When buying a cashmere sweater, it's helpful to understand a little about knit quality.
Ply refers to the number of threads twisted together to make the yarn. The more threads in the yarn, the higher the ply. For example, yarn made up of two threads is called 2 ply yarn, four threads is 4 ply yarn, and so on.
Gauge refers to the number of stitches per inch/cm of knitted fabric. A cashmere garment knitted with a high gauge needle will have more stitches per inch and will therefore be a finer knit than a garment knitted with a lower gauge needle, which has fewer stitches per inch.
Yarn weight is also an important factor in the quality of the knitwear. This has to do with both the thickness of each thread that is wrapped into the yarn, as well as the number of plies and gauge used to make the garment.
It is important that the plies in the yarn match the gauge used to knit the garment correctly. For example, a cashmere sweater knitted with a two-ply yarn on a needle that is too large, such as 7 or 5 gauge, will result in a loose stitch that will pill and not hold its shape.
Therefore, when choosing a cashmere sweater, make sure the stitches are tight and smooth. If the stitches are too loose, pilling and stretching will occur.
We love quality cashmere
Henderson Cashmere always uses the correct ply and gauge when making our fine cashmere garments. The result is an excellent cashmere quality, regardless of the thickness and weight of the garment.
Our specially carded ultra-fine 'gossamer' yarn twisted into a 2-ply yarn is used to create the Henderson Cashmere Whisperlight™️ scarf. This is what gives our exclusive scarf its distinct luminescence and airy-fine, soft and delicate feel.
Our most popular knit, Henderson jersey™️, is made with a medium-weight 2-ply yarn, knitted with a 12-gauge needle.
For our thicker 5- and 7-gauge Henderson double cashmere™️, we increase the plies to create a deep, delicious, creamy-thick knit texture that holds its shape with minimal pilling.
At Henderson Cashmere we are passionately focussed on knit quality to ensure that your beloved cashmere sweater will remain beautiful for years to come.
