The knitwear thread

Sporting some of the best knitwear tonight
Kiton - Lyle & Scott.webp


1960's Lyle & Scott cashmere cardigan (amazing perfect condition)
Kiton cashmere rollneck
 
Woolovers Aran knits are not 100/150 euros.

£45. Less in the frequent sales.

Depends what you want. I have a Woolovers Aran. It is wearing well though it is a larger size than I expected and I could not be bothered to exchange it for a smaller one.
 
William Lockie is good, there's a small tailor's on Denneweg here in the Hague, Vanita it is called who has them in. He has two types: the standard version as supplied by William Lockie and one he has redesigned the fit for the more trim Dutch physique.

For me, woollen jumpers are really only for 2 -3 months of the year. Otherwise I need something less warm i.e. cotton jumpers. Few of them about now, outside of Brooks Brothers.
 
Inis Meain review

It definitely lacks the class quality and workmanship compared to the vintage jumpers I have, and it even lacks compared to modern day Johnstons of Elgin. Johnstons is in the high end of mid range for quality where-as Inis is in the middle end of the mid range in quality, yet it is so pricey. Definitely well overpriced for what it is. $300 - $350 would be a more reasonable value instead of the $640 l paid.

The knitwear has already starting to pill quite noticeably,the bottonholes are not reinforced and look quite weak, and the buttons are quite cheap looking. None-the-less it looks nice and is a really handy piece of knitwear to own.

Inis Meain v's vintage cashmeres l own

No comparison. My vintage cardigans all have button hole reinforcement and hardly any pilling at all. Even the vintage jumpers l have worn under coats have hardly any pilling, including the unknown 1980's jumper called The Highlander...it is surprisingly good. The vintage jumpers and cardigans by the big names are total class and in the upper of the highend realm.

Brunello Cucinelli cashmere turtleneck v's Henry Bucks merino wool turtleneck

The Brunello is true highclass luxury and beauty, the cashmere is gorgeous and totally decadent. The Henry Bucks totally lacks that luxury material and is for mere morals.

Kiton turtlenecks (thick)

It simply says I am the KING of knitwear. Nuff said.

1960's vintage cashmere Lyle & Scott and Pringle cardigans

Impeccable looks and quality, a total class act.

Ballantyne 1 ply intarsia jumpers

Works of art and the highest levels of luxury. My special jumpers. Never worn under a coat....I always like to wear them as a display of art and the highest level of craftsmanship.


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Late edit: the construction of the Inis Meain isn't so good either because the sleeves don't look and feel solidly attached, it feels weak.
 
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Bought a 1990's Pringle cashmere scarf. Very difficult to find older scottish scarfs made by the big names so l pounced on this when l saw it. Supposed to be like new.

Saw a stunning purple Scottish cashmere scarf by Hermes' a few months ago, but didn't want to pay $500 U.S for it.
Pringle scarf 1990's.webp


btw, l refuse to be cold when l go outside anymore. Everyone else is, but l am not. Even on winter nights l love loads of blankets on the bed, up to 9 layers of wool blankets on my side of the bed on top of a doona. The covers are so heavy that they pin me to the bed. I feel the cold easily.
 
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Now l get my most sort after item of all, the orange Scottish made Hermes cashmere in the form of a scarf. Check out this bad boy!

I have always wanted to know what the Hermes cashmere from Scotland is like and how it compares to my other top Scottish cashmere and who may have made these items for Hermes. It is supposed to be soft, so l suspect it is not Ballantyne or John Laing...could be Lyle & Scott imo, they make some of the softest of all, but not all Lyle & Scott is super soft, and Pringle isn't super soft either. Then again, maybe Hermes' requested certain treatment methods. Anyway,it will be interesting to see it in person.
Hermes scarf -orange 1.webp
Hermes scarf -orange 2.webp
Hermes scarf -orange 3.webp
 
Interesting notes below, but be warned that it was linked from a dubious anti cashmere article, therefore be careful of some claims made in the quotes due to possible bias from competitive wool industries, but an interesting read none-the-less. The dubious article in question is here = https://qz.com/207489/why-your-next-sweater-should-be-alpaca-not-cashmere/


Shooman's cashmere comment that questions common ideas on cashmere

And seriously, is the cashmere quality in the highend of the market really much less than what it was in the 1980's or earlier? I am not so sure that it is. Why? Because some of my recent ltalian stuff is of impeccable quality such as my Kitons. Are the cashmere fibers really shorter due to cross breeding? Are the cashmere fibers shorter due to goats eating less fresh feed? I see no evidence of it IMO because the pilling is no worse on my newer stuff than in my vintage cashmere.

The idea of cross breeding goats in Mongolia with other goats in more recent times to get a courser fiber also rings alarm bells that it could be propaganda. Why? Because we do know that goat herds have greatly increased in Mongolia so the herders can make more money, especially with the drop in prices, so wouldn't this be enough to ensure more volume??? The fact that they now want courser fibers seems to go against everything they stand for in terms of breeding and reducing quality and desirability, so that claim is suspect IMO. The fact that Ronny makes the claim that this applies to nearly all of the cashmere market seems highly suspect like he is paid to write off the cashmere market as no good.


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Fine cashmere v's long cashmere

The best cashmere is made of fibres that are fine and long, but, because there is no world standard, garments labelled a hundred-per-cent pure can be of widely varying quality. It is generally accepted by reputable manufacturers that the length of good cashmere fibre is somewhere between thirty-two and thirty-eight millimetres; when the length drops to twenty-five millimetres, the fabric will pill more easily. The fineness of cashmere is what gives it its warmth and softness and loft, Lamb explained, and the width of a Mongolian-cashmere fibre should be no more than sixteen and a half microns, a fraction of the width of a human hair. (Fibre width is largely a matter of genetics, except that young and female goats have finer fibres than old and male goats.)

This tells me that Loro Piana `baby cashmere' doesn't guarantee better quality, but it may ensure finer quality which is warmer and softer. Baby cashmere naturally wouldn't guarantee longer fibers, therefore baby cashmere could still pill badly yet be extra warm and soft. Remember that Frank (previous page) said that cashmere quality varies from year to year. So `baby cashmere' could guarantee more softness and warmth, but not better quality.

4 countries produce cashmere - China = 60%, Mongolia =20%,Iran and Afghanistan = other 20%
increase in aggregate production among the four cashmere-producing countries: China, which accounts for sixty per cent of the international cashmere crop; Mongolia, the next-biggest producer; and Iran and Afghanistan, each of which supplies much smaller amounts.

The cashmere scam
They would place newspaper ads offering top prices for raw cashmere to herders, he told me, and then, after buying good-quality cashmere from the herders, they would mix poor-quality cashmere in with it, the way drug dealers dilute cocaine with soap powder. They would sell the mixture to a factory, and there sorters would pick it over and send back any cashmere found to be inadequate. Then they would simply take the poor-quality cashmere that had been rejected, remix it with more high-quality cashmere, and again try to palm it off on the same factory. Eventually, enough of the bad stuff would slip through for them to make a profit. “Sometimes we mix dirt in with the raw cashmere, too, to make it heavier,” he added. “And there are lots of other tricks we use that I can’t tell you about.”

Wool snobs dumping cashmere for more exclusive fibers as mass consumers wear cashmere
The ready availability of cashmere means that the fashion élite has quickly moved on to other, more exclusive fibres. One is pashmina, an Indian cashmere made from the down of high-desert goats and woven primarily into shawls, and another is shatoosh, an even rarer fibre, made from the down of the Himalayan antelope. It is illegal to import shatoosh into this country, because in the harvesting of the crop the antelope is hunted and killed, not herded and combed; not surprisingly, shatoosh is an even more coveted fashion item than pashmina.

If cashmere is not what it was in terms of iconography, it is also not always what it was in terms of quality: its mass availability has had the effect of driving down the quality of the cheapest sweaters further still.

Cashmere quality declined because of cross breeding most herds of goats to increase supply
Quality is a big issue in Mongolia: as the number of goats has grown since the introduction of the market economy, their quality has declined. Much of the stock was corrupted in Communist times by crossbreeding with coarser-haired Angora goats in an effort to boost production. Moreover, now that Mongolia is no longer required to help feed Russian troops, herders are keeping their older male goats instead of slaughtering them. As a result, more coarse fibre is coming onto the market. “The herdsman looks at the male goat as a cash cow, because it produces more fibre,” explained Lamb, whose com-pany is currently helping to fund a gov-ernment drive to improve the stock of Mongolian goats by breeding them with fine-fibred bucks. But it is not easy to encourage Mongolian herders to focus on quality instead of quantity, he added, since they get paid for their cashmere by volume.

Cashmere should be for older folk hehe
“I think cashmere is more suitable for someone over forty,” she told me. “Young people can wear scarves or gloves or hats of cashmere, but if someone wears a cashmere sweater it will make him look older.” Her prohibition against cashmere for the young, though, was not primarily aesthetic; it was practical. “Cashmere is a very warm fabric, so if you wear it at a young age, you get used to it,” she explained. “This is a cultural thing. You’d better not wear cashmere young, because when you get older you’ll need even warmer things.”

quotes taken from here,
The Crisis in Cashmere

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/02/01/the-crisis-in-cashmere

If you read the purse forum you will also see many girls complaining in 2011 that Hermes were selling rubbish quality cashmere clothing. Interesting, but some of those girls were over the top dramatic and extreme and talking nonsense, and one girl even went as far as saying that the Hermes cashmere was pilling and looking worn out in the store before it's first wearing.
 
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I will admit that the brunello cucinelli cashmere l do have has a real seductive feel and look about it. It is not overly soft (I don't care so much about softness), but what l love about it is the dry feel and luxurious look. Cashmere for me is all about the warmth and luxury and look.

Today l made a significant investment in top notch knitwear with this. It is a nice heavy chunky cashmere knit with top notch styling. Can't get Scottish vintage pieces like this so l go with the ltalians for some things. Also thinking about getting another significant Brunello Cucinelli knit in the near future. I really like the brand.





For some reason l just can't get myself to purchase Loro Piana, something instinctively tells me to keep away. I thought about buying a stunning knit from the `baby cashmere' range or a turtleneck, but instinctively the Brunello Cucinelli brand speaks to me so much more and looks more luxurious and classy. Maybe l am wrong, but Loro Piana hasn't really grabbed my heart so far where-as Brunello grabs me.


The 4 ply cable from Berk is still on my list.
https://www.berkcashmere.co.uk/product.php?id=512&name=BERK+-+Cable+Crew+Neck+4+Ply
 
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The Shooman The Shooman i share your reservations re lp cashmere. imo there is quite a hefty brand premium one pays for bc, but i must admit i do like their knitwear. have you checked out colombo as an italian alternative, which i think is superior to lp?
 
ConchitaWurst said:
The Shooman The Shooman i share your reservations re lp cashmere. imo there is quite a hefty brand premium one pays for bc, but i must admit i do like their knitwear. have you checked out colombo as an italian alternative, which i think is superior to lp?
Click to expand...

I have checked it out and read reviews of the maker on the forums. The problem is that it looks like they don't sell thick cashmere knits, and they don't sell some of the beautiful stuff that B.C sells. Is this true?
 
Review of various knits

I received my beautiful Brunello Cucinelli cableknit, but lwillsay that despite it seeming to be high quality, it doesn't cut the mustard for me. The described "thick chunky knit" is not as heavy as l expected, nor is it as substantial and thick as l expected. My Inis Meain irish made cardigan is heavier and more tightly knitted, and possibly warmer.

Comparing it to Ballantyne vintage made in Scotland knits there is no comparison, the Scottish is much tighter knitted.
Comparing my Brunello Cucinelli cableknit to my Kiton knits, there is no comparison, the Kiton is superior and very tightly knitted. Actually,the Kitons are as tightly knitted as my Ballantyne vintage pieces.

What to do...future plans

1). I don't think l want to focus on Italian knitwear for cableknits.
2). I shall focus on Berk for apparently the tightest knitted cables available, made apparently to old Ballantyne standards...the new Berk range.

most importantly, most of the men and women who made Ballantyne knitwear were employed by our factory to continue making our knitwear collections. These artisans maintain a 300 year tradition of knitting the very finest Scottish bare finish cashmere notwithstanding the demise of Ballantyne.

All Berk Cashmere is tightly knitted which is why it is so special.

• Fiber length 34 - 38 mm, fiber diameter 14.5 microns (as long as it gets, the highest quality)


Maybe a few 12 plys could be in order too. I want some of the really extra t-h-i-c-k warm knits. I feel the cold.

3). I'll buy ltalian knits that are mainly turtlenecks, but l will make exceptions with a certain seller does sell some serious heavyweight knits.

Hermes' (made in Scotland) cashmere scarf v's Johnstons of Elgin cashmere scarf

Apparently JoE used to make cashmere clothing for Hermes at one point, and indeed the Hermes looks pretty much identicle in knitting style to the JoE. Naturally the Hermes' is made to higher standards with extra tight knitting, and it feels more substantial. The Hermes' is typically soft in the typical JoE way and extra plush. Wouldn't be surprised if they used the finest cashmere JoE could source also, but just a guess at this stage.

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Expecting a lovely vintage 1970's forest green cashmere Ballantyne v neck soon. Pics to come. Excited about it because l don't own any forest green v necks, l only own a forest green crew neck in lambswool, so a dream come true here,and very excited about green because it is my favourite clothing colour. Lime green shirt, murky green sportscoat, murky green cords, green antiqued shoos...really incredible and effective looks can be had when green is combined with various colours imo/.

 
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The Shooman said:
Now l get my most sort after item of all, the orange Scottish made Hermes cashmere in the form of a scarf. Check out this bad boy!

I have always wanted to know what the Hermes cashmere from Scotland is like and how it compares to my other top Scottish cashmere and who may have made these items for Hermes. It is supposed to be soft, so l suspect it is not Ballantyne or John Laing...could be Lyle & Scott imo, they make some of the softest of all, but not all Lyle & Scott is super soft, and Pringle isn't super soft either. Then again, maybe Hermes' requested certain treatment methods. Anyway,it will be interesting to see it in person.
View attachment 24130 View attachment 24131 View attachment 24132
Click to expand...

I ended up getting the other Hermes' cashmere scarf l had been eying off for over 6 months. They originally wanted $500, but l didn't want to pay that much. Eventually they reduced the price. Of course l would only buy the vintage made in Scotland Hermes'. It is in my dream colour.

Hermes scarf - purple 2.webp



I only desired two Hermes scarves in these colours, and now l have them. Classic Hermes' orange and the beautiful purple. You won't ever see these type of things again.
 
The Shooman said:
Review of various knits

I received my beautiful Brunello Cucinelli cableknit, but lwillsay that despite it seeming to be high quality, it doesn't cut the mustard for me. The described "thick chunky knit" is not as heavy as l expected, nor is it as substantial and thick as l expected. My Inis Meain irish made cardigan is heavier and more tightly knitted, and possibly warmer.

Comparing it to Ballantyne vintage made in Scotland knits there is no comparison, the Scottish is much tighter knitted.
Comparing my Brunello Cucinelli cableknit to my Kiton knits, there is no comparison, the Kiton is superior and very tightly knitted. Actually,the Kitons are as tightly knitted as my Ballantyne vintage pieces.

What to do...future plans

1). I don't think l want to focus on Italian knitwear for cableknits.
2). I shall focus on Berk for apparently the tightest knitted cables available, made apparently to old Ballantyne standards...the new Berk range.

most importantly, most of the men and women who made Ballantyne knitwear were employed by our factory to continue making our knitwear collections. These artisans maintain a 300 year tradition of knitting the very finest Scottish bare finish cashmere notwithstanding the demise of Ballantyne.

All Berk Cashmere is tightly knitted which is why it is so special.

• Fiber length 34 - 38 mm, fiber diameter 14.5 microns (as long as it gets, the highest quality)


Maybe a few 12 plys could be in order too. I want some of the really extra t-h-i-c-k warm knits. I feel the cold.

3). I'll buy ltalian knits that are mainly turtlenecks, but l will make exceptions with a certain seller does sell some serious heavyweight knits.

Hermes' (made in Scotland) cashmere scarf v's Johnstons of Elgin cashmere scarf

Apparently JoE used to make cashmere clothing for Hermes at one point, and indeed the Hermes looks pretty much identicle in knitting style to the JoE. Naturally the Hermes' is made to higher standards with extra tight knitting, and it feels more substantial. The Hermes' is typically soft in the typical JoE way and extra plush. Wouldn't be surprised if they used the finest cashmere JoE could source also, but just a guess at this stage.

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Expecting a lovely vintage 1970's forest green cashmere Ballantyne v neck soon. Pics to come. Excited about it because l don't own any forest green v necks, l only own a forest green crew neck in lambswool, so a dream come true here,and very excited about green because it is my favourite clothing colour. Lime green shirt, murky green sportscoat, murky green cords, green antiqued shoos...really incredible and effective looks can be had when green is combined with various colours imo/.
Click to expand...

Please let us know how the new Berk stuff turns out. I am anxiously awaiting a full report and comparison with old Balantynne. Thanks
 
FriendCustomer said:
Please let us know how the new Berk stuff turns out. I am anxiously awaiting a full report and comparison with old Balantynne. Thanks
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I certainly will, but it might not be for a number of months because winter is ending here. I do plan to try a 12 ply cardigan by o'connell's and a 4 ply cable from Berk.

Ideally l would like all three of these 12 ply in cashmere, and two 8 ply in wool. It would be something good to pop on in the morning or a weekend run up the shops, and also great for meditation in the park in those cold winter months. For me, obtaining those 12 ply cashmeres and some Berk 4 ply and a couple of o'connell's 8 ply lambswool would be a great ending to my knitwear collecting career. To me it would almost complete my collection. To me those heavy ply knits would fill a big gap and round out my collection very nicely.
http://www.oconnellsclothing.com/search.php?mode=search&page=1

btw, I eventually got my hat trick. I got my vintage cardigans from the big three! Now l have the 1960's vintage Pringle, 1960's vintage Lyle & Scott and vintage Ballantyne. It has taken me a while to nail down a Ballantyne cardigan, but l found it today.

It looks to be a 1950's - 1960's Ballantyne. Why? Because according to my very basic research some have dated this exact label from these decades. I would say it could be 1960's because l have seen another Ballantyne of this exact design and label being advertised as 1960's, + my intuition tells me it is, and l know my intuition is often correct.
Ballantyne cardigan.webp


It is a big deal for me to have achieved the hat trick of three vintage 1960's cardigans from the big 3, and now l have done it!!! It's not just about classic style,it is about old world luxury that the modern world has forgotten and will never see again. + I like cashmere and how it looks and keeps me warm. + l like the smart non formal look of knitwear.

I have always had a thing about cardigans, so having one each from the BIG 3 is a special achievement for me. So far my Pringle blows me away the most, it feels so luxurious where-as the 1960's Lyle & Scott is harder and less substantial but very impressive none-the-less. Will be interesting to see the Ballantyne cardigan.
 
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Some interesting tit bits about the Scottish knitwear industry. - JULY 21, 2014 article

Reinventing the Scottish Knitwear Industry
https://www.businessoffashion.com/c...es-made-in-matter/new-state-scottish-knitwear

- JULY 21, 2014 article


In its heyday, the Scottish knitwear manufacturing industry employed more than 9,000 locals. Today, fewer than 1,000 people continue to work within the industry ecosystem. Many of these jobs were lost to overseas competition.

“When I started at Pringle in 1991, they employed about 2,200 people in the company and had a big factory in Hawick,” said Angela Bell, owner and designer of cashmere brand Queene and Belle and formerly a senior designer at Pringle of Scotland. “Pretty much everything was produced there, [but] then over the nine years that I was there, there were a lot of changes. When I left there were loads and loads of people being made redundant. They were doing a lot of outsourcing to Mauritius and to China and a bit in India as well. The knitwear was starting to get produced overseas and not so much in Scotland,” she continued.

Pringle of Scotland closed its main factory in Hawick in 2008.

Caerlee Mills, which created cashmere products under the Ballantyne brand, widely regarded as one of the best in the world, turned off its machines in 2013.

The whole brand thing was starting to emerge in the early nineties

We don’t really have any companies now that are volume-based manufacturers operating at the cheaper end of the market. They have all decamped to the Far East and they are not going to come back,” said David Breckenridge, chief executive of the Scottish Textile and Leather Association (STLA).

“[Pringle] were basically doing big runs, with a lot of lambswool knitwear. It wasn’t high-value yarns like cashmere or anything; they were competing on price. I think that in the end that’s what got them into difficulty. In the end, they weren’t making any money,” added Bell. However, the departure of volume-based manufacturers has enabled the remaining industry to find a more focused, unified identity. “What we do have is a strong industry that is very much at the high end of the market and we are finding that some manufacturing is coming back at that high end, where you are talking really expensive garments,” Breckenridge continued.
 
vintage 1970's green Ballantyne cashmere v neck l got recently:
Green cashmere jumper.webp


The scarf in the middle is a 1990's Pringle. It is the softest scarf l have by far, but not as substantial as the Johnstons of Elgin scarf l have. No scarves are as substantial as the purple and orange Hermes' scarves (in the pic) either.

A wonderful Lyle & Scott vintage l bought many months ago.
Lyle & Scott vintage.webp
 
Not quite vintage -- not at all, actually -- but I could hardly resist the old-school styling. I appreciate that it is much different from the Scottish-made argyle v-necks, so I can forego the temptation of comparison.

Bal Beige V-6.webp


Now if I only could get on a pair of cream flannels with double-pleats. . . These would be fantastic if they only had the pleats and were not so outrageously overpriced!

http://www.themerchantfox.co.uk/prod/1253/trousers/fox-flannel-cricket-white-trousers
 
viaattovannucci said:
Not quite vintage -- not at all, actually -- but I could hardly resist the old-school styling. I appreciate that it is much different from the Scottish-made argyle v-necks, so I can forego the temptation of comparison.

View attachment 24449
Click to expand...

Made in ltaly? Is it all wool or a cotton wool blend? Got any cashmere in it?

Yes l like the old style. Yes, definitely world's apart from the Scottish made, but when options are lacking sometimes we must make compromises when wanting a certain style. Hopefully you will enjoy your new sweater, congratulations.

I am rugged up to the hilt today, extremely cold.
 
The Shooman said:
Made in ltaly? Is it all wool or a cotton wool blend? Got any cashmere in it?

Yes l like the old style. Yes, definitely world's apart from the Scottish made, but when options are lacking sometimes we must make compromises when wanting a certain style. Hopefully you will enjoy your new sweater, congratulations.

I am rugged up to the hilt today, extremely cold.
Click to expand...
Made in Italy, cotton and cashmere (%15). I can't wait to get my hands on it!
 
IMG_0825.webp


Finally got this one down to a price that I'm comfortable paying. Vintage Scottish-made Ballantyne cashmere. It will be my first Ballantine crew neck, and it doesn't hurt that it sports the colors of my alma mater.
 
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viaattovannucci said:
Made in Italy, cotton and cashmere (%15). I can't wait to get my hands on it!
Click to expand...
This one arrived today, and I am happy to report that it lives up to all the expectations. For all its complicated weaves, this sweater is quite light as it is largely cotton. It is also happens to be quite airy, so that it is quite comfortable and a lot of fun to wear right on the skin on a balmy, late-summer evening. The color is off-white, so one doesn't necessarily need the perfect tan to pull it off either. Rather than a tennis sweater, it is pitched as a classic Gansey V-neck worn by the fishermen of yore, and I can sort of imagine how it could withstand the elements and keep the wearer warm with a light layer underneath (perhaps a cotton turtleneck?).

Nearly perfect. The only problem that I foresee is that, as with a lot of clothing items with a loose weave, it is probably prone to nasty snags quite often. . .
 
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viaattovannucci said:
View attachment 24451

Finally got this one down to a price that I'm comfortable paying. Vintage Scottish-made Ballantyne cashmere. It will be my first Ballantine crew neck, and it doesn't hurt that it sports the colors of my alma mater.
Click to expand...
This one arrived in a little more intensely pre-loved condition than the other Ballantyne sweaters that I had snapped up earlier. There are a few spots that are a little worn, but thankfully all of them quite discreet and almost invisible unless you know where to look. In either case, it should work as a nice casual item on university stripes and with khakis.
 
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Some notes on my cashmere sweaters

1). not a fan of my Loro Piana at all. Too sloppy and soft around the neck so it will need a tailor to .
2). my Brunello Cucinelli stuff is beautiful and feels great. One item pills abit where-as my other one doesn't. Not as good at the old Scottish stuff, but still very seductive.
3). one of my vintage Pringle cashmeres has been worn many times under various garments and been rubbed many times, yet pretty much no pilling at all. Bulletproof.
4). My Kiton cashmeres are as good as anything ever made. Tightly knitted and and soft with solid body with hardly any pilling despite been worn under various garments many times.
5). some of the vintage Scottish cashmeres are better than others. See...seems to be true that cashmere quality varies season to season.
6). some of the vintage Ballantynes can be very frumpy such as the old intarsias whereas others are spectacular such as that green v neck pictured a few posts above. I still love the old frump pieces because they represent an era with a strong statement of quality and image.
7). That 1950's- 1960's Ballantyne cardigan at post #58 is truly amazing. The cashmere is the most stunning l have ever seen, it is a work of art in itself.
(many interesting notes and discussions could be made, but l need to cut this short).

The black cashmere, black woolens, and v neck jumpers - very manly, very classic and very versatile

Now...l am not a fan of black clothing in general, but l have found that black knitwear works very well with clothing choices of many sorts. I have numerous black v necks including an excellent 1970's Ballantyne cashmere, but l added another one to the collection because l am a BIG fan of vintage 1960's Scottish cashmere made by the top houses. I consider the 1960's cashmere to be collectors items, so l couldn't resist when l came across a 1960's Lyle & Scott cashmere black V neck. Some 1960's L&S is hard while others is luxuriously decadent and solid and soft (the most seductive of all), so l am hoping this is the latter.

Lyle & Scott vintage 1960's black cashmere v neck.webp
 
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I got my dream knitwear this morning, a turtleneck from one of the old Scottish firms. I've recently seen some old Pringle cashmere turtlenecks but they weren't quite my style because of low arm holes and sloppy wide neck area, but l still dreamed hard about snagging an amazing Scottish turtleneck from one of the former top Scottish houses, and TODAY was that day. Today l outdone myself and snagged a NEW old stock kelly green BALLANTYNE turtleneck that is totally my style. When l saw it l nearly fell off my chair, and now it is mine. I will treasure this piece, l am sure it will be amazing!

My patience paid off with a dream come true. Now l have two kelly green cashmere items by Ballantyne, and those will be some of my all time favourites. This really was meant to be...it was destiny. I am thrilled to bits. I think l need to celebrate tonight.


 
vintage Scottish Ballantyne v's year 2,000's modern Scottish Ballantyne

There is no doubt that the vintage stuff from 1980's and before is far superior to the newer Scottish cashmere offerings. Why? The newer stuff pills much more and is more crumbly where-as the old stuff hardly pills at all and sometimes doesn't pill, and it is solid and sound. I often wear my old Ballantyne under a coat and it never pills where-as l never wear my newer Ballantyne under a coat and yet it pills much more. I wouldn't really want to buy the newer stuff anymore unless l really liked a certain style or colour.

My black v neck cashmere 1960's Lyle & Scott is a beauty! Just like my black v neck 1970's cashmere Ballantyne...both are incredibly amazing.

Got this beauty also, a golden tan 1960's cashmere vintage Pringle. I feel very fortunate to have all this knitwear.



I really love vintage Pringle, Ballantyne and Lyle & Scott. Johnny Laing is o.k too, but l like the others much better.
 
Jumpers for the elite, the 10,000 ASD vicuna turtleneck (not mine), but if l had money to burn l would most certainly own one. Of course they go even higher than that for hoodies made of vicuna and baby cashmere.
Loro Piana vicuna rollneck.webp
 
The Shooman said:
I got my dream knitwear this morning, a turtleneck from one of the old Scottish firms. I've recently seen some old Pringle cashmere turtlenecks but they weren't quite my style because of low arm holes and sloppy wide neck area, but l still dreamed hard about snagging an amazing Scottish turtleneck from one of the former top Scottish houses, and TODAY was that day. Today l outdone myself and snagged a NEW old stock kelly green BALLANTYNE turtleneck that is totally my style. When l saw it l nearly fell off my chair, and now it is mine. I will treasure this piece, l am sure it will be amazing!

My patience paid off with a dream come true. Now l have two kelly green cashmere items by Ballantyne, and those will be some of my all time favourites. This really was meant to be...it was destiny. I am thrilled to bits. I think l need to celebrate tonight.
Click to expand...


Let me just say that the green turtleneck (linked above) is a brand new 1970's vintage piece that was still in it's plastic bag with tags. The quality is amazing and sturdy and much superior imo to the later Ballantyne made in 2000's or anything else l have seen. Since getting this new piece l am really starting understand why Ballantyne is possibly the best knitwear of all,it was a real education seeing this recent piece.

Shooey,
 
The Shooman said:
Let me just say that the green turtleneck (linked above) is a brand new 1970's vintage piece that was still in it's plastic bag with tags. The quality is amazing and sturdy and much superior imo to the later Ballantyne made in 2000's or anything else l have seen. Since getting this new piece l am really starting understand why Ballantyne is possibly the best knitwear of all,it was a real education seeing this recent piece.

Shooey,
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My God, man, that does look amazing! I know that you are a fan of green in general. . . But that is an especially exquisite shade!
 
viaattovannucci said:
My God, man, that does look amazing! I know that you are a fan of green in general. . . But that is an especially exquisite shade!
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Yes, and what's more is that I have a Ballantyne v neck in that exact same shade (see post #60) also made from the 70's. It is like both were made on the same run. They are probably my two favourite jumpers and truly a dream come true.

Other honourable mentions
# two Kiton cashmere turtlenecks (twins in different colours)
# 1960 cashmere cardigans by Ballantyne, Lye & Scott and Pringle.
# two black cashmere v necks by Ballantyne (1970's) + Lyle & Scott (1960's)
 
The BIG daddy

Someone eventually bought the finest and most exclusive jumper in existence, a vintage Ballantyne vicuna. It was on
sale for a mere $900 U.S. Loro Piana sell vicuna jumpers for far more $$$$ and would be lower quality imo, and certainly far less substantial. Unfortunately a touch too big for me around the waist and chest area so l had to pass.

A ballantyne vicuna jumper would be a total dream because one would have the best of the best in existence and old world luxury. See...that's the thing, vintage Ballantyne is old world luxury before the democratization of luxury to the masses ruined everything. See...those were the days when no-one had credit cards and not many were able to own cashmere and vicuna....old world luxury to the few, companies focused on a really high quality product and not marketing to the masses. See...when l wear Ballantyne l want to celebrate the craftsmanship and the old world luxury that is becoming forgotten, and I want to make the day in my life and experience an event. I want to celebrate quality and not labels and marketing.

Ballantyne vintage vicuna. The label indicates it is between 1950's - 60's, but the N.Peal label uses 1970's colouring label,so quite confusing, but l am guessing a 1960's.
Ballantyne vicuna 1.webp
Ballantyne vicuna 2.webp
Ballantyne vicuna 3.webp
 
Loro Piana/Brunello Cucinelli

* cool in-crowd stuff because it is marketed well.
* boasting rights
* really nice stuff
* not the real highend connoisseur stuff


Vintage Ballantyne/Lyle & Scott and Pringle

* not cool
* for people in-the-know
* the true highend connoisseur stuff


Is there really any true highend cashmere available anymore? I somehow doubt it. My kitons are much better than the Loro Piana and Cucinelli's l have, but still not as sturdy as the old Scottish cashmere. See....to me it needs to be sturdy and long lasting,that is an essential part of true luxury imo.
 
Bought a 1960's pink Lyle & Scott. Why?Because 1960's Lyle & Scott is a favourite of mine. This pink is supposed to be stunning so it will be interesting to find out how good it is when l get it. This will replace my old aussie pink jumper made from angora and lambswool i've been wearing for the last 30 years (now has holes in it).

Btw, that golden/tan 1960's Pringle above in post #70 is an absolute stunner in every way shape and form. The colour is gorgeous and the cashmere is gorgeous. LOVE IT!!!

1960's Lyle & Scott cashmere


btw, check out this Ballantyne nordic cashmere jumper, made in Scotland. A thick warm chunky knit (not mine, slightly too small for me). Wish l owned it, it's a fairdinkum little rippa mate.
Ballantyne nordic jumper.webp
 
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Got a nice 1960's Pringle cashmere cardigan. I feel very fortunate to be getting such a thing. I now have two Pringle 1960's cardigans, and a 1960's golden tan v neck by Pringle. See...this cardigan will be ideal with dark gray trousers. Cardigans are something very useful to me, and l am glad l have another one, they have a style and versatility that other knitwear don't have. The fact that l got a 1960's makes me thrilled to bits.
Pringle cashmere cardigan 1960's.webp


Ballantyne history
http://007lx.com/intro/arch/ballantyne-cashmere.html

I also bought a vintage Paul Stuart cashmere cardigan. Also great with dark gray trousers and reddish/dark brown tweed coat.
Paul Stuart cashmere cardigan.webp



I really like the old classic style of these cardigans, and they also make one look like a respectable member of society.
 
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Bought a 1960's Ballantyne cashmere camel coloured cardigan. Why? Because l couldn't resist the 60's Ballantyne, and it is the first time l have been able to snag one with the red bird on the label.
Ballantyne camel cardigan 1960's 1.webp
Ballantyne camel cardigan 1960's 2.webp

My major stuff ups.
- missed a great 1970's Ballantyne dark gray cardigan because l got distracted and forgot about it until it was too late.
- missed a STUNNING burgundy 1960's Lyle & Scott cashmere v neck jumper because l got distracted and forgot about it until it was too late. I am still spittin' blood on that one. I bought that pink Lyle & Scott instead, but a far poorer purchase compared to what the burgundy jumper would have been.

Honourable mentions
The women have great vintage cashmere clothes. Here are a few great finds.

Hermes'. What a classy stunner. MADE-IN-SCOTLAND!!!
Hermes red cardigan.webp

Hermes' red cardigan 1.webp


unworn 1970's women's Ballantyne that sold for almost nothing.
Yellow Ballantyne turtleneck.webp

Men's vintage Pringle (sold on first day). Too short for me.
Pringle red turtleneck.webp

Of course there are other cashmere items of note including some thick Pringle turtlenecks and various Ballantyne intarsias, but some of the more notable are these. Evenstill, l feel the luckiest of all because l scored an amazing 1960's burgundy Pringle cardigan, and best of all l scored a brand new 1970's lorne green turtleneck, and nothing beats that.
 
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