How to make custom knitwear with Printful

For complete technical requirements, file tips, and color guidance, see the full Printful knitwear design guide.

3. Choose yarn colors and knit modes

Color decisions are where many custom knit projects fail or succeed.

In the Design Maker, you can:

• Pick up to four yarn colors, including the base color of the garment, collar, and hem

• Swap colors to see how they affect contrast and readability

• Preview how each option looks in the actual knitted structure

After you set colors, choose how the system should interpret your artwork.

Solid mode

Use Solid mode if your design consists of:

Here, each color area turns into solid blocks of stitches. This keeps edges sharp and makes the overall sweater design clean.

Pixelated mode

Use Pixelated mode if your design is:

• Based on photos or illustrations

• Full of texture or shading

• More detailed than a basic logo

Pixelated mode turns your image into a controlled grid of stitches, so you keep as much detail as possible within the four-color limit. It’s a good fit when you want a more complex visual pattern.

Switch between modes and view the mockups until you find a result that fits your style and stays readable from a normal viewing distance.

4. Follow our knitwear design guidelines

To ensure a high-quality final result, follow our design guidelines closely. These tips will help you create a polished, professional piece that looks just as good in real life as it does on your screen.

Avoid low-contrast colors

Colors that look distinct on your screen might get lost in the final garment. Avoid using low-contrast colors side by side to ensure your design is clear.

Avoid designs with lots of different colors

Keep in mind that the color limit for knitwear is four. Opt for images with a lower color count when working with photos or colorful graphics. 

In the example below, there are too many shades to translate well into just four colors. As a result, the design elements are blurred together and don’t appear crisp.

Look out for stray pixels

Sometimes, a stray pixel might be left on the canvas by mistake. If you don’t catch it, it’ll be knitted into the fabric just like the rest of your design and might end up looking like a stain. So double-check your artwork before uploading.

Stray pixels can be difficult to see depending on your screen’s size. If you’re working on a small screen, open and inspect the image at full size to catch errors.

Designing for multiple sizes

Never scale your artwork after it’s been indexed, or you’ll lose the color indexing. To avoid issues with blank spaces, always start your design at the largest size – it’s easier to scale down than to size up. 

Keep in mind that scaling works best for similar sizes – big jumps between very large and small templates can distort your design.

Ensure proper spacing between design elements

To prevent letters or design elements from merging, make sure to leave enough space between them. For Photoshop users, leave at least 1 px of space between design elements. This will help keep everything in your design separated and readable.

5. Order samples

Ordering a sample helps you confirm that the colors, details, and stitch interpretation of your custom knit sweaters look the way you expect. It also lets you spot small issues, like stray pixels, before selling. 

A physical sample is valuable for marketing too – real photos or videos of the texture, colors, and fit build trust and improve conversion. With a sample, you can confidently list your knitwear knowing it meets your standards in real life.

6. Start selling

Once your design and sample are ready, you can add custom knitwear to your store and start selling. 

Printful connects with all major eCommerce platforms and marketplaces, including Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, BigCommerce, Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop, and others. You can also sell through custom websites using Printful’s API.

To get started:

1. Choose your platform and connect it to Printful.

2. Add your knitwear product from the Design Maker to your store with pricing, descriptions, and photos.

3. Publish your listing and set up shipping and payment settings.

4. Promote your launch using real photos or videos of your sample or mockups from the Design Maker.

Once orders come in, Printful handles production and fulfillment on demand, so you can focus on growing your brand while offering a premium knitwear experience.

Read more: How to start an online store with Printful

Fit, shape, and construction of your custom knit sweaters

Every Printful knit sweater is built on a carefully engineered base garment, so you get consistent fit and construction across all your custom knit sweaters. 

The body has a classic, slightly relaxed shape that works for everyday wear, with proportional sleeves designed to keep your artwork readable from every angle.

Around the neck, cuffs, and hem, you’ll find structured ribbing that frames your sweater design and keeps the sweater in place during wear. 

The neckline and overall silhouette are standard for the product, while the all-over stitch pattern and surface patterns are fully customized to your brand. 

The result is a sweater that feels comfortable to wear daily, while still looking like a unique piece created specifically for your customers.

Care, wear, and long-term quality

Proper care is what turns a one-season knit into a long-term favorite. When customers know how to wash and dry their custom knitwear, colors stay rich, and the stitch pattern keeps its shape. 

As a seller, always include clear care instructions on your product pages to minimize complaints and returns.

How to wash your custom knit sweaters

To help your custom knit sweaters last, customers should:

• Wash on a gentle cycle in cool water

• Avoid bleach and harsh chemicals

• Dry flat instead of using high heat in the dryer

These steps protect the materials, keep the garment in good shape, and reduce pilling over time.

How long will the design last?

On a Printful knit sweater, your artwork is part of the jacquard stitch pattern, not a print sitting on top. That means the design isn’t likely to crack or peel compared to some printed sweaters. The production method and consistent construction help colors and patterns stay sharp through everyday wear.

With proper care, customers get a durable piece of knit clothing that represents your brand well over the life of the sweater.

Ready to design your knitwear line?

Custom knitwear is one of the strongest ways to elevate your brand. It feels intentional, premium, and memorable – qualities that help keep customers coming back. With thoughtful designs that fit your audience’s style, your knitwear line can become a premium bestseller.

If you’re ready to build products your customers will love and remember, start designing your knitwear with Printful today.