Knitwear Quality Control: AQL & Inspections
Quality control is what stands between your approved sample and a carton of disappointments. Here's how knit QC works — and the terms to know.
Once bulk is knitting, QC is your safeguard. Good factories build it in at multiple stages rather than hoping it's fine at the end. Understanding the basics lets you set expectations and read an inspection report.
AQL — the language of acceptable quality
AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) defines how many defects are tolerated in a sampled batch before it's rejected. AQL 2.5 is a common apparel standard. Defects are graded — critical (safety), major (would be returned by a customer) and minor (small cosmetic) — with tighter limits on the more serious ones. Inspectors check a statistically representative sample, not every piece.
Knit-specific defects to watch
- Holes, dropped or broken stitches
- Miscount / wrong stitch density (gauge off)
- Measurements outside tolerance (knit relaxes — realistic tolerances matter)
- Shading / dye-lot mismatch between panels or pieces
- Pilling-prone construction, loose linking, uneven seams
- Trim and label errors
Inspection stages
- In-line — during production, to catch issues early while they're still fixable.
- Final (pre-shipment) — on finished, packed goods against the approved sample and your spec.
- Third-party — independent inspectors (e.g., to an AQL standard) can be arranged when a buyer wants an outside check.
The anchor of QC is the TOP sample — “top of production”, pulled from the real bulk run and checked against the approved PP sample. It confirms bulk matches what you signed off.
Set tolerances and AQL expectations up front in your tech pack, and QC has a clear target. Questions about how we inspect? Ask us or see our capabilities.
Ready to make it?
Send a tech pack, a reference garment or a brief. We respond within one business day with a capacity check, indicative pricing and a sample timeline — direct with the founder.