Canadian commando sweater

[MacTickles]

Picked up one of the synthetic fleece replacements there in light green - goes well with the Isle of Skye tartan.

There's something about synthetic substitutes that doesn't feel or look right. But fortunately there are still a lot of woollies available.

[MacTickles]

I find it funny that instead of teaching young troops how to take care of thier kit, the notion is to change the kit! Tsk tsk! I can relate as I have young lads in my troop that are seemingly lost without mum to take care of them.
Now that I've shanghied the thread I'll put it back on track. If there is a good source of reasonable inexpensive woollies around I know I wouldn't mind laying my hands on another one.

Cheers

I agree. It seems to be more senior ranks who wear woolly pullies now, mainly as barrack dress. Although the dark blue version is still widely worn by the Royal Navy.

Both the green and the blue look good with kilts - and indeed with anything. They're also rugged and adaptable.

The stymied 'thread' is, of course, woollen.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

That same site also sells this "superwash" version of the sweater. http://www.armynavydeals.com/asp/pro...ando%20Sweater I'm not sure what the difference is but as it is available in XL, I decided to order one. For US$22.50, why not?

Never mind. Everything you never wanted to know about superwash wool:

Superwash wool is a special wool product that has been treated or processed in a way that allows it to be machine washable. Many people are afraid to work with wool because it is so easy to shrink (though some of us shrink wool on purpose) and superwash wool can allow them to work with great fibers without worry.

Superwash wool is a wonderful choice if you like natural fibers but are giving something as a gift and don't want to burden the recipient with a garment they have to handwash.

So how is superwash wool made? It can be made using an acid bath that removes the "scales" from the fiber, or it can be made by coating the fiber with a polymer that basically keeps the scales from being able to join together and cause shrinkage.

You probably won't know which method was used on your superwash wool when you buy it in the store, but you might be able to tell when you start knitting. That's because polymer-coated yarn tends to be slicker than regular wool.

To care for superwash wool, wash it on the gentle cycle in your washing machine. A natural-fiber shampoo like you might use for hand-washing non-superwash wools is recommended. Let the garment air dry rather than using the dryer.

Now that I think about it, I think one of our knitters made mention of this before.

[macwilkin]

Shopkeeper at a military surplus store in Stirling claimed changes were partly because young troops no longer know how to care for wool. Picked up one of the synthetic fleece replacements there in light green - goes well with the Isle of Skye tartan.

More likely "lowest bidder syndrome" -- that's what happened to our "wooly pullys" in the National Park Service.

T.

[Jerry]

Check out The Sportsman's guide also. Most of what they have are British, but I believe I saw one or two listed as Canadian in the past.

[MacTickles]

Check out The Sportsman's guide also. Most of what they have are British, but I believe I saw one or two listed as Canadian in the past.

Have you a website for The Sportsman's Guide? There are probably several companies with that name on both sides of the Pond!

Best Wishes,

Aidan

[Woodsheal]

Have you a website for The Sportsman's Guide? There are probably several companies with that name on both sides of the Pond!

Best Wishes,

Aidan

This link takes you right to their surplus sweater page:



http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/b...=122&c=2&s=306

[MacTickles]

Thanks. The Italian v-neck commando sweater looks nice (top left-hand corner). Obviously influenced by the British. And it's pure woool, unlike some of the others, which are synthetic or hybrid.

A

[Andrew M. Stewart]

Dear Sirs,
I have seen several images of Canadian commando sweaters (army issue) on this site - rifle green, wool, patches on elbows and shoulders, crew neck. I am something of an aficionado of the commando sweater or 'woolly pully' and have them in olive green (British Army), Navy, Air Force blue, black, desert, but would like to obtain the Canadian variety. Any tips or suggestions?
Best Wishes,
Aidan

I've got a couple of black ones that I found in second hand stores. Great in Ontario winters!

[MacTickles]

I've got a couple of black ones that I found in second hand stores. Great in Ontario winters!

Yes, I have the black woool version as well. In fact, the only colour I'm missing is the dark (Canadian) shade of green - hence my original post.