Making hoodies can seem mysterious. But that does not always have to be the case. You should know the magic of making that comfortable, snuggly and fashionable clothing.
Fortunately for you, we lay the details bare about the hoodie manufacturing process. That is from designing all the way to packaging your goodies.
That way, you can communicate with your hoodie manufacturers more effectively. You will even know where your input is needed. So, create something in line with your brand easily and win a bigger share of the market.
Table of Contents
Step By Step Guide Of Hoodie Manufacturing Process
Without skipping a beat, let us demystify the process of making hoodies one step at a time.
Step 1: Design
For anything to be created, there must have been a design. That is the same for hoodies. The goal here is to dream up something that screams YOU. Think about what makes you and the brand you are going for unique.
You want to earn style points. It could be minimalism or charity boldly designed. You could capture that alluring street style or prioritize comfort.
Go for something you would wear. While thinking about all this, keep your customers in mind. If we are being real, this is the most important bit.
Hoodie Details Matter
Think about what you want your hoodie to stand out with. Deep pockets will make them appealing if you wanna stash your snacks or something. Or you could go crazy with hidden pockets.
Wanna steal in the hearts of comfort and snuggle addicts? Consider adding a soft lining to your product. Also, look into what your competition is doing. From here, you can get design inspos on the details to add to your hoodies.
Sketch It Out!
With a list of details in hand, it’s time to draw out what your product could look like. You can use paint and paper or a fancy drawing app. I am sure that you can draw a hoodie. It doesn’t need the biggest talent.
Sketch out as many of the initial details as possible. Even if you want an unicorn on a dirt bike, this is where to sketch it out. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. You will get the chance to refine it.
Customize Online Templates
If you want to make the process shorter, customizable templates are the way to go. You will find them online, with a few that you can tweak to get whatever design you want. This is also something you can send to your manufacturer.
Pro tip: Design place on this key. Whether you are going for images, texts, or whatever else, think about where you will place them. It should be something that connects with your customers.
– Aishwarya V, Fashion Designer
As the top Private Label manufacturer, JaceApparel has a diverse number of materials. We are talking cotton, bamboo, wool, spandex, polyester microfiber and so on.
Our experts advise on the best choice to make based on what qualities you want. Satisfy your customers and grow your profits.
Step 2: Pattern Making
- Sketch Your Design
It’s time to refine those sketches. Your hoodie should have taken shape by now. So, bring together what works and try to make the parts meet together.
Put your energy into outlining the shape of the product, where the pockets will go, and the overall fit. This is where you will need to be specific.
What you come up with here will be the visual guide for pattern making. So, your designs will be brought to life accurately when the time comes!
If you do not use a customizable template, you will get a nice chance to visualize what the final hoodie will look like.
- Make Accurate Measurements
Guesstimates will not help you here. You need to take accurate measurements of your potential clients. That way, you will give them what they need.
Here are the points you will need to take readings of:
- Around the neck
- Size of the chest
- The hoodie/body length
- Circumference of the arm
- Length of the sleeve
- Back width
Coordinate this part closely with your manufacturer. It will ensure you are working with the right measurements. Hoodie-sizing shirts are a good cheat sheet if you are not offering custom sizes.
- Decide How To Make The Pattern
Don’t get too excited and start cutting up your fabric just yet cause you have the measurements. You need to come up with a pattern that will be similar to a blueprint for your hoodies. Most people in the industry do this using one of two ways: pattern, drafting, and draping.
Pattern Drafting:
It may sound complicated, but it’s not. You will just need to put an accurate 2D pattern on paper. It may be a bit technical needing some drawing expertise.
Time to make a geometry teacher proud with a ruler, curves, pen and pencil. And those are the basics for pattern drafting. But in case you are tech-savvy, You can always go with special pattern-making software.
Draping:
You can also come up with a pattern by shaping the fabric around a mannequin to come up with your hoodie. This hands-on approach is called draping in the fashion industry.
Sounds like how you wanna handle your hoodie manufacturing process? You’ll need Muslin. A similar cheap material will also do the job with some pins, scissors, and a hoodie like the one you want to make.
- Add Details
Step your hoodie pattern up a notch with the right details. Think curves and notches. Like on a good pizza, sprinkle in more details like closures, embellishments, funky seams and hoods.
- Digitize Your Pattern
It’s time to make a digital version of what you have been working on. This part of the process is important if you have been working with either paper or fabric.
You have the option of using a scanner, a digitizing tablet or a Pattern Making Software. Just go with what seems nice to you, as none is better!
Expert insight: You can use software grading to avoid a lot of unnecessary work. This nifty little program will let you play with sizes without numbing calculations. Sounds like a dream, right?
Step 3: Cutting
With the proper digitized patterns, measurements are fed directly to the cutting machine. However, that does not always happen. Here is what goes down:
Cutting The Pieces
The manufacturer goes into the fabric, cutting each part of the hoodie separately. We are talking about snipping out the sleeves, hood, and cuffs.
And that gives them a nicely clear overview of what the foodie will look like. They connect the parts using pins.
Cut According to Style
Hoodie makers can snip the fabric based on the style that the cloth will be worn. For example, if they are going for structured foodies, you will see them cut along the grainline. If you want a relaxed style hoodie your manufacturer will opt for using the bias.
JaceApparel is the cut-and-sew manufacturer you want in your corner. We use all the latest cutting methods like cutting according to style and cutting the pieces.
We use machine cutting and sewing for added precision, reducing unnecessary waste. Make your sustainable and long-lasting hoodies and enjoy a solid reputation.
Step 4: Sewing
Here comes the nice part: patching up the pieces to get your hoodie! Most hoodies are made using machines that sew at a very high level. Manufacturers use either the overlock sewing machine or an industrial sewing machine.
You can choose any of the following types of seams when putting together your hoodie faces:
Plain seam
Ah, this is what most hoodie manufacturers go for. It basically places two edges of a fabric together in a simple and sturdy way. That makes it the workhorse of hoodie-making. The one weakness here is that this type of stitching does not prevent fraying.
Flat-felled seam
Here, hoodie makers cover the raw edges with a seam. The result of the encasing is a super smooth and flat finish that works wonders on hoodies. With this seam approach, you minimize damage. That means withstanding a lot of wear and tear is no issue. It is a few extra steps but worth it.
Double-stitched seam
Speaking of extra steps, this sewing technique takes it to a whole other level with two rows of stitching. That reinforces your hoodie. So manufacturers use it in areas like shoulders and hood seams.
This pretty sweet stitching is perfect for sporty or technically geared hoodies.
Zigzag stitch
On its own, this type of stitching doesn’t measure up against the more structural ones. But it is a manufacturer’s secret weapon to prevent fraying along the seams.
As the name suggests, the stitch dances in a zigzag manner along the raw edges.
Step 5: Printing and Embroidery
Computer Embroidery
Here, manufacturers use computerized stitching machines to etch graphics onto the hoodie. This is where it’s at when it comes to speed and precision.
Logos, trendy designs, and even those Pinterest quotes all go down easy as pie. The machine uses colored or black-and-white threads to stitch these designs.
Screen Printing
When it comes to hoodie graphics, this is the OG style of printing graphics. It uses a special kind of ink and a printing stencil. The ink is pushed through a stencil/mesh screen and applied to the fabric.
The result is an image that pops vibrantly on the hoodie. Screen printing is perfect for almost every graphic design, which makes it widely used.
Dye Sublimation
Dye sublimation looks like straight-up magic. Manufacturers print a special type of link onto transfer paper. Then, they use a heat press with the paper on top of the fabric.
Somehow, the ink becomes one with the fabric, like a hoodie tattoo. Sublimation printing creates a super soft permanent graphic that just stays there.
Direct To Garment Printing (DTG)
If you’ve seen a printer print on paper then you already have an idea how DTG works. Manufacturers use a similar design for printing clothes.
They just input the designs they need like a normal printer. And boom, you have high-quality full-color prints. This is a great method for working with photo realistic images.
Expert tip: A simple logo is too basic for hoodies unless you are a minimalist brand. Be creative and go wild here. Also, whatever graphics you go with should be supported by the printing method.
Riya Chaudhary, Visual Merchandiser
Step 6: Quality Control
By now manufacturers have fully baked hoodies ready to hit the market. However, they must check for defects. This is arguably the most important part of the hoodie manufacturing process. It is the final safeguard ensuring clients get what they ordered.
So, most manufacturers typically have an eagle-eyed QC team. They ensure quality by testing textiles, analyzing designs and inspecting the seams. Fitting and size testing is also an important QC practice.
Sizing and Fitting
Any manufacturer worth their salt examines if their clothes follow the planned patterns. Add the measurements, correct? Is there any part that is too tight or too loose? These are all questions that the QC team tackles.
JaceApparel gives you mouth-watering quality control and custom clothing packaging. No defects go past the QC team As they randomly inspect the materials stitching overall fit.
Your clothes come wrapped in custom materials that fit your specs. We can brand them as needed to make the package stand out. Wow, your client, and avoid unnecessary returns.
Step 7: Packaging
Once manufacturers ensure that things are in tip-top condition, they wrap your hoodies. This Packaging part plays into the customer’s branding. We’re talking:
Labels: Manufacturers focus on putting interesting and eye-catching brand labels. Here is where you get creative and put your name.
Tags: Manufacturers also add tags in line with the customer commissioning them. The focus here is durability and readability.
Packaging: Finally, it’s time to put together the actual packaging. You don’t wanna just wrap the hoodie sloppily. Presentation is key, especially today. So, go for a box that stands out. You can add a note with an interesting quote. The more premium the package feels, the better. Also, go with something that protects the clothes from the elements.
People Also Ask About Hoodie Manufacturing Process
1. What are the raw materials for hoodies?
The main kind of raw material used in hoodie making is fabric. Common materials include polyester and cotton. Other raw materials include ribbing, tags, zippers, labels, drawstrings and kangaroo pockets.
2. What machine is used to make hoodies?
They use an industrial sewing machine and an overlocking sewing machine. These are the two main types of hoodie-making machinery. Manufacturers rely on them to put together the pieces needed to make a complete hoodie.
3. What is the highest quality hoodie material?
When it comes to hoodie making, 100% organic cotton is where it’s at. This is considered the gold standard for making comfy, attractive hoodies. However, hoodies with specific cases might need different materials.
4. What size heat press for hoodies?
What you want to print will often determine how large of a heat press you will need for your hoodies. So, no one size fits all. However, you cannot go wrong with one that is 15×15 or 16×20 inches.
What’s Next
Making a hoodie can get quite complicated. But JaceApparel makes it look easy.
You’ll get a team of talented designers at the helm. Plus, they have a tech-heavy production facility with QC to die for. All the needed materials are sustainably sourced.
The company also ensures you have steady stock with reliable shipping. Build a loyal customer base by always delivering. Earn more with us. Get a free quote today.
Sources:
Bhdi – Garment Production Process
Craftsy – You Really Can Sew Your Own Hoodie! Here’s How
Weallsew – Geometric Hoodie: A Complete Guide