How to Choose a Jumper That Lasts Seasons

The price of a jumper says nothing about how long it will last. The yarn, the knit and the way you wash it say everything. Start with the composition label. Combed wool and merino warm without itching; pure acrylic warms but pills quickly under the arm and along the side. A wool blend with viscose or polyamide is a good middle ground: the softness of wool with the strength of a man-made yarn, for less. The knit test is simple. Stretch the fabric gently between your hands and let go. If it springs straight back the knit is dense; if the stretch stays, it will bag at the elbow within a month. Look at the cuffs and hem too: the rib there is what holds the whole shape. Finally, washing, which is what kills most jumpers. Wash cold on the wool programme, and never hang one wet on a hanger - the weight of the water pulls the shoulders long. Dry it flat on a towel and it will keep its size season after season.