A child's sailor sweater has to keep them warm in the playground and on the beach in November, must not itch, has to go in the washing machine and survive knees rubbing on the ground. Here is what to look at before choosing one — yarn, size, style, care — with what we have learnt knitting our own.
Which wool should you choose for a child's sailor sweater?
For a child, a merino wool blend is the best compromise: soft on the skin, warm and machine-washable. All our children's sweaters are knitted in 50% merino wool and 50% acrylic. The wool brings warmth and softness; the acrylic brings resistance to washing and to rubbing.
Pure virgin wool, the yarn of our adult sweaters, is even warmer and lasts for decades, but it needs hand washing and a skin that tolerates a slightly thicker fibre. On a garment that gets dirty every day and that a child wears next to the skin, the merino blend is the sensible choice. Both yarns are explained in detail on our page virgin wool or merino wool: what is the difference?
Does a wool sweater itch children's skin?
It is not the wool that itches, it is the thickness of its fibres — and merino is one of the finest. A merino fibre generally measures 17 to 23 microns, against 26.5 microns for the virgin wool of our adult sweaters: below about 25 microns, the skin practically no longer feels any prickle.
That is why we chose merino for the whole children's range. Parents' reviews of the Briac often come back to this point: "very comfortable", "warm and good-looking".
Which size should you take for a child's sweater?
Go by the child's age; if they are between two sizes, take the size up — the sweater will last one more winter. Our children's sweaters are sized by age, from 1 to 14 years for the Briac, up to 16 years for some styles, and the Fanch takes over for 12-16 year-olds in sizes XXS to S.
The dense knit stays comfortable even when slightly large: one parent tells us her son "kept the age-8 one for a very long time". For a child who is very tall or very slim for their age, write to us at contact@baiedescaps.com with their height and age: the workshop will answer you. And if the size is not right, returns are free for 30 days from mainland France, for a refund or an exchange.
Which style for which age?
For toddlers, a sweater that is easy to put on, or a cardigan; for older children, the style they choose themselves. What matters before the age of 4 is dressing: a child's head does not go easily through a tight crew neck.
| Style |
What sets it apart |
Ages |
| Briac |
The workshop's children's sailor sweater: dense knit, crew neck with shoulder buttons so it slips on easily, 8 plain or striped colours. Rated 4.95 out of 5 from 60 reviews. |
1 to 14 years |
| Gwenn cardigan |
A zipped sailor cardigan with hood and pockets: the easiest to put on and take off for little ones. Also available with a crew neck and no hood, from 2 to 6 years. |
1 to 14 years |
| Petit Camionneur |
Zipped high collar, cuffs in three-ply rib for extra strength. |
2 to 14 years |
| Petit Matelot smock |
The striped smock with a turn-down collar, in dense 12-gauge knit, for smarter outfits. |
6 to 14 years |
| Faouet kids |
The plain crew neck, children's version of the adult Faouet, in 1x1 knit. |
depending on colour, up to 16 years |
To complete the look, the children's sailor beanie and the snood are in the same wool blend — see all children's accessories, and our sailor beanie guide.
How do you wash a child's wool sweater?
In the machine, at 30 °C, wool programme, turned inside out — that is the whole point of the merino blend. Close the buttons or the zip before washing, limit the spin to 800 rpm, then dry the sweater flat, without a tumble dryer and without ironing.
Between two washes, simply airing it is often enough: wool does not hold on to odours. For a stain, it is better to treat it locally than to run a whole wash. Our wool sweater care tips go into detail, including for the parents' sweaters.
Can a child's sweater last and be handed down?
Yes, if it is knitted like an adult's sweater. Ours come off the same machines and meet the same standards as our adult sweaters: dense, tight knit, reinforced edges. A Briac weighs 230 g in size 1 year and 660 g in size 14 years — 475 g in size 8: it is this weight of wool that gives it its warmth and its hold.
A well-knitted child's sweater is designed to pass from one child to the next. The workshop's sweaters are covered by our lifetime anti-pilling guarantee, and they remain repairable for life in our workshop: elbow patches on sleeves worn at the elbows, stitch repairs after a snag.
Where are Baie des Caps children's sweaters made?
In our workshop in Beaussais-sur-Mer, Brittany, by the six artisans who also knit our adult sweaters. The children's sweaters are not a subcontracted range: they are knitted and finished in the same workshop as the rest of the collection.
Our children's Breton tops, on the other hand, are selected from partner brands — they do not come off our machines, and the page sailor sweater or Breton top explains what sets them apart from a sweater.
Your questions
From what age can a child wear a sailor sweater?
From 1 year: the Briac and the Gwenn cardigan start at size 1 year. The Briac's shoulder buttons and the cardigan's front opening make dressing toddlers easier.
Can a child's sailor sweater go in the washing machine?
Yes. Our children's sweaters, in 50% merino wool and 50% acrylic, are machine-washable at 30 °C, wool programme, inside out, with the spin limited to 800 rpm, then dried flat.
Does merino wool itch?
Very little. A merino fibre generally measures 17 to 23 microns, below the threshold of about 25 microns at which the skin feels a prickle. That is why we chose it for all our children's sweaters.
Which size should I choose if the child is between two sizes?
The size up: the dense knit stays comfortable when slightly large, and the sweater will last one more winter. For a special case, write to contact@baiedescaps.com with the child's age and height. Returns are free for 30 days from mainland France, for a refund or an exchange.
Can I give a child's sweater without knowing their size?
Yes: the Baie des Caps gift card lets the parents choose the style, the colour and the size. Otherwise, go by the child's age and, if in any doubt, take the size up.
Children's sailor sweaters knitted and finished in Beaussais-sur-Mer, Brittany — a workshop of six artisans, Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company). See all children's sailor sweaters.
