Le Tricoteur is the longest-surviving maker of traditional guernsey jumpers still produced on Guernsey itself. Robert MacDougall started the business in 1964 in a former cobbler's shop in St Peter Port; panels are knitted on vintage flat-bed machines at a tight gauge in 100% British worsted wool, then hand-finished and hand-linked by island knitters. Wool jumpers retail roughly £150–185.
Key facts
- Founded 1964 by Robert MacDougall in St Peter Port, Guernsey
- Core guernseys use 100% British accredited worsted wool; cotton versions are also made
- Panels are machine-knitted at a tight gauge, then hand-linked by island knitters
- At peak in the late 1970s, around 400 home knitters finished over 100,000 garments a year
Fibres and construction
Le Tricoteur works principally in Wool, lambswool & Shetland, Sea Island & long-staple cotton. Construction and techniques associated with the house include hand-framed, hand-linked and seamless. It is based in Guernsey, Guernsey gave its name to the guernsey: a dense, tightly knitted worsted-wool fisherman's jumper with a distinctive square shape, still made on the island by hand-finishing knitters..
How to judge Le Tricoteur quality
- Lambswool and Shetland are coarser than cashmere by design; judge them on density, recovery when stretched, and the mill's finishing rather than on softness in the shop.
- This house knits fully-fashioned: check for fashioning marks along the armhole and flat, linked seams inside — the signatures of shaped, stitch-by-stitch construction.
- Seamless whole-garment pieces have no seams to inspect; judge them on stitch evenness, weight and how cleanly the neck and cuffs finish.
- Hand-knitted or hand-framed pieces show slight, natural irregularity in stitch tension; uniformity that looks machine-perfect may indicate otherwise.
Similar houses
Le Tricoteur: frequently asked questions
Where is Le Tricoteur knitwear made?
Le Tricoteur is based in St Peter Port, Guernsey. Founded 1964 by Robert MacDougall in St Peter Port, Guernsey.
What is Le Tricoteur known for?
Le Tricoteur is known for the authentic Guernsey fisherman's jumper, knitted in worsted British wool and hand-finished on the island. Its principal fibres are Wool, lambswool & Shetland and Sea Island & long-staple cotton.
Is Le Tricoteur a luxury brand?
Le Tricoteur sits in the premium tier of this index (roughly $150–$400 for a sweater). Its construction methods include hand-framed, hand-linked and seamless. It is listed here on the basis of fibre quality, construction and provenance rather than price alone.
How much does Le Tricoteur knitwear cost?
Le Tricoteur is roughly $150–$400 for a sweater at the time of writing. Prices vary by fibre and style.
Sources
- https://letricoteur.co/
- https://guernseypress.com/news/2021/10/24/making-guernseys-is-a-family-affair-for-new-le-tricoteur-boss/
Facts verified against the sources above on 16 September 2026. Prices are indicative and change; check the house's own site.