Believe me, I’m as sick of the word “timeless” as you are. But, when describing a sweater that’s been in production since 1960, and looks just as good now as the day it came out, well, few other descriptors seem as apt. The Crewneck and Cardigan Version sweaters from SNS Herning are meticulously woven, cut and sewn in Denmark from medium-weight Merino wool. Read More »

Gray skies got you down? Maybe these’ll help. The Fair Isle Sweaters from Belgium’s Howlin’ by Morrison are knit, cut and sewn in Scotland from 100% Scottish lambswool. So bright they’re practically a source of vitamin D, the sweaters are like a slim-fit, woolen sunlamp, ready to give your Seasonal Affective Disorder a swift kick in the pants (what the hell am I talking about?). Read More »

Need a sweater? How does a $110, Italian-made, slim-fit, wool / cashmere shawl collar pull-over sound? What’s that? You prefer cardigans? Okay then, how about $110, Italian-made, slim-fit, wool / cashmere shawl collar cardigan? (and thus concludes the portion of the post in which I pretend to talk with you). English brand Charles Tyrwhitt has just launched an insane-o blowout knitwear sale (I’m pretty sure that’s what they’re calling it too). Read More »

What’s on sale RIGHT NOW.

The good folks from Chicago’s Sir & Madame (you remember them from last week, right?) are knocking 15% off their entire stock from now through Sunday. Choice US-made goodies include outerwear from 3Sxiteen, boots from Red Wing, jeans from LVC, leather goods from Tanner, and of course, S&M’s own in-house line (those bags!). Enter code “15OFF” at checkout to get the discount. Read More »

You’ve got the tweed jacket. After yesterday, you’ve got the tweed tie. Now, how about a tweed sweater? The Tweed Cardigan from Germany’s Hessnatur is made in a Fair Trade certified factory in Turkey, from sustainably harvested Australian virgin wool. Heavy enough to double as a jacket, yet light to still fit under one, the sweater will keep you comfortably toasty all season long. Three nubby as all get out colors are available, each of which is made with non-toxic dyes. Read More »

What’s good about the Aran Crafts Norwegian Crew Neck Sweater in list form: 1. It’s made in Ireland by a company with over 50 years experience. 2. The 100% pure new wool from which it’s made comes from Merino sheep, so its extra soft. 3. The fit’s better than you’d expect (much slimmer than the L.L.Bean, that’s for sure). 4. There are multiple colorways, all of which are great. 5. It only costs $90. 6. Really, you need a six? Read More »

I’m happy to report that this year’s NorthernGRADE was a rousing success. And to keep the magic alive just a little bit longer, I’ve decided to use this week’s blog posts to spotlight some of my favorite products from the event.

Not only is the Shawl Collar Cardigan from veteran Portland, OR knitwear-maker Dehen 1920 beautiful, it’s also one of the heaviest sweaters I’ve ever come across (seriously, the thing weighs multiple pounds). Another nice feature is that it’s almost entirely water repellent, thanks to the natural lanolin coating of the worsted wool used in its construction. Unfortunately, these won’t be available for purchase for another month or so, but, based on the samples they had at the show, I can assure you they’ll be well worth the wait. Read More »

The Slim Cardigan from Naked & Famous is made in Canada from a medium-weight, 100% cotton terry fabric. Woven in Japan on vintage circular knitting machines (which take close to an hour to produce a single meter!), the fabric has an uneven, almost nubby texture, giving the sweater a distinct and unusual look. Additional features include a v-neck, reinforced collar, and tonal stitching throughout. Two colorways are available (gray and pink), and Vancouver’s Four Horsemen Shop has them both. Read More »