Sunday, September 12, 2010

Buying a Sweater

Do any other knitters out there have problems buying sweaters?  I know I can knit anything that I find with very few exceptions, so I feel like it is silly for me to buy a sweater.  However, the reality is that I've completed a grand total of ONE sweater for myself since Little Sir was born nearly three years ago.  My knitting time and my ability to think about complex knitting patterns have both been drastically reduced since my two little guys have joined our family.

My second problem with buying sweaters is that I am (like most knitters) very particular about the fiber that I will wear.  I hate the feeling of acrylic yarn and I also hate that acrylic and cotton sweaters begin to look much worse for wear after only one season of wearing them.

My third issue is that I don't have a lot of money to spend on clothes.  I buy nearly all of my clothes second hand, both for financial reasons and personal reasons.  I have found a few lovely second hand sweaters, but they are very few and far between.  Wool sweaters are also dated by the time they find their way to a thrift store, because people who wear wool sweaters know their value and keep them around.

OK, now that I've written way too much about how hard I find buying a nice wool sweater for myself, I thought I'd show you a few that I am considering purchasing, as I have a special event coming up that I would like to wear a nice sweater too.

Peregrine by J.G. Glover Merino Wool Cardigan Sweater- Shawl Collar

sierratradingpost.com 

Simple, classic design.  I love the collar.

J.G. Glover Merino Wool Turtleneck Cardigan Sweater 

sierratradingpost.com


Similar, simpler cables, less fitted body.  This one obviously looks good open, which is important to me.

Neve Designs Sweaters - Pia Retro Snowflake Zip Cardigan



Isn't this pretty.  I love the color and the simple bold color work.  I am also a huge fan of zippers in cardies, but NOT a fan of actually putting them in.

With a Twist Amiar Warp Cardigan 


Gosh, isn't this pretty?  I love the smocking, the length, the collar. . . I'm not in love with the price, though.  $144.00.  It's one of the very few over $100 I would eve consider.  (I'm pretty sure I've never spent $100 on a single article of clothing ever.)
Icelandic Design Knightsbridge Jacket
Isn't the neck on this one incredible?  And the vine detail just dresses up this simple sweater.



Have any of you purchased a wool or cashmere sweater?  Where from?  Was it worth the cost?

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4 Friendly Chatter:

  1. Love the $140 sweater. I want these awesome pair of boots but they are $317. Why are all the awesome stuff soooooo expensive?

    According to our dear friend mr craven, if I love it I must buy it! I think that advice could go to you too!

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  2. I have to agree with Layla; the Moose Mtn one is just gorgeous. I love the arans for their classic appeal, but I think they wouldn't look good on you. Plus they'd be ridiculously hot. The ski sweater is a great color, but I think you'd be bothered over time by the simplistic pattern. Lastly, the grey one is my second choice if you can't find a way to have the teal smocked one, but imho there's really only one choice here.

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  3. Okay, upon looking closely at that Moose Mtn sweater, isn't there a way we can figure out to make it or something very much like it? It looks like a swing jacket with a smocked top, and the smocking isn't all that complicated a pattern...

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  4. I purchased a Charcoal Gray, Wool, Cable Knit, Turtle Neck Sweater from the J.Crew Outlet 14 years ago (when my older son was 1 yr old). I still have it, I still wear it, I still LOVE IT. The style of the first two cardigans, you will have for YEARS. The styles are classic and will never go out of style. You can dress them up or down...can you tell I used to be a salesperson from Nordstrom? I'll shut up now.

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