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Pica~Picks: Knitwear, in dark lettering on a white circle over a blue and purple photo of a model in a beanie and jumper

We may live in an age of technical fabrics, virtual reality and underfloor heating – but the humble wool jumper is still one of the finest ways to stay warm over winter.

With November here in seemingly record time, now seemed like a decent time to shine a lantern on some of our favourite bits of knitwear – from trusty cardigans to chunky fisherman’s knits.

Put another log on the fire and pull up a chair…

Andersen-Andersen Half Zip Sweat in Off White, a thick ribbed wool jumper with side pockets, worn with a brown beanie

Close-up of the Andersen-Andersen Half Zip Sweat's high ribbed collar and silver zip, worn with a brown ribbed beanie

The Andersen - Andersen Half Zip Sweat

Andersen – Andersen is a company from Denmark who make really, really thick jumpers out of super-heavyweight merino wool. These things are serious business – and not only are they dead warm, but they’re also particularly tough.

If you spend your winters grappling with narwhals amongst the Arctic tundra, then this is the jumper for you. 

Maison Kitsuné Lambswool Classic Cardigan in burgundy, worn open over a white tee and black trousers, hands in pockets

Close-up of the Maison Kitsuné cardigan's burgundy lambswool, embroidered fox patch, ribbed placket and patch pocket

The Maison Kitsune Lambswool Classic Cardigan

The lambswool cardigan is a bit of an overlooked classic. Favoured by both Alan Bennett and Kurt Cobain (two wordsmiths who rarely share the same sentence), these things balance majestically on the imaginary line between smart and casual – meaning they look just as good with a button-down shirt as they do with a white tee.

This one here is made by Maison Kitsuné – and is a delectable shade of burgundy that reminds us of the crackle of old jazz records, the smell of old mahogany furniture and… er… smashed bottles of Buckfast in the park.

A model in an olive roll-neck jumper, dark trousers, tan lace-up shoes and round glasses, against a lilac backdrop

Close-up of an olive fine-knit roll-neck's ribbed collar and shoulder, worn with thin-framed glasses

The A.P.C. Pull Marcelino 

This turtle neck from A.P.C. is pretty smart isn’t it? A bit less chunky than some roll-necks, it’s what we’d imagine Simon and Garfunkel would wear if they set their differences aside and played one last show in a nuclear submarine off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness.

On a similar tortoise-throated tip, MHL and Alan Paine know the score.

Norse Projects Birnir Fairisle Knit in Light Grey Melange, a brushed wool jumper with a navy, white and mustard yoke

Close-up of the Norse Projects Birnir Fairisle Knit's brushed grey wool and navy, white and mustard yoke pattern

The Norse Projects Birnir Fairisle Knit

Fair Isle knits are traditional patterned jumpers that take their name from the remote Scottish island where they were apparently first made. Here’s a particularly outstanding example courtesy of Norse Projects.

The pattern is just right, it’s made of dead soft brushed wool, and it was made in Scotland. If the Famous Grouse wore clothes, he’d probably wear one of these…

Close-up of the Shetland Woollen Co. Crew Neck Shaggy Knit in Sunglow, a brushed coral pink wool, at the collar

Shetland Woollen Co. Crew Neck Shaggy Knit in Sunglow, seen from behind with a pale blue beanie and brown trousers

The Shetland Woollen Co. Crew Neck Shaggy Knit

And finally, a true Oi Polloi favourite – the brushed Shetland crew neck. Made in Scotland… popular with sharp-dressed Ivy League students… dead warm… these are what we think of when we think of ‘woolly jumpers’.

They come in pretty much every colour you can think of too. Brave and courageous knitters of Scotland, we salute you.

Still after a bit of knitwear? See more jumpers, cardigans and 'knits' here.  

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