The Chunky Knit Turtleneck You'll Want to Live In

A thick, soft, cozy knit turtleneck with a relaxed, oversized fit and a warm roll neck — like a warm hug you can wear, the one you curl up in all winter long.

At 63, when the cold comes in there's nothing I want more than to be wrapped up warm and cozy. But most jumpers are either scratchy wool that itches the moment it touches me, or thin acrylic that never really keeps the chill off.

What I really wanted was one thick, soft, cozy jumper I could curl up in and wear all winter — warm, forgiving, and lovely enough to go out in. Everything I owned was either warm or comfortable or nice, never all three at once.

It was my daughter Sarah, up in Boston, who told me to stop settling and try one from a small family boutique here in South Carolina — a chunky knit turtleneck she thought I'd never take off. Before I tell you what it did, I think you should read the Clarke family's letter first.

The Clarke family runs a small boutique here in South Carolina, family-run since 1986 — three generations, mother to daughter. The jumper is called the Elara, and their letter walks through the handful of things they refused to compromise on. I am going to let their words carry it, because they say it better than I could.

1The chunky turtleneck you'll want to live in

We made the Elara as a thick, chunky knit turtleneck in the softest yarn — the kind of warm, cozy jumper that feels like a hug you can wear. The moment it's on you'll want to curl up in it with a cup of coffee and never take it off. It's the first thing you'll reach for the moment there's a chill, morning after morning, right through the winter.

2A thick, cozy knit with real substance

It's a proper chunky knit — thick, soft and wonderfully warm, with none of that thin, flimsy feeling that leaves you cold no matter how many layers you pile on. You can feel it keeping the chill out. Just cozy, substantial warmth the moment it's on, the way a good winter jumper should be.

3A relaxed, oversized fit that skims the middle

It has a relaxed, oversized slouchy fit that falls softly and skims right over the tummy and hips instead of gripping them. For those of us who've made peace with a softer middle but don't care to have it on display, it's forgiving and cozy at the very same time. You feel covered and warm, never squeezed.

4A cozy roll neck that keeps the draught off

Its soft, chunky folded roll neck sits gently against the skin and keeps the draught right off your neck — the place you feel the cold most — so there's no scarf to wind, lose, or leave behind. Warmth built right into the jumper, cozy and gentle the moment you put it on.

5Nine soft colours — one to go with everything

It comes in nine soft, wearable colours — from this warm burnt orange to olive, navy, grey, cream and more — so there's one to go with everything already in your closet. Whatever you reach for, it layers beautifully over your jeans and trousers and always looks cozy and put-together at once.

6Nine colours, and a size for you, from S to 3XL

It comes in nine soft shades — burnt orange, olive, black, rust, grey, sage, navy, cream and camel — and it runs from S to 3XL, cut relaxed and easy to flatter a real range of bodies. A jumper made to fit the woman, not to make the woman fit the jumper.

The Elara, against your usual jumper

	The usual jumper	The Elara
The feel	Scratchy, or thin and chilly	Thick, soft, cozy chunky knit
The warmth	Never quite warm	Real substance — keeps the cold out
The fit	Clings to the middle	A relaxed, oversized cut that skims it
The neck	A scarf to wind	A cozy roll neck, warmth built in
The colour	One safe shade	Nine colours, one for everything

Why they're clearing it now

They priced the Elara at $159.95 when it launched, and it sold at that price all season. But for America's 250th, the Clarke family wanted to give something back to the women who have kept their doors open since 1986 — so every jumper is going out at $59.95, well below half of what it was.

Mine arrived folded in tissue with a little handwritten note on top. I pulled it on that same cool morning with a cup of coffee and simply melted into it — it's barely left me since.

I don't usually write things like this. But the Elara gave me exactly what I'd stopped hoping to find — one thick, soft, cozy jumper I can live in all winter, warm enough to keep the real cold out, with a forgiving fit that skims right over the parts I'd rather not show and a roll neck that keeps me warm without a scarf. It's barely left me since it arrived. If you've made do with scratchy or thin jumpers the way I had, this is the one I'd tell you to try, while the sale is still on.

— Sandra Thompson · Mount Pleasant, SC

See the Elara — $59.95 →

This is a personal account from a Clarke Family customer. Sandra was not paid to write it. · The Clarke Family · Family Fashion · South Carolina, since 1986 · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.