Does anyone make top-quality MTM sweaters?

[82-Greg]

Not cashmere but MTM:

http://www.norwegianstar.com/

http://www.shetland-handknits.co.uk/welcome.html

 

[Montesquieu]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Hmm, if you aim for saddle or raglan shoulders, you won't have to worry about the seams overhanging your shoulder points. That being said, the Brooks Brothers cashmere sweaters are pretyy narrow in size small: 17 inches across the shoulders, if I'm measuring correctly.

A perfect shoulder fit for me is 15" across, seam-to-seam, when a sweater lies flat on a table. My chest is 35" circumfrence below the armpit. I have a small frame, little fat, and lean muscle from 25 marathons and ironmans.

Foo, sounds like your shoulders and chest are broader than mine, despite my towering 3" above you.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Montesquieu

Foo, sounds like your shoulders and chest are broader than mine, despite my towering 3" above you.

Sounds so. I have a broad frame.

 

[Lohengrin]

John Smedley cashmere. Extremely fine quality, and pretty slim, too.

best

 

[philosophe]

It's heresy, I know, to mention designer brands, but aren't there some really skinny Prada sweaters?

 

[lemmywinks]

My grandma.

 

[furo]

Originally Posted by Montesquieu

A perfect shoulder fit for me is 15" across, seam-to-seam, when a sweater lies flat on a table. My chest is 35" circumfrence below the armpit. I have a small frame, little fat, and lean muscle from 25 marathons and ironmans.

Foo, sounds like your shoulders and chest are broader than mine, despite my towering 3" above you.

I didn't know you were actually a true 35" chest. I'd say that I'd agree now that the BB smalls would still be a little too large for you.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by philosophe

It's heresy, I know, to mention designer brands, but aren't there some really skinny Prada sweaters?

I have one from years ago, a black cashmere zip-up. Pilled like crazy; very loose knit.

 

[augustin]

Some years ago I wanted to replace a rich and beautiful cardigan I had bought in the 70s Enquired here about MTM and got no help :>( so I went to a few local yarn and knit shops and asked around. I found several people who took in work by commission. I looked at some pics, talked with a few, and found someone I liked. We chose the yarn together, and I now have a sweater even better than the original.

 

[AlanC]

^Where did you source your yarn? My wife does some knitting (and crochet), and finding really high quality yarn seems difficult.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by augustin

Some years ago I wanted to replace a rich and beautiful cardigan I had bought in the 70s Enquired here about MTM and got no help :>( so I went to a few local yarn and knit shops and asked around. I found several people who took in work by commission. I looked at some pics, talked with a few, and found someone I liked. We chose the yarn together, and I now have a sweater even better than the original.

Originally Posted by AlanC

^Where did you source your yarn? My wife does some knitting (and crochet), and finding really high quality yarn seems difficult.

My wife knits and, from what I understand, yarn that knitters like to knit with isn't necessarily what makes for a high-quality garment. Even pricier yarn is spun inconsistently so that there are frequent knots and loose spots. Just something to think about in the balance.

Also, I don't think there is much good cashmere yarn for hand-knitting out there.

 

[augustin]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

My wife knits and, from what I understand, yarn that knitters like to knit with isn't necessarily what makes for a high-quality garment. Even pricier yarn is spun inconsistently so that there are frequent knots and loose spots. Just something to think about in the balance.

Also, I don't think there is much good cashmere yarn for hand-knitting out there.

You're right that nice to knit with and nice to wear are not the same. My knitter said there was no point in looking in the knitting store. She had some catalogs and samples, and I chose from them. My cardigan was not cashmere, so I don't know much about the availability of cashmere yarn, but it would not be surprising if sourcing was difficult. In finding someone to make this, I spent some time sorting the many people who knit a lot from the very few who knit "professionally".

 

[Parker]

While not near "top-quality", J. Crew makes an assortment of merino v-necks in small and soon extra small. Might be an option if you're not totally set on upper end quality. I'm a similar size, maybe a little more "robust" (5'7", 38" chest) and the J. Crew small is almost perfect. Maybe even a tad tight for my taste. A sales guy in Santa Monica told me they would start carrying extra-small soon which might fit you very well.

 

[mccvi]

Maybe there is a taboo about this, but what about women's sweaters which tend to be cut much more slim and, over all, appear much more tailored in their fit. For neutral colors it might well be an option.

 

[jet]

Jil Sander classic V neck in merino goes down to 44 and fits exactly how you want, wears like iron and its about 395 which never goes on sale. Call Jef at Jil Sander in chicago he will get you measurements.