Why a Hand Knit Quote Works Differently From Other Manufacturing Quotes

When a brand contacts KOCO Knitting for the first time and asks for a quote, the most common assumption is that a single price exists for the finished garment. At KOCO Knitting, that is not how quoting works, and understanding why makes the entire process much clearer.

Most fashion manufacturers sell a finished garment at a wholesale price. The yarn, the labour, the pattern, and the logistics are all absorbed into one figure and the brand simply buys the completed piece. At KOCO Knitting, each component is quoted and invoiced separately. The labour of hand knitting is one line item. The yarn is another. The pattern writing is another. Freight is another.

This is closer to commissioning a bespoke architect-designed home than buying a ready-built one. When you commission a specialist build, you pay separately for the architect, the materials, the trades, and the project management. You see exactly what each component costs. That transparency is the point. It is also how boutique, bespoke manufacturing works at the highest level of craft.

What Can Be Quoted Immediately

Because each component is priced separately, some costs can be given before others.

Labour for hand knitting can be quoted as soon as the garment type and stitch complexity are understood. Pattern writing can be quoted once the number of sizes is confirmed. Neither of these costs depends on yarn selection. They are calculated based on the work involved, not the materials used.

This means a brand can receive a labour estimate and a pattern writing estimate very early in the conversation, before yarn has been selected and before any sampling has begun.

What Determines the Yarn Cost

Yarn is invoiced as a separate line item and is the most variable component in a hand knitted garment.

Yarn cost depends on fibre type, yarn construction, and weight. A lightweight cotton and a heavy wool may cost very different amounts per kilogram, and the quantity of yarn required per garment varies with both the weight of the yarn and the size of the garment. The exact yarn cost per garment is confirmed once yarn is selected and actual usage is calculated through sampling.

At KOCO Knitting, brands can browse and select yarns directly from the yarn page on the website, where knitted swatches are available to order. Yarn selection can also happen through conversation, where the brand describes what they want the garment to feel, look, and weigh, and suitable options are presented from there.

(See: How Yarn Influences How Garments Sit, Their Texture and Weight in the Knowledge Library)

What Determines the Pattern Writing Cost

Pattern writing is a separate part of the business, costed and invoiced independently from knitting.

The cost of pattern writing is determined by the complexity of the garment and the number of sizes required. A garment developed in one size requires less work than the same garment developed in three sizes. Each size requires its own set of measurements, calculations, and written instructions.

Once the number of sizes is confirmed, a pattern writing estimate can be given. This is a one-off cost. Once the pattern is written, it belongs to the brand and can be used for all future production runs without additional pattern writing cost.

(See: What Development Means in a Hand Knit Context in the Knowledge Library)

What Can Only Be Quoted After the Sample

The exact production labour cost per garment is confirmed after the sample garment is complete.

The sample garment establishes the precise knitting time and finishing requirements for that specific design. These figures are then used to calculate the exact labour cost per production garment. Combined with the confirmed yarn cost and the number of garments being ordered, the brand has a complete and accurate picture of what production will cost.

This is the point at which all components are known, all costs are confirmed, and production can begin with full clarity.

How Invoicing Works at KOCO Knitting

Invoices are issued at three stages: swatches, sample garment, and production. Each invoice itemises yarn, labour, pattern writing, and freight separately.

All invoices must be paid in full before the next stage begins. KOCO Knitting does not run accounts. Invoices are issued in Australian dollars.

This structure means every cost is visible and every charge is explained. There are no bundled figures and no hidden costs folded into a single wholesale price.

Why This Approach Works in the Brand’s Favour

When a manufacturer bundles all costs into a finished garment price, the brand has no visibility over what they are actually paying for. They cannot see how much is yarn, how much is labour, or how much is being added to cover uncertainty.

At KOCO Knitting, each component is priced on what it actually costs. The labour is charged for the time it takes. The yarn is charged per kilogram at cost. The pattern writing is charged for the work involved. This transparency allows brands to plan accurately, understand their cost structure clearly, and make informed decisions at every stage of development.