.

I tend to save up my woollies to wash together and once washed stick the on the airer flat, and use the dehumidifier overnight to dry them. It works a treat and no shrinkage.

Also have some white company ones which are 10 years old and still look great. They need debobbling on the boob area but not all the time like my cheaper knits do.

I’ve been knitting som Icelandic wool ones these babies will last forever

Vintage st Michael wool . I have a few my favourite one (man's) must have been getting on for 40 years old, I lost it in a pub - gutted . But the charity shops have loads so I'll find another .

Wool but you have to buy a bobble remover too...

That's what I was going to say..

Any recommendations for a bobble remover? I've used razors and a comb like thing. Think I need an electric one

Going against the grain but I have several cashmere jumpers that have lasted almost a decade and have got loads of life in them. I wash them in the washing machine (with wool wash) and dry on an airer. Conversely I've had several wool jumpers that have all shrunk after washing in the same way.

I’ve got a Lakeland debobbler.Good call about checking the men’s section for wool jumpers in the charity shops. I will try that.

Guernsey wool is indestructible. Very warm - possibly too warm for a centrally heated day.

Alpaca tough as the goat it came off. Also very cosy.

Merino is hardwearing. Shetland same, scratchy.

You usually need a bit of polyester for tailoring with wool - eg coat - so it keeps a crisp shape but I don’t know if the same lengthens the life of jerseys.

Wool. I have loads of it. Merino, chunky wool.

I wash on a wool wash with normal liquid detergent. I am lucky that I have a everhot to dry them on fast so no damp smells. I have a wool jumper from uniqlo that I bought a year ago and I've washed it weekly since and it looks great still.

The cheapest -in-John-Lewis debobbler is the best. No idea what it’s called.

The secret is to streeeetch the jersey and wash it afterwards. Ironing stops bobbling a bit if you can be bothered.

I got one off amazon, but you have to be careful as if you press too hard you make holes in the jumper.

Shetland wool is excellent.

Have a look here:

https://www.jamiesonsknitwear.co.uk

And here:

https://www.lafetiche.com/shop/?category=jumpers&sortBy=myOrder

I'm allergic to most wool, I wear cotton yarn jumpers they last really well and don't bobble.

I buy lots of my wool and cashmere second hand. J Crew merino is very good if you can find it on ebay.

I whack it in the freezer for a few days to ensure no nasty moth eggs, then wash it.

I find alpaca jumpers are most hard wearing. Less bobbly than my cashmere and wool ones. I use an electric fabric shaver on the cashmere ones.

Should add: alpaca blend. From arket. They tend to be 30% alpaca, 30% wool, 30% polyamide

I sit down with my knitwear a few times a year at the table, with music and wine, and just have a debobble singalong. That said, I do not buy cashmere, I don't know how that can be debobbled whilst maintaining the flufflyness (but also I prefer flat wool).

Don’t buy alpaca.

Google the numerous articles and reports on the cruelty associated with its production. I won’t link as they’re highly distressing.

I’m very taken with the notion of a debobble singalong.