A holiday sweater ought to look festive, not like a joke you have to explain!

Just imagine a deep red knit with one softly shaded evergreen at the centre and fine snowflakes falling around it. Now stop imagining, because this is the grown-up version — warm, simple and genuinely pretty.

• One Tree, Well Drawn
  A single evergreen in layered greens sits at the centre, with falling snow around it. Restraint is what separates a festive sweater you'll wear from one you'll regret.
• A Rich, Deep Red
  The ground is a true warm red rather than a bright scarlet. It photographs beautifully, which matters more in December than in any other month.
• Contrast Cuffs And Hem
  Cream ribbing at the cuffs and along the hem frames the red and gives the piece a finished, traditional look.
• Relaxed Through The Body
  The cut skims instead of clinging, with a dropped shoulder and a gently curved hem that sits just past the hip. Take your usual size for the easy drape you see here, or go one up if you like a little more room. It comes in S through 5XL, and the shape is drafted for each one rather than simply scaled up.
• Warm For Cold Rooms
  The waffle knit holds heat without weight, so it's comfortable in a warm kitchen and warm enough for the walk between houses.

Most festive knitwear is bought once and worn once. This one is drawn simply enough and coloured richly enough to carry through the whole of December — dinners, mornings, the drive to see everyone — and then to come out again next year.