The practical guide to sourcing knitwear without the guesswork.
Written from the knitting mills of Tirupur, India. Learn how to evaluate fabric structures, specify realistic measurement tolerances, review samples, and navigate production timelines with confidence.
Circular knits are fundamentally different from woven cloth. Every roll of single jersey or loopback fleece is made of interlocking yarn loops that react to wash heat and humidity.
Getting your yarn count (e.g. 24s vs 30s compact), fabric weight (GSM), and stenter compacting right upfront prevents 90% of customer fit returns.
Where are you in your sourcing journey?
Choose a chapter below to jump straight to practical manufacturing recommendations.
Planning an Order
What to prepare before contacting a factory: realistic order quantities, dyeing lot minimums, size curves, and budgeting.
Read Preparation Guide →Fabrics & GSM Weights
Single jersey, pique, rib, French terry, and fleece. Understand English yarn counts (Ne), blends, and enzyme bio-washes.
Explore Fabrics →Tech Pack Blueprint
Points of measure (POM), seam stretch standards, collar recovery ribs, care labeling laws, and export carton packaging.
View Tech Pack Guide →The 8 Production Stages
Follow the critical manufacturing path: Proto fit → Lab dips → PP sample approval → Bulk knitting → Cut/Sew → AQL 2.5.
See Production Flow →Knit Fabric & GSM Recommender
Select your garment silhouette to preview standard fabric structures, yarn counts, and shrinkage expectations.
Choose the item you are planning to produce:
Classic Everyday Crewneck T-Shirt
| Fabric Structure | 100% Combed Ring-Spun Cotton Single Jersey |
|---|---|
| Recommended Yarn | 26s/1 or 30s/1 Combed Compact |
| Knitting Gauge | 24G or 28G circular knit |
| Shrinkage Expectation | Length: -4% to -5% | Width: -3% to -4% |
| Neck Rib / Trim Spec | 1x1 Spandex Rib (95% Cotton / 5% Elastane), 230–250 GSM for firm neck recovery. |
| Recommended Finishing | Bio-wash (enzyme polish) for smooth anti-pilling surface + tubular compacting for dimensional stability. |
In-Depth Reference Modules
Explore interactive tools and practical reference guides created for daily sourcing work.
Interactive Quality Checklist
An audit checklist to review Proto, Fit, and PP samples. Test shrinkage, side-seam spirality, shade under D65 daylight, and measurement tolerances.
Open QA Checklist Tool →Knitwear Sourcing Glossary
Plain-English definitions of textile terms: from GSM, Ne yarn count, and bio-wash to lab dips, strike-offs, AQL 2.5, and GOTS standards.
Search Sourcing Glossary →Spec Sheets & Fit Templates
Download practical POM grade rule tables, measurement tolerance guides, and a sample fit comment log sheet for your design studio.
Browse Templates →Why an Indian manufacturer built an open learning site.
Most sourcing friction happens because of simple vocabulary mismatches between design studios abroad and the technicians operating circular knitting machines in Tirupur.
We built OgerKnits.info as an open educational reference. When buyers know how dyeing batches work, what compacting does, and how to write clear measurement tolerances, samples get approved on round one, and garments ship on time.