Reading a Knitwear Tech Pack: How to Get an Accurate Factory Quote

1. Why a sketch cannot be priced

Woven garments can be estimated by fabric metres, but knitwear starts from individual yarns. Without a tech pack, a factory can only guess — and guessing goes wrong in both directions.

• Guess high — assuming high-count wool and complex intarsia — and the quote looks inflated, so you walk away.
• Guess low — assuming ordinary cotton and plain jersey — and the real complexity surfaces later, leading to mid-production price increases or compromised quality.
• A clear tech pack also becomes the standard for PPS approval and bulk QC inspection.

2. The six elements every knitwear tech pack needs

1. Flat sketch & construction notes → 2. Gauge & stitch structure → 3. Yarn composition & count → 4. Measurement spec sheet → 5. Colourway & artwork → 6. Finishing & trims

1) Flat sketch and construction notes

Include front, back and key details — neckline, cuffs, hem, rib — as line art, with the rib width called out (e.g. 2×2 rib, 5 cm high) and the linking requirement (flat, no raised seam).

2) Gauge and stitch structure

State the machine gauge (3G heavy, 7G standard, 12G fine) and the base structure: jersey, rib, cable, jacquard or intarsia. For multi-colour or complex artwork, say explicitly whether it is intarsia or jacquard — intarsia carries hand-knotting labour and prices differently.

3) Yarn composition and specification

Composition (100% merino, 30% cashmere / 70% wool, anti-pilling cotton blend), yarn count and ply (2/28 Nm, 1/15 Nm) so the factory can calculate consumption and stitch tension, and whether stock yarn is acceptable or a Pantone shade must be dyed to order.

4) Measurement spec sheet

S/M/L alone cannot be produced. Provide tolerance measurements in cm or inches: chest width, body length, sleeve length / shoulder slope, neck width / neck drop, hem sweep.

5) Colourway and artwork

Give textile Pantone TPX/TPG references, and specify the exact size of any motif or logo on chest or sleeve (e.g. chest intarsia 18 cm wide × 12 cm high).

6) Finishing and trims

Washing requirements (soft wash, milling level — heavy milling for a full hand or light milling for a flat surface), and the trim list: main label, care label and hangtag position and attachment method.

3. Three habits that speed up an accurate quote

1) State your target quantity

Knitwear costing is driven by set-up and sampling cost plus yarn dye-lot minimums. Say it up front: “first run 50–100 pieces, stock yarn preferred”, and “bulk 300–500 pieces”. The factory can then match the right yarn route and machine schedule.

2) Ask about similar samples or stock yarn

If your tech pack is not yet perfect, send the reference image and ask whether the factory has a similar block or stock-yarn swatch. Experienced factories use their pattern library and stock yarn to fill in the missing parameters and quote quickly.

3) Request an itemised cost breakdown

A transparent quote separates yarn cost (consumption × unit price), knitting and making (machine knitting, linking, hand-knotting intarsia, washing and pressing), and loss and packing.

In summary

A good tech pack is the shared language between buyer and factory. It removes guesswork, lets the factory price against technical criteria, and avoids disputes once bulk production starts.

Prepare your concept and measurements, choose a source factory with technical depth, QC discipline and stock yarn, and your autumn/winter knit has a solid start.

About Jinya Knitwear

Have a sketch or a draft tech pack and need a professional assessment and accurate quote? Jinya provides fast, transparent support.

• Technical review & fast costing: technicians with 15+ years of experience review your tech pack, optimise the knit structure and yarn use, and return an itemised quote within 24 hours.
• Full gauge & category range: 1.5GG–16GG computerized flat machines; menswear, womenswear, kidswear plus beanies, scarves and gloves.
• Flexible low MOQ: stock yarn resources support a 50-piece minimum for new brands.
• Fast sampling: 3–7 day samples; 100% of the sampling fee refunded on orders of 300+ pieces of the same style.