A waffle knit co-ord set is a matching top-and-trouser set knitted in a waffle weave — a fabric whose surface is patterned with small recessed squares, like the breakfast item it is named after. That texture is not decoration. It is the entire reason the garment works: in a matching set, where top and bottom share one colour, texture is what gives the outfit depth, structure and shadow. Without it, a co-ord is two flat pieces of cloth. With it, the set reads as knitwear — considered, substantial and unmistakably meant to be worn out of the house.
What waffle knit actually is
Most knitted fabrics are smooth. Waffle knit is made by knitting a grid of raised borders around recessed pockets, producing a surface of small squares that you can feel with a fingertip. The structure does three useful things. It traps air in the pockets, which is why waffle weaves were long used for thermal layers. It gives the fabric body — waffle knit holds its shape and line better than a comparable smooth jersey, which tends to collapse and cling. And it changes how light behaves: the raised grid casts tiny shadows, so a single block of colour gains variation across its surface. In a plain colour, that variation is the difference between an outfit and a blank.
Why texture matters more in a set than anywhere else
Styling a single garment is easy — you contrast it against everything else you are wearing. A co-ord removes that option by design: the top matches the bottom, so interest has to come from inside the outfit rather than around it. This is where plain-jersey sets fail. Two pieces of smooth, flat fabric in one colour read as sleepwear or sportswear, because nothing distinguishes the surface. Waffle knit solves the problem structurally. The texture supplies the contrast that colour cannot, which is why, of all the fabrics a co-ord can be made in, waffle is the one that most convincingly crosses from comfort clothing into daywear.
The two ways to wear it
Our range approaches the waffle co-ord from both directions. The Kingsway waffle knit zip jacket set builds the set around a zip-front jacket, which makes it the most flexible version: worn closed it is a clean matching set; worn open over a plain T-shirt it breaks into layers and reads as casual tailoring's relaxed cousin. The Marlow waffle co-ord set is the more purist version — a matching set worn as a set, relying entirely on texture and fit to make its case. Choose the Kingsway if you like options; choose the Marlow if you like the discipline of a single, finished outfit.
Both sets also hold up as separates — the tops with jeans or chinos, the bottoms with a contrasting knit — but that versatility is a bonus. The point of these sets is the matched outfit, done properly.
Fit, colour and finishing touches
The fit rules for waffle co-ords are the same as for any set, with one addition. Fit close at the shoulder, taper the leg, and let the top meet the waist rather than covering it. The addition: because waffle knit has body, it tolerates a slightly more relaxed cut than smooth fabric without looking shapeless — the structure is in the cloth, not only in the tailoring.
On colour, texture rewards restraint. Deep, muted shades — navy, charcoal, forest, black — let the grid pattern show as shadow and depth. Very pale colours flatten the texture visually and drift closer to loungewear. Finish with clean trainers for the relaxed version or boots to sharpen it, and keep everything else plain: the set is the statement, and it is a quiet one.
A final practical virtue: waffle knit travels well. The raised structure shows creasing far less than a smooth knit, so a set folded into a bag emerges looking close to how it went in — one more reason the texture, rather than any print or logo, is doing the real work in this garment.
Waffle among the other textures
Knitwear has a small family of structural textures, and waffle's character is clearer against its relatives. Rib knit runs in vertical lines — it stretches, clings and reads as a base layer or a fitted garment. Cable knit twists raised ropes across the surface — traditional, decorative, unmistakably a jumper. Waffle sits between them: geometric rather than decorative, textured without pattern, modern without being stark. In a co-ord, that middle position is exactly right. Cable would make a matching set look like a novelty; rib would make it look like underwear. Waffle simply makes it look like clothing with intent.
Waffle through the seasons
The weave also makes the co-ord unusually season-flexible. In autumn it is a complete outfit on its own — the texture is substantial enough to stand as the outer layer. In winter it layers properly: a coat over the set adds warmth without disturbing the line, because the waffle surface does not bulk or bunch the way heavier knits can under tailoring. In spring it returns to solo duty, particularly in the zip-front form worn open. A set bought in October can realistically be worn until May in the British climate, which is more than can be said for most coordinated outfits.
Looking after the texture
Waffle knit's structure is robust but not indestructible. Wash the set inside out on a gentle cycle to protect the raised surface, avoid hanging it wet — the weight of water can pull the grid out of shape — and dry it flat or on a low, gentle heat. Fold rather than hang for storage. Treated this way, the texture that justifies the garment will outlast the season comfortably.
WARDLEY orders are dispatched within 1–2 working days, with free tracked UK delivery in 6–10 working days from order and 30-day returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is a waffle knit co-ord set?
A matching top and bottom — typically a zip jacket or knit top with a coordinating trouser — made from waffle knit fabric: a weave with a raised grid of small recessed squares. The texture gives a single-colour set depth and structure.
Is waffle knit warm?
The weave's pockets trap air, which gives waffle knit more insulation than a smooth fabric of similar weight — one reason it was traditionally used for thermal layers. As a co-ord, it suits autumn, winter and cool spring days, especially layered.
Does a waffle co-ord look like pyjamas?
No — and texture is the main reason. Pyjamas are flat and unstructured; waffle knit's raised surface reads as knitwear. Combined with a tapered fit and proper shoes, the set looks deliberate rather than domestic.
Can I wear the pieces of a waffle co-ord separately?
Yes. The tops work with jeans, chinos or trousers; the bottoms pair with a contrasting jumper or overshirt. The set is designed to be worn together, but nothing about it requires it.
How should a waffle knit co-ord fit?
Close but not tight: defined at the shoulder, clean through the body, tapered at the ankle. Because the fabric has body, a relaxed cut still holds its line — but billowing excess in any direction will undo the texture's work.
Shop the range
Waffle beyond the sets: the waffle knit joggers (£18.95) on their own, the waffle knit polo shirt (£28.95), the waffle texture polo (£25.95) and the waffle texture t-shirt (£44.95). For summer, the same texture arrives as shorts: the Balham waffle knit shorts.
Complete sets live in tracksuits and co-ord sets; the knit behind them is in the knitwear collection.
One waffle set, one weekend bag
Texture earns its keep most on a short trip, where one outfit has to do several jobs. One Set, Every Plan: Packing a Waffle Co-ord for a Weekend Away shows the Kingsway waffle knit zip jacket co-ord set worn together for travel and evenings, then split across the day between.
For the cloth itself, what waffle knit actually is explains the weave. For the set itself — fit, sizing, fabric and how to split it across the week — see Waffle Co-ord Set: Questions Answered.