The Questions I Wish More Parents Asked Before Buying Children's Clothes

July 26, 2026

When you're shopping for children's clothes, it's easy to ask the obvious questions.

Is it cute? Will my child like it?

Those are both good questions.

After years of creating knitwear for children, I've started thinking about children's clothing a little differently.

Those ideas shape every piece I create, and I think they're worth considering before bringing any new outfit home.

1. Will this still fit a few months from now?

One day you're rolling up the sleeves on your child's sweater. A few months later, you're rolling them back down. Then one morning you hold it up and realize the sleeves are too short.

"Didn't I just buy this?"

If you're a parent, you know exactly how that feels. Just when you've figured out what fits, another growth spurt sneaks up on you, and suddenly you're shopping all over again.

That's something I think about every time I start a new piece. I don't begin by asking what's trending or what color should come next. Instead, I ask myself one simple question:

How can I help this fit a much longer?

That question shapes almost everything I make.

2. Was this piece made to grow with my child?

Some details are easy to miss, but they can make a big difference over time.

Take a pair of bloomers, for example. A fixed waistband fits perfectly... until it doesn't. A drawstring waist lets you tighten it when your child is smaller and loosen it as they grow. It's a tiny detail, but it means reaching for the same well-loved pair for months instead of weeks.

You'll find the same thinking throughout many of my pieces. Adjustable drawstrings, fold-over wrist and ankle cuffs, and relaxed fits all give children room to grow instead of fitting perfectly for only one season.

Every one of those details has a purpose: helping a favorite piece stay in your child's wardrobe longer.

3. Does the fabric move with my child?

Children don't sit still for very long. They're climbing, crawling, running, twirling, building forts, collecting tiny treasures in their pockets, and somehow ending every day a little dirtier than they started.

Their clothes should move with them.

That's one of the reasons I work with cotton and bamboo. Cotton is breathable and comfortable through every season. Bamboo is wonderfully soft against sensitive skin. Both fibers stretch beautifully, allowing growing children to move freely instead of feeling stiff or restrictive.

That stretch works hand in hand with adjustable details like drawstrings and fold-over cuffs, helping each piece stay comfortable as children grow instead of feeling squeezed into clothes that suddenly don't fit.

And because childhood is wonderfully messy, everything is machine washable. Grass stains, spaghetti dinners, sidewalk chalk, and muddy adventures are simply part of the story.

4. Will this become a go-to?

We've all seen it happen.

A closet full of clothes, and somehow the same one or two outfits end up in the laundry every single week.

Those are the pieces children reach for because they're comfortable. They're also the ones parents reach for because they fit well, hold up well wash after wash, and keep up with everyday life.

Whenever I start a new piece, that's exactly what I hope to create. Not something that's worn once for a photo, but something that's loved enough to become part of your family's everyday memories.

5. Could another child enjoy this someday?

Of course, no piece of clothing lasts forever. Children have a wonderful way of keeping us on our toes.

But if a cherished cardigan makes it through another season, if that dress gets packed for one more family vacation, or if those bloomers are still part of your weekly laundry months later, I think that's something worth celebrating.

And if that same piece eventually gets tucked away for a younger sibling, a cousin, or a friend, I love it even more.

That's always been my hope.

Not that you buy more.

That you buy better.

For me, that's what "Choose Well. Buy Less." really means.

It isn't about filling your child's closet with more clothes. It's about bringing home thoughtful pieces that fit longer, get worn more often, and are loved enough to begin a second chapter with another little one.

Those are the kinds of clothes I hope to create.

One thoughtful detail at a time.

 

PS: If you love finding gorgeous hand-knit pieces at special prices, come take a peek at my Insider-Only Secret Sale.

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