Most people describe a sweater by one thing — “crewneck” or “cardigan” — without realizing those two words are answering completely different questions. One is about the neckline, the other is about how the front closes, and a single sweater can be both at once. This guide breaks sweaters and cardigans down by the three things that actually distinguish one from another: neckline, closure style, and knit pattern, since those categories overlap constantly rather than sitting in neat, separate boxes.
What this guide covers: neckline styles, closure and front styles, knit patterns and textures, sweater vests, fabric types, wholesale buying, decoration, and a brand comparison.
How This Guide Is Organized
A crewneck can be a cable knit. A sweater can be a quarter-zip. A shawl-collar sweater can be made from the same acrylic-blend fabric as a plain pullover. Because these categories genuinely overlap rather than describing mutually exclusive products, this guide splits sweaters into three separate axes — neckline, closure, and knit pattern — so each one can be compared on its own terms instead of forcing every sweater into a single label that only tells part of the story.
Neckline Styles
Crewneck
A crewneck sits close to the base of the neck in a simple round shape, which is why it’s the default style most sweater lines build around first. It layers cleanly under a jacket or over a collared shirt without adding bulk at the neck.
V-Neck
A V-neck opens into a point at the chest, which makes it a common choice specifically for layering over a collared shirt or tie, since the collar stays visible instead of getting covered. The Port Authority SW300 Value V-Neck Sweater and Port Authority LSW285 V-Neck Sweater use this construction and are available in men’s and women’s styles, and the Harriton M420 Men’s Pilbloc V-Neck Sweater and its women’s counterpart, the M420W, add a slightly denser knit for more structure.
Turtleneck and Mock Neck
A turtleneck folds a high collar up the neck for real warmth, while a mock neck gives the same silhouette without the fold, sitting shorter and less bulky. The Port & Company PC61M Men’s Mock-Turtleneck is an example of the shorter mock-neck construction.
Cowl Neck
A cowl neck drapes loosely rather than fitting close to the skin, giving a soft, folded look at the front of the neck instead of a fitted collar. The J America JA8653 Women’s Relay Cowl Neck and JA8930 Zen Fleece Cowl Neck both use this looser drape, and the JA8930 specifically swaps a traditional knit for a 7 oz. fleece base, which reads more casual than a classic wool-style cowl.
Shawl Collar
A shawl collar folds flat and wraps continuously around the neck into a V-shaped front, without the notch or lapel break you’d see on a blazer. The Devon & Jones DP462W Women’s Perfect Fit Shawl Collar Cardigan uses this construction, giving a more tailored, finished look than a plain round or V-neck front.
Closure and Front Styles
Pullover
A pullover has no front opening at all — it goes on over the head, full stop. Most crewneck and V-neck sweaters on this list fall into this category by default, since a closure isn’t part of the design at all.
Cardigan (Button-Front, Open-Front and Zip-Front)
A cardigan opens fully down the front, and the actual closure varies more than the word “cardigan” implies. The Port Authority L515 Women’s Modern Stretch Cotton Cardigan and LM1008 Concept Stretch Button-Front Cardigan use a traditional button closure, while the LSW289 Women’s Open Front Cardigan skips buttons entirely for a waterfall-style front that’s meant to hang open rather than close. The LK5431 Women’s Bomber Cardigan takes a third approach with a zip front, borrowing its silhouette from a bomber jacket rather than a traditional knit cardigan. On the men’s side, the Harriton M425 Pilbloc V-Neck Button Cardigan Sweater combines a V-neck opening with a full button front, showing how neckline and closure genuinely stack rather than compete.
Quarter-Zip, Half-Zip and Full-Zip
These three differ only in how far the zipper runs. A quarter-zip stops at the upper chest, a half-zip runs roughly to mid-chest, and a full-zip opens the entire front like a jacket. The Port Authority SW2900 Easy Care 1/4-Zip Sweater and SW2901 Easy Care Full-Zip Sweater share the same fabric across both zip lengths, and the SW290 Men’s 1/2-Zip Sweater sits at the midpoint. The Devon & Jones DG792 Bristol Sweater Fleece Quarter-Zip and DG793 Bristol Full-Zip Sweater Fleece Jacket apply the same logic to a heavier sweater-fleece hybrid fabric rather than a traditional knit.
Knit Patterns and Textures
Cable Knit
A cable knit uses raised, twisted stitches that mimic the look of a rope woven vertically up the sweater, giving real dimensional texture rather than a flat surface. It’s one of the more recognizable knit patterns by sight alone, and it tends to run slightly heavier than a plain knit simply because of the extra yarn density needed to create the raised pattern.
Marled and Heathered Knits
A marled knit twists two or more yarn colors together before knitting, giving a mottled, flecked appearance instead of one flat color. The Port Authority LSW415 Women’s Marled Cardigan Sweater and LSW416 Marled Cocoon Sweater both use this technique, and it reads as more textured and less uniform than a solid-dyed sweater in the same silhouette.
Interlock and Ribbed Knits
An interlock knit uses a double-layer construction that resists curling at the edges, giving a cleaner finish than a single-layer knit. The Port Authority L807 Women’s Interlock Cardigan uses this build specifically to keep its open-front edges lying flat rather than rolling.
Vertical Texture Knits
Raised, textured knit patterns add visual depth without changing the sweater’s basic silhouette. The Port Authority K805 Men’s Vertical Texture 1/4-Zip Pullover uses a raised vertical pattern across the body, giving a plain pullover more visual interest than a completely flat knit would.
Sweater Vests
A sweater vest takes any of the above necklines and simply removes the sleeves, which changes the use case more than it might seem — a vest layers over a long-sleeve shirt without adding bulk at the arms, which a full sweater can’t do. The Harriton M415 Men’s Pilbloc V-Neck Sweater Vest and M415W women’s version, along with the Port Authority SW2860 Men’s Easy Care Sweater Vest, all apply this logic to sweater styles that also exist as full-sleeve versions in the same line, which makes it easy to match a vest and a full sweater from the same fabric and color family for a layered look.
Fabric and Material Guide
| Fabric | Best For | Main Advantage | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Everyday wear | Soft, breathable | Can shrink, holds moisture |
| Acrylic | Easy-care sweaters | Lightweight, colorfast | Less natural feel |
| Cotton-polyester blend | Uniform programs | Balances comfort and durability | Less breathable than pure cotton |
| Polyester/spandex | Fitted or performance-leaning styles | Adds stretch | Less breathable than cotton |
| Sweater fleece | Cold-weather layering | Warm and structured | Heavier than a standard knit |
Fabric weight matters more than most buyers check upfront — a lightweight cotton sweater and a heavyweight sweater-fleece hybrid can look similar in a product photo but perform completely differently once actually worn outdoors.
Buying Sweaters and Cardigans Wholesale
Blank sweaters and cardigans carry no minimum order, so a single piece is available at the same wholesale pricing structure as a larger order with pricing improves as per order quantity. A few styles in this category, including the Spyder S16561 and Columbia 1411621, are sold only with customization rather than as blanks, so it’s a good idea to check a specific style’s listing before assuming every sweater on this list ships blank. Sizing runs from XXS through 6XL depending on the style and brand, giving programs a wide range to outfit without splitting an order at GotApparel.
Decorating Sweaters and Cardigans
Embroidery is the standard choice for sweater decoration, since a stitched logo holds its shape on knit fabric better than a printed design would. Cotton and cotton-blend sweaters take embroidery cleanly on the left chest, while sweater-fleece hybrids like the Bristol and Arc lines handle it the same way a fleece jacket would. Screen printing is less common on sweaters generally, since the knit texture of most styles doesn’t hold flat ink as evenly as a woven or jersey fabric would. At GotApparel, as low as 6-piece minimum applies to custom decoration orders, mixable across styles, colors and sizes.
Brand Comparison for Sweaters and Cardigans
| Brand | Known For | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Port Authority | Widest range — V-neck, cardigan, zip styles, sweater vests | General wholesale ordering across most use cases |
| Devon & Jones | Bristol sweater-fleece hybrid line, shawl collar cardigans | Business casual and cold-weather layering |
| Harriton | Pilbloc V-neck sweaters, vests, and button cardigans | Uniform programs needing consistent fit across styles |
| Spyder | Premium half-zip sweaters, customization-only | Corporate branding with a higher-end finish |
| Columbia | Half-zip sweaters, customization-only | Outdoor-brand-adjacent corporate programs |
| Boxercraft | Cuddle-fabric sweaters and sweater polos | Retail and gift-oriented soft goods |
| District | Tri-blend hooded cardigans | Casual, streetwear-leaning programs |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of sweaters are there?
Sweaters break down along three overlapping categories — neckline (crewneck, V-neck, turtleneck, cowl, shawl collar), closure (pullover, cardigan, zip styles), and knit pattern (cable, marled, ribbed, textured) — so the real number depends on how many combinations of those three you count separately.
What are some other names for sweaters?
Common alternate terms include jumper (used in the UK and Australia), pullover, and knit top, though “jumper” means something different in American English, where it typically refers to a sleeveless dress.
What are the different types of winter sweaters?
Winter warmth comes from two separate things: fabric weight and construction. A heavier fabric like sweater fleece traps more warmth regardless of style, while turtleneck and shawl-collar necklines add coverage at the neck specifically, on top of whatever the base fabric already provides — combining both is what makes a sweater genuinely built for cold weather rather than just cool-weather layering.
What are the different types of women’s sweaters?
Women’s sweaters cover the same neckline and closure categories as men’s, but styles built specifically for women, like the Port Authority open-front and bomber cardigans, are cut on separate patterns rather than sized down from men’s blocks.
Does GotApparel’s sweater size chart run accurate?
Sizing varies by brand and style, so checking the specific chart on the product page for the sweater you’re ordering is the safest approach — fit can differ meaningfully between a fitted cardigan and a relaxed pullover even within the same size label.
Whether it’s one cardigan for a retail order or a full staff program spanning quarter-zips to sweater vests, the right style comes down to matching neckline, closure, and fabric to how it’ll actually be worn — not just picking whatever looks warmest on the rack. Reach our support team at support@gotapparel.com or 1-866-847-8678, or the decoration team at decoration@gotapparel.com / 1-866-217-1729.