The short answer: choose a jumper if you want full-sleeve warmth and a one-piece outfit. Choose a vest or a cardigan if your day swings between warm and cold and you want a layer you can adjust. Choose a tank if you want the most affordable way into knitwear, or something to wear under everything else. If you're buying just one, make it a jumper. If you're buying two, add a vest.
Most people shopping for knitwear head straight for the jumper. It's the obvious choice, and often the right one. But not always, and if you've ever bought a lovely jumper and then found yourself too warm indoors, or wishing for something to throw over a dress, you'll know why the other shapes exist.
Our knitwear collection has four: jumpers, vests, a cardigan and a tank. Here's how to choose between them, in plain terms.
The Four Knitwear Shapes at a Glance
| Shape | Best for | Warmth | Starting from | Our pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumper | Cold days, one-piece outfits | Warmest, with full sleeves | £109 | Fisherwoman's Jumper, Sculpted Guernsey Jumper |
| Vest | Layering, in-between weather | Warms your core, arms free | £89 | Fisherwoman's Vest, Potager's Vest |
| Cardigan | Layering over dresses and tops | Adjustable, open or buttoned | £109 | Arborea Cardigan |
| Tank | Mild days, layering underneath | Sleeveless, for milder weather | £79 | Tabby Tank |
Prices are as listed at the time of writing, and the alpaca versions of the jumper and vest cost more. The rest of this guide goes through each shape, so you can see which one fits the way you actually dress.
When Is a Jumper the Right Choice?
When you want the most warmth from one piece, and you like an outfit that's finished the moment you pull it on.
A jumper has full sleeves and covers your whole torso, so it's the warmest of the four shapes. It's also the simplest to wear: add a skirt, trousers or jeans and you're dressed. We make two styles.
The Fisherwoman's Jumper has a cosy roll neck, a relaxed silhouette and an easy mid-hip length. It's medium-weight, so it works through most of the year, and it comes in a range of colours in cotton, plus two alpaca versions for the coldest days.
The Sculpted Guernsey Jumper has a higher neck and ribbed cuffs, which gives it a more classic look than the Fisherwoman's.
The catch with a jumper is flexibility. Once it's on, it's on. If you run warm, or you move between cold streets and heated rooms, you'll want something underneath that you're happy to be seen in, or a different shape altogether.
Not sure on colour? Mocha, Buttermilk and Charcoal are the easy neutrals, and Moss Green behaves like one. Gorse, a golden yellow, is the one to choose if you want the jumper to be the star of the outfit.
When Is a Vest the Better Pick?
When you want warmth around your core without the commitment of full sleeves.
A vest keeps the warmth where it counts and leaves your arms free, which makes it the easiest way to get through a changeable day. Wear one over a shirt, a long-sleeved tee or a dress, and take it off when you warm up without losing the outfit.
The Fisherwoman's Vest has the same easy shape as the jumper, without the sleeves. It comes in a range of colours, including alpaca for extra warmth.
The Potager's Vest is crochet, which gives it more texture. It's the one to choose if you want the vest itself to be the detail.
The Fisherwoman's Vest costs less than the jumper, so it's a good second piece once you've got a jumper you love. The trade-off is the obvious one: no sleeves means no sleeve warmth, so on the coldest days you'll want a long-sleeved top underneath. If you like the idea of a sleeveless layer, you might also like our waistcoats, which are embroidered or block printed rather than knitted.
When Does a Cardigan Make More Sense?
When you want a layer you can open, close and take off, with pockets if you can get them.
The Arborea Cardigan fastens with buttons and comes in Mocha and Buttermilk, and the Buttermilk one has two front pockets. Wear it open over a dress or a plain top, buttoned up as a top of its own with a skirt, or draped over your shoulders when the evening cools.
It's the most adjustable of the four shapes, which is why it works so well over a dress. It's also the one that asks the least of you: nothing to pull over your head, and it layers over almost anything. The trade-off is that it's more of a layer than a statement, so it tends to play a supporting role.
What Is the Tabby Tank For?
For mild days, and for layering underneath other pieces.
The Tabby Tank in Charcoal is a sleeveless, button-through V-neck, and it's the most affordable piece in the collection. Wear it on its own on a mild day, over a shirt, or under a cardigan or jumper when it's colder. The dark colour also anchors a busy pattern, so it lets a printed skirt do the talking.
The honest limitation: on its own, a sleeveless knit won't keep you warm, so the tank earns its place as a layering piece. If you want one item that works across the most seasons, this isn't it. If you want a low-cost way to try knitwear, or something to wear under your jumpers and cardigans, it's a very good choice.
Which Shape Suits the Way You Dress?
Here's the quickest way to decide.
You feel the cold: a jumper, and alpaca if you want the most warmth.
Your day swings between cold and warm: a vest or a cardigan, so you can adjust as you go.
You mostly wear dresses: a cardigan or a vest over the top.
You mostly wear skirts, trousers or jeans: a jumper is the simplest answer.
You want pockets: the Arborea Cardigan in Buttermilk.
You're new to knitwear, or working to a tighter budget: the Tabby Tank or a Fisherwoman's Vest.
You want one piece for most of the year: a cotton Fisherwoman's Jumper.
Does the Fibre Change Which Shape You Should Choose?
A little. Jumpers and vests come in both cotton and alpaca, so for those two shapes you've got a warmth decision to make as well. Cotton is medium-weight and easy to look after. Alpaca is warmer, with a softer drape, and costs more. Our cotton pieces are machine made, while our alpaca pieces are hand knitted by a women's cooperative in Peru, which is part of the price difference. We've compared the two in more detail in our journal.
If you're torn, pick the shape first and the fibre second. A cotton vest and an alpaca jumper, for example, can cover you from early autumn to late winter.
How Should Knitwear Fit?
Our knitwear comes in sizes from S to XL (UK 8 to 22). The Fisherwoman's Jumper is cut with a relaxed silhouette and a mid-hip length, so there's room to layer a shirt underneath. Every product page has a size guide with laid-flat measurements, and the easiest way to use it is to lay a jumper you already love on a flat surface, measure it, and compare.
Looking After Each Shape
All of our knitwear does best with gentle care. For the cotton Fisherwoman's Jumper, wash it separately on a delicate machine cycle or by hand at no more than 30 degrees, use a non-enzyme, non-biological detergent, and don't tumble dry. Dry flat whatever the shape, because it stops knitwear stretching. Check each product page for the care guide for that piece.
So Which Should You Buy First?
If you're building a knitwear wardrobe from scratch, here's an order that works.
First: a jumper. It's the most versatile single piece, and the one you'll wear most.
Second: a vest or a cardigan. Either one gives you a layer you can adjust through the day.
Third: a tank, to wear on its own on mild days and under everything else.
Together, those three cover most of what a changeable climate throws at you. Browse the full knitwear collection and see what catches your eye, or look at how knitwear sits with our dresses, skirts and dungarees for outfit ideas. You can also see everything new this season in the AW26 edit, and read about the women who knit our alpaca pieces on our Our Suppliers page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a knitted vest and a tank?
A knitted vest is usually a sleeveless jumper shape, with a neckline like a jumper's, worn as a layer over a shirt or dress. A tank is usually a lighter, more fitted sleeveless top. The Fisherwoman's Vest has a rolled neckline, while the Tabby Tank is a button-through V-neck.
Should I buy a jumper or a cardigan?
Choose a jumper if you want more warmth and a simple, one-piece outfit. Choose a cardigan if you want a layer you can open, close and take off, especially over dresses. The jumper is the more versatile on its own, and the cardigan is the more adjustable.
Is a knitted vest warm enough on its own?
A vest warms your core but leaves your arms bare, so on its own it suits mild days. For colder weather, wear it over a long-sleeved top, or choose an alpaca vest for extra warmth.
What is the most versatile piece of knitwear?
For most outfits, a jumper. A Fisherwoman's Jumper in a neutral like Mocha, Buttermilk or Charcoal works with skirts, trousers, jeans and dresses. Vests and cardigans are the most flexible as layers.
Can you wear a cardigan as a top?
Yes. Buttoned up, a cardigan works as a top on its own, and the Arborea Cardigan fastens with buttons, which makes that easy. Try it with a skirt or high-waisted trousers.
What knitwear is best for layering?
Vests, cardigans and tanks. They add warmth without much bulk, and they're easy to take off as the day warms up.
How do I choose my knitwear size?
Measure a jumper you already own, laid flat, and compare it with the laid-flat measurements in the size guide on the product page. Our knitwear runs from S to XL (UK 8 to 22), and the Fisherwoman's Jumper is cut with room to layer.
Is cotton or alpaca better for a jumper or vest?
Cotton is medium-weight, easy to care for and suits most of the year. Alpaca is warmer and softer in drape, so it suits the coldest weeks. Our cotton pieces are machine made, and our alpaca pieces are hand knitted by a women's cooperative in Peru.
Ready to choose? Browse the knitwear collection and pick the shape that suits the way you dress.