§1What this business is
Yarn is wound onto cones, knitted into panels on 12-gauge hand-operated flat knitting machines, checked and mended, stitched and over-locked, washed, pressed and packed. These warm knitted blouses sell in winter in cold areas. The same machines can knit other items when demand changes.
Capacity: 24,000 blouses a year.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A hosiery worker or women's group in a cold region or near a knitwear market.
Who it is not for
Someone in a warm region with no winter market nearby.
Advantages
- Low machine cost — hand flat machines
- Gives work to many local people
- The machines can switch to other knitwear
Drawbacks
- Demand comes only in winter
- Labour-heavy — 16 skilled knitters
- Competes with large knitwear clusters
Skills you need
- Flat knitting
- Over-locking and finishing
- Design and sizing
Why difficulty 2/5: Simple machines; the work is managing seasonal stock and many workers.
§3Market
Who buys
- Women in cold regions
- Garment retailers and wholesalers
- Winter-wear traders
How it sells
- Wholesale knitwear markets
- Retail shops before winter
- Seasonal fairs
Good to know
- The profile says demand rises in winter in cold areas because the blouses are cheap and easy to wash.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-operated flat knitting machine, 12 gauge, 914.4 mm | 10 | ₹1,38,000 |
| Electric winder, 6 spindles | 1 | ₹13,800 |
| Three-thread over-lock machine with motor and stand | 1 | ₹6,000 |
| Lock-stitch sewing machine | 2 | ₹7,000 |
| Electric iron, pressing and checking tables, measuring instruments | LS | ₹11,500 |
| Lab equipment (microscope, weighing balance, magnifying glass) | LS | ₹11,500 |
From: DC-MSME project profile — Knitted Blouses (Branch MSME-DI Silvassa) (2021)
- Dyed acrylic yarn, 2/32 and 2/48 count400 kg a month at ₹207/kg, including wastage
- Cotton yarn, 20s count50 kg a month at ₹104/kg
- Sewing thread, stickers, labels, polythene bags and boxes₹11,500 a month
From: DC-MSME project profile — Knitted Blouses (Branch MSME-DI Silvassa) (2021)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
PMEGP and MUDRA fit this ₹9.67 L project.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: 10 hand flat-knitting machines ₹1,38,000 + winder, over-lock and 2 sewing machines ₹26,800 + press, tables and lab equipment ₹23,000 + erection and electrification ₹18,800 + office equipment ₹23,000 + pre-operative ₹11,500 = fixed ₹2,41,100; working capital for 3 months ₹7,26,300. Total ₹9,67,400. Building rented.
Working capital: ₹2,42,100 a month: staff and labour ₹1,16,000, yarn and packing ₹99,500 (400 kg dyed acrylic yarn at ₹207/kg), washing and other expenses ₹20,000.
Profile prepared in 2021 — check current machinery and material prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council)
- Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker before shipping.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Unsold stock after the season
- Yarn price swings
- Skilled knitters leaving
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working knitted woollen-style blouses (hosiery) unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Knitted Woollen-Style Blouses (Hosiery)?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.