The myth that all knits will inevitably bobble is insanely created by the decaying clothing quality of the last decade or so. I have literally had 100% cashmere jumpers I have bought second hand nearly 10 years ago that I have worn every single year that have never seen a single bobble. One of them now has holes purely from where the fabric has thinned from how much it has been worn (e.g. elbows). It's down to the length of the fiber, from what I can understand.
I don’t think that’s true at all. I have multiple cashmere knits in different weaves from the row and some bobble and some don’t. I think it’s to do with both the length of yarn but also how the fabric has been pre-treated. The felt-like ones in the traditional soft cashmere texture bobble but my cable knit styles from them don’t.
Wool is a natural anti bacteria fibre, so should be rarely washed. Instead spot wash any food spills, and air out after wearing. Once you get poly added to the fabric, you will get the sweaty effect.
You should really not wash wool jumpers! Airing them, doing stop cleaning when needed and wearing a t-shirt under should be enough for most of the time. I usually wash my jumpers once or twice per season and their are fine and fresh, wahing too much can ruin them. So no worries!
Ya, the beauty of wool fibres, especially lambs wool is that it has properties to it that not only wick moisture but also have natural protective oils in the fibres that help to keep them clean. In fact, again especially with merino, alpaca, and lamb which are wool, have natural lanolin’s that protect the fibre and frequent washing will break that down and make the garment less resilient. Cashmere is hair and doesn’t have the same protective coating to it so it CAN be washed more frequently, but really shouldn’t need to be. Airing your sweaters outside or putting them in the freezer overnight will dispense of any lingering odour from cooking, wood smoke, or your own body sweat. It’s preferable to gently spot clean and/or use a wool brush to clean them.
Perfect Sunday watch! I think the colour of the Arket one really suits you, but I get that it’s not so flattering. A suggestion for the next testing basics: loafers would be great ! Looking forward to your next video as always :)
I second that! It's not easy to find good loafers in the mid price range, at least in my experience. I would also watch a testing basics on knee-high boots.
I’m paranoid about putting wool/cashmere on radiators because wool+water=felt/compacting, so I prefer the dehumidifier as a solution or just waiting a long time ☺️ Also, wools and cashmeres are great because you really don’t need to wash them all that much. (I definitely don’t!!!) Hikers often wear wool T-shirts, which don’t stink because wool has antibacterial properties (unlike synthetic materials, e.g. polyester sports tops stink after one wear for this reason). I can attest to the magical properties of wool as I’ve done a thru-hike before 😋
Wow! testing basics is back!!! Always loved it!!! Your reviews used to be a holy grail in choosing stilettos! Loved those super high heels you used to review! dont you wear them anymore? If you do, an updated heels haul please:)
Loved the video! I just moved to London from Amsterdam for a few months. Would love to know about your recommendations; do you maybe have a video or a post or something with your favourite spots for shopping/eating/drinking etc? :) thanks and have a lovely Sunday!
I used to work at Cos and we used to do training on the fabrication of the knits, and the reason they don't do 100% wool a lot of the time is because the combination of a small percentage of synthetic fibre helps minimise how quickly it bobbles and also prevents insects/moths etc from being attracted to eating the wool when you're not using it
I only ever buy H&M jumpers in the sale as the Swedish need their wool jumpers and very happy with them. I use Stergene to wash them and a wool wash and no probs.
I have the uniqlo one in grey and amazing! Stopped bobbling after two weeks or so! The shape is great too! Lesson from my winter 2023/24 is creamy colour wool sweaters are a bad idea - the bobbles are much more visible on them, bought a Jigsaw one - wool & cashmere & polyamide one and terrible! Threw it away after I have spent hours of de-bobbling and still looked bad:-(
Swede here! I've loads of Toteme pieces from older to newer collections. As much as I love the design and the styling, their products just don't stand the test of time, unfortunately, and leave a lot to be desired in terms of quality :(
I should think the Toteme sweater is ‘boiled wool’. I have a Nicole Farhi boiled wool cardigan, 30 years old - it has never bobbled. I have washed it maybe three times (I don’t wear it often as it is too nice; I want to keep it forever). Re laundering - the wool wash in my machine is a hand wash. I have watched it - the item just sits in the water and is occasionally tumbled in the water before a rinse and quick spin.
I also think that Uniqlo nailed the fit of their knitwear! Can you recommend brands that have similar fits? And maybe be better quality? This is apparently a challenge to find!
The switch away from real wool has been influenced by the vegan movement, but also brands realising they can cut margins by adding poly (acrylics) and appear to greenwash;). It is becoming a bit of a check though, when blended jumpers are costing over 100 quid when for a few quid more you can go for cheaper quality cashmere. And at least get a natural fibre.
Loved your video as always, Lizzy! I am just a bit confused about the Arket jumper because I remember you recommending a very similar jumper from Arket (cropped boxy fit, slits on the side, but with a turtleneck) a while ago in one of your sponsored videos. Would you say the shape and cut of it is different with the crewneck one or is it just a change of mind?
Thank you!! I was wearing the high neck version of the Arket knit yesterday (I have it in black and cream) and still love them both - the high neck balances the boxy body and long sleeves really nicely, sadly I don't think that shape works as well on a crewneck!
The COS one looks and sounds, by the way you describe it, more like a woven wool fabric rather than a knit wool fabric. The difference being like the woollen fabric used for pants and blazers and such so I wouldn’t, personally even categorize it as a sweater. It’s a woolen top. Edited to add: did you roll the totem one up in a towel and squeeze the excess water out after washing? I’m sorry if you said, this just occurred to me hours later and I came back to pop that in lol. It looks like a felted kind of fabric, so ya, that’s going to take longer to dry, but also, it really shouldn’t need washing very often at all so in that sense, it isn’t really that high maintenance.
Just a suggestion, never ever wash a wool jumper. Even hand washing. Unless you've spilled something on it and it will stain otherwise. It just doesn't need it. Once worn, hang up by an open window for an hour or so and it will get rid of any smells that might be on it but wool doesn't tend to hold odours anyway. It is naturally antibacterial as well so you don't need to be concerned about germs on it. And as for dry cleaning, the chemicals would destroy it. So i really would recommend not washing them unless you absolutely have to.
You looked lovely at the opening of this video. Do you ever have open fires in your Victorian grates? I have to have lit candles as it makes me feel warmer and as we are being pushed into paying for fuel after Ukraine crisis it helps.
I too wash knitwear, including cashmere, in the machine on the wool cycle but it is important to use a specialist detergent like Woolite if you dont want your cashmere to shrink. (That's the responsible way to wash your 'responsible' wool. 😂)
Toteme quality is really poor imo. Skall Studios have the most beautiful wool, in my experience anyways. Babaa is nice but bobbles quick too and also i've also heard sad things about the owners of that companies politics.
No baba it’s like the one piece everyone is interested in. Apparently the fit is super oversized. Disappointed you didn’t include it. You could have Ranked it worst for being one size fits most while still giving useful intel.
I love Navy Grey knitwear. Sooo comfortable and amazing quality! I never had any bubbles and I’ve been wearing them for years (bought them before Brexit🥹) I hope they find a way to have a duty payed delivery to EU…
The myth that all knits will inevitably bobble is insanely created by the decaying clothing quality of the last decade or so. I have literally had 100% cashmere jumpers I have bought second hand nearly 10 years ago that I have worn every single year that have never seen a single bobble. One of them now has holes purely from where the fabric has thinned from how much it has been worn (e.g. elbows). It's down to the length of the fiber, from what I can understand.
Completely agree, I used to almost collect cashmere and I notice an insane difference from getting them 10 years ago, they never used to bobble
Oh wow this is so interesting - I have always assumed its an inevitability!
@@LizzyHadfield Surely does put things into perspective, especially when you're considering the price tag of 'luxury' clothing.
I totally agree. I bought a few in Italy in 2012, none bubble and were very good quality. I still have one of them and they are good as new.
I don’t think that’s true at all. I have multiple cashmere knits in different weaves from the row and some bobble and some don’t. I think it’s to do with both the length of yarn but also how the fabric has been pre-treated. The felt-like ones in the traditional soft cashmere texture bobble but my cable knit styles from them don’t.
I love the Testing Basics series. Solid work😊 x
I was just telling my boyfriend about this series and how glad I am that you brought it back!
Ahh thank you so much!!
Isn't it normal to not wash jumpers after every wear? I mean I always wear a tee underneath anyway but still haha.
this makes me feel better thank you 😂
Wool is a natural anti bacteria fibre, so should be rarely washed. Instead spot wash any food spills, and air out after wearing. Once you get poly added to the fabric, you will get the sweaty effect.
You should really not wash wool jumpers! Airing them, doing stop cleaning when needed and wearing a t-shirt under should be enough for most of the time. I usually wash my jumpers once or twice per season and their are fine and fresh, wahing too much can ruin them. So no worries!
Ya, the beauty of wool fibres, especially lambs wool is that it has properties to it that not only wick moisture but also have natural protective oils in the fibres that help to keep them clean. In fact, again especially with merino, alpaca, and lamb which are wool, have natural lanolin’s that protect the fibre and frequent washing will break that down and make the garment less resilient. Cashmere is hair and doesn’t have the same protective coating to it so it CAN be washed more frequently, but really shouldn’t need to be. Airing your sweaters outside or putting them in the freezer overnight will dispense of any lingering odour from cooking, wood smoke, or your own body sweat. It’s preferable to gently spot clean and/or use a wool brush to clean them.
Lizzy please do a straight leg jean testing basics!
Perfect Sunday watch! I think the colour of the Arket one really suits you, but I get that it’s not so flattering. A suggestion for the next testing basics: loafers would be great ! Looking forward to your next video as always :)
Ohhh yeah loafers would be such a good one!!
I second that! It's not easy to find good loafers in the mid price range, at least in my experience. I would also watch a testing basics on knee-high boots.
Wool is such a superior fabric, and yes harder to find than one would expect. Of course our beautiful Elizabeth makes everything look lovely!
Navy grey is my favorite… love testing basics ❤
Another great Testing basics of yours! always grateful for your honesty
Love your testing basics.
Thank you!!
yessssss! just what i needed on this sunday!!!
Perfect study session break content ❤
Rajiv on yt has such a lovely channel, and has an amazing tutorial on how to wash wool sweaters
Lizzy I've been looking at table lamps, floor lamps and lighting in general, could you do a video of your lighting fixtures. Thanks.
The ceiling pendants she has in the living / dining rooms are glo balls from flos and her night table lamps are from santa & cole.
she always has a few lights I like in her NYC apartment @@josepha133
Thank you!! NYC lights are from Noguchi, Lichen and Louis Polsen! xx
I’m paranoid about putting wool/cashmere on radiators because wool+water=felt/compacting, so I prefer the dehumidifier as a solution or just waiting a long time ☺️ Also, wools and cashmeres are great because you really don’t need to wash them all that much. (I definitely don’t!!!) Hikers often wear wool T-shirts, which don’t stink because wool has antibacterial properties (unlike synthetic materials, e.g. polyester sports tops stink after one wear for this reason). I can attest to the magical properties of wool as I’ve done a thru-hike before 😋
Wow! testing basics is back!!! Always loved it!!! Your reviews used to be a holy grail in choosing stilettos! Loved those super high heels you used to review! dont you wear them anymore? If you do, an updated heels haul please:)
"I'm like mister fuckin tickle" LOL
Thank you Lizzy! Testing basics gives me all the 🤗 feels!
So sad you didn’t do the baba knit! But as always a good testing basics
Please do a testing basics on Mary Jane’s and pointy toe shoes 😍😍
Loved the video! I just moved to London from Amsterdam for a few months. Would love to know about your recommendations; do you maybe have a video or a post or something with your favourite spots for shopping/eating/drinking etc? :) thanks and have a lovely Sunday!
I used to work at Cos and we used to do training on the fabrication of the knits, and the reason they don't do 100% wool a lot of the time is because the combination of a small percentage of synthetic fibre helps minimise how quickly it bobbles and also prevents insects/moths etc from being attracted to eating the wool when you're not using it
The Arket jumper suited you the best.
It's 38 degrees in Melbourne now ( 100 degrees ). Got the A/C on.
I only ever buy H&M jumpers in the sale as the Swedish need their wool jumpers and very happy with them. I use Stergene to wash them and a wool wash and no probs.
I have the uniqlo one in grey and amazing! Stopped bobbling after two weeks or so! The shape is great too! Lesson from my winter 2023/24 is creamy colour wool sweaters are a bad idea - the bobbles are much more visible on them, bought a Jigsaw one - wool & cashmere & polyamide one and terrible! Threw it away after I have spent hours of de-bobbling and still looked bad:-(
Swede here! I've loads of Toteme pieces from older to newer collections. As much as I love the design and the styling, their products just don't stand the test of time, unfortunately, and leave a lot to be desired in terms of quality :(
Bless a new testing basics addition ❤ Love the J Crew chinos you’re wearing in the beginning. Are those a men’s pant?
I should think the Toteme sweater is ‘boiled wool’. I have a Nicole Farhi boiled wool cardigan, 30 years old - it has never bobbled. I have washed it maybe three times (I don’t wear it often as it is too nice; I want to keep it forever). Re laundering - the wool wash in my machine is a hand wash. I have watched it - the item just sits in the water and is occasionally tumbled in the water before a rinse and quick spin.
Ohhh I should watch my wool setting sometime too, it's deffo too high maintenance to be hand washing every time !
Great video. Wow, Totem super disappointed! The price should reflect the quality. Thanks for your honesty.
You're welcome!! xx
I also think that Uniqlo nailed the fit of their knitwear! Can you recommend brands that have similar fits? And maybe be better quality? This is apparently a challenge to find!
The arket knit could be described as a Jersey knit that’s why it feels like a thick t shirt-which are generally cotton jersey
The switch away from real wool has been influenced by the vegan movement, but also brands realising they can cut margins by adding poly (acrylics) and appear to greenwash;). It is becoming a bit of a check though, when blended jumpers are costing over 100 quid when for a few quid more you can go for cheaper quality cashmere. And at least get a natural fibre.
What camera do you use I love the quality here 😊
Is the Cos one like a merino wool maybe?
You know you’re a fan when you watch the whole video even though you’re allergic to wool so couldn’t wear any of them 🤣
Loved your video as always, Lizzy!
I am just a bit confused about the Arket jumper because I remember you recommending a very similar jumper from Arket (cropped boxy fit, slits on the side, but with a turtleneck) a while ago in one of your sponsored videos.
Would you say the shape and cut of it is different with the crewneck one or is it just a change of mind?
Thank you!! I was wearing the high neck version of the Arket knit yesterday (I have it in black and cream) and still love them both - the high neck balances the boxy body and long sleeves really nicely, sadly I don't think that shape works as well on a crewneck!
Thank you for your answer, I totally get what you mean. Love the high neck version on you!
The COS one looks and sounds, by the way you describe it, more like a woven wool fabric rather than a knit wool fabric. The difference being like the woollen fabric used for pants and blazers and such so I wouldn’t, personally even categorize it as a sweater. It’s a woolen top.
Edited to add: did you roll the totem one up in a towel and squeeze the excess water out after washing? I’m sorry if you said, this just occurred to me hours later and I came back to pop that in lol. It looks like a felted kind of fabric, so ya, that’s going to take longer to dry, but also, it really shouldn’t need washing very often at all so in that sense, it isn’t really that high maintenance.
Thank you!!! That makes sense about the COS one - and yes, I did the towel trick for the Toteme one! Honestly really wish I hadn't washed it at all!
@@LizzyHadfield hahahah ya, it sounds like a bit of a pain. Ah, we live and we learn 😉💕
Just a suggestion, never ever wash a wool jumper. Even hand washing. Unless you've spilled something on it and it will stain otherwise. It just doesn't need it. Once worn, hang up by an open window for an hour or so and it will get rid of any smells that might be on it but wool doesn't tend to hold odours anyway. It is naturally antibacterial as well so you don't need to be concerned about germs on it. And as for dry cleaning, the chemicals would destroy it. So i really would recommend not washing them unless you absolutely have to.
The Arket one was sooo itchy I ordered two colorways and had to return it :(
oh i do not like the side slits of the Arket knit. why do companies do that?
You looked lovely at the opening of this video. Do you ever have open fires in your Victorian grates? I have to have lit candles as it makes me feel warmer and as we are being pushed into paying for fuel after Ukraine crisis it helps.
i guess the toteme one isn't really supposed to be washed, looks like it shrunk quite a bit
have you tried BABAA knits? great true wool, amazing cuts
I haven't and did mention why I didn't feature them in this video - they're a one size brand!
@@LizzyHadfield ahh i missed that! ok makes sense
where is the rose beaded necklace from?
I bought it in Mexico
Love when you do the testing basics😁 who were the new tan shoes by? They looked super cute.
Thank you! The brand is Soeur xx
Great video. For the Uniqlo one: don't machine wash! it will turn into a kid-size!!
Hahaha thank you for the heads up!!
Longtime fan! Liked the video a lot but struggled with the sound/background noise at the beginning - anyone else?
Sorry I think it was the chair moving. Thank you!
I too wash knitwear, including cashmere, in the machine on the wool cycle but it is important to use a specialist detergent like Woolite if you dont want your cashmere to shrink. (That's the responsible way to wash your 'responsible' wool. 😂)
I really wish &Daughter was included in this 😢
I wear their knits a lot and really recommend them!
Thank you 😊
who in the world is Mr. Tickle??
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Tickle
Where’s Luigi?
I think he’s living with Lizzy’s mom❤
Toteme quality is really poor imo. Skall Studios have the most beautiful wool, in my experience anyways. Babaa is nice but bobbles quick too and also i've also heard sad things about the owners of that companies politics.
I am starting to really agree about Toteme. I LOVE Skall Studios, wish I had included them!
No baba it’s like the one piece everyone is interested in. Apparently the fit is super oversized. Disappointed you didn’t include it. You could have Ranked it worst for being one size fits most while still giving useful intel.
The wool industry is so cruel 😫
Weave is fabric… straight lines up and down. Jumpers are knitted…
Thank you!!!
The Arket jumper is the least flattering. The colour makes you look sickly.
I love Navy Grey knitwear. Sooo comfortable and amazing quality! I never had any bubbles and I’ve been wearing them for years (bought them before Brexit🥹) I hope they find a way to have a duty payed delivery to EU…
The Arket one was sooo itchy I ordered two colorways and had to return it :(