Military 'woolly pully' sweaters

BlueTrain · Sep 8, 2016

By the way, thank you for complimenting my English. I actually received the English Medal when I finished high school. I'm an American. But my English is really just so-so.

Ticklishchap · Sep 8, 2016

BlueTrain said:
By the way, thank you for complimenting my English. I actually received the English Medal when I finished high school. I'm an American. But my English is really just so-so.

It's a pleasure and belated congratulations on your Medal! I had assumed that you were a non-native speaker when you were talking about difficulties communicating in London.
I have found that Americans quite often use words and phrases - both written and spoken - that sound charmingly old-fashioned (in the best sense) in the UK because they have died out here. Also, I recall a cab driver I had in Washington DC who was African-American and from rural Virginia: his English sounded almost as if it came from Shakespeare's time. Very interesting.
Maybe you'll buy an 'olive drab' next time you're over here.

BlueTrain · Sep 8, 2016

It is said that people who live along the Atlantic coast in Virginia and presumably other states have a very old accent. I do know that the accent is decidedly different but I really have no way of knowing and I doubt anyone else does either. But sometimes I have trouble understanding people from just another part of the state. I've had to ask my mother-in-law, still living, to repeat herself because I didn't understand her accent. Even my wife pronounces some words "funny."

I live in Virginia but I was born just across the state line in another state. But my father was born in Virginia and all of my ancestors in the male line were born in Virginia back to about 1650. I was the first one in my line not born in the country where my father was born since before 1800. But I'm not a native American.

Bushman · Sep 8, 2016

Question: I bought a 2XL woolly pully, 100% acrylic, and it seems uncomfortably tight on me. Now, I'm a man with a bit of a belly, but it seems like it's just way too small even for that. I've owned other acrylic sweaters of the same size and they fit me just fine. I'm not sure what brand I bought it from, I've had it for about 2 years now and it doesn't say on the tag, but it seems like it's smaller than it should be based on the others I've seen here. Is this tightness natural for some woolly pullies or is there something wrong with mine?

STEVIEBOY1 · Sep 9, 2016

Bushman said:
Question: I bought a 2XL woolly pully, 100% acrylic, and it seems uncomfortably tight on me. Now, I'm a man with a bit of a belly, but it seems like it's just way too small even for that. I've owned other acrylic sweaters of the same size and they fit me just fine. I'm not sure what brand I bought it from, I've had it for about 2 years now and it doesn't say on the tag, but it seems like it's smaller than it should be based on the others I've seen here. Is this tightness natural for some woolly pullies or is there something wrong with mine?

They normally do fit well, but it may be because those you have are acrylic rather than pure wool which seem to have a better shape/fit. Wool is a better fabric to, IMO.

STEVIEBOY1 · Sep 9, 2016

mariner said:
First one I owned was a greenish-grey-orange marl Bridgedale WP I bought from a shooting shop in Putney, by that time they were deeply unfashionable in the age of the Berghaus fleece - not that I gave a hoot. Layered over a shetland polo neck in '70s, early 80s style. My school was of the 'cold showers and beatings will continue until morale improves' variety - even wearing the inadequate grey school V neck jumper was frowned upon by the masters, despite freezing nights and sometimes cold days. Some dormitory windows were open to the elements - never been so cold in my life. I did own two Devold Blaatroie polo necks in my late teens though - my mum gave most of my old jumpers and clothes away while I was travelling, including those, but have a few of them second hand since then.

I had a couple of those Shetland Polo necks in the 1970s/1980s and they too were great sweaters. (By the way, aspects of your school memories sounds rather like mine.)

Ticklishchap · Sep 9, 2016

Bushman said:
Question: I bought a 2XL woolly pully, 100% acrylic, and it seems uncomfortably tight on me. Now, I'm a man with a bit of a belly, but it seems like it's just way too small even for that. I've owned other acrylic sweaters of the same size and they fit me just fine. I'm not sure what brand I bought it from, I've had it for about 2 years now and it doesn't say on the tag, but it seems like it's smaller than it should be based on the others I've seen here. Is this tightness natural for some woolly pullies or is there something wrong with mine?

I would never wear anything acrylic. Not ever. Only 100% wool will do.

STEVIEBOY1 · Sep 10, 2016

mariner said:
Stevieboy1 is correct. They're a dark blue 'smock' style, long in the body, closed hem, a fine close knit, boat neck and have (mostly) short sleeves (keep out of machinery) and a 4in or so cuff. The 3 I have are keepers, one is an original South African Navy issue (like hen's teeth now as the Navy jumper has changed), a Turner and Jarvis and the more common post-war variant for Nato (not to be confused with the Nato ribbed version) and sized in centimeters - often in ca. 100cm sizing, but as they're form fitting like a breton are capable of fitting a large. It's the more common variant and I often see them on ebay uk, often for sale as a gansey or guernsey. There was one for sale as recently as last month, but I can't find it for you. HJope this helps.

This describes mine exactly, infact by co-incidence I am wearing it now.

mariner · Sep 23, 2016

This is a variant of the Navy / Nato / Deckhand jumper that we're talking about. Is a small size and looks like a 70s style label but may be of interest to someone - the sale has nothing to do with me, by the way.

Ebay link => http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361716494544?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

STEVIEBOY1 · Sep 26, 2016

mariner said:
This is a variant of the Navy / Nato / Deckhand jumper that we're talking about. Is a small size and looks like a 70s style label but may be of interest to someone - the sale has nothing to do with me, by the way.

Ebay link => http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361716494544?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Yes that is just like the one I have.

Ticklishchap · Sep 26, 2016

mariner said:
This is a variant of the Navy / Nato / Deckhand jumper that we're talking about. Is a small size and looks like a 70s style label but may be of interest to someone - the sale has nothing to do with me, by the way.

Ebay link => http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361716494544?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Yes, that's the same as a Navy jumper I had as a teenager (although I was never a Deckhand, I should add).
Curiously, although it is a men's jumper (sweater to our American friends) and would only have been worn by men, it has been listed by ebay in the women's section! Had you not seen it, I would never have noticed because that area of ebay is completely unknown to me!
It's too small for me anyway.

mariner · Sep 27, 2016

They were popular with the sailing community, so are typically unisex - every now and again I find a decent sized one, but they're not a popular style.

Ticklishchap · Sep 30, 2016

mariner said:
They were popular with the sailing community, so are typically unisex - every now and again I find a decent sized one, but they're not a popular style.

I prefer more rugged military sweaters but I did have one of these many years ago and would consider one again - in the right size!

Ticklishchap · Sep 30, 2016

BlueTrain said:
It is said that people who live along the Atlantic coast in Virginia and presumably other states have a very old accent. I do know that the accent is decidedly different but I really have no way of knowing and I doubt anyone else does either. But sometimes I have trouble understanding people from just another part of the state. I've had to ask my mother-in-law, still living, to repeat herself because I didn't understand her accent. Even my wife pronounces some words "funny."

I live in Virginia but I was born just across the state line in another state. But my father was born in Virginia and all of my ancestors in the male line were born in Virginia back to about 1650. I was the first one in my line not born in the country where my father was born since before 1800. But I'm not a native American.

That's very interesting as we have a wide range of accents within relatively small areas. Even here in London there are differences between north and south. In the Southampton area, there are two rival accents, one resembling London and south-east England, the other more rustic and influenced by the south-west.

woolding · Oct 3, 2016

Ticklish chap. I've now obtained two seaman's jerseys of the old type I was looking for. Thanks for your interest.

Ticklishchap · Oct 3, 2016

woolding said:
Ticklish chap. I've now obtained two seaman's jerseys of the old type I was looking for. Thanks for your interest.

I am delighted to hear it. May I asked where you obtained them?

Ticklishchap · Oct 3, 2016

Woolly Pully weather is finally arriving and I was able to wear my Peat Brown WP yesterday morning and evening!

woolding · Oct 4, 2016

Ticklishchap said:
I am delighted to hear it. May I asked where you obtained them?

Through word of mouth. A lady had them, unused, in her attic and was happy to find a good home.

Ticklishchap · Oct 4, 2016

woolding said:
Through word of mouth. A lady had them, unused, in her attic and was happy to find a good home.

I'm pleased about that. I have so many military sweaters that I'm not really actively after one of these, but if I came across one in my size I would snap it up.

Ticklishchap · Oct 4, 2016

Fading Fast said:
Here are some pictures of my two North Sea's sweaters:

Needless to say I like them very much. As I said to you on the Guernsey thread, I have set my sights on the Diver Marl Grey!
Welcome aboard this thread by the way. We'll have you buying a Woolly Pully soon!

Military 'woolly pully' sweaters

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