Wool Sweaters

F

Fuori

Joined
Oct 13, 2014
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Quality wool sweaters are getting harder to come by. What good options are still out there?
 
Don't be afraid to shop Goodwill and Salvation Army. People will donate some very high quality wool garments.

What style you looking for?

Zieg
 
I've been looking, but haven't found something. I'm looking for thick crew neck sweaters.
 
Army Navy stores have a very good value for dollars spent. The are other companies out there there but u will pay a lot more the European makers have excellent quality but you will have to sit down after you see the price. I have some stuff from ibex a USA company that are wonderful.
 
There are some good new zealand wool makers, but quality wool costs a bit. Im guessing you are looking for more of a knit than a felt? got any Amish or Mennonite colonies near you? might be easier to get some made. Even if you have to track down some high grade wool, that might be easier.
 
I have bought a few Shetland wool Crew neck sweaters from LL Bean. They are med weight and cost $49.99 shipped. They have a bunch of different choices in wool sweaters.
 
There out there, but it takes some looking.

I snagged the charcoal version of this sweater back in October on sale for $60.00. Pure wool and made in Ireland.
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/...s/natural-irish-celtic-wool-pullover?npd&npd&

I got an email from them and was looking for something for someone else. Saw it on sale, and bought it on the spot. Very pleased with it.

I picked up the pure wool mechanics sweater from here also, a few weeks ago also at a very reduced price. Plus they were offering free shipping at the time with an extra 25% off. This one is from Schott in NYC, but it is made in China. Even though it is from overseas, the Mechanics Sweater looks very well built. Both of these are pure wool, not wool blends.

Orvis is another site worth checking. Especially when they run sales. They had a similar Mechanics Sweater on sale recently. But they were gone fast. I missed that one.

Both Orvis and NG offer a great warrantee. Not happy, send it back.

Then there is the old fashion and probably the best way. Knit one yourself. My wife is finishing the collar right now on one she knitted for herself. Beautiful pure wool sweater double thick sweater knitted with two skanes of yarn at once. Somewhere between olive and forest green. She also knits my wool socks.

After watching her knit and seeing the price of wool yarn. That NG Sweater really seems like a deal.

I have been down the modern fabric path. I have pretty much returned to wool. My main piece of kit is a Grey Fox Pullover from Kevin Kinney at Empire Wool & Canvas. My wife calls it my Woobie!

I have an old made in America made Woolrich sweater that just won't die. Wool power and Smart Wool layers. For me it just works. I can wear it for days at at a time and still stand to be around myself.

I also just picked up a wool blend union suit from LL Bean. Made in Canada.
 
I have two very old, but very nice Patagonia sweaters- one is a heavyweight (couple of pounds heavy) knitted "Guide" sweater and the other is a lightweight lambswool sweater. I see them on ebay occasionally as vintage- another good place to shop for quality wool sweaters.

Ibex made a very similar sweater as the "Guide" sweater, but I think they've since discontinued it.

army surplus outfits will sometimes have Swiss Army surplus sweaters, these are nice and usually reasonably priced ($30-50); nice and heavy and a good deep zipper to vent with
 
Filson has some real good wool sweaters if you don't mind shelling out a few bucks. I have two, one a heavy wool pullover, the other heavy wool with a zipper front and waxed cloth over the shoulders and arms. They are heavy, thick and weigh a lot but they are also extremely warm. Check ebay, usually there are several nice ones listed for much less than new/retail.
 
The Zieg said:
Don't be afraid to shop Goodwill and Salvation Army. People will donate some very high quality wool garments.

What style you looking for?

Zieg
Click to expand...

Just gave the last 6 wool sweaters to my kids....

But Goodwill and Salvation Army
 
@LostViking: I haven't forgotten about needing to post pics of the horizontal dangler mod to my Mora Companion sheath.

@Fouri: LLBean still (or currently - it comes and goes year to year) sells their crew neck heritage Norwegian Sweater. I have one. Paid $15 at a consignment sale (IME in N.Conway). It is insanely warm. I prefer a cardigan style though.

Dale of Norway has a full line of traditional sweaters. Grab your wallet. As others have mentioned, Army/Navy stores are another option but fit may be tricky.

As for LostViking's suggest to pick up knitting... Nothing will test your manhood more than learning to knit. I remember pulling out a pocket knife to whittle a stick at my kid's Little League game and somebody made a comment. I told them (seriously) that me whittling in public was not as frightening as me knitting in public. Women love it but men often go batty on it.

Regardless, it's a wonderful hobby and great for relieving stress. I listen better when I knit. My beer lasts longer when I knit (think about it). I have a short attention span so I stick to smaller projects like hats and boiled wool mittens. The mitts are like the old Dachstiens and very warm under leather choppers. Someday I'll tackle a sweater. I've got the basic idea in my head. Till then, I stick with stuff like this.

Isaac's Hat by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
G. Fred Asbell offers wool products that are made in the USA. No sweaters but several options for jackets including weight of the material. I'm with The Zieg for checking your local thrift shops, I've done very well there over the years
 
go online and check Sportsmans Guide, and other MilSurp dealers. Lots of bargains there on wool sweaters.

So far this year, there has been zero need for a wool sweater though. lol
 
Thank you for all the suggestions. I've been busy trying to take a look at them. I don't mind buying wool at a local surplus or Goodwill, but I'm hesitant to do so on Ebay because of some really bad experiences with moths.

I'm checking Sportsmans, LL Bean, Dachstein, Nat Geo, Patagonia and some of the others when I get home from some Christmas errands.

I've asked about Fred Asbell in another topic a while back, but I can't remember if I got any replies. How is the quality of the wool and the softness?
 
I don't think of softness or wool type on a brand by brand basis. Different sweaters will have different goals, which will drive different wool choices. Add to this that the same brand of wool can vary year to year.

If I'm looking for a particular feel, I withhold judgment till I get it in hand.
 
My MIL knitted. She made me a sweater that I flat wore out.
Extra long so it was double thick at the belt line and with extra long sleeves so they were double thick on the wrists and lower forearm.
Turtle neck with a zip to mid chest.

Find someone who knits well and pay them well.
Custom knife.
Custom sweater.
Well worth the money spent.
 
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