rigg vaarie jacket
Feel what you wear, wear it how you feel – like our evolving states, there are countless ways to wear Vaarie, our signature jacket.
Effortless and easy, down side up or upside down, neat and short or relaxed and long, unadorned or with a pin. This jacket has been a bestseller since it launched as one of our first pieces of knitwear in 2008.
Design features
Genuinely 'vaarie' (that's flexible, in Shetlandic) in the wearing. The squashy nature of the Rigg fabric adds to the useful nature of this piece—squish it up into your bag...no ironing worries.
Colour
Your colour is waiting! We make the Vaarie jacket in a rainbow of colours, with each colour in a very small edition. Particular colours are not available for long!
Materials & manufacture
- 65% extra-fine merino wool
- 35% supersheen acrylic – a combination of fibres of superior quality and carefully sourced from Italy
- Made in the Shetland Islands, Scotland
- Pin shown for illustration only
Sizing & fit
Sizes available: small (guide size 8-14); medium (guide size 10-18); large (guide size 16-24)
The shorter, slouchier way
- A1 (underarm-underarm, measured across the back): 50cm; 55cm; 58cm
- B1 (back length): 40cm; 45cm; 52cm
- C1 (sleeve length): 50cm; 52cm; 55cm
The long, neater way
- A2 (underarm-underarm, measured across the back): 60cm all sizes
- B2 (back length): 46cm; 52cm; 56cm
- C2 (sleeve length): 42cm; 48cm; 52cm
Fit notes
As you’ll see above, this jacket can be turned upside down, and worn to give a different style!
Measurements are very approximate. Due to the stretch, scrunch and drape of the Rigg textile, it’s difficult to get an absolutely exact measurement. The sizes given on the diagrams are for the garments laid flat. When worn the sizes will change as the textile moves—for these garments the dress size guide is a more useful way to choose the best size.
These can be worn well on all body shapes, the textile moves to suit the wearer.
Vaarie jacket (left) with Long Vaarie jacket (right), showing difference in length.
If you're looking for a jacket with a bit more coverage, you might like our Long Vaarie jacket.
The Rigg collection: design process and inspiration
There are many ways in which tradition can inspire. My bestselling knitwear collection, Rigg, borrows a principle from Fair Isle knitting.
Rigg pieces are not influenced by how Fair Isle knitting looks. Instead, inspiration came from the construction of these traditional pieces. In particular I became really interested in how air is knitted into Fair Isle garments, and the way this contributes to warmth and their characteristic, lofty handle.
The reverse of the Rigg knitted textile: tension-creating 'floats' of yarn create pockets of air
By manipulating tension during the knitting process, the Rigg fabric is pulled into soft ridges, which creates the pockets of air in this delightfully squishy fabric.
Great for travelling, Rigg pieces can be rolled up and popped in your bag.
Shipping costs
- UK (including NI) P&P : £8 per order.
- EU & EEA: £20 per order. We have reopened shipping to these areas. Full information below.
- USA P&P: £20 per order. Please see important information on international orders, including USA, below.
- Rest of World P&P: £20 per order. Please read information on international deliveries below.
- Collection from Nielanell, Hoswick: free of charge (choose this option at checkout).
SHIPPING METHOD
- UK: we use Royal Mail. Items over a value of £100 will be sent using Special Delivery. This is a signed for, insured service.
- International: parcels are sent using a Royal Mail tracked service.
Customer service
Please DO get in touch if you have queries about any of our pieces. We endeavour to extend, to our online shoppers, the personal service we give here in Hoswick.
We have lots of happy customers both inside the UK and around the world and frequently correspond by email or telephone prior to a purchase being made.
Delivery times
- Most items should be available immediately. If not, we will contact you to tell when the item will be available.
- We aim to send out your order just as soon as possible and within a week of ordering. If you need an item sent immediately, just let us know and we will be delighted to try to help you.
- Please note, you can also choose to collect your order from Nielanell, Hoswick, using the click-and-collect option. This option is not available during holiday periods.
International (any destination outwith UK)
- Customers ordering items to be sent outside the UK are responsible for any customs charges, taxes or tariffs applicable in their own country. For further information, you could get in touch with your local customs office so that you know what to expect.
- It is quite likely that customs charges or tariffs will be payable on international orders.
- Customs charges and taxes vary between countries and unfortunately we are not able to predict what they might be.
- EU, EEA and Northern Ireland: shipping is now open to these areas, with taxes likely to be payable on arrival. See information below.
- USA: from 29 August 2025 there will be new US customs charges for parcels arriving from the UK. We will still be sending to the USA. Please see our full notes below.
- Issues with customs can delay delivery. Please do place orders in good time, particularly for Christmas or other special occasions.
- Please read our full returns policy before making an order.
- Returns can become expensive for international customers, so don't worry about asking questions before you order! We'd love to help you choose the right garment – please just get in touch if you’d like any information or help shopping online.
EU & EEA
EU GPSR
- We have reopened shipping to areas affected by the EU General Product Safety Regulation: you can read our GPSR Compliance information here.
- We are not currently collecting any duties or taxes at checkout, so any charges will be payable by you on receipt of your order. Please check with your local customs office for a guide to what charges may be.
- Parcels are likely to take a little bit longer to reach you, so please order in plenty of time.
Thank you so much to all our EU, EEA and NI customers for your patience and support and do get in touch if you have any queries.
Northern Ireland
EU GPSR
- We have reopened shipping Northern Ireland (and other areas affected by the EU General Product Safety Regulation): you can read our GPSR Compliance information here.
USA
We are continuing to ship to the United States.
NEW TARIFFS
From Friday 29 August 2025, all parcels arriving in the USA from the UK will have tariffs applied, which must be paid before the goods arrive at US customs.
Our current information is that, for Nielanell orders, the rate will an additional 10% charged on your total order value (goods plus shipping).
SHOPPING WITH US
- Pay at checkout: we are aiming to charge the 10% tariff at checkout, so that everything is up front and easy for you.
- Royal Mail: we plan to use a new Royal Mail service, which allows us to pre-pay the duty on your order.
- No extra charges: with duty pre-paid, your parcel should clear US Customs with no issues.
- Timings: please do bear with us while this new system comes into operation. It’s quite likely that your parcel might take longer than usual to reach you.
If you have any queries at all do get in touch.
Thank you so much for your continued support and custom.
Nielanell knitwear is designed to last
Here are a few recommendations to help ensure your garment lives a long and happy life:
- Less is more when it comes to washing, many people find quality knitwear can be worn without washing for a long time (feel free to use our advice as a reason to do less laundry!).
- Handwashing your garment is recommended.
- We suggest that you hand-wash your garment using liquid for woollens, or flakes at 30 degrees or less. Harsh detergents are likely to ruin your knitwear.
- You may wish to wash in the machine on a very gentle hand-wash wool cycle at 30 degrees or less, using a small quantity of detergent specifically designed for delicate/wool items—but you need to ensure your washing machine uses a very gentle cycle. You must be confident in using your washing machine for woollens. We will not be responsible for items which shrink or felt by inappropriate machine washing or are damaged through use of regular detergents.
- Do not wring.
- Do not tumble dry.
- Dry flat on a rack or in the fresh air, and steam/press very lightly*.
- Alternatively, you can dry clean the garment.
*Don’t iron Rigg pieces. We also recommend that you do not stretch out the textile when drying. Lie the piece flat, but with a bit of a crumple to allow for the natural spring in the fabric to contract. No need to steam or press.
Each piece of Nielanell knitwear is individually knitted by our manufacturers and then finished by hand in-house.
Many of our collections are made in very small edition colourways, with a constantly changing selection.
If you’re looking for something in particular, that you can’t see on the website, please do get in touch—we often have more colourways in stock that don’t make it onto the website!
NB Please treat garment measurements as approximate, knitwear can be difficult to measure and each item will differ slightly.