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How hoodies are made, step by step
A hoodie starts as a tech pack and a roll of knit fabric, usually French terry or fleece. The fabric is cut into about ten pieces, decorated, sewn together and checked, then folded and packed. Here is each step, the way we make hoodies for brands.
- From tech pack to packing
- The parts of a hoodie
- What drives the cost
Ten steps from drawing to box
- Make the tech pack. A drawing of the hoodie, front and back, with the fabric, the measurements, the trims and where each logo goes.
- Pick the fabric. Most hoodies are cotton French terry or fleece. The weight is given in GSM (grams per square meter).
- Make the pattern. A pattern maker turns the drawing into pattern pieces: the front, the back, the sleeves, the hood, the pocket, the cuffs and the hem band.
- Grade it into sizes. The pattern is scaled into each size on your size chart.
- Make the sample. One hoodie, made the way the full order will be made. You check the fit, the fabric and the decoration, and ask for changes.
- Cut the fabric. The fabric is laid out in layers on a long table and cut to the pattern, many pieces at a time.
- Decorate the pieces. Embroidery and some prints go on the flat pieces before sewing. Other prints go on the finished hoodie.
- Sew it together. The pocket goes onto the front first. Then the shoulders, the hood, the sleeves and the side seams, and last the cuffs and the hem band. The labels are sewn in on the way.
- Check every piece. Each hoodie is checked against the approved sample: the measurements, the stitching and the decoration.
- Press, fold and pack. Loose threads are trimmed, then each hoodie is pressed, folded, tagged and bagged for shipping.
From tech pack to hoodie
For Irregular, a client, the tech pack set the fabric and showed where each label goes. Here is what it held.
- ProductsHoodie and sweatpants
- Fabric100% cotton French terry, 500 GSM
- LabelsA neck label and a care label, marked on the drawing
- DetailsEmbroidered chest badge, rhinestone seams, flame topstitching, embroidered leg letters
What a hoodie is made of
Besides the body fabric, a hoodie has rib, a drawcord and labels. Each one is set in the tech pack.
How logos go on a hoodie
Each method has its own look and feel. You see the one you choose on your sample before bulk.
What drives the cost of a hoodie
We quote each order for its design. These are the things that move the price.
- FabricHeavier fabric uses more yarn, so it costs more per piece and weighs more to ship
- DecorationEach print color, each logo and each placement adds work
- DetailsZips, double-layer hoods, jacquard rib and branded drawcords add parts and steps
- QuantitySetup work, like patterns and print screens, is spread over more pieces in a bigger order
- Sample roundsEach extra round adds time. A sample costs $150 to $500, depending on the design
- ShippingAir takes about 1 to 2 weeks. Sea takes about 6 to 8 weeks to the US East Coast and costs less for big orders
What slows a hoodie order down
- No size chart. Without one, the factory has to guess the fit. Send measurements, or a hoodie you like.
- Only a GSM number. Two fabrics with the same GSM can feel different. Ask for swatches.
- Skipping the sample. The sample is where the fit and the decoration get fixed, before bulk.
- No logo sizes. Give each logo a size and a spot, in inches or centimeters, in the tech pack.
- Too little time. Plan about 4 months ahead if you need several sample rounds.
Questions buyers ask
How are hoodies made?
The fabric is cut into pieces from a pattern: the front, the back, two sleeves, the hood, the pocket, the cuffs and the hem band. The pieces are decorated, sewn together and checked against the approved sample, then pressed, folded and packed.
What fabric are hoodies made of?
Most are cotton or cotton blend French terry or fleece. French terry has small loops inside. Fleece is brushed inside, so it is softer and warmer.
How many pieces is a hoodie made of?
About ten: the front, the back, two sleeves, two or three hood pieces, the pocket, two cuffs and the hem band. A zip hoodie has a front in two halves.
How long does it take to make a hoodie order?
Plan about 4 months ahead if you need several sample rounds. A bulk order of 500 to 999 pieces takes about 3 to 5 weeks after you approve the sample, plus shipping.
Can I make a hoodie without a tech pack?
Yes. We can start from a photo or a sketch and make the tech pack for you. Our free template shows what goes in one.
What is the minimum order for custom hoodies?
Usually 25 pieces per style and color. You can mix sizes within that number.
Why does a hoodie need a sample?
The sample shows the fit, the fabric, the colors and the decoration on a real hoodie. You can ask for changes before bulk starts.
How much does it cost to make a hoodie?
It depends on the fabric, the weight, the decoration and the quantity, so we quote each order. A sample costs $150 to $500, depending on the design, plus shipping.
Your request is ready
Send it to us on WhatsApp, or copy it into an email to contact@sharknits.com.
Want to talk sooner? Book a 15-minute call on Google Meet.
What happens next
- We reply with questions and a quote.
- We make one sample for you to check.
- You approve it, and we make your order.
contact@sharknits.com · +1 647 501 5424
Sharknits is a custom clothing manufacturer for brands in the US, with factories in Lahore and Sialkot and a U.S. corporate office near Chicago.