Double Knit Fabric and Full Sublimation Printing for Soccer Jerseys: The "Golden Combination" for Professional Kits
Double Knit Fabric and Full Sublimation Printing for Soccer Jerseys: The "Golden Combination" for Professional Kits
In the field of custom soccer jerseys, the choice of fabric and printing technology directly determines the wearing experience, visual effect, and service life of the garment. The combination of Double Knit Fabric and Full Sublimation Printing is becoming the mainstream solution for mid-to-high-end custom jerseys. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of this "golden combination" from the perspectives of principles, advantages, and application scenarios.
Part 1: What is Double Knit Fabric?
1. Definition and Structure
As the name suggests, double knit fabric is a knitted fabric with different structures or visual appearances on the front and back sides. Unlike single knit fabric (which has a smooth side and a looped side), double knit fabric is produced using a specialized knitting process that gives both the inner and outer surfaces a smooth, flat texture.
Structural Features:
Produced on double-needle bar knitting machines, with two layers connected by binding yarns
Moderate thickness, stable structure, resistant to curling
Both sides can serve as the outer surface, making it suitable for reversible designs
2. Key Advantages of Double Knit Fabric
Feature Description
Structured & Crisp Tight fabric structure provides good draping, resists wrinkling, and maintains the jersey's three-dimensional shape
Durable & Abrasion-Resistant The double-layer construction offers higher tear strength, withstanding intense contact and frequent washing
Moisture-Wicking The inner layer quickly transports sweat to the outer layer for evaporation, keeping the body dry
Non-See-Through Compared to lightweight single-layer fabrics, double knit fabric is completely opaque, avoiding any embarrassment
Reversible Potential Different colors/designs on each side allow one jersey to serve as two
3. Double Knit vs. Other Common Fabrics
Fabric Type Thickness Breathability Durability Structured Feel Common Uses
Single Knit Mesh Thin Excellent Fair Soft Training jerseys, fan replicas
Lightweight Polyester Very thin Excellent Lower Soft/Droopy Professional match jerseys
Double Knit Medium Good Excellent Crisp/Structured Match jerseys, training wear
Cotton-Feel Polyester Medium Fair Good Moderate Casual wear, fan replicas
Summary: Double knit fabric excels in durability, structured feel, and opacity, making it an ideal choice for balancing professional performance with everyday wear.
Part 2: What is Full Sublimation Printing?
1. Definition and Principle
Full Sublimation Printing (also known as dye-sublimation transfer) is a digital printing technology that infuses the design into the fibers of the fabric, rather than applying it on top of the surface.
How It Works:
The design is printed onto transfer paper using special sublimation inks
The transfer paper is placed against the fabric and subjected to heat (approx. 200°C/392°F) and pressure in a heat press
Under high heat, the ink turns directly from solid to gas (sublimation) and penetrates the molecular gaps within the polyester fibers
Upon cooling, the ink solidifies inside the fibers, becoming one with the fabric
2. Key Advantages of Full Sublimation Printing
Feature Description
Designs Never Peel Ink is embedded inside the fibers—no coating, no adhesive layer, so it cannot crack, peel, or flake off
Unlimited Color & Detail Supports full-color gradients, photo-quality details, and complex patterns with no limit on the number of colors
Zero Hand Feel Since the ink becomes part of the fiber, the fabric's hand feel remains completely unaffected—no foreign sensation
No Impact on Breathability No ink layer blocks the fabric's pores; ventilation holes remain fully open
Excellent Wash Durability Withstands industrial repeated washing without fading or design damage
No Seam Limitations Can print continuously across large fabric panels, enabling seamless design layouts
Part 3: Why Double Knit + Full Sublimation is the "Golden Combination"
These two technologies are frequently paired because they complement each other perfectly in terms of performance and results:
1. Full Sublimation Solves Double Knit's "Weaknesses"
Double knit fabric has a tight structure, and traditional printing methods (like screen printing) can lead to ink buildup and a stiff hand feel
Sublimation ink penetrates inside the fibers, leaving the soft hand feel and structured crispness of the double knit fabric completely unaffected
2. Double Knit Enables Full Sublimation's "Strengths"
Full sublimation requires a high polyester content (typically ≥90%) for proper color development and fixation
Double knit fabric is usually 100% polyester, making it the ideal substrate for sublimation
The smooth, flat surface of double knit fabric allows sublimated designs to appear sharper and more vibrant
3. Enabling "Reversible" Designs
Both sides of double knit fabric can be printed
Full sublimation allows different designs to be printed on each side without interference
One jersey, two colorways: Teams can choose which side to display based on the opponent's jersey color, greatly increasing tactical flexibility
Part 4: Applications for Double Knit Sublimated Jerseys
Scenario Why It's Recommended
Official Matches Designs never peel or fade; reversible design handles different opponents
Amateur Leagues Great value—one jersey offers two looks; vibrant colors enhance team image
Youth Academies Highly durable, withstands frequent washing and rough play by young athletes
Corporate Teams / Team Building Can print complex company logos and gradients, boosting team identity
Fan Customization Personalized names, numbers, and designs to meet fan expression needs
Part 5: Customization Considerations
1. Fabric Requirements
Must use high polyester content (≥90% recommended); cotton or cotton-blend fabrics cannot be sublimated
White or light-colored base is ideal; dark backgrounds limit color vibrancy (dark fabrics require a white underbase, which complicates the process)
2. Design Files
Vector files (AI, CDR, EPS) or high-resolution raster images (300 dpi or higher) are recommended
Full sublimation supports full-color designs with no restrictions on the number of colors
Designs can extend to the seam edges, enabling "borderless" layouts
3. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
Setup costs for sublimation are relatively low; custom orders as small as 1 piece are possible, making it ideal for personalized needs
Bulk orders reduce the per-unit cost
Conclusion
Double knit fabric provides a structured, durable, and non-see-through foundation. Full sublimation printing delivers permanent, vibrant, and limitless designs. Together, they transform soccer jerseys from disposable consumables into long-lasting team equipment that combines functionality with aesthetics.
Whether you're a team captain, a club purchaser, or a soccer enthusiast looking for a custom kit, the double knit + full sublimation combination deserves serious consideration—it might just be the most "hassle-free" jersey you'll ever wear.
Glad you can see this, if you need a professional jersey manufacturing supplier, please feel free to contact me.
may
E-mail: may@junmaosports.com
Professional sportswear manufacturer
Xiamen Besteam Int’l Co., Ltd. is a professional sportswear manufacturer, we mainly engage in the production of football jersey, training uniforms, running clothes, soccer shoes, soccer jersey, sports socks and accessories etc.
Cooperative partner
Besteam serves many well-known sports brands and teams, and is one of the suppliers of international competition teams such as the Olympic Games. It has 13 years of production experience and a professional design team, as well as high-standard production requirements. We can provide a variety of services such as fabric customization, OEM, ODM, etc.
If you have never customized a clothing, please don’t worry, I will communicate with you according to the following process.
Send me your design/jersey photo and inform the quantity you need to purchase. If you need to reproduce, please mail the sample to me, or send me the detailed value of the sample.
After reviewing the picture, I will ask you step by step about the clear details you need to customize the jersey.
After confirming the design and production process, please let me know the address where I will mail the clothes to you to confirm the logistics method and calculate the shipping cost.
Please choose your payment method, such as online shopping platform/credit remittance/payple
Send you a quotation sheet
Pay the fee and start production
