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A cotton T-shirt starts as raw fiber. After cotton is harvested, it goes to a mill where cleaning and carding processes remove seeds and short fibers. The clean cotton is then drawn and twisted into yarn. The thickness of this yarn is described by a count number. Common counts for T-shirts range from 20 to 40. A count of 20 means thicker yarn, which results in a more durable but coarser fabric. A count of 40 uses finer yarn, creating a smoother surface.

The yarn is knitted into fabric using circular knitting machines. Knitted fabric stretches, which allows the finished T-shirt to move with the body. The raw knitted fabric, called greige fabric, contains natural waxes and impurities. It goes through scouring and bleaching baths to remove these substances and create a clean surface. After that, the fabric may be dyed or left undyed for natural-color garments.

Next comes cutting. The fabric is laid in multiple layers, and a cutting machine follows pattern pieces for the front body, back body, sleeves, and neck binding. The cut pieces move to sewing stations. A typical T-shirt uses overlock seams for the shoulders and armholes, and a cover stitch for the hem. The choice of stitch type affects how flat the seam lies and how much it can stretch. After sewing, the T-shirt may be washed to remove any remaining processing chemicals and to pre-shrink the cotton. This step reduces surprises when the buyer washes the garment at home. Finally, the T-shirt is inspected, folded, and packed. Understanding these steps helps a person see why certain T-shirts keep their shape while others twist at the side seams after a few washes.

http://www.podgarment.com
Zhangjiagang Daylight Trading Co., Ltd.

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