Sweater-ology

[leadbelly2550]

I am considering additional sweaters - lighter weight. i have a number of cashmere sweaters, a few lambswool, one merino, and a few that are “wool.” I have plenty of heavier sweaters, too warm to wear inside unless in the dead of winter, and in a home that keeps the thermostat way down.

I felt one ‘hole’ was no shetlands, so i just purchased one, from Harley of Scotland.

If you had to add, what would you choose and why? Would it be based on wool, particular brands you like, or something else? I’m looking for ideas.

thanks.

 

[1969]

I just picked up this thing from Frans Boone. It's a really interesting texture, looks like a shetland, but a very spongy soft hand, hard to know if it will hold its shape since it's already kind of springy. I've got a couple of true shetlands from Scott and Charters which are my favorites.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I wouldn’t think so much the particular material but more so style.

 

[Jmr928]

If you are looking for lightweight sweaters the John Smedley sea island cotton sweaters are very light. Mine mainly get used during summer and early fall evenings. They’re currently on sale for about 50% off with an extra 15% off on top of that. https://www.johnsmedley.com/us/mens/sale-edit

 

[breakaway01]

Would help if you tell us more about what outfits you want to wear these sweaters with. Dress shirt and wool trousers is quite different from jeans and T shirt. Tell us more about your current sweaters—material is just one aspect. Are they V neck, crew neck, are they plain knit or do they have any texture or pattern?

 

[leadbelly2550]

Sure. They are all plain, no texture or pattern, fairly light weight. The cashmere are a mix of v-neck, crew neck, and quarter button. mid-blue, brown, black, light gray. The lambswool are 1 crew (hunter green), 1 black (v-neck), the merino is light gray with a quarter zip. I dislike the zipper. one olive green merino blend crew neck that’s a fair bit heavier weight. Because most of these easily dress up, I’m probably looking for options that are at least as comfortable dressing down. I am partial to conservative colors - I’ll never wear pink, yellow, bright red, light green.

In an interesting fishing expedition on Poshmark today, i found a great-looking Brooks Brothers Shetland sweater, dark-ish blue and slightly heathered, for $40 to add to the mid-gray new one that’s on the way.

We live in the mid-Atlantic, it gets cold but not frigid in the winter; travel periodically to New England, where it gets really cold in the winter.

Ironically, all the heavier sweaters have texture or patterns.

 

[leadbelly2550]

The ultimate takeaway from this exercise was ordering a gray shetland sweater made by Harley and a navy blue shetland from Jamieson. Both new. Poshmark.....be careful.

Also, beware sizing on these sweaters, because the size charts are somewhat confusing. I wear a 46 suit jacket, which would normally be size XL in the US. I’m one or two sizes up, XXL and XXXL, for the sweaters knit in Scotland. The Harley in XXL is fine; Jamieson reportedly sizes a little more slim, generally, so i sized up. (The difference between XXL and XXXL in their sizing, in real terms, is roughly 1/2 inch more room in the chest and roughly .75-1 inch more length and shoulder width, sleeves are the same).

 

[breakaway01]

Okay, that helps. From what you're describing, I'd suggest looking for sweaters with more texture and/or pattern. Shetlands are a good choice.

Depending on your budget, for a lighter weight and more casual sweater, Inis Meain makes some nice alpaca-silk blend sweaters, e.g.

Search results for: 'clothing knitwear nostoc-blue-grey-alpaca-silk-rolled-edge-tunic-sweater' | No Man Walks Alone

No Man Walks Alone is a menswear boutique dedicated to delivering the best products from honest makers around the world

nomanwalksalone.com

I also like GRP, Stephan Schneider, and Eleventy for what you're looking for.

 

[leadbelly2550]

Okay, that helps. From what you're describing, I'd suggest looking for sweaters with more texture and/or pattern. Shetlands are a good choice.

Depending on your budget, for a lighter weight and more casual sweater, Inis Meain makes some nice alpaca-silk blend sweaters, e.g.

Search results for: 'clothing knitwear nostoc-blue-grey-alpaca-silk-rolled-edge-tunic-sweater' | No Man Walks Alone

No Man Walks Alone is a menswear boutique dedicated to delivering the best products from honest makers around the world

nomanwalksalone.com

I also like GRP, Stephan Schneider, and Eleventy for what you're looking for.

thanks for the suggestions, that's helpful.