Every guernsey leaves the factory with a tag naming the finishing knitter. It also carries the dye batch, the machine it was knitted on and the name of the linker. Le Tricoteur has made their traditional guernsey jumpers on Guernsey since 1964. Most bodies come off vintage flat-bed machines that knit more wool per inch than a modern machine, giving the traditional guernsey its exceptionally dense construction, made to turn wind and spray. Necks and shoulders are hand-knitted by home knitters around the island, then come back to Rocquaine to be finished. Nothing is cut and sewn, so a snag will not run. Robert Macdougall started it in 1964 with a second-hand knitting machine in an old cobbler's shop in St Peter Port. By the late seventies there were around 400 home knitters and over 100,000 garments a year going out. In February 2020 his second cousin once removed, Rachael Lainé, bought the company. The guernseys use 100% British worsted wool, sourced from the same family-owned mill for two generations, and even the linking is done in wool. The garments are reversible, and Le Tricoteur recommends wearing them front to back and back to front on rotation to spread the wear. Old ones come back to Rocquaine to be mended; Le Tricoteur says it still sees guernseys that have reached a third or fourth generation. Cuffs, sleeves, remnant yarn and leftover knitted panels are turned into beanies, tote bags, hot water bottle covers and other accessories. Plenty of knitwear is sold on the promise that a person made it. This is one of the very rare few I know of that tells you which person.

Awards and Recognition

British GQ called the Le Tricoteur guernsey one of the "best jumpers in the world" in February 2026.

Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letricoteur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeTricoteurGuernsey

Can people visit or buy direct?

Yes. There is a small shop at the factory on the Rocquaine Industrial Estate. Ring ahead on 01481 266881 to check the shop is open before you make the trip. Everything can also be bought online, with international shipping available.

Website

https://letricoteur.co

Address Summary

St Pierre du Bois, Guernsey, GY7 9HS