Lambswool is taken from a sheep's first shearing at around seven months, when the fibre is at its softest. Shetland wool comes from the small, hardy sheep of Scotland's northern isles and is lofty, warm and slightly rustic. Together they underpin the classic Scottish crew-neck, Fair Isle and Shetland jumper traditions.
What makes wool, lambswool & shetland luxury quality
- Geelong lambswool: the finest Australian lambswool (around 19–20 µm), used by Scottish mills for their softest lambswool knits.
- Woollen spinning: lambswool is usually woollen-spun for loft and warmth rather than smoothness.
- Shetland heritage: genuine Shetland knitwear is supported by the 'Shetland' certification trademark for garments made in the islands.
- Durability: a well-made lambswool or Shetland jumper can last decades and softens with washing.
Care
Hand-wash cool with wool detergent, dry flat; Shetland softens noticeably after the first few washes. See the full care guide.
Houses working in wool, lambswool & shetland
-
&Daughter
$$$Fully-fashioned lambswool and cashmere designed in London, spun and knitted in Scotland and Ireland
-
Corgi
$$$Hand-framed Welsh knitwear and hand-finished luxury socks, royal warrant holder
-
Seam-free whole-garment Shetland and lambswool knitwear from a family mill in Peterhead
-
Inis Meáin
$$$Luxury reinterpretations of Aran island knitwear, made on Inis Meáin since 1976
-
Scotland's only vertically integrated cashmere mill, spinning and knitting its own fibre since 1797
-
Le Bonnet
$$Amsterdam-designed, Scottish-knitted wool beanies, scarves and seamless Shetland sweaters
-
Le Tricoteur
$$The authentic Guernsey fisherman's jumper, knitted in worsted British wool and hand-finished on the island
-
Heritage Borders house behind the Argyle jumper and the twinset
-
Sunspel
$$$British essentials house with Scottish-spun cashmere and lambswool knitwear
-
Varma
$$Icelandic wool sweaters, blankets and accessories knitted in Reykjavík
-
Family-run Hawick knitter of dense multi-ply cashmere, Geelong lambswool and camelhair
Wool, lambswool & Shetland: frequently asked questions
Is lambswool luxury?
Lambswool is an affordable luxury when spun and knitted by a specialist mill — Scottish Border mills make lambswool sweaters that are warmer and far longer-lasting than most cashmere at a third of the price. It is coarser than cashmere or merino, so it suits crew necks over a shirt rather than next-to-skin wear.
Which brands make the best wool, lambswool & shetland knitwear?
Houses in this index specialising in wool, lambswool & shetland include &Daughter, Corgi, Harley of Scotland, Inis Meáin, Johnstons of Elgin, Le Bonnet, Le Tricoteur and Pringle of Scotland and 3 more. Judge any of them on fibre grade, gauge, construction and finishing rather than name alone.