Start with the silhouette
A boxy tee needs a different balance of body and drape from a close-fitting base tee. Send a reference garment or a fit drawing alongside the target hand feel; weight alone does not describe the result.
Fabric 01 / 12 · Knit essentials
Cotton Single Jersey
An easy, versatile starting point for a T-shirt collection. Choose the hand feel, body weight and finish around the fit you want, then approve the fabric in a finished garment.
Everyday tees · Soft drape
Custom apparel · OEM, ODM and private label
01 — In short
What is cotton single jersey?
Cotton single jersey is a weft-knitted fabric with a smooth-looking face and a different loop structure on the reverse. It is widely used for T-shirts. For a private label order, the important decisions are the cotton specification, fabric weight, finished width, shrinkage allowance and the way the garment hangs after washing.
02 — Garment applications
Start with what you are making.
These are starting points for fabric selection. The chosen quality is approved for the specific garment.
Heavyweight T-shirts
Build a relaxed or more substantial tee around the selected jersey weight.
Promotional T-shirts
Match the fabric hand to the event, decoration and intended repeat wear.
Tanks and fitted tees
Assess neckline stability and whether the fit needs additional recovery.
03 — Fabric specification
Agree the details before cutting.
GSM is fabric mass per square metre. It helps compare weight, but does not alone establish quality, coverage or performance.
- Construction
- Single weft knit; face and reverse differ.
- Fibre composition
- Cotton, or an agreed cotton blend; specify the fibre percentages.
- Hand and drape
- Soft drape, with the amount of body set by yarn and weight.
- Weight / GSM
- Select against the garment and reference hand; confirm the approved GSM and tolerance.
- Stretch and recovery
- Natural knit give; recovery changes with construction and any elastane.
- Sample checks
- Shrinkage, side-seam twist, surface appearance and shade after washing.
- Colour and finish
- Approve a physical shade reference, finish and any required performance evidence.
- Minimum and supply
- Confirmed in your quote as part of the garment order; fabric colours shown are references.
04 — Sample decisions
Three things to approve.
Approve it after a wash
Measure the sample before and after the proposed care cycle. Check body length, width and seam position, so the approved pattern allows for the actual fabric rather than an assumed shrinkage percentage.
Look beyond the colour
Review the face for an even appearance, check light colours against the intended underlayer, and confirm that the approved shade still works beside rib, neck tape and printed artwork.
05 — Branding and construction
Your mark, on the right base.
Artwork and fabric should be approved together. Explore our decoration services for the wider process.
Screen printing
A useful route for graphic tees. Approve ink coverage, hand feel and wash performance on the chosen jersey.
Embroidery
Keep stitch density and backing appropriate to the fabric weight; a large dense mark can pull a lighter tee out of shape.
Neck and care labels
Decide between a sewn label and a printed neck mark, and test comfort against the skin.
06 — Care and maintenance
Care starts with the finished garment.
Use the finished garment care label. For a sample programme, compare the intended wash and drying method with the original measurements, and inspect the print as well as the cotton body. Reshape gently rather than pulling the wet neckline.
For a commercial range, agree the acceptable change in size and appearance before bulk cutting. A cotton label alone does not establish a safe tumble-dry setting or a guaranteed shrinkage figure.
07 — Compare fabrics
When another fabric may fit better.
08 — Questions, answered
10 questions about Cotton Single Jersey.
Practical answers for choosing, decorating and caring for the fabric in your garment range.
Is cotton single jersey good for T-shirts?
Yes. It is a common choice for casual and promotional tees. The best version depends on fit, opacity, decoration and how much structure you want; approve the combination in a garment sample.
Does cotton single jersey shrink?
It can change size during washing and drying. Yarn, knitting, finishing and care all affect the result. Measure a washed sample and record the agreed tolerance instead of assuming all cotton jersey behaves the same.
Does single jersey stretch?
Its loop structure gives it some stretch, especially across the width. That does not guarantee the recovery needed for a tight fit. Ask for an elastane blend when the design calls for it and assess recovery in the sample.
Why can a jersey T-shirt twist after washing?
Fabric spirality and garment construction can move the side seams. Check a washed sample laid flat, then agree fabric stability and cutting requirements before approving bulk production.
Which GSM should I choose for a private label tee?
Start with the intended fit, season and hand feel, then compare swatches in more than one weight. GSM measures mass per square metre; it does not by itself describe softness, opacity or quality.
Can cotton jersey be screen printed?
Yes, subject to the ink and fabric finish being compatible. Approve a strike-off or decorated sample, including the feel of the print and its appearance after the intended washing cycle.
Is cotton single jersey suitable for embroidery?
Small marks can work well. On lighter jersey, dense stitching may cause puckering or a stiff patch. Review backing, stitch count and logo size on the actual fabric.
Does cotton single jersey wrinkle?
It can crease, particularly when packed tightly or left in a damp pile. How much depends on the fabric and finish. Follow the garment label for drying and any ironing, taking care around printed areas.
How do I maintain a cotton jersey T-shirt?
Follow its care label, wash with suitable colours and reshape the garment gently after washing. Check the decoration instructions too; a printed tee may need a different treatment from an undecorated cotton sample.
What should I send for a cotton jersey garment enquiry?
Send the tee design, fit, target hand feel or GSM, colour, size range, artwork and quantity. Adriqa can discuss the jersey options as part of the apparel order; the final fabric and minimum are confirmed in the quote.
09 — From swatch to order
Approve the fabric in a garment.
Send the design, intended fit, colours, artwork, size range and quantity. If you have a reference garment, use it to communicate the hand and finish you want. We discuss the fabric, make the sample and record the approved construction before bulk production.
Review dimensions, shade, decoration and the care result together. Keep the signed-off sample and written specification as the reference for the order.
See how sampling worksMade to your mark · Sialkot, Pakistan
Choose the fabric. Then make it yours.
Tell us the garment, fit, colour, artwork and quantity. We will discuss the fabric as part of your custom apparel order, with the selected specification, sample and minimum confirmed in writing.