Tips for stitching on Rayon Camp Shirts?

[Laughing Palm]

Hi there, folks.

I'm hoping some people out there have some tips I can take into account for an upcoming job involving large logos being stitched onto the back of 100% rayon camp shirts.

Are there specific things I should be aware of that relate to hooping, thread choices, stitch densities/angles, backing, etc, etc...??

I've seen many pre-made designs stitched onto both rayon and silk camp shirts like Tommy Bahama (and others), and they looked great, so I'm going to shoot for that type of result.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

[GF]

Well...the obvious that you probably already know would be to make sure the design is properly digitized. Hooping... for a rayon shirt, I would use a sticky-back tearaway so the owner doesn't have the stabilizer showing. I've done large designs like this and I use the Fast Frames instead of a hoop. Would love to hear about your process and anything you learn. Good luck.

[Laughing Palm]

What would you say the specifics are for "properly digitized" designs for rayon camp shirts? Density? Amount & type of underlay? Stitch lengths? I've not handled rayon shirts before, so I'm not clear what works best to avoid puckering while still providing good coverage and not becoming bulletproof.

Also, I don't believe I've ever used a sticky-back tearaway stabilizer - what do you recommend? Can it be used with a traditional hoop, or does it have to be used with something like a Fast Frames unit?

Thanks again.

Jim

[signman]

Sticky back is the only way to hoop with the fastframes, other than that, you would use it as a last resort to keep a fabric in place that won't stay still on regular backing. Spandex, stuff like that-can move and distort as you sew it even in a regular hoop or speed clamp. Using the sticky back grips it and stops it.
Regular hoops-unless you have a material like that-you wouldn't use it.
I sold off my fast frames-hadn't used them in over a year and found the speed clamp system is what we use now for over 75% of our jobs. I saved a roll of sticky back 'just in case' and once in awhile I do need to use a piece for something that just won't stay still. It's also great for cutting in 3/4" strips to wrap around your hoops to hold some material in place better.

[Laughing Palm]

What kind of speed clamp system do you use? Can it be used with Rayon without marring the fabric? Would you say that using the clamp system is BETTER for this type of job than the traditional hoop/cutaway backing combo? Would I still need to use cutaway backing with the clamping system, or would I be able to use a stabilizer that can be removed from the camp shirts? (I'm thinking that if I didn't need to leave any heavy backing on these shirts, that would be a big plus!)