Stylish Christmas Sweater to last for years

[Doggymummar]

I have the usual plastic tat Christmas sweaters, bought precovid for the dreaded office Christmas jumper day. But I've worked from home now for half a decade and deserve something beautiful that will suit, flatter and look festive on Zoom and out and about. I can just see tat in all the shops.

I will be online shopping. I saw one on woolovers which is grey and subtle but it's a cardigan, and I'm a 34hh chest and cardigans are not my friend, it needs to be v neck and preferably green and orange to match the rest of my Autumn/Winter wardrobe. I have time so ordering from overseas is an option. Preferably under £150

Can you knit? Can anyone close to you knit? You could choose the exact style and colour combination you want.

@TheSpottedZebra a fair isle knit is utterly different from a yoked Norwegian jumper which is what the knitted said. A fair isle can be steeked for armholes or can be knitted flat ( for v neck) -they are different construction techniques. I’ve done both

and for those suggesting getting someone to knit if for you - a quality yarn could be £125 easily and a jumper can be 8 hours of work ( it depends entirely on method and speed). I only knit for very very loved ones who will cherish it

It’s not impossible at all but a v-neck tank top is worked flat and seamed, unlike traditional Nordic knits which have a characteristic round yoke.

This is why I wish there were more real shops where you can try things on - the tiniest tweaks can make the difference. I'm large of head, nork and shoulder and have a short neck (I know, basically a cave troll), so v necks really do look nicer on me. But the right cut of round neck or even polo can occasionally work.

I get the heebie jeebies at the thought of spending hundreds of ££, getting something delivered, then having to send it back - or worse, convincing myself that 'it will do' and then never wearing it because it just doesn't make my heart sing... you know the way...

And I miss the joy of trying something unpromising in a shop then getting a coup de foudre ⚡️ for it.

A bit over budget, but could be worn at other times of the year and it would go with your colour scheme
https://adeelasalehjee.com/collections/vee-neck-sweaters/products/salzburg-cashmere-vee-neck-jumper

I think she means that if you had large breasts they tug at the cardigan so that the buttons are pulled tight and you get glimpses of cami etc from underneath. Tbf that could look scruffy- a bit like a sausage that’s burst it’s skin.

Funnily enough in my yoof a v-neck was my go-to to hide flat-chestedness, which is very apparent in the crew neck style. The v somehow distracted and even created a slight cleavage effect.

Noooooo! It's shiny viscose — a travesty of a Fair Isle sweater which has to be wool. And it's £225...

Maybe @OhTediosity could knit one for you? 🙂

I'd be delighted, but based on my generally slow speed and the size of my WIP basket the OP would be looking at a delivery date some time around Christmas 2028!

Haha I sew so I feel your pain 😊. Just wish I could knit

I get the viscose point but I actually quite like that op! The viscose means it looks slightly dressier and while that would normally, I agree, not work for fair isle, I kind of think the whole sparkly Christmassy vibe allows this through as an exception! I like it as it looks like you’ve made a festive effort without having a big reindeer bounding on your boobs.

Something isn't adding up here. A typo perhaps?

Yarn doesn't have to cost that much. You can get enough yarn for a jumper in the £40-£80 (100% wool, even, £40 being enough for a jumper with a 40" chest, decent length in WYS colourlab dk).

And 8 hours? I hope that was meant to be 80! I usually budget about a month for a jumper, on the understanding I will probably get a few good days where I can work on it all day and will be otherwise able to work on it for an hour or so a day.

8 hours is about how much I'd budget for half a knee high sock haha.

Well 80 hours at even minimum wage would be around 1000 for a jumper so I'm out. I guess it varies on speed and experience. My aunty Betty could churn out a few kids jumpers a week sitting in front of the telly after work. But they wouldn't be completed colours and patterns.

I think you just need to learn to knit. It's not that hard. After several years of unsatisfactory Christmas jumpers I'm now just over halfway through this one. The yarn was my Christmas present last year. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holly-sweater-adult
(Edit, I don't mean to sound smug, I mean to say, people often don't find it that hard, with a bit of practice).

I had this in raspberry a few years ago and flattering on my G cups!

Tempted by this Hobbs one for the festive season. red v neck www.hobbs.com/product/lettie-v-neck-jumper-with-cashmere/0224-9726-9044L00-POMEGRANATE-RED-M.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20413593267&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20413593267&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADC5o-K8soBfyPWMW3zejcBwN9M5p&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsd-l9deBiQMVephQBh2p7BoGEAQYGCABEgL2jPD_BwE.

If you like this one @Doggymummar or her other pieces contact them directly about your preferred colours and they can knit one for you. Also if you prefer looser sleeves etc etc. Likewise any smaller Shetland maker/ company will be able to do so.

I bought a heavy velvet top last year that just draped beautifully (large chest here too). I then got a necklace from etsy and it looked really lovely and dressy. I got so many compliments. I get so hot in wool and knits so this was such a great find. I wore it to so many do's. Jeans if relaxed pub lunch, with silk skirt for office party, with leather leggings for midnight mass etc.

I have this velvet wrap top in both colours and have worn both for parties and special occasions with black plisse wide leg trousers and black velvet trousers.

Op Celtic and Co have a deep sort of rusty red, loose v-neck style jumper with a subtle shimmer thread through it that looks very festive yet still restrained. Not quite orange as you wanted, but also not a Santa red.

It popped up on my ads I think because of this thread so apologies if others mentioned it!
But it’s restrained enough to look formal and tidy, yet the subtle shimmer makes it “ fun” in that low key kind of “ I’ve done my bit and, no, I’m not going to wear reindeer antlers for your amusement” kind of way. And I think the cut looks flattering if you are worried about a larger bust size.

I've had several Celtic and Co sweaters over the years but sent a recent purchase back because, for all the crowing about Made in Britain, the sweater I received had a label stating 'Made in China'. This may not matter to some people, but it does to me. If you Google Celtic and Co the website link still says Made in Britain. Misleading.

I didn't see any v necks. But I bought these. This thread is dangerous www.celticandco.com/womens/footwear/leather-boots/strap-detail-tall-lace-up-boots?colourid=841

Oh they look great - really comfortable!

I’m glad the post was useful in some way! The v neck seems to be cslled “ shimmer v neck” and if you Google that together with Celtic, for me it comes up immediately though in the black.,

https://www.celticandco.com/womens/clothing/jumpers/shimmer-v-neck-jumper

This one - gorgeous jumper @Calliopespa

Oh, thank you, that isn't Christmassy to me.