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How knit sweaters are made, step by step
A knit sweater starts as yarn on a cone. A flat knitting machine knits each panel to shape, with your design in it. Then the panels are linked together, pressed, checked and labeled. Here is each step, and how long a sample and an order take.
- From yarn to finished sweater
- Gauge, explained
- Sample and bulk times
Eight steps from yarn to box
- Pick the yarn. Acrylic, cotton, wool blends or recycled polyester, in your colors. With recycled polyester, the label gives the recycled share. We keep cones of each yarn on our shelves.
- Pick the gauge. Gauge is the number of needles per inch. 7 gauge gives a classic sweater weight, 12 gauge a fine knit, and 14 gauge or finer a very fine knit.
- Set up the design. Your logo or pattern is set up stitch by stitch for the knitting machine, in up to 4 yarn colors.
- Knit the sample. We knit one sample sweater, in about 2 weeks, made the way the full order will be made. You check the knit, the colors and the fit, and ask for changes.
- Knit the panels. A flat knitting machine knits the front, the back and the sleeves, each to shape, with the rib cuffs and hem.
- Link the panels. The pieces are joined loop by loop on a linking machine: the shoulders, the sleeves, the side seams and the collar.
- Press it. Each sweater is pressed to its shape and size.
- Check, label and pack. Each piece is checked against the approved sample: the measurements, the knit, the colors and the trims. Then your labels go in, and it is folded and packed.
Four steps, in pictures
Each one happens under one roof, in our own factory.
7, 12 and 14 gauge
The higher the gauge, the more needles per inch, and the finer and lighter the knit.
| Compared | 7 gauge | 12 gauge | 14 gauge or finer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stitches | Bigger stitches you can see | Small stitches | Very small stitches |
| Feel | A classic sweater weight | A fine, smooth knit | A very fine, light knit |
How long it takes
These are our usual times. Your quote confirms them for your order.
- SampleAbout 2 weeks to make
- Your approvalAbout a week more, for the sample to reach you
- BulkAbout 3 to 4 weeks after you approve the sample
- ShippingAbout 1 to 2 weeks by air, or about 6 to 8 weeks by sea to the US East Coast
Questions buyers ask
What is gauge in knitting?
The number of needles per inch on the knitting machine. A low gauge, like 7, makes a thicker knit. A high gauge, like 12 or 14, makes a fine, smooth knit.
What is linking?
Joining the knitted pieces loop by loop on a linking machine, so the seams stretch with the knit.
What is the difference between intarsia and jacquard?
Intarsia knits each color area from its own yarn, so the back stays clean. Jacquard knits two or more colors across each row, and the color not in use runs along the back.
How many colors can a knitted design have?
Up to 4 yarn colors per design.
How long does a knit sweater order take?
The sample takes about 2 weeks to make. After you approve it, bulk takes about 3 to 4 weeks, plus shipping.
What is the minimum order?
25 pieces per style and color, with sizes mixed. Ugly Christmas sweaters start at 25 pieces per design.
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.
Attach your files when you send it.
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 US corporate office near Chicago.