When many of us think of Scottish knitwear, what comes to mind is a soft and chunky knitted garment that’s cosy, warm and perfect for wrapping up in. These types of pieces are the mainstay of Scottish knitwear and are what this craftsmanship, and indeed Colhay’s too, has become known for.
Of course, we love these pieces and are incredibly proud of the thicker garments we produce, delighted with the comfort they bring to our customers. However, even in late September, the milder autumnal climate means we’re not quite ready to bring out the bigger pieces just yet. Instead, we’re all seeking garments that strike the delicate, and often tricky to find, balance of not too hot and not too cold.
We know that many men lean towards the warmer side in body temperature already, and so overheating is a significant concern for a lot of our customers. Wrapping up in a thick sweater in the morning could very easily lead to a clammy and uncomfortable afternoon.
With all this in mind, we’ve put together a round up of the pieces that we feel are best suited for autumn wear. Each is an ideal choice for this and the next few months of the year when there’s a noticeable drop in temperature but we’ve not quite hit the bitter depths of winter yet.
They are all mid-weight garments, generally sitting between 300 and 500g, meaning they’re perfect for keeping the chill off on a crisp morning, but not so warm that you’ll break a sweat when you’re out and about. The fact that they’re less chunky and mid-weight also means they’re better in terms of practicality for autumn too. They’re easy to take off, fold up and pack away into your bag, and so you’re not left with something awkward and inconvenient to hold on to.
Though you might know us for our chunky cardigans and roll-neck sweaters, our repertoire of autumnal pieces is extensive. For ease of reading and to help you find what you need, we’ve grouped them by material below.
Cashmere
Frequently referred to as the ‘king of fibres’, cashmere is simply a joy to wear. A surge in popularity over recent years has meant that oftentimes, cashmere found on the high street is of a low quality. In line with our philosophy of returning to an old maxim of garment making which put quality above all else, you can rest assured that we work solely with renowned yarn spinners whose mission it is to source and select only the finest fibres, resulting in a yarn of supremely high quality. For cashmere, ours is from Scottish mill Todd & Duncan, known within the luxury industry as one of the undisputed leaders in cashmere yarn craftsmanship. If one of our cashmere pieces sits in your drawers currently, you’ll already be aware of its unbelievably soft hand feel and incredible durability.
The cashmere pieces we favour for autumn are all long-sleeved to cover up when it’s cold, but also allow for rolling up when you’re feeling warm. Several have multiple ways to wear, lending themselves well to layering and adding versatility to your wardrobe. Our Cashmere Shirt Cardigans, for example, can be worn as a shirt or cardigan with almost any thinner layer underneath including another shirt with a collar, a polo or button down shirt for example.
Our Cashmere Belmondo Roll Necks (ideal for the chillier autumnal days) can also be worn over an undershirt or t-shirt, or thrown over the shoulders to keep the chill off or to avoid having to carry it in your bag.
One of our most versatile autumn pieces is our Cashmere Polo Shirt. The collared sweater makes it the ideal choice for any outfit on the formal to casual spectrum, equally at home with jeans and under a tailored jacket.
Superfine Lambswool
Lambswool, a classic, traditional yarn very much well known to many. Though many associate wool with roughness and itching, this is far from the case with the lambswool garments we produce here at Colhay’s. The yarns we use to produce our pieces are an elevated version of the majority of lambswool. Again, we use yarns from world renowned spinners who source the finest fibres in their production.
These said fibres are fine both literally and figuratively. The finer and longer the fibre, the softer and stronger the resulting yarn. (To put this into context the fibres used to create our superfine lambswool are around 18.5 microns in diameter whilst the maximum for lambswool is around 24 - a significant difference.) Not only is it soft on the skin, but it’s also moisture-wicking and very breathable, ideal for days when the temperature can vary.
Within our collection of superfine lambswool pieces, you’ll find several that are ideal for autumnal dressing. Again, they are garments with long sleeves that can be worn extended to the wrist or rolled up to the elbow according to your preferences and the dictations of the weather.
At 300 grams in weight, our Superfine Lambswool Mock Neck Sweater is a great choice for days when the temperature might fluctuate. Many men find the feel of a roll neck too restrictive and, if that sounds like you then this sweater, which features a mock neck and thus creates the same flattering shape as a roll neck but with a little more freedom, is a great choice.
Our Superfine Lambswool Cricket Sweater is a slightly thicker design which works well as an outer layer and features a v-neck that broadens the shoulders and elongates the torso.
Another piece that's slightly thicker, and would be enough worn on its own to keep the autumn chill at bay for walks in the park is our Superfine Lambswool Fisherman Cable Sweater, boasting a chunky cable pattern, in homage to original fisherman sweaters.
Aside from these pieces, you’ll also notice the Superfine Lambswool Crew Neck, an elegant and versatile wardrobe staple.
Cashmere Wool
As its name suggests, this yarn is a combination of both cashmere and wool, meaning it brings together the best qualities of both fibres. Using a blend of 70% merino wool and 30% cashmere, the resulting garments are both soft and light, as well as being insulating and robust.
Our Cashmere Wool Chalet Sweater is a little thicker and is again, the perfect weight for for a cool autumn day or to throw on for walks through the countryside. The design is inspired by mid-century ski wear which often featured intricate cable knit patterns. We’ve created our own unique pattern that offers a little extra interest but doesn’t command too much attention. Though it’s certainly a denser piece than most of our other autumnal garments, it’s far from bulky and can be easily worn under a jacket or coat.
Cashmere Cotton
Again, this material is a blend. With this, we have combined cashmere with cotton, another much-loved, timeless fibre. Cotton has long been a staple in our wardrobes, and with good reason. It’s a fantastic combination of durable, breathable and light. The yarn we use combines the finest cashmere fibres with high quality Egyptian fibres that, again, are physically long and thin, resulting in a soft and strong garment.
Our Cashmere Cotton Breton Stripe Sweater is made with 47% cashmere and 53% cotton. The cashmere makes the piece brilliantly soft, whilst the cotton gives it a breezy and airy quality. For these reasons it’s great for wearing on a warmer autumn day, or for layering when you’re not sure what the weather will bring. For the design, we took inspiration from the classic Breton sweaters that were black and white, intentionally quite dazzling to ensure sailors who had fallen overboard could be spotted easily and rescued quickly. We know that many of our customers aren’t keen to stand out quite this much, so we have added an olive and navy stripe design, creating a darker feel that works well in the cooler months and pairs easily with jeans, dark grey or cream trousers.
If you have any questions about any of our knitwear, please don’t hesitate to contact us. At Colhay’s we feel it’s vital that customers are well-informed before making a purchase, and so we are keen to help with any queries that we can, whether that be styling advice or questions about materials.