Knitting Technician - 1st Shift

Join a legacy of excellence at Saint Croix Inc., where for over 65 years we’ve set the standard in luxury sportswear. Founded and still proudly headquartered in Winona, Minnesota, we are known worldwide for our handcrafted garments that combine innovative technology with timeless craftsmanship.

About the role

As a Knitting Technician within a fashion brand, you will play a critical role in translating design concepts into high-quality knit fabrics. You will be responsible for operating and maintaining knitting machinery, ensuring fabric samples and production runs meet design and quality standards. You’ll collaborate closely with the knitting programmer, design, development, and production teams to help bring fashion collections to life through innovative knit structures and techniques. This is a 1st shift, full-time, on-site position working 40 hours per week, with overtime as required.

Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and maintain flatbed or circular knitting machines to produce samples and production fabrics in line with design briefs.
• Interpret technical knit specifications from knitting programmers, designers, and product developers, translating them into machine settings.
• Troubleshoot knitting issues and machine faults quickly to maintain production timelines and quality.
• Monitor all machines to ensure they are running at peak efficiency without compromising quality.
• Conduct fabric testing and adjustments to ensure visual and tactile qualities (e.g., hand, drape, stretch, density) align with the brand's standards.
• Perform regular preventive maintenance on machines to ensure continuous, high-quality output.
• Maintain clear records of machine settings, yarn usage, sample development, and production outcomes.
• Verify proper yarn inventory for work orders, such as fiber content and color/dye lot consistency.
• Participate in quality control processes to inspect finished knit pieces for defects or inconsistencies.
• Stay informed about emerging knitting technologies and trends in knitwear manufacturing.
• Assist in training new technicians and retraining existing technicians or operators.
• Work with Floor Supervisors to maintain a safe and enjoyable work environment.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned or apparent.

Requirements

• Technical diploma or certificate in textile engineering, knitwear technology, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience operating knitting machines within a fashion or apparel manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of knitwear construction, yarn types, and garment finishing processes.
• Proficiency with knitting machinery such as Stoll or similar.
• Ability to interpret knitwear tech packs and garment specifications.
• Attention to detail and sensitivity to fabric aesthetics and brand identity.
• Basic computer skills, especially for machine programming interfaces and record-keeping.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and prioritization skills.
• Strong problem-solving, deductive reasoning, and decision-making skills.
• Attendance is an essential function of the position.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English.

Preferred: Certification from an accredited Stoll Training Center. Experience in sampling and rapid prototyping for seasonal collections. Understanding of garment production lifecycles from sampling to bulk production.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Regularly required to stand for extended periods of time (8-10 hours).
• Good vision, including strong peripheral vision when working on knitting beds, ability to differentiate color, and see fine details in knit structure.
• Good hand-finger dexterity to tie strings and replace needles.
• Frequently talk and hear to coordinate day-to-day knitting activities.
• Must be able to reach above your head to string up machines.
• Must be able to squat to inspect knits and maintain the machine.
• Lift 5-10 pounds regularly; occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Occasionally operate copier, computer, and other office equipment.
• Need to lift or move yarns and fabric rolls.