In my experience, 100% cotton knitwear is the least likely to pill. It can be prone to shrinking and stretching out, but if you launder carefully and get good-quality items, you can control those aspects too. 100% cotton knitwear doesn’t scratch or irritate the skin, and is breathable, crisp and comfortable. It may not be as soft, drapey, and stretchy as cotton blends, but it can be produced sustainably and ethically, and is a natural fibre.
I love 100% cotton knitwear. I also like 95% cotton knitwear with a bit of stretch. I wear a lot of it in our Spring, on a cool Summer’s day, or on a Summer evening when things cool down. It’s also handy to wear them to the beach in the Summertime. Sometimes I wear 100% cotton knitwear in Autumn.
If you have cold Springs, freeze in Summer air conditioning, or simply prefer 100% cotton knitwear full stop, here’s a selection across a range of colours, patterns, silhouettes and sizes. Weights range from chunky and thick, to super light and airy. Personally, I can vouch for 100% cotton knitwear from Brooks Brothers, Hobbs, Boden, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, COS, and French Connection since I’ve had them at one point in time, and the quality is good. I’ve also heard good things about the knitwear quality at L.L. Bean, who offers items in petite, straight, and plus sizes.
I need to replace my white and red cotton knitwear, and have the first two styles on my radar. I’ve ordered the white cable pullover from Brooks Brothers already. The other four more casual silhouettes might also work really well. The colour-blocked funnel neck is a slam dunk match with my new blue specs.
