Fair Isle Jumpers With Kilts?

[Dale Seago]

Okay, I'm feeling a bit more like trying it out myself. Seeing Matt's in the thread I linked above, I recalled that I had what I thought was a wool long-sleeved Fair Isle that I hadn't worn for years but never threw out. I went looking and found it, still in "like new" condition. It's from Eddie Bauer, sometime in the '80s I think. Looking at the inside, it does appear to be a proper Fair Isle knit, and the label says it's Shetland wool. It's too warm here to try it out this week, but I think this one would go particularly well with the Douglas Weathered kilt Matt made for me:

[Pleater]

Hi Dale - that looks rather like it was knitted on a domestic knitting machine - if the repeat of the pattern is 25 stitches then it almost definitely is, but it is rather fine.

Shetland wool is just the thing for stranded knitting, as it is clingy, so when it has been worn and washed a few times the strands of yarn will have become attached to the knitted stitches behind them.

Quite a few machine knitters got nasty shocks when they changed from Shetland yarn to acrylics as when washed the garments became a foot longer and a lot narrower.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Dale Seago]

Hi Dale - that looks rather like it was knitted on a domestic knitting machine - if the repeat of the pattern is 25 stitches then it almost definitely is, but it is rather fine.

I seem to recall reading at the time I bought it that it was machine knit -- which with a high-volume retailer like Eddie Bauer, I would expect.

Shetland wool is just the thing for stranded knitting, as it is clingy, so when it has been worn and washed a few times the strands of yarn will have become attached to the knitted stitches behind them.

I hadn't known that -- thank you!

[ronin6290]

You have put me in a Fair Isle mood. They remind me of the Nordic sweaters some how. The sweaters of Vikings I like a couple of these examples. I put the photo up as I thought the image might generate some good ideas.

[MacLowlife]

I sometimes wear a fair isle with my kilt, but kindness ( and certain clauses in the Geneva convention ) prohibit me from showing photos. I will note two problems that Matt doesn't have to worry about: 1) horizontal design elements can accentuate one's horizontality and 2) sometimes you end up with an "eye test" effect of too much pattern on pattern.

For those who are reminded of the mid-century adventures of small boys in fair isle jumpers and short trousers, HOPE AND GLORY is full of them- and well worth watching

[Lime]

I do think a long-sleeved sweater such as shown in the last couple of illustrations is a much more acceptable garment than the "tank-top" originally illustrated. I believe that kind of sleeveless garment may be called a "wife-beater" by Americans, but to this day is still regarded as not something any self-respecting individual would be seen dead in on this side of the Atlantic. To my continuing disappointment I actually have 3 of the genuine (Fair Isle - http://www.fairisle.org.uk/ ) article safely stored away awaiting that day that never seems to come when they can be worn without inviting derision. I did notice last Christmas that outrageous-looking sweaters incorporating reindeer, santas etc. were briefly in fashion so you never know.......

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,

I didn't know this and I've been wandering around wearing tank tops completely obliviously since my teens! Actually I've never had any negative comments but then typically I wear them under a tweed jacket when out and about so only my wife is ever subject to my bare (well tattershall checked) arms! Before you say anything she is much more vicious than I am and my money would be on her if our relationship ever descended into fisticuffs.

In all seriousness I find tanktops much more practical and comfortable than a long arm sweater.

P.S. it always amazes me that people who wear outrageous fashion items (e.g. the aforementioned comical sweaters and those "sherpa" hats) feel that they can comment on what others are wearing in the street; I've been the subject of "tweed-hate" from those who feel it appropriate to wear shell suits in the 21st Century.

[Dale Seago]

You have put me in a Fair Isle mood. They remind me of the Nordic sweaters some how. The sweaters of Vikings I like a couple of these examples. I put the photo up as I thought the image might generate some good ideas.

Some nice ones there!

As for that Nordic look, perhaps it's worth noting that the Fair Isle is in the Shetland Islands. The Vikings took Shetland over from the Picts, and it belonged to Norway until it was ceded to Scotland in the mid-1400s.

[ronin6290]

Some nice ones there!

As for that Nordic look, perhaps it's worth noting that the Fair Isle is in the Shetland Islands. The Vikings took Shetland over from the Picts, and it belonged to Norway until it was ceded to Scotland in the mid-1400s.

Thanks for pointing that out Dale. It seems my eye might not have been so wrong. I've never owned owned one but I am a sweater fellow. I think I'll have to keep an eye out for one.

[Alan H]

This is a "wife beater"..

Here's Mel Gibson, wearing one.



They're popular with Hispanic gang kids in California, but also popular in the general culture as well. They're also available in black and other colors, but the usual color is white.

Let it also be known that women also wear a female cut of the "wife-beater"..



These bear no resemblance, whatsoever to this:

[Alan H]

I hugely appreciate the staggering amount of work that it takes to make a Fair Isle sweater. OH yeah...and I would wear one, absolutely. ----Just not with a kilt. Actually I might wear one with a solid-color kilt. But that's just me, and if someone wants to wear a fair Isle knitted vest or sweater with a kilt, then by all means, they should do so.