Picking the Right Knit

Given we’re in sweater weather, you’ll notice there are as many kinds of knits as there

are colors and styles. Form follows function when it comes to picking your knits,

whether buying for yourself or others, consider their end-use as a guide.

Chunky knits are popular, with a plush feel and look about them, my favorite being

chenille. The challenge with these heavy knits is that they can easily overwhelm the

wearer, so consider ones that are closer fitting and don’t have exaggerated cuffs.

Typically, they also come in a bigger weave, making them more susceptible to

snagging.

The ultimate knit is cashmere, which is rated based on thickness of the ply (number of

threads used) and gauge (number of rows per 1”). The heavier ply and gauge result in

a heavier cashmere, which increases its durability, and increases their cost too. Most

cashmere pieces are 2 ply and are either 7 or 12 gauge. When shopping for cashmere,

consider how often you plan to wear it to determine the best for you.

Synthetic knits tend to be the most durable and easy to care for, not usually requiring

dry cleaning. These days the addition of synthetic to a cotton or cashmere tries to

capture the benefits of both, making them easy to care for with a bit of softness or

luxury thrown in. Overall, synthetic knits do not breathe as well as natural ones, which

is why cotton is prevalent in summer sweaters.

Overall, there’s enough knit varieties to suit your needs, however, it does take a little

work to determine the best choice. When buying a knit that is an investment piece, it’s

worth the extra time and effort.

Tammy’s Truism: Make sure to read the label on the care for your knits as to whether

they have to be dry cleaned or if hand or machine wash will do.