Single Jersey Fabric – OEM Sportswear Manufacturer

OVERVIEW

What Is Single Jersey Fabric?

Single jersey is the simplest and most fundamental knit fabric structure. It is produced on a circular knitting machine using a single set of needles, which creates a fabric with two distinct sides: a smooth "V"-shaped loop side (the technical front) and a purl loop side (the technical back). This single-needle construction is what makes it the cheapest, fastest-to-produce, and lightest-weight knit available — which is why it accounts for an estimated 60–70% of all knit sportswear produced globally.

"Single jersey is the 'white bread' of sportswear fabrics. It's not exciting. It's not premium. It doesn't have the structured body of interlock or the stretch recovery of spandex blends. But it does the job at the lowest possible cost, which is exactly what the majority of the market needs. If you're making training tees, promotional kits, fan jerseys, or any high-volume basic where the budget per unit is the primary constraint, single jersey is the correct fabric — and pretending otherwise is just overspending."

We stock single jersey in three primary material compositions: 100% polyester (the dominant sportswear option — lightweight, fast-drying, fully sublimation-ready), poly-cotton blends (typically 65/35 — adds cotton's hand feel while retaining enough polyester for decent durability and partial sublimation), and poly-spandex blends (92/8 or 95/5 — adds the stretch and shape recovery that basic single jersey lacks). All options come standard with moisture-wicking finish and anti-pilling treatment. GSM range is 120–200, with 150 GSM being the global standard for training t-shirts.

The key to quality single jersey isn't the knit structure (it's inherently simple) — it's the yarn quality and knit tightness. We use high-tenacity polyester yarn and tight loop formation that produces a fabric that, while lightweight, has 20–30% better dimensional stability and snag resistance than commodity single jersey. The difference is visible after 10 washes — cheap single jersey becomes baggy and pills; ours maintains its shape and surface quality.

70%

Of Knit Sportswear

Close-up of single jersey knit fabric showing distinct V-shaped loop structure on technical front side

Single Jersey Knitting — Sialkot

CONSTRUCTIONS

Available Single Jersey Types

Same knit structure, different material compositions — each targets a different performance need and cost point.

100% Polyester

Poly-Cotton

Poly-Spandex

Organic Cotton

Recycled Poly

UV-Protected

AVAILABLE GSM

Weight Spectrum & Garment Type

Single jersey spans from ultra-light summer basics to substantial training tops — but its strength is at the lighter end.

Summer /
Promotional

Lightweight
Training Tee

Standard
Training Tee

Heavyweight
Athletic Top

Max Weight
Structured

Single jersey's advantage is at the lighter end — 140–160 GSM is where this knit structure performs best. Below 130 GSM, single jersey becomes semi-transparent (skin shows through white and light colors), which limits its use to layered garments or dark colors only. Above 180 GSM, single jersey starts to lose its lightweight drape advantage and becomes stiffer without gaining the structural benefits that heavier double-knit fabrics (like interlock or french terry) provide at the same weight. If you need 200+ GSM, you should almost certainly be using a different knit structure — single jersey at that weight is fighting its own nature.

COLOR CAPABILITY

Color Options for Single Jersey

For 100% polyester single jersey, the color range is unlimited via sublimation — these swatches show stock piece-dye options.

Black

White

Navy

Red

Royal Blue

Green

Yellow / Gold

Orange

Grey

Purple

Rust

Slate

For stock piece-dyed single jersey, we maintain 12 core colors year-round with a 100-meter MOQ per color. However, 90% of our single jersey clients order 100% polyester for full sublimation — which means the color is printed during the sublimation process, not dyed into the fabric beforehand. Sublimated single jersey can reproduce any Pantone color, photographic images, gradients, and complex multi-panel designs in a single process with zero per-color setup cost. The sublimation colors are permanent (Grade 4+ wash fastness), fade-resistant (Grade 4+ light fastness), and cover the entire fabric surface seamlessly.

WHY SINGLE JERSEY WORKS

The Practical Advantages

Single jersey wins on cost, speed, and weight — the three metrics that drive high-volume sportswear decisions.

Lowest Cost Knit

Single-set needle construction means faster machine speeds, less energy per meter, and lower yarn consumption than any other knit structure. 20–30% cheaper than interlock at the same GSM.

Lightest Weight

Uses the least yarn per square meter of any knit. A 150 GSM single jersey feels lighter and drapes better than a 150 GSM interlock because there's physically less material in the same area.

Perfect Sublimation Surface

The smooth V-loop front side provides flat, even contact with sublimation transfer paper — resulting in sharp detail, vibrant colors, and zero print distortion.

Excellent Drape

The single-knit structure has a natural fluid drape that follows body contours without stiffness. This is why basic t-shirts feel comfortable and non-restrictive — the fabric moves with you.

Fast Moisture Wicking

Polyester single jersey with wicking finish pulls moisture from skin to the fabric exterior rapidly. The lightweight structure means less fabric to saturate — it dries faster than heavier knits.

Fastest Production

Single jersey knits at the highest meters-per-hour rate of any knit fabric. From yarn to finished fabric in 3–5 days. Urgent orders can ship in as little as 7 days total.

Breathable

The open single-knit structure allows air to circulate freely through the fabric. At 130–150 GSM, single jersey is one of the most breathable synthetic sportswear fabrics available.

Easy Care

100% polyester single jersey is virtually maintenance-free — machine wash hot, tumble dry, no ironing needed. Zero shrinkage, zero color fading, zero special care requirements.

APPLICATIONS

Where Single Jersey Goes

Single jersey dominates in high-volume, cost-sensitive categories where basic performance is sufficient.

Training Tees

Fan Jerseys

Running Tops

Cycling Base

Promotional

Basic Tees

School Sport

Walking Wear

Yoga Basics

Event Tees

Under-Layers

Sport Socks

Caps / Headwear

Sport Bags

Team Casual

COMPARISON

Single Jersey vs. Interlock vs. Rib Knit

Understanding when single jersey is the right choice — and when you need to upgrade to a different knit structure.

Property	Single Jersey	Interlock	Rib Knit (1x1)
Needle Sets	Single set Simplest	Double set	Double set (alternating)
Curling at Edges	Yes — significant Curls	No None	No — edges roll Rolls
Opacity (at 150 GSM)	Semi-transparent See-Through	Opaque Opaque	Semi-opaque Moderate
Stretch	10–20% width only Minimal	Almost none None	100%+ stretch Maximum
Cost per Meter	$1.50–$2.50 Lowest	$2.50–$4.00	$2.00–$3.00
Sublimation	Excellent (100% poly) Best	Good Good	Fair — texture distorts Fair
Weight (same yarn)	Lightest Lightest	30–40% heavier	20–30% heavier
Best For	Training tees, fan jerseys, promotional, basics	Polos, premium tees, structured garments	Cuffs, collars, neckbands, fitted hems

Quick rule: Need the lowest cost, lightest weight, and best sublimation surface? Go single jersey. Need both sides to look the same, no curling, and more body? Go interlock. Need maximum stretch for cuffs, neckbands, or fitted hems? Go rib knit. Most sportswear garments actually use all three: single jersey for the body, interlock for collar/panel overlays, and rib knit for the neckband and cuff finishing. We stock all three and can supply them as a coordinated set for any garment.

PROS & CONS

Honest Assessment

Advantages

Lowest cost knit structure — 20–30% cheaper than interlock, making it the only viable option for high-volume promotional and budget sportswear
Lightweight and breathable — the open single-knit structure provides excellent airflow, ideal for warm-weather training and summer garments
Perfect sublimation surface — the smooth V-loop side accepts transfer paper with full contact, producing the sharpest detail of any knit fabric
Fastest production turnaround — single-set needle knitting is the fastest knit process, enabling 7–10 day rush orders on stock fabrics
Excellent drape — the fabric moves fluidly with the body, creating a comfortable, non-restrictive feel that heavier knits can't match
Easy care — polyester single jersey requires zero special treatment, no ironing, no shrinkage, no color fading across 50+ wash cycles
Versatile material options — available in 100% polyester, poly-cotton, poly-spandex, organic cotton, and recycled polyester from a single knit structure

Disadvantages

Curls at cut edges — the single-needle structure creates inherent tension that causes fabric to roll; requires hems, bindings, or rib finishes on all open edges
Semi-transparent at low GSM — below 130 GSM, skin shows through white and light-colored single jersey, limiting color and layering options
No inherent stretch — without added spandex, single jersey has only 10–20% mechanical stretch in one direction; not suitable for form-fitting or compression garments
Low durability for contact sports — the single-knit structure snags easily on rough surfaces and tears under pulling forces; not suitable for rugby, football, or any grabbing sport
Shoulder bagging — without spandex, the shoulder area of a single jersey tee will permanently stretch and bag after 15–20 wears as the loops deform under tension
Two distinct sides — the smooth front and purl back look different; not suitable for garments where both sides are visible (reversible garments)
Pilling tendency — polyester single jersey pills at friction points (sides, underarms) after 15–25 washes; anti-pilling treatment helps but doesn't eliminate it entirely

Our mitigation: For curling, all our single jersey garments use fold-over hems with coverstitch and rib-knit neck/armhole bindings that mechanically neutralize the curl. For transparency, we recommend minimum 140 GSM for light colors and 130 GSM for dark colors — anything lighter requires specific design decisions (double-layering, pattern placement) to manage show-through. For stretch and shoulder bagging, our poly-spandex single jersey (92/8 or 95/5) adds enough elastic recovery to prevent permanent deformation at minimal cost increase. For snagging and durability, our tight-knit construction and high-tenacity yarn produce single jersey that is 20–30% more snag-resistant than commodity fabric, though it will never match interlock or heavier knits for contact sports.

DECORATION OPTIONS

Branding Single Jersey Garments

Single jersey is the most decoration-friendly fabric in sportswear — almost every method works excellently on it.

Dominant

Full Sublimation

The #1 decoration method for polyester single jersey. The lightweight structure allows transfer paper to make perfect contact, and the smooth V-loop surface produces the sharpest possible detail reproduction. Colors become a permanent part of the fabric — they will not crack, peel, or fade even after 50+ washes. The entire garment (front, back, sleeves) can be printed in a single process with zero per-color cost after the paper is made. This is why 90% of our single jersey clients choose sublimation.

Unlimited ColorsPermanentAll-OverNo Setup Per Color

Cotton Best

Screen Printing

The best decoration method for cotton and poly-cotton single jersey. Cotton's natural absorbency grips plastisol and water-based inks beautifully, producing sharper edges and more vibrant colors than on synthetic fabrics. Each color requires a separate screen and setup, making screen printing cost-effective for simple 1–4 color designs on large production runs (200+ pieces) but expensive for complex multi-color designs. Ideal for chest logos, back numbers, and simple sponsor placements on cotton-based single jersey garments.

Cotton IdealMulti-ColorDurableBest for Simple

Direct-to-garment digital printing on single jersey fabric showing photo-quality full-color design on cotton

Low MOQ

DTG Digital Printing

Direct-to-garment printing works excellently on cotton and poly-cotton single jersey — the technology was designed for it. DTG sprays water-based pigment ink directly onto the fabric, producing photo-quality results with unlimited colors and zero screen setup. Perfect for small orders (1–50 pieces), custom one-off designs, and samples. Wash durability is lower than screen print (15–25 washes vs. 50+), and DTG on 100% polyester single jersey requires a polyester pre-treatment spray to accept the ink — adding cost and a slight hand feel change.

Photo QualityNo Setup1-Piece MinimumCotton Best

CUSTOMIZATION

Specify Your Single Jersey

Every variable affects cost, weight, decoration method, and what the final garment is suitable for.

01

Material

100% polyester for sublimation and lowest cost, poly-cotton for natural feel, or poly-spandex for stretch and shape recovery.

02

GSM Target

120–130 GSM for summer/promo (light), 140–160 GSM for standard training tees (sweet spot), 180–200 GSM for heavy basics.

03

Spandex Content

0% for maximum sublimation and lowest cost, 5% for slight recovery, 8% for noticeable stretch without significant sublimation impact.

04

Yarn Count

30s yarn for 120–140 GSM (finer, smoother), 24s for 150–180 GSM (standard durability), 20s for 180–200 GSM (heavier, more substantial).

05

Finish

Standard wicking finish (always), anti-pilling treatment (recommended), wicking + UV finish (outdoor/running), or bio-polish (extra smooth hand feel).

06

Decoration Plan

Sublimation (polyester only), screen print (cotton/poly-cotton), or DTG (cotton/poly-cotton, small orders) — this confirms material choice.

HOW IT WORKS

Ordering Process

Single jersey has the fastest turnaround of any fabric we stock — the supply chain is always running.

Inquiry

Day 0

Samples

2–3 Days

Approval

1–2 Days

Production

7–12 Days

Delivery

4–7 Days

Total turnaround: 14–24 days from inquiry to doorstep for fabric-only. Full garment packages (fabric + sublimation + cut & sew) add 7–10 days. Rush orders on stock fabrics available in 7–10 days total — the fastest turnaround we offer on any fabric.

ORDER DETAILS

MOQ, Capacity & Lead Time

300 pcs

Minimum Order Quantity

Fabric-only: 100 meters

100K pcs/mo

Manufacturing Capacity

Highest capacity knit

7–12 days

Production Lead Time

Rush (stock): 3–5 days

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is single jersey fabric and why is it so common?

Single jersey is the simplest and most widely produced knit fabric in the world. It is made on a single set of needles on a circular knitting machine, producing a fabric with a distinct smooth 'V'-shaped loop side (the technical front) and a purl loop side (the technical back). It is common because it is the cheapest knit to produce (one set of needles = fastest machine speed and lowest production cost), the lightest weight knit structure (uses the least yarn per square meter), and adequately versatile for the majority of basic sportswear and casual wear. If you look at any basic training t-shirt, promotional tee, or fan jersey anywhere in the world, it is almost certainly single jersey. It is the 'white bread' of sportswear fabrics — not exciting, not premium, but it does the job at the lowest possible cost, which is exactly what 70% of the market needs.

Does single jersey fabric curl at the edges?

Yes — and this is the single most important structural characteristic of single jersey that affects garment construction. Because single jersey is knitted with a single set of needles, the loops on one side pull more tightly than the loops on the other side. This imbalance creates a physical tension in the fabric that causes the cut edges to curl toward the technical front (the smooth V-side) on the top and bottom edges, and toward the technical back (the purl side) on the left and right edges. This is not a defect — it is an inherent property of the single-jersey knit structure. In garment production, this curling is managed by: hemming the bottom edge (fold-over hem with coverstitch prevents curling), binding the neck and armholes with rib knit fabric (rib has opposite curling forces that neutralize the jersey curl), and avoiding raw or overlocked edges that are left to flutter. If a design calls for a rolled-edge aesthetic (some fashion sportswear uses this deliberately), the curl is left unmanaged. But for standard sportswear, the curl must be mechanically contained by hems and bindings.

Can single jersey be sublimated?

Yes — but only if it is 100% polyester (or majority polyester). Polyester single jersey is actually the ideal fabric for sublimation in sportswear. The lightweight structure (120–160 GSM) allows sublimation transfer paper to make full contact with the fabric surface, and the single-knit structure absorbs sublimation dye efficiently and evenly. The result is vibrant, permanent all-over color with excellent detail reproduction. Cotton single jersey cannot be sublimated at all — cotton cellulose does not accept disperse dye. Poly-cotton single jersey (e.g., 65/35) can be sublimated, but the cotton fibers will remain undyed, creating a slightly heathered or muted appearance compared to 100% polyester. For brands that want the brightest, most opaque sublimation results, 100% polyester single jersey is the correct choice.

What's the difference between single jersey and interlock?

The difference is in the knitting structure and the resulting fabric properties. Single jersey uses one set of needles, producing a fabric with two distinct sides (smooth V-side and purl side). Interlock uses two sets of needles (front and back) that knit simultaneously, interlocking the loops to create a fabric that looks identical on both sides. Key differences for sportswear: Weight — interlock is roughly 30–40% heavier than single jersey at the same yarn count because it uses twice as much yarn. Curling — single jersey curls at cut edges; interlock does not curl at all. Opacity — single jersey is semi-transparent at lower GSMs (you can see skin through 130 GSM white polyester); interlock is fully opaque even at lighter weights. Stretch — single jersey has slight mechanical stretch in the width direction only; interlock has almost no mechanical stretch. Cost — single jersey is 20–30% cheaper than interlock. For sportswear: use single jersey for standard training tees, promotional wear, and lightweight fan jerseys where cost and weight matter most. Use interlock for polos, premium training tops, and garments that need to look the same on both sides without curling.

Does single jersey have stretch?

Not inherently — this is a common misconception. Single jersey has mechanical stretch (the loops can deform slightly under tension and return to shape), but it is minimal — typically 10–20% stretch in the width (wale) direction and almost zero stretch in the length (course) direction. This is enough stretch for a basic t-shirt to fit over the head and move with the body during light activity, but it is not enough for compression, form-fitting, or high-mobility sportswear. If you need actual stretch in a single jersey garment, spandex (elastane) must be added to the yarn — typically 5–8% for a standard stretch tee, 10–15% for a fitted athletic top. The spandex provides the elastic recovery that the polyester or cotton fibers cannot. A 100% polyester or 100% cotton single jersey without spandex will not stretch significantly and will permanently deform if repeatedly pulled (like at the shoulders of a tight-fitting garment).

What GSM is best for single jersey t-shirts?

The 'best' GSM depends entirely on the garment's purpose and target climate. 120–130 GSM: Lightweight/summer training tees, running singlets, and promotional giveaway tees. Very light, drapey, but semi-transparent — requires double-layering or specific dye colors to avoid show-through. 140–160 GSM: The global standard for training t-shirts and fan jerseys. This is the sweet spot — heavy enough to be opaque in most colors, light enough for comfort in warm conditions, and cost-efficient. 170–200 GSM: Heavyweight single jersey for premium-feeling training tops, cooler-weather basics, or garments where a more substantial hand feel is desired. Above 200 GSM, single jersey starts to feel stiff and loses the lightweight drape that is its primary advantage — at that weight, interlock or french terry are usually better structural choices. Our most ordered single jersey is 150 GSM 100% polyester — it hits the universal standard for sportswear training tees.

Is single jersey durable enough for sportswear?

It depends on the sport and the level of contact. Single jersey is adequate for: training wear (gym, running, cycling where there is no opponent grabbing), fan wear and replica jerseys (worn for support, not for play), promotional and corporate sportswear (golf shirts, event tees), and under-layers or base layers (worn beneath protective equipment). Single jersey is NOT adequate for: any contact sport (rugby, football, basketball where grabbing occurs — it will stretch, snag, and tear), heavy abrasion environments (the single-knit structure snags easily on rough surfaces), and garments that need to hold their shape under load (the shoulders and neck of a single jersey tee will permanently stretch if subjected to repeated pulling). For contact sports, you need interlock, heavier-weight jersey, or specifically engineered fabrics like our rugby or football polyester. For non-contact training and lifestyle sportswear, single jersey is perfectly durable and is the correct cost-effective choice.

Can I get a fabric sample before ordering?

Absolutely. We provide free A4-size fabric swatches (up to 3 options) shipped via DHL/FedEx at no charge. For single jersey, we recommend requesting one 150 GSM 100% polyester sample (the global training tee standard), one 150 GSM cotton single jersey sample (to compare natural vs. synthetic hand feel), and one interlock fabric sample (to understand the structural difference between single knit and double knit). This lets you directly compare the weight, opacity, curl, stretch, and drape of each option before committing to a production run.

RELATED FABRICS

The Knit Structure System

Single jersey is one piece of the knit ecosystem — these are the complementary structures used alongside it.

Single Jersey Sportswear Fabrics

What Is Single Jersey Fabric?

Available Single Jersey Types

Weight Spectrum & Garment Type

Color Options for Single Jersey