The London Lounge

Hello all


Hope there are some who can help me out.
Bespoke and MTO jackets, suites and so are to be found, without to much trouble, not so when it comes to knit wear.

Are there some who still make knitwear on a bespoke or MTO base? I am thinking of sweaters, pullovers and so.

HAve a good sunday all.

This was brought up some time ago, I think, unfortunately without much result. I myself is is searching for a sweater jacket similar to the alpaca one worn by the golfer in the attached AA drawing. Unfortunately, everything I come along is too long.

Anyhow...

Louise Irvine (http://www.shetland-handknits.co.uk/welcome.html) can supply you with MTO, hand-knitted Shetland knits.

Hommard (http://www.hommard.com) makes MTO cashmere sweaters, pulls etc.

Hope this helps a bit.

Often wool shops (ie selling knitting wool) will have a list of local knitters. You ask to see some of their work and take it from there.
NJS

Thanks for helping me.
That is a nice sweater jacket.
Maybe the best is to find a local lady who will help me out. Any one who have had help from one, that I can contact?

Tweed_for_me:

In addition to the excellent advice from NJS and JS Groot, you will find numerous suggestions and ideas in a number of older threads on the LL, including a LL limited editon Shetland slipover that was done a couple of years ago. You might inquire whether that maker can make you an MTO sweater to the same pattern (shorter length, deeper V, based on an old AA illutration). There have also been many references to various sources for MTO and bespoke cashmere. I suggest you use the LL search tool using the terms "bespoke knitwear" and you will find several pertinent threads, including the long one with the subject heading "limited edition knitwear idea."

Good luck!

Tweed:

Whether you live in a bustling city, a suburb or a quaint village, there are bound to be knit shops within reach where you will find knitters of all ages clacking away with their needles and skeins of beautiful woollens and cashmeres, albeit in colors and weights rarely, if ever, found in commecially made knitwear currently found in retail stores. Time was beautiful one-off knitwear was available from cottage crafters all over the United Kingdom, France and Italy. Today, however, it's mostly piecework done in Asia and South America, usually by adolescents working in deplorable conditions, and none of it is worth a damn! Find a knit shop or two and take a good look at the handiwork being turned out by the ladies sitting round the tables. If you see something you admire, chat up the knitter and ask if she would be willing to undertake a commission for you. Chances are she will drop what she's doing, take your measure, and discuss colors and weaves appropriate to your complexion and build. Don't argue. Knitters know best. All that's required of you is to pay for materials and labor. Did I forget to mention patience? Well, like everything else that's truly bespoke, the best takes time to make.

JMB

1. http://www.omaille.com/index.htm
Irish based company with stock products, and makes special Arran knit commissions via local knitters

I will commission a brown Arran knit Shawl Collared cardigan and a charcoal Arran knit Donegal Tweed turtleneck

2. http://www.manorhouse.clara.net/knitwear/patterns.htm
Yorkshire based: Commissions special designs, and carries various stock size Ganseys/Gurnseys (the steel denim rocks)

Thanks for the links. The first one sounds especially interesting. What type of wool are they producing your cardigan (sounds like a nice project) in? I see they have (merino) cashmere available...

All below pics were sent to me via O'Mallie:

Standard Arran knit Turtleneck sweater: I want the more complex Arran knit pattern...in a Charcoal Donegal Tweed


I will use the same brown color on my shawl collared cardigan...but a different pattern than on this pic...see below grey cardigan

I might do a 2nd non-Donegal Tweed turtleneck in this blue heather


I desire this Arran knit design for my brown shawl collar cardigan

Would you have pics of the said more complex Arran knit pattern?

Thanks,

JD

Thanks all for helping me.

Good links and help.
Also, nice looking sweaters to.Like to get one myself.
Anyone know of sweaters made of linen? How are they? The fabric in a sweeter in a knitted form?

I liked this complex Arran pattern: http://www.omaille.com/sweaters/03ddtcs.htm

Our man Will has something to say about linen sweaters.

http://store.dynend.com/

Those shawl collar cardigans are really lovely. Thank you for contributing the pics. Did yours arrive? How was the communication with the shop?

Cardigan and turtleneck will be ready at the end of November and December. You can't rush bespoke quality