As we approach the end of the year, festivities are in full swing and we’re busier than ever wrapping up all our loose ends in preparation for family visits and breaks with loved ones. At this time of year, we can’t think of anything that could beat being wrapped up in a thick, cosy piece of knitwear, enveloped in softness and comfort.
We talk often at Colhay’s about our slimmer fit designs that lend themselves well to formal occasions where you want to look sharp and put together, but there’s another side to knitwear that we consider equally important, the comforting and relaxing side. In fact, we consider ourselves to be masters in this area, specialists in designing and producing pieces that give you a warm feeling when you put them on, both emotionally and physically.
After all, we believe this is what knitwear is all about. Its stretchiness, warmth and comfort stand in stark contrast to more formal clothing like tailoring and coats that are built in rigid cloths and shapes. Knitwear is a garment precisely designed for down time such as the holiday season.
And with comfort in mind, in this article we’ll go through a handful of our favourite cosy pieces for relaxing in.
Superfine Lambswool Shawl Coat
We’re starting with the biggest and heaviest piece of knitwear in our range. This is the epitome of comfy knitwear. When you’re wearing this coat, the experience is more like being wrapped up in a blanket than wearing knitwear. Akin to a robe, this garment features overlapping front panels and a belt, rather than buttons or a zip, which means that it’s customisable in terms of size and fit.
Superfine Lambswool Shawl Collar Cardigan
This is another piece made from superfine lambswool that’s unbelievably soft to the touch. We source our yarn from renowned Scottish mill, Todd and Duncan. The mill has been in business for over 150 years, producing yarns of the very highest quality, and you can certainly feel this in our shawl collar cardigans. Though we call it a cardigan, this piece also works well as a garment for outdoor wear. You could take it straight from an indulgent Boxing Day breakfast out for a chilly morning walk. If you do wear the cardigan out and about, you can fasten it with the Italian-made, genuine horn buttons. Each has its own unique pattern, adding both interest and practicality. Knitted densely, using a heritage technique, this cardigan weights 1.2 kilos and so it’s definitely substantial in both hand feel and weight. It’s simply unbeatable for a cosy piece to wear during the holidays.
Cashmere Ribbed Submariner Rollneck
This piece offers a similar cosy feel as the above garments, but in a pullover form rather than something that you’ll wrap up in. Snug and warm, yet comfortable too, our roll neck jumpers are perfect for this time of year. This particular garment features a tall roll neck which offers continual comfort and warmth, but also frames the face and flatters almost all body types. Again, this is a densely knitted piece which is made with a technique that uses a larger amount of cashmere than the industry norm, thus creating a thick and incredibly cosy 100% cashmere sweater. To up the cosy ante even further, we recommend sizing up for a generous and relaxed fit.
Superfine Lambswool Rugby Shawl Sweater
The final piece we’ve chosen to feature is another made from superfine lambswool. This sweater, however, is a touch lighter than the shawl collar coat and cardigan mentioned above. If you prefer slightly lighter knitwear, or if you’re heading to a more temperate climate to celebrate the holiday season, this is a great choice. (Having said this, this is a sweater that you can wear with several layers underneath, so you can wear it to wrap up warm too, should you wish or need to.) Though it’s lighter, there’s no compromise on softness and, with a shawl collar, no compromise on cosiness either.
Whatever your version of relaxation looks like during the festive period - be it gathered around a dinner table and enjoying good conversation, lounging by a crackling fireside engrossed in a book, wandering through the green countryside on a wintery walk, or combination of all three - a thick and cosy piece of knitwear is simply unbeatable. If you’ve any questions about the garments we’ve mentioned, or indeed any Colhay’s piece, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on info@colhays.com and our team will be happy to help.