Woolywarm  all-merino Turtleneck from England $90

We’ve had a 20+ year relationship with a sweater-maker in England, who even came to Rivendell once, about 18 years ago, probably as a business expense excuse to see San Francisco. We typically but not always design from scratch, and those are the ones you have to watch out for. They can be off a little.

We ordered these as roll-neck sweaters, like last time. They came as turtlenecks. Apparently it was a communication error. Turtlenecks are inarguably better for cold weather (although neckies or scarves can do the same). But they have an uppercrust style that roll-necks don’t. I cut my turtleneck down to size, washed and dried it, and it looks and feels perfect. You can do the same, or just keep it original.

Material—

100 percent merino wool. Merino fibers are flexible and not pokey. That’s why it’s so famous: Merino this, merino that. Check out our merino wool socks! (which sometimes turn out to be less than a quarter merino wool, so sock-description laws need an upgrade).

Sizing—

Generous, by British standards. Buy your shirt size and don’t shrink (see Washing and Drying below), or buy a size up if you think you’ll blow it and wash or dry hot.  If it’s too big, wash or dry it “more aggressively.”  If it shrinks too much, please enjoy gifting your new small thick sweater to a much smaller denizen of cold climes.

Washing and drying—

We’re in an age where “purchasing peace of mind” sometimes, for some people, comes from buying something that they don’t have to care for in the least. That’s understandable, but when it comes to clothing that means you end up with a closet full of clothing that’ll never biodegrade. Wool isn’t like that. I have well-worn wool garments that are 25 years old. They don’t look brand new, but they look (and feel) great. An all-wool sweater like this will be one of those for you. A moth nibbles a hole in the elbow? The sweater will still work.

Wool or delicate setting recommended; and air dry. It’s dry enough after the spin cycle, no need to abuse it in the dryer. We sell KOOKABURRA—to help maintain the lanolin content. Our customers love it, but I think everybody here just uses normal (presumably earth-friendly) soap.

A shrunken one of these has kind of a neat look and feel about it. The wool gets tight, half-felted, and shrinks a few sizes, especially in length, a midriff-revealer or emergency layer for a smaller person. But if you wash on delicate and let it air dry or dry on barely warm, no problem. The latest craze, probably good, is to wash wool in mesh bags to minimize the agitation that shrinks it.

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I think you’ve got the picture here. Maybe too many doubt-inciting  details, but it’s better than a few sentences of merino hype.