Shawl Collar Cardigans

[Grayland]

I've had a few requests regarding contact info for Inverallan, so I thought I'd post it here. Inverallan no longer is able to use that name in their own sweaters although they produce knit goods for other companies under that name ( I think the name is now owned by a Japanese company). They don't have a website, but you can contact them directly and order from them at:

Inverallan Limited
Unit 2A Castle Street Industrial Estate
Alloa, Scotland
FK10 1EU
Tel: 01259 210050
E-mail: inverallanhandknitters@live.co.uk
The contact person is Shannon and she will send you an order form. They will offer to make your sweater with no company label or the label of the "new" company, which is Strathtay. You'll have to check out other websites like the 2 listed here to see the goods, although Shannon will send you a pic of the available colors. When I got my first Aero jacket, the overbuilt nature blew me away. These sweaters are no different - they are very heavy duty. Please take my advice that you order one size larger than your usual jacket size. Even that will be a trim fit, but it stretches a bit. Here is a (quite long) thread from StyleForum regarding Inverallan:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/156085/inverallan/525

 

[jlanderson]

i've had a few requests regarding contact info for inverallan, so i thought i'd post it here. Inverallan no longer is able to use that name in their own sweaters although they produce knit goods for other companies under that name ( i think the name is now owned by a japanese company). They don't have a website, but you can contact them directly and order from them at:

Inverallan limited
unit 2a castle street industrial estate
alloa, scotland
fk10 1eu
tel: 01259 210050
e-mail: inverallanhandknitters@live.co.uk
the contact person is shannon and she will send you an order form. They will offer to make your sweater with no company label or the label of the "new" company, which is strathtay. You'll have to check out other websites like the 2 listed here to see the goods, although shannon will send you a pic of the available colors. When i got my first aero jacket, the overbuilt nature blew me away. These sweaters are no different - they are very heavy duty. Please take my advice that you order one size larger than your usual jacket size. Even that will be a trim fit, but it stretches a bit. Here is a (quite long) thread from styleforum regarding inverallan:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/156085/inverallan/525

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jlanderson]

and grayland, i second your advice to order larger. i have two Inverallan 6a shawl collar cardigans, and each is a 42. my regular size in a suit coat is 40, but the weight of the wool used and the tightness of the knit makes it essential that you order up from your regular size. heck, i could even have gotten a size 44 and been fine.

 

[Xenophon]

Many thanks for the contact information, I just fired off a mail asking for colour availability. You have me worried about sizing, I'm a UK 38 slim fit in suits and detest flabby garments so ordering a 40 seems very strange but otoh a model such as the 6A is notmeant to look like it's been spray painted on one's body..hmmmm. Will follow your advice as you know the product.

 

[Grayland]

Here is a response from Inverallan regarding sizing. As you can see, a size 38 is pretty much exactly 19-inch pit to pit. Usually a size 38 sport coat is more like 21-inch pit to pit to allow some movement. I'm a slim 40, wear a size 42 in Inverallan and when I take it off at the end of the day, the shirt I wear underneath is wrinkled to death due to the constrictive fit. The arm length measurement is from underneath, from pit to cuff. Take the time to read through the thread I posted from StyleForum. Those guys are much younger than I and also "detest flabby garments" - you'll see the sizing up advice is pretty universal.

We have just taken a few garments out and measured them and they are as follows: (again bearing in mind this differs slightly from knitter to knitter)


SIZE CHART

34: chest 17, back length 24, arm length 16.5

36: chest 18, back length 24.5, arm length 17

38: chest 19, back length 25, arm length 17

40: chest 20, back length 25.5, arm length 18

42: chest 21, back length 26, arm length 18.5

44: chest 22, back length 27, arm length 19

 

[Xenophon]

Thank you so much for that. I like what they do, keeping the sizes true to the actual measurements, keeps the guesswork out or at least limited. I'd rather decide for myself how much extra space I need, always detested tailors who add some extra 'just to be on the safe side'. Have been reading through the thread you linked to, very informative. Looking forward to the reply from the manufacturer.

 

[Xenophon]

Unfortunately I didn't receive any reply to my mail (yet). Will wait until monday evening, then move to plan B (being an SNS Herning 'Stark' cardigan I think).

 

[Grayland]

My cardigan was shipped from Scotland on Monday and was delivered to my house in upstate New York on Wednesday. Talk about fast shipping! I'll get a pic up next week.

 

[FaceOfBoh]

It's finally sweater here in Canada (after an exceptionally lovely Indian Summer). This is vintage cardigan in my wardrobe, paired with some LVC denim and Florsheim longwings.

I found this one last winter and sold it (it was too small for me) but I thought it should be immortalized somewhere.

I saw a page or two or three back that Dinerman posted some Cowichan and what we used to call curling sweaters. Here are a few I picked up recently.

 

[Two Types]

I don't know if this site has been posted elsewhere (i searched but couldn't find it):

Camp Kitschy Knits: http://www.campkitschyknits.com/
"Here at Camp Kitschy Knits you can shop for brand new, hand knitted sweaters based on designs made popular in the 1950's-1980's. These classic sweaters often called Curling Sweaters, or Cowichan sweaters were made famous in the early 1900's by their Canadian creators. Companies such as Mary Maxim, Patons, Beehive and others published hundreds of graph style knitting patterns from the 1950's through the 1980's. These ultra-kitschy sweaters were super popular because their ease of knitting and super graphic styles."

 

[Grayland]

Here is a pic of my Cardigan (Model 6A) in the color Bracken. It's a size 42 and I usually wear a size 40 (or 38 in Aero). It weighs 3.6 pounds.

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Here is an eBay link that shows an Inverallan 3A model. I thought the pics were very good.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Inverallan-...ol-/161117469713?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160

 

[dm8877]

Just give them a ring. They are really easy to talk to. Some companies can be better reached over the phone! It's a very small company after all...

Jan, I wanted to ask about the modifications you made to your sweater. How did you go about making the loops on the collar? Has having them there stretched or caused the sweater to go out of shape?

Thanks,
David

 

[Rudie]

Here is a pic of my Cardigan (Model 6A) in the color Bracken. It's a size 42 and I usually wear a size 40 (or 38 in Aero). It weighs 3.6 pounds.

[/URL][/IMG]

Here is an eBay link that shows an Inverallan 3A model. I thought the pics were very good.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Inverallan-...ol-/161117469713?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160

Looking good, Grayland. What is the full sleeve length of your cardigan (middle of collar to end of cuff)? I find the pit to cuff measurement not very helpful. Also, are they made to order or made to measure? Most of the time sleeves are way too short for me. Thanks!

 

[Grayland]

Looking good, Grayland. What is the full sleeve length of your cardigan (middle of collar to end of cuff)? I find the pit to cuff measurement not very helpful. Also, are they made to order or made to measure? Most of the time sleeves are way too short for me. Thanks!

Thanks Rudie. I measured my size 42 and the sleeve measurement as you requested is 33-inches (84 cm). That is pretty short, but works perfectly for me as I'm a shade over 5'9. The only thing custom about the jumpers is the thread color. I recall you have some serious monkey arms and I doubt this jumper would work for you although you may be able to request longer sleeve length. They do knit them to order, but just made to order as far as I know. Just so you know, my shirt size is 16/33, so if you specify your usual sleeve length, it should be right. It can't can't hurt to ask.

 

[clarinetplayer]

Thought it was about time I gave one of these a go, I have to say I'm rather impressed!

Thanks Yan, I probably would never have considered a shawl collared cardigan if you hadn't posted this thread!

This is perfect!

 

[Dinerman]

 

[Rudie]

Whoa! How do you manage to find all this crazy stuff, Dinerman? In my neck of the woods it's Ebay or starving, so to speak.

 

[Fastuni]

There used to be nice shawl collars in Berlin, Rudie!

1946 stage play with Ernst Borchert wearing shawl collar sweater:

Photo by Abraham Pisarek

 

[Dinerman]

handknit shawl collar cardigan with 1930s Talon fantail grommet zipper

 

[Mr. Speakeasy]

That's a neat sweater! what are the letters on the side? And do you think the sweater is from the 30s or is it later but made with an old zipper?