WTF is with all the Nylon jumpers

[HostaCentral]

Can't find a jumper. So many seem to be nylon blends. What is going on?? I don't want a nylon jumper, and I don't want to pay £100 for it, recycled or not. Sea Salt, Fat Face, White Stuff, M&S, Oliver Bonas etc etc

See also Mohair blends, all the rage this year, but soooo itchy.

Wool is sustainable, recyclable, degradable, and farmers are literally burning it because they can't sell it. Make it make sense.

Also, as I am having a grumble, they are all cut short, and round neck or funnel neck, and I want v neck and longer, not tunic, just not cut at my belly button!

I have bought a couple from Uniqlo, in Merino, lovely, but my favourite V Neck they have changed the style to a really high V like a mans jumper. Why? Are we scared of a bit of boob now??

I've bought from Celtic and Co before and been happy.

I know Boden is slagged off on here but I’ve had some great 100% wool and wool mix jumpers from there (and plenty of v neck ones too)

M&S do merino knitwear but it’s very thin; however I’ve been quite happy with Autograph and John Lewis cashmere.
House of Bruar and Woolovers are good if you want a Guernsey, Fairisle, Aran, country walks type jumper. (Not fashionable but very practical!).
I do find the price of knitting ‘wool’ is ridiculous and that’s if you can even find any!

I've picked up 100% cashmere Uniqlo jumpers on Vinted and bought them new too. I find they wash really well on a delicates wash. M&S cashmere is a bit fuzzier.
I know several people who buy the men's Uniqlo cashmere for extra length/size/v neckness.

It's infuriating though. 'wool blend' with 30% wool etc. I'm now refusing to buy jumpers/shirts/dresses etc with plastic fibres in - it's an excellent way of buying less. It doesn't last, it's ugly, doesn't keep you as warm and horrible for the environment.

I had this issue trying to buy my son a good quality cotton polo shirt for his birthday in the summer. Usually I’d get it from marks or Uniqlo but everything was polyester or polyester mix. Apart from the fact it looks a bit cheap and shiny it also tends to stink really quickly in the summer if you sweat.

In the end I got them from Amazon, can’t remember the label but synthetic is everywhere I agree. Only advantage is it is more moth proof as moths are really a problem again now (ironically due to the fashion for wool carpets and all things natural reappearing in the mid 80’s).
For myself I can’t wear wool, even over a t shirt as it brings me out in a rash, no matter how soft it is, so I’m fond of cotton or acrylic or a mix.

Once answer is to knit or crochet your own jumper. It’s not that hard if you pick something simple and lots of videos on YouTube - it just takes time and focus and of course it’s not cheap when you consider a decent ball of wool can be £10 plus and you’ll need at least 8 large balls depending on your size.

I am also buying more stuff via Vinted now as fashion has gone all high waisted trousers (I’m short waisted) and cropped tops. It’s like they’ve decided if you have curves you don’t exist. I’m not exactly fashion forward, I buy majority of my clothes in marks or uniqlo and have lived in trousers, t shirts and jumpers for the last 45 years, I’m currently slimmest I’ve ever been and just can’t find clothes in nice materials in a decent cut that arnt designed to hang off a 5’8” flat chested model frame.

I have made a few things on the sewing machine from merchant mills patterns as they are really nice and I think I’m heading more in that direction generally as it’s possible to pick up nice relatively cheap material and at least you know you can get the sleeves the right length and it will fit around the boobs etc.

West Yorkshire Spinners is a good quality yarn brand with a lot of pure mostly British wool at a reasonable price. Istex Lopi Icelandic wool is also good value and great for warm jumpers (though too coarse for most people to wear next to the skin). Drops is imported but lots of pure wool and even cheaper.

Garment quality wool is expensive. All those fleeces being burned were never going to be used for garment wool - there are many breeds of sheep and relatively few create jumpers!

E.g I'm knitting a jumper at the moment (sheep and alpaca based) which will work out to around £45 for materials.

As for the itch factor, not all yarn is itchy and if you use proper wool wash it will only soften up over time.

You need to step away from the high street.

https://www.thecrofthouse.com/

https://www.harleyofscotland.com/

https://bosie.co/?srsltid=AfmBOop-_JSiSLHNKqf4yPrb6G2Q_19TguYGC8xBhxOyF1Am4nw-olgE

https://www.plumo.com/categories/Fashion/Knitwear/

https://shetlandwoollen.co/

https://www.jamiesonsknitwear.co.uk/

Wool doesn't need regular washing. The high end brands like &Daughter say leave it to air, spot clean stains and wash once a year.

But the majority in the U.K. do and Britain is a massive wool producer

All wool is itchy if you are allergic to it. The fibre has scales on it that cause irritation.

Yes, there are plenty of finer fleeces being wasted as well as all the Scottish Blackface etc.

Superwash treated wool has had the scales removed. Obviously anything you are allergic to will make you itchy!

I agree, I do not buy knitwear which is plastic, I have cashmere brought from marks and spencer , I wait for the sales and I have their merino wool jumpers, I also have from john lewis cashmere, in January sale I brought 3, I love the style they are high at front and longer at the back with side splits just long enough for me to wear with leggings, I'm still looking to buy more but can't find this style anywhere.

Me too. Currently wearing one from there that is five years old and still in excellent condition. Every so often they do 20% off, so I wait for that.

Not necessarily.

I wear 100% Merino wool jumpers from Uniqlo. I don't find them at all itchy. I wash them by hand, wool spin in the washing machine and hang them on a hanger to dry. The ones I bought a few years ago are still going strong. They are light but warm and keep their shape.

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/women/jumpers/jumpers?path=%2C%2C100205%2C&lineup=100216-3

I have some lovely jumpers from &otherstories, Arket and Cos - I don't usually buy 100% wool because they are difficult to wash but I like it to have a decent amount of wool. My favourite ones have around 60-70% wool and the rest polyamide/elastin. They are warm, wash really well and last for ages. Not sure about v-neck options though as I wouldn't look for those personally. I detest acrylic and agree that it's much more difficult to find wool these days, even at a premium.

I had been specifically looking for pure wool as the static in M&S from all the plastic jumpers was ridiculous!

I was coming on to say the same, I don’t want to wear clothes made of recycled plastic bottles that not only cause me massive static shocks but don’t keep me warm either, the clothes industry is an abomination at the moment.

It's much more difficult to find wool these days, even at a premium.

It really isn't. If you're prepared to pay premium prices , there's masses but in the links I posted prices start at around £100, which is the price OP mentioned. Community Clothing starts at around £80 for knitwear made in the UK

I've bought wool jumpers and cardigans from Uniqlo in recent years - haven't looked at this year's offerings.

You can buy a 100% lambswool jumper from M&S, but only in the men’s section! The women get cloud yarn or other such shit. I’m with many of you in I’m not paying upwards of £60 for a jumper that’s mostly acrylic and do read labels to find cotton or wool.

I think it's quite a small proportion of people who are actually allergic to wool. Otherwise it's a case of the type/breed/quality of the yarn, some being more soft and smooth than others. My skin must be impermeable as the only thing that itches me is angora (rabbits), I'm fine with anything else even quite "rustic" wool, including many hand knits over the years. I'm currently wearing a 100% merino wool jumper, no problems.

I feel I have to put a word in for Community clothing on these threads, their Scottish lambswool is so soft, you would think it was cashmere.

In regard to nylon, a small percentage of nylon/polyamide will add to durability and shouldn't cause bobbling/itching unless the wool was going to do it anyway. I fear a lot of wool blends are the cheap sweepings up from the mill as they must have such short fibres to bobble so badly. (this being the latest disappointment). Frankenstein mixes of acrylic, polyester, nylon, viscose and lycra with a fraction of wool or cashmere are just awful on every level.

I’m going to buy a Celtic & Co supersoft slouch v neck jumper in a size down for a more fitted look. The v neck looks a more flattering lower v neck

I agree! Who even decides these things are in or out anyway?

I can't bear any wool, I find it so scratchy. I wouldn't be able to have it anywhere near my skin and I wouldn't be able to wear something with long sleeves and a collar underneath, I'd roast!