Jerseys are an ever popular article of clothing, also popularly referred to as jumpers, sweaters and woollies. Jerseys can be worn year round depending on the material from which they are made, but are more generally worn during the autumn and winter when the weather is colder. There are many different styles of jersey in most of the colours of the rainbow. Most people tend to wear jerseys over a shirt or blouse, with types and styles dictated by personal taste and the individual's sense of fashion and style.

The vast majority of the population wear store-bought or machine knitted jerseys. Those with generous fashion budgets may wear designer knitwear and a few people still wear hand knitted jerseys. In particular, family members like to see a baby in clothes that are hand knitted or even crocheted, but it seems that both of these skills may be something of a dying art.

One of the reasons that hand knitted jerseys may be heading towards the history books is simply because the materials are often so much more expensive than the ready-to-wear mass produced sweaters that are found in many high street shops and online retailers. Whilst it used to be the case that a hand knitted sweater was cheaper than a shop-bought equivalent, mass production has changed all that. Nowadays, those who still knit do so out of choice rather than financial necessity.

Another factor driving the reduction in the number of hand knitted garments is that many of them were made from pure wool and thus had to be hand washed and dried flat to keep their original shape. Most mass produced jerseys and jersey dresses are made from wool mixes, most of which can be washed in the washing machine and some of which can even go in the tumble dryer. However, even mass produced thinner jerseys and those made from three ply wool or from a silk mix have to be hand washed and dried very carefully if they are ever to be worn again.

Although most jerseys are made from wool or wool-based material, you will also find knitted tops in cotton; silk; mohair or glittery wool.

Many men will wear a jersey with the sole object of staying warm, whereas women are generally persuaded by fashion and style rather than solely warmth. One particular style of jersey is still largely hand knitted even commercially and therefore expensive to buy: namely the Aran style jumper. Aran sweaters are so-called because the design originated in the Isle of Aran. Originally the complicated cable stitch design of the Aran sweater was mainly knitted by fishermen who needed something thick and warm when they were out at sea. Over time, women took over the knitting of Aran sweaters and they are still in great demand today.

Another classic styled sweater that never seems to date is the polo neck style. Polo necked jerseys are worn by both men and women, not only looking stylish, but providing much needed extra warmth on a cold winter's day. Jersey styles come and go, with further popular and enduring styles including the polo or roll neck sweater, the vee neck sweater and the sleeveless pullover. In recent years the long cardigan has been a fashionable item that has been worn by stars and celebrities as well as teenagers and housewives. These are usually made from chunky knit wool, which makes them warmer than most other jerseys.

Both cable knit and lacy knit sweaters drift in and out of fashion and both designs look better when they are hand knitted than they do when knitted on a machine. People tended to hang on to hand knitted items and the wool that they were made from seemed to be more durable than some of the wool mixes around today. Whether you prefer hand knitted jerseys or machine knitted, someone has to think of a design and then write out the pattern. Cable and lacy designs are quite complicated and require the careful following of a pattern. Although the basic stitches whether by hand or machine are known as plain and purl and every other stitch is simply a complicated version of these two basic stitches.

You can buy evening jerseys made from silk or glittery cotton and mohair, thin silk or cotton jerseys for the summer and thick and chunky cardigans and polo necks for the winter. If you can crochet, then crocheted jerseys and dresses also drift in and out of fashion at any given time and can be highly attractive. Unlike knitting which requires two needles, a crocheted jersey requires only one needle or crochet hook as it is called.

Ultimately, jerseys in their various forms remain an ever popular, warm and comfortable item of clothing worn by men, women and children alike.