A luxury sweater's warmth, breathability, drape, and longevity are determined long before the first stitch is cast on. They depend on three measurable technical variables: raw fibre quality (micron diameter and staple length), yarn spinning structure (ply and worsted vs woollen metric count), and knitting machine needle density (measured in gauge, from chunky 3gg to ultra-fine 16gg).
In the MITONY Yarn & Craftsmanship section, our master knitwear technicians publish transparent engineering breakdowns of the four natural yarns offered in our atelier: 100% Pure Inner Mongolian Cashmere (15.5–15.8 micron, 2/26Nm across 78 active shades), 80% Cashmere / 20% Fine Wool Blend (15 active shades), 100% Extra Fine Australian Merino Wool (75 active shades), and 90% Tencel / 10% Mulberry Silk (20 active shades). You will learn how needle gauge affects garment gram weight and thermal insulation, why plain jersey and cable-knit structures behave differently on the body, and how each made-to-order piece is fully fashioned on computerised flatbed knitting frames.
Inner Mongolian vs Scottish vs Italian Cashmere: What Actually Determines Sweater Quality?
Over 70% of the world's finest Grade-A raw cashmere (14.5–15.8μm, 38–42mm staple length) originates on the Inner Mongolian plateau, which is also where heritage Scottish and Italian mills source their…
Does 100% Cashmere Pill? Why Micron Count, Staple Length & 2-Ply Twist Matter
Yes, even 100% pure cashmere experiences minor initial shedding during the first 3 to 4 wears as loose surface hairs work out of the yarn twist. At MITONY Bespoke Cashmere,…
100% Cashmere vs Extra Fine Merino Wool vs Tencel Silk: Complete Yarn Guide
MITONY offers four custom knitwear yarns tailored to different climates and budgets: 100% Inner Mongolian Cashmere (15.5–15.8μm, softest and warmest, 78 colours), 80% Cashmere / 20% Fine Wool (added structure,…
Sweater Gauge Explained: 3gg vs 7gg vs 12gg vs 16gg Knitwear Comparison
Sweater gauge (abbreviated as "gg") measures the number of knitting needles per 1 inch (2.54 cm) on a flatbed knitting machine. Lower numbers like 3gg and 7gg use multi-ply yarns…
Foundational Knitwear Pillar Guides
Complete atelier reference manuals on custom sizing charts, yarn specifications, and how made-to-order manufacturing works.
Tall, Big & Plus Size Cashmere Sweaters
Sizes XS to 5XL, independent sleeve and torso length adjustments, and the complete measurement chart for tall and plus-size builds.
How to Choose a Cashmere Sweater
Pure Inner Mongolian cashmere vs blends, micron fineness, 2-ply twisted yarn construction, gauges (3gg–16gg), silhouette and care.
Bespoke vs Made-to-Measure Cashmere
How 1-piece minimum custom knitwear ordering works, individual flatbed panel knitting, and how it compares with ready-to-wear retail.