The Sweater & Cardigan Letter
A Letter From Barbara · A Customer Of The Hartwell Family Vermont
Vermont · October 2026
A Note From Barbara, On The One Knit I Would Not Be Without This October
I Found Vermont's Newest Store. The Sweaters & Cardigans Are the First Thing I Reach For.
I did not plan on leaving with three. If you only add one layer to your closet this autumn, I would point you to their knitwear first — and I will tell you exactly why.
Barbara · Vermont · October 2026 · 5 min read
When I heard The Hartwell Family Vermont had opened their first physical store here in town, I stopped in on a whim. What struck me first was how simple their approach to knitwear is: nothing scratchy, nothing stiff, and everything still looks pulled together even on the days I have not planned an outfit at all.
October here is unpredictable. Cold at the bus stop, warm by lunch, cold again by the time the sun drops behind the ridge. A bulky sweater is a decision you make once in the morning and live with all day. A soft knit or a cardigan is one you can change your mind about — buttoned up on the porch, tied around your shoulders by lunch, back on the second the wind picks up.
That is why, out of everything I tried on that afternoon, this is the piece I would put in your hands first. There are a few things I noticed, in the order I noticed them.
A sweater layers. A bulky coat does not.
Open over a blouse at breakfast, buttoned at the office, tied around your shoulders by two o'clock, zipped up again at dusk. You are not committing to one temperature for the whole day — which is exactly why it is the piece that ends up back on your shoulders all season long.
"I started wearing this before I even finished unpacking the box — zipped up on the porch, half off by lunch. It really does adjust all day."
Ribbed knit, not just "soft" on the label
A proper ribbed knit is what keeps a sweater from stretching out of shape at the cuffs and hem after a season of wear. It is a small detail a lot of cheaper knitwear skips, and it is the difference between a sweater that still holds its shape in March and one that has gone baggy by December.
"I tug my sleeves up to do the dishes every night and the cuffs still sit perfectly flat. That is unheard of for me."
Warmth without the bulk
A relaxed, hip-length fit that drapes instead of adding bulk, so you get real warmth without feeling swallowed by your own sweater. It is the kind of piece you put on in the morning and forget you have on by the afternoon.
"Warm without ever feeling bulky. I wore it indoors all afternoon and never once needed to take it off."
A collar and a button detail worth building an outfit around
They chose silhouettes that do the styling work for you — structured polo collars, three-button V-necks, collared cardigans. Thrown over jeans or tailored trousers, mine became the whole outfit. No accessorizing required.
"The buttons are still exactly where they started after two months of wear. No wobble, no thread coming loose."
One price, every size on the rack
They do not charge more at the top of the size range than at the bottom. I checked, because I usually brace myself for that past a 2X. Every colour, every size up to 5XL, the same price.
"I ordered the 2XL expecting the usual sack cut. It is shaped exactly like the small one, just bigger. I ordered a second."
Their sweaters, against the fast-fashion kind
Most knitwear like this sells for around $40. Here is what that usually gets you — and what I found here instead.
Most $40 sweaters & cardigans
Hartwell Family Vermont
A good sweater is the only layer you can change your mind about halfway through the day. That is the whole reason it is the one I would hand you first.
"Mine arrived in three days, folded in tissue with a little thank-you note tucked inside. I did not expect that kind of touch from a store that just opened."
THE HARTWELL FAMILY VERMONT SWEATERS & CARDIGANS
★★★★★ 4.8 / 5 from 980+ reviews
$139.95 $54.95 SAVE $85.00
- ✓ Soft ribbed knit that holds its shape, and softens with every wash
- ✓ Structured polo collar with sturdy, stitched-on buttons
- ✓ Free shipping & 30 day money back guarantee
Stack and save: buy 2 save 10%, buy more and save up to 20% extra.
See which colours are still in your sizeIf you are going to add one layer to your closet before the weather turns, this is where I would start — while the sizes are still on the rack.
— Barbara