Bobbly Jumpers

Its knitwear season, and the shops are fit to burst with all things knit one purl one (and no, I didn’t realise it was spelt that way either) I am in the market for some new knitwear, and not because I need the latest “must have” it is because knits are not something I buy regularly because I am a fuss pot. I like cashmere you see, and cashmere being a luxury fabric does not come cheap (and nor should it) but its toppy price point meant I buy infrequently and take good care of it, I have cherished a few pieces I bought in a sample sale years ago, but alas the time has come for replacements. 

All Cashmere is not created equal, its graded 1-3, One being of the highest quality. So if there is a glaringly big gap in price point, thats your for-why. In the past few years the high street offering of Cashmere has come a long way, M&S, Uniqlo, Massimo Dutti, and John Lewis all have a great offer of Cashmere in modern shapes and great colours under £200 while Cos’s offer comes in under £250.

If you want to splash out a bit more on your cashmere, in my opinion avoid the mainstream luxury brands, you will pay an arm and a leg for a designer piece that won’t be any better quality than a brand that specialises in cashmere, my favourites include Jumper 1234 & 

Chinti & Parker,  I personally stick to the classics, navy blue or grey in oversized styles but they have lots of cute styles if you want something more interesting. 

I haven’t really shopped for second hand knitwear before, I have looked in charity shops, hoping to find a gem but with little-no luck, shopping second hand online for cashmere worries me too as difficult to see the condition of the fabrics depending on the quality of the photographs, and while minor pilling from friction can be easily wizzed off with a battery operated fabric shaver (if you don’t have one, you need one, they work brilliantly on wool coats too, make them look good as new) I would be concerned about receiving a bobbly misshapen jumper. 

Then I discovered the Nearly New Cashmere Co, they specialise  in - you guessed it, nearly new cashmere. Browsing their website I was impressed by the wide selection of shapes, colours and sizes, they guarantee the pieces they sell to be and I quote “immaculate” they will give you credit towards a new jumper if you send them your old 100% cashmere, they will even wash your cashmere for you if you’re a nervous nelly or have had disasters in the past and shrunk your favourite cashmere sweater to the size of a Cabbage Patch Doll.

Mentioning no names.