The short answer
If you buy one Canadian knit this fall, make it a Roots cabin sweater. Roots has been making the cabin weekend uniform since 1973, and this season's lineup is the strongest version of it: Fair Isle cardigans, chunky cable crews, and Nordic knits in the cream, oatmeal, and deep green palette a cozy wardrobe actually runs on. These are the 17 full-price Roots sweaters I would buy this fall, from C$88 to C$168, every price in Canadian dollars.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you shop through them, at no extra cost to you. Roots commission rates were not displayed in my ShopMy dashboard when this collection was built, so treat these as the picks I would send a friend, commission or not.
Why do Roots sweaters keep coming back every fall?
Because they were never designed for one season. The cabin knit is the original Canadian cold-weather sweater: a thick, relaxed layer built for weekends at the lake, wood stoves, and the long slide from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Fashion keeps cycling back to it because nothing else does the job as well. A Roots sweater is also one of the few pieces that works across a whole fall wardrobe, with jeans and boots on weekdays, over a dress for a cozy dinner, and as the layer you live in at home. And since the prices sit in the C$88 to C$168 range, they land in the rare middle ground between fast fashion and a four-figure splurge.
The 17 Roots sweaters worth buying
1. The Showpiece: Cabin Shawl Fair Isle Cardigan
The one that stops you mid-scroll. A Fair Isle pattern worked across the yoke, a soft shawl collar, and the exact cream and winter palette of a heritage Christmas catalogue. Wear it open over a cream tee and dark denim, or belted over a simple dress. If you buy one Roots sweater this year, this is the one people will ask about. C$168.
Shop the Cabin Shawl Fair Isle Cardigan
2. The Heritage Pick: Heritage Cabin Shawl Cardigan
The classic cabin cardigan in its most traditional form: shawl collar, substantial knit, and the relaxed shape Roots built its name on. This is the sweater for fireside evenings, Christmas morning photos, and every cold snap between now and March. C$148.
Shop the Heritage Cabin Shawl Cardigan
3. The Classic Cabin Cardigan: Cabin Cardigan
The everyday version of the heritage piece, at a friendlier price. Same cabin DNA, an easy cardigan shape that layers over tees, thermals, and thin turtlenecks. Keep it on the back of your chair all season; you will reach for it daily. C$108.
4. The Everyday Cable: Cabin Cable Crew
A classic cable-knit crew in the cabin line, and the easiest sweater on this list to style. Jeans, boots, done. It also layers cleanly under a coat without bunching, which is exactly what a weekday sweater needs to do. C$98.
5. The Layering V-Neck: Cabin Cable V-Neck
The same cabin cable knit with a V neckline, which makes it the best layering piece here. It sits properly over a collared shirt or a thin turtleneck and reads a little more polished than a crew. C$98.
6. The Coziest Neckline: Cabin Nordic Rollneck Sweater
A rollneck is the sweater equivalent of a scarf you never have to adjust. This one pairs the soft roll collar with a Nordic-inspired knit, and it is the piece I would pack first for a cold weekend away. C$108.
Shop the Cabin Nordic Rollneck Sweater
7. The Nordic Crew: Cabin Nordic Sweater
Nordic pattern, classic crew shape, no fuss. If the Fair Isle cardigan feels like too much personality for everyday, this is the quieter way into the same look, and it pairs with everything from black denim to a satin skirt. C$98.
8. The Statement Knit: Cabin Intarsia Sweater
Intarsia means the motif is knitted right into the sweater rather than printed on top, which is why these pieces age so well. This is the fun one of the cabin line, the sweater that carries an outfit on its own with plain bottoms and boots. C$138.
Shop the Cabin Intarsia Sweater
9. The Goes-With-Everything Cardigan: Cable Knit Cardigan
A straight cable-knit cardigan with no theme to work around, which is precisely its strength. It goes over dresses, under coats, and around shoulders on cool evenings, and the cable texture keeps simple outfits from looking plain. C$128.
10. The Sporty One: Cable Knit Quarter Zip Sweater
The quarter zip is the most borrowed-from-the-boys silhouette of the season, and the cable knit keeps it firmly in cozy territory. Zip it up as a standalone top or open it over a tee. C$118.
Shop the Cable Knit Quarter Zip Sweater
11. The Timeless Crew: Cable Knit Crew Sweater
If your sweater drawer needs one reliable cream cable crew, this is it. No logos shouting, no trend to expire, just the knit every fall outfit formula assumes you own. C$108.
Shop the Cable Knit Crew Sweater
12. The Vintage-Feeling One: Archive Cardigan
Roots keeps an archive of its own greatest hits, and this cardigan has that pulled-from-the-archive feel: classic proportions, heritage detailing, and the kind of shape that looks as good with a midi skirt as it does with jeans. C$138.
13. The Dressier Knit: Bowen Rib V-Neck
The Bowen line is Roots at its most polished, and this ribbed V-neck is the dressiest sweater in the roundup. It tucks cleanly into trousers or a skirt and works for dinners and offices where a cabin knit would feel too casual. C$108.
14. The Preppy Layer: Bowen Polo
A knit polo is the quiet overachiever of fall dressing: the collar makes it look intentional, the knit keeps it comfortable. Wear it half-tucked with denim or layered under a blazer. C$108.
15. The Polo Sweater: Roots Polo Sweater
The second polo in the lineup, this one in the main Roots line with a slightly more relaxed, heritage feel than the Bowen. A good pick if you like the polo sweater trend but want it in full Canadian cabin spirit. C$118.
16. The Under-C$90 Find: Winterlake Knit Crew
The lowest price on the list, and not a compromise pick. A clean knit crew you can build a week of outfits around, at the price point where buying your favourite colour twice is a reasonable life choice. C$88.
17. The Fun One: Animal Knit Crew
Every cozy wardrobe needs one sweater that just makes people smile. A knitted animal motif on a classic crew shape, sweet without tipping into novelty costume territory, and an easy Christmas gift for the animal lover on your list. C$98.
At a glance
| Sweater | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Shawl Fair Isle Cardigan | The showpiece | C$168 |
| Heritage Cabin Shawl Cardigan | The heritage pick | C$148 |
| Cabin Cardigan | The classic cabin layer | C$108 |
| Cabin Cable Crew | Everyday cable knit | C$98 |
| Cabin Cable V-Neck | Layering over shirts | C$98 |
| Cabin Nordic Rollneck Sweater | Cold weekends away | C$108 |
| Cabin Nordic Sweater | A quieter Nordic look | C$98 |
| Cabin Intarsia Sweater | The statement knit | C$138 |
| Cable Knit Cardigan | Goes with everything | C$128 |
| Cable Knit Quarter Zip Sweater | The sporty option | C$118 |
| Cable Knit Crew Sweater | The timeless crew | C$108 |
| Archive Cardigan | Vintage heritage feel | C$138 |
| Bowen Rib V-Neck | The dressier knit | C$108 |
| Bowen Polo | Preppy polish | C$108 |
| Roots Polo Sweater | Relaxed polo knit | C$118 |
| Winterlake Knit Crew | Best under C$90 | C$88 |
| Animal Knit Crew | The fun gift pick | C$98 |
How do you style a cabin sweater without looking like you are heading to a lumber camp?
Keep the rest of the outfit simple and slightly polished. A cabin knit already brings texture and pattern, so pair it with clean dark denim, a slim trouser, or a simple midi skirt, and finish with leather boots rather than anything else rustic. One heritage piece per outfit is the rule: the moment the plaid shirt, the work boots, and the touque all show up at once, it tips from cozy to costume. On its own, a cabin cardigan over a cream tee reads classic and intentional.
More fall knits to build the rotation
Roots covers the heritage cabin corner of the closet. Round it out with the seven plaid sweaters worth buying (plaid is the pattern of the season), the six Sézane knits worth every penny for French polish, the five Aritzia sweaters worth buying for clean modern basics, and the Quince cashmere sweaters for quiet luxury at direct prices.
Shop the picks
Shop all the Roots sweaters in my ShopMy collection, including every knit above.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Roots sweaters cost?
The full-price Roots sweaters in this roundup run from C$88 for the Winterlake Knit Crew to C$168 for the Cabin Shawl Fair Isle Cardigan, with most of the cabin and cable knits between C$98 and C$138. All prices are in Canadian dollars, from roots.com.
How do you style a Roots cabin sweater?
Keep everything else simple: dark denim or slim trousers, leather boots, and one heritage piece per outfit. A cabin cardigan over a cream tee and jeans reads classic; adding more rustic pieces at the same time tips it into costume.
Are Roots sweaters a good Christmas gift?
Yes, especially the cardigans and the Animal Knit Crew. Roots is a Canadian heritage brand, so a cabin knit feels thoughtful rather than generic, and the C$88 to C$148 range covers most gift budgets. Order early in the season, because the popular cabin styles sell through in common sizes.
Where can you buy Roots sweaters?
Directly from roots.com and Roots stores across Canada. Every sweater in this post is also gathered in my ShopMy collection, so you can shop the full list in one place through the links above.