Girls' Knitwear

How to layer children for British winter

Children run warmer than adults and move far more, so they generally need less than parents assume, but they also stand still in playgrounds in February, which is a different problem.

• Three thin layers beat one thick coat. Warmth comes from trapped air between layers, and layers can come off in an overheated classroom.
• Base layer next to the skin: a cotton or cotton-blend long-sleeve top. This is what knitwear like this does.
• Mid layer: a jumper or fleece, which does the actual insulating.
• Outer layer: waterproof matters more than warm. Wet children get cold fast whatever else they're wearing.

A useful check: children should feel warm at the back of the neck, not hot. Sweaty is too many layers, and sweat then chills them when they stop running.

How to choose knitwear for children

• Check what it's made of. Cotton and cotton blends are washable and non-irritating. Wool is warmer but many children find it scratchy and some react to it, merino is the exception, being finer and softer, but it's expensive for a garment they'll outgrow.
• Look for flat seams and printed labels. Scratchy seams and neck labels are the most common reason a jumper is refused, and children often can't explain why they don't like it.
• Check the neck opening stretches. A tight neck over the head causes a fight every morning.
• Machine washable at 40°C or it won't survive a school term.
• Avoid loose knits for younger children: fingers and buttons catch in them.

How to size knitwear

• Go by height, not age. The measurement on the product page is more reliable than the label.
• One size up is sensible for layering pieces, since a jumper worn over something needs the room.
• Check sleeve length particularly. Sleeves that cover the hands get pushed up and stay damp at the cuff all day.
• Natural fibres shrink more than synthetics. If it fits exactly when new, wash cool.

How to wash and care for children's knits

• Wash inside out, cool, on a gentle cycle. Agitation and heat are what felt and shrink knitwear
• Dry flat, never hung. The weight of a wet knit stretches it out of shape at the shoulders permanently. This is the mistake that ruins most jumpers
• Never tumble dry anything with wool content; it shrinks irreversibly
• Skip fabric conditioner, which coats the fibres and flattens the softness
• De-bobble with a fabric shaver. Five minutes makes a jumper look new, and pilling is friction rather than poor quality
• Store folded, not hung, or the shoulders develop bumps

Dealing with moths

Moths are drawn to natural fibres and to the traces of food, sweat and skin on them, not to the wool itself. Wash everything before storing, keep stored knitwear in sealed boxes or bags rather than open drawers, and check occasionally. Cedar and lavender deter moths mildly but won't clear an existing infestation; freezing an affected item for 72 hours kills eggs and larvae.

How much knitwear a child needs

Two or three jumpers covers a winter for most school-age children, one on, one in the wash, one spare. Children grow roughly a size a year at primary age, so buying several in one size rarely pays off. Buying one good piece that survives to be handed down is usually better value than three that pill after a term.