How to Design a Sweater with a European Knitwear Manufacturer

One of the most common questions we hear from fashion and lifestyle brands is:
“If I want to create my own sweater, where do I even start?”

Some brands come to us with full technical documentation. Others only have a favorite sweater in their wardrobe or even a screenshot saved on their phone.
In all of these cases, the process works — the steps just adapt to your needs and goals.

The truth is: you don’t need to be a knitwear expert.
As an experienced European knitwear manufacturer, Piwi Femma supports premium and established fashion brands in designing, developing, and producing sweaters and complete knitwear collections.

Here’s how the process unfolds when working with a professional knitwear supplier.

Every project has a starting point. Depending on what you already have, you can begin in one of four ways:

If you have a detailed tech pack, the process moves quickly.
Our technologists and programmers translate your specifications into knitting instructions, garment construction, and size charts — so you’ll see a prototype that matches your file and creative vision.

Sometimes it’s easier to show than to explain.
Many clients send us a sweater they’d like to replicate or adapt.
We analyze its construction, source the yarn, adjust the fit, and rebuild it with your branding.

Don’t have a sample? A simple photo or drawing is enough to begin.
Our programming team turns visuals into knitting files, while our technologists ensure the design functions as a comfortable, wearable garment ready for production.

We keep a wide range of base models that can be customized with your yarn, colors, and branding.
For many clients, these serve as inspiration: you might like the yarn from one style, the neckline from another, and the fit from a third.
At Piwi Femma, we can merge those elements into a single design that reflects your brand’s identity and aesthetic.

Before sampling begins, we prepare a project brief together with you.
Think of this as a structured conversation that helps us align on key aspects of your project.
We’ll discuss:

This step ensures that everyone — from our knit programmers to technologists and assembly team — shares one clear production vision before knitting begins.

Once the brief is set, here’s how the process continues:

You’ll choose from merino, alpaca, mohair, cashmere, cotton, viscose, or blends (including synthetics like acrylic and polyester).
Most yarns come with certifications such as GOTS, Oeko-Tex, GRS, RWS, RMS, and RAS.
Before committing, you’ll receive yarn cards and knitted swatches — so you can compare texture and color in person.

Our knit programmers create a digital knitting blueprint — the file that instructs each machine how to produce panels, stitches, and textures.
Every detail, from cable placement to jacquard motifs, is precisely coded here.

Our technologists prepare the full garment construction: grading, measurement tables, and technical forms — ensuring every piece aligns perfectly during assembly and finishing.

The machine gauge defines the texture, weight, and character of the knitwear.
Fine gauges (12–14) produce light, elegant knits; medium gauges (7–10) suit year-round sweaters; coarse gauges (3–5) deliver bold winter textures.

Depending on the design, panels are joined on linking machines (joiners) for precise finishing, or created seamlessly using WholeGarment® technology.
After assembly, branding elements are added.

You can provide your own labels, hangtags, and packaging — or we can coordinate sourcing to ensure consistency and quality across all brand elements.

Each piece is washed, pressed, and checked for stitch accuracy, measurements, and finishing consistency, then packed and prepared for shipment.

You can design almost any type of sweater with us:

But sweaters are just the beginning.
Many brands expand their knitwear lines into tops, polos, dresses, skirts, leggings, vests, beanies, scarves, gloves, balaclavas, and even pet sweaters.
In other words — you can build an entire knitwear collection with one European manufacturing partner.

Children’s knitwear production is also a significant part of our work.
We regularly produce baby and kids’ sweaters, dresses, hats, and accessories — often using certified yarns such as merino wool, cotton, or organic blends.
These projects require special attention to comfort, softness, and safety, which we prioritize at every stage.

Efficient planning and early yarn reservations help optimize lead times and ensure timely delivery.

For professional knitwear production, our standard MOQ is 200 pieces per design,
usually divided into two colorways or size ranges.

Designing a sweater isn’t just about choosing a yarn or neckline.
It’s about transforming an idea into a real product that reflects your brand and customer.

In professional knitwear manufacturing, experience and communication define quality.

At Piwi Femma, we translate your design language into refined, European-made knitwear that meets global standards.

Your idea. Our craftsmanship. Premium knitwear, made in Europe.