Set-in sleeve
Measure sweatshirt sleeve length from the shoulder seam to the finished cuff edge.
Sweatshirt Manufacturing
Sweatshirt Manufacturing
Stock Match starts at 10 pieces with an existing sweatshirt pattern, fabric and construction. Made to Order starts at 50 pieces for projects that require new body measurements, shoulder position, sleeve construction, French terry or fleece, rib dimensions, wash or artwork placement.
10 pcs
Stock Match MOQ
50 pcs
Made to Order MOQ
24h
Quote turnaround
120+
Audited factories
Fabric
French Terry and Brushed Fleece
French terry keeps knitted loops visible on the sweatshirt reverse. Brushed fleece raises the reverse-side fibers into a pile. At the same GSM, these two constructions produce different inner surfaces and different loft.
GSM records fabric mass per square meter. Record reverse-side construction, stretch, stiffness and surface finish as separate sweatshirt fabric specifications.
French terry
French terry leaves the reverse-side loops intact. Changing the sweatshirt to brushed fleece replaces that looped surface with a raised pile.
Brushed fleece
Brushing raises fibers above the reverse-side knit and adds loft. Sample the brushed production fabric to establish the finished sweatshirt thickness and hand feel.
Body stiffness
A firmer knit holds the sweatshirt front, back and dropped shoulder farther away from the body. A softer knit folds more at the shoulder and side seam under the same pattern dimensions.
Fiber composition
A change in fiber composition requires a new sweatshirt shrinkage test on the production fabric.
Fabric weight
Record numerical GSM together with fiber composition, knit construction and reverse-side finish.
Reverse finish
Record loop-back, unbrushed or brushed as its own sweatshirt fabric specification.
Bulk substitution
A bulk fabric change after fitting or wash testing requires new fit, drape and shrinkage checks with the replacement fabric.
Set-In, Drop-Shoulder and Raglan Sweatshirts
Drop shoulder
Shoulder width and sleeve length jointly set the cuff position. Moving the shoulder seam farther down the arm increases neck-to-cuff reach when sleeve length stays fixed.
Raglan sleeve
Measure raglan sweatshirt sleeve length from a stated neck or center-back-neck reference point to the finished cuff edge.
Moving each shoulder seam on a drop-shoulder sweatshirt 3 cm farther outward adds approximately 3 cm to each neck-to-cuff reach when sleeve length stays unchanged.
Rib Construction
Neck Rib, Cuffs and Waistband
Sweatshirt rib is cut shorter than its attachment opening and stretched during sewing. Neck-rib length sets neckline tension. Cuff-rib length sets the relaxed wrist opening. Waistband-rib length sets the amount of gathering at the sweatshirt hem.
Body neckline cut size and neck-rib cut length are separate pattern dimensions. Changing only the rib length changes rib tension. The body neckline cut size stays fixed.
Rib ratio
Rib ratio = rib cut length ÷ sweatshirt opening length
A 40 cm neck rib sewn to a 50 cm sweatshirt neckline gives an 80% rib ratio.
Test the production ratio with the production rib. Knit construction changes stretch and recovery, so the working ratio belongs to the actual rib article used for bulk.
Neck rib too long
Low rib tension produces a loose sweatshirt neckline or a wavy finished rib edge.
Neck rib too short
High rib tension pulls the sweatshirt neckline inward and can pucker the body fabric around the attachment seam.
Waistband too short
A short waistband compresses the wider sweatshirt hem into a smaller opening and will increase gathering above the waistband.
Sweatshirt Production Measurements
Chest width
Lay the sweatshirt flat and measure straight across the body at the specified distance below the armhole.
Body length
Measure from the specified high shoulder point to the finished bottom edge of the sweatshirt waistband.
Shoulder width
Measure shoulder seam to shoulder seam on set-in and drop-shoulder sweatshirts.
Sleeve length
Measure shoulder seam to cuff on set-in and drop-shoulder sweatshirts. Measure raglan styles from the specified neck reference.
Bicep width
Measure the sleeve flat at the specified distance below the sweatshirt armhole.
Cuff opening
Measure the sweatshirt cuff flat in its relaxed state.
Waistband opening
Measure the lower sweatshirt rib flat in its relaxed state.
Neck opening
Use one finished-neck measurement method for the sweatshirt sample and every bulk inspection.
Flat chest width represents approximately half of the sweatshirt body circumference. Increasing flat chest width from 60 cm to 62 cm adds approximately 4 cm to the full circumference.
Measure the Sweatshirt Again After Finishing
Sweatshirt shrinkage
Shrinkage % = (before finish − after finish) ÷ before finish × 100
A sweatshirt measuring 70 cm in body length before washing and 68 cm after washing has lost 2 cm. The calculated length shrinkage is approximately 2.86%.
Before finishing
Record sweatshirt chest width, body length, sleeve length, cuff opening and waistband opening before the production wash.
Production finish
Run the wash or finishing process specified for the bulk sweatshirt.
After finishing
Measure the same sweatshirt points again. Calculate length shrinkage and width shrinkage separately.
Washed color
For garment-washed or garment-dyed sweatshirts, evaluate production shade after the finishing operation that produces the final color.
Bulk comparison
Use the finished sweatshirt sample as the comparison stage for finished bulk dimensions.
Printing and Embroidery on Sweatshirts
Screen Printing
DTF
Flat Embroidery
3D Puff Embroidery
Large sweatshirt prints
A large solid print deposits ink or transfer material across a larger area of French terry or fleece and increases local stiffness. Sample the artwork at its production width and height.
Sweatshirt embroidery
Dense embroidery reduces stretch inside the stitched sweatshirt area. Stabilizing material supports the French terry or fleece during stitching and limits distortion around the embroidered shape.
Chest artwork
Record artwork width, height, horizontal distance from center front and vertical distance from the sweatshirt neckline or high shoulder point.
Back artwork
Record artwork width, height and vertical distance from the sweatshirt center-back neck seam.
Sleeve artwork
Record sleeve-decoration position from the sweatshirt shoulder seam or finished cuff edge.
Decoration before wash
For sweatshirts decorated before garment washing, remeasure artwork position and inspect surrounding fabric distortion after the wash.
Sweatshirt Sample Checks Before Bulk
Custom sampling: 7–12 days
Neckline
Measure the finished sweatshirt neck opening. Check rib waviness, attachment puckering and recovery after stretching.
Shoulder
Measure sweatshirt shoulder width and record the set-in, drop-shoulder or raglan construction used by the sample.
Sleeves
Measure both sweatshirt sleeves to the finished cuff edge and compare left and right cuff position on the laid-flat garment.
Cuffs
Measure both relaxed cuff openings. Stretch each cuff and record whether the rib returns to its original relaxed opening.
Waistband
Measure the relaxed lower rib opening and check the sweatshirt waistband for twisting and uneven gathering.
After finishing
Remeasure chest width, body length, sleeve length, cuff openings and waistband opening after the specified sweatshirt finish.
Decoration
Measure the actual print or embroidery width, height and distances from the specified sweatshirt reference points.
Size Grading
Grade Sweatshirt Body, Sleeves and Rib Separately
A 2 cm increase in flat sweatshirt chest width adds approximately 4 cm to full body circumference.
Chest and length
Set independent grade increments for sweatshirt chest width and body length. The size chart controls each point separately.
Drop shoulder
Check shoulder width together with sleeve length in every size because both measurements contribute to sweatshirt neck-to-cuff reach.
Neck opening
Grade the finished sweatshirt neck opening from dedicated neck-opening target dimensions for each size.
Cuffs and waistband
Grade relaxed cuff and waistband openings from their own finished target measurements for each size.
Bulk Sweatshirt Inspection
Made to Order
100% final inspection.
Stock Match
Sample-pull inspection as standard; full inspection is available.
Neck rib
Check finished neck opening, rib waviness, attachment puckering and left-right neckline symmetry.
Cuffs
Compare left and right relaxed cuff openings and check both sweatshirt cuffs for equal attachment and recovery.
Waistband
Measure the relaxed waistband opening and check the lower sweatshirt rib for twisting and uneven gathering.
Sleeves
Compare left and right sweatshirt sleeve length and cuff position on the same garment.
Finished dimensions
For washed sweatshirts, measure chest width, body length, sleeve length, cuff openings and waistband opening after finishing.
Decoration
Measure sweatshirt print or embroidery dimensions and placement from the same reference points used on the sample.
Labels on a Finished Sweatshirt
Back-neck label
Set label width and sewing position inside the sweatshirt neckline. The label position must leave the neck-rib shape and stretch unchanged.
Care label
Use the fiber composition and care instructions for the French terry, fleece and rib used in the production sweatshirt.
Hangtag
Attach the hangtag at the specified sweatshirt seam or label point. Keep the finished neck rib free of hangtag punctures.
Final packing
Pack the sweatshirt after finishing and final measurement. The packed unit carries the inspected dimensions and final shade.
Stock Match and Made to Order Sweatshirts
Stock Match uses the existing sweatshirt pattern, body fabric and construction.
Current stock determines the sweatshirt colors and size range available for the order.
New body measurements, new French terry or fleece, a new color, changed rib construction or a changed sweatshirt wash move the project to a Made to Order quote.
Made to Order develops the sweatshirt pattern around the required chest, body length, shoulder, sleeve, neckline, cuff and waistband measurements.
The production specification fixes the French terry or fleece, rib construction, wash and artwork placement before bulk cutting.
Sweatshirt Project
Request a sweatshirt manufacturing quote
Send the sweatshirt reference and quantity. The first quote can start from a photo, video, sketch or tech pack. For Made to Order, include target sweatshirt measurements, French terry or fleece requirements, rib construction, wash and artwork files when those specifications are available.