Overview
3 to 14 gauge flat-knit sweaters. Gauge — the number of needles per inch on the knitting machine — is the spec that actually decides look, drape and warmth, and it's the one buyers most often skip asking about.
What's actually in the spec.
| Gauge | Look | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5gg | Chunky, heavy | Statement outerwear-adjacent sweaters |
| 7–9gg | Standard weight | Everyday crewnecks and cardigans |
| 12–14gg | Fine, lightweight | Layering pieces, fine-gauge knits |
There's no honest single number to publish here.
Sweaters pricing varies too much by leather grade, hardware and volume for a general range to mean anything. Here's what actually makes up the FOB price, so you can read a quote line by line instead of taking a number on faith.
| Cost component | Share of FOB | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 50–65% | Yarn, knitting or weaving, dyeing, finishing |
| Trims & accessories | 5–12% | Labels, zips, buttons, thread, elastic, packaging |
| CM (cut & make) | 15–25% | Cutting, sewing, finishing, factory overhead |
| Wash / print / embroidery | 0–15% | Optional decoration — adds up fast |
| Factory margin & compliance | 8–12% | Audits, certifications, testing |
500 pieces per style/colour
100 pieces via Collective Studio (GOTS organic)
12–18 weeks — yarn dyeing and knitting add time versus cut-and-sew knits
What buyers ask about sweaters.
What gauge is standard for an everyday sweater?
7–9gg is the most common range for commercial crewnecks and cardigans — enough structure without the bulk of 3–5gg chunky knits.
Why do sweaters take longer than tees to produce?
Yarn has to be dyed and knitted directly into the garment shape (or knitted flat and linked), rather than cutting from pre-dyed fabric — an extra upstream stage that adds real weeks.
Ready to cost your sweaters programme?
Send a reference and a target quantity — we'll come back with construction options, costing and lead-time the same day.