Soft and elegant
Great sweater! The color is very much as shown on my monitor - a deep, dark red (the black yarns can be seen on close inspection), which is exactly what I wanted. Personally, I would call the color 'black cherry.' The 'seamless' construction is not quite seamless, though very close to it. There are seams joining the sleeves to the bodice, but I had to follow the weave of the fabric to find them, so they're almost invisible. The reason I mention this is since the construction is very nearly seamless, I know I will need to hand wash this item and block it after each wash. Not a big deal - wool can be worn several times before it needs a wash - but I'm glad I know this going in, rather than discovering it after I've made a mistake in the laundering. I got this in an XL because I wanted a bit of 'wiggle room,' and I find the fit to be quite good. The sleeves, which come down to the crook of my elbow, are snug - not tight, just snug - and the length is perfect on my long-waisted torso. I have plenty of room to tuck this sweater into a skirt or trousers if I choose, and I won't be exposing more than I should if I raise my arms. The sweater is fully opaque - nothing shows through at all - and this is unusual for such a lightweight item. This means it will perform as a blouse, which is the way these short-sleeved sweaters were meant to be worn back in the day, and how I intend to wear it now. It is warm, but not so warm I will be packing it away for the summer; I think this will be great for the cooler, windier summer days. As for the cost, this is just about the same price I pay for my 100% merino wool T-shirts (which I usually buy on sale), and since this sweater is much more elegant than a T-shirt, I'd have to say the price is excellent. I noticed some reviews that claimed these sweater had a bad odor, so I sniffed carefully - very carefully. Nothing. Damp wool (real wool) can have a 'wet dog' smell, which is normal. Wool is, after all, animal hair, and animal hair can smell pretty nasty when it's wet. The odor disappears when the item is fully dry. I mentioned blocking the sweater, so I thought a quick 'how to' might be useful: after washing, lay the sweater flat on a towel and carefully adjust it until the shape is correct. Pay special attention to the neckline and the waistband. Then roll the sweater up in the towel making sure to roll evenly; this will remove any excess water. Then unroll it, switch to a dry towel and let it air-dry on a flat surface. If you have a mesh drying rack, you can lay sweater directly on the mesh (minus the towel) and it will dry much faster. For a wooden drying rack - the kind with closely spaced dowels - use the towel, but be sure to pull the towel taut so as not to leave rod marks on your sweater. Hope this helps... Read more
