Patches

[Stubbytails]

Morning AU's,
I have just received an order for patches...MY FIRST FOR PATCHES! Is there a recommended base fabric used what weight, what do you use to seal the back? My design is 22000 stitch, 12 color. I've stitched it testing and it takes 32 minutes at 400 without breaks. I'm sure I can open up to 800 without issue?
I'm loving the orders but still a newbie afraid of making mistakes, the information I have gotten here has been so helpful. Thank You

[signman]

You should be able to run up to 11,000 or 12,000 if the design is good...our average setting on most flat textiles (not hats) is 12,000.
The only patches I do in-house are short runs for Boy Scouts because I can get the blanks from them and normally it's Patrol Mascots-so maybe 10-15 at a time. Anything else, 50 or more-I send to EMT company and let them do it for a fraction of the price of doing it yourself. (your TIME is your MONEY-you should be charging enough to have a gross of $40-$50 PER HOUR). So two patches an hour-they should be selling for $20 each...
IF you have an order of 50 or more...do the design and test it in-house-then send it out to a commercial 'patch maker' and let them handle it...you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is-and now you have all your time back to do other orders. 2 patches per hour, 50 patch order...that's 25 hours, 3 full days-to sew out.
Proof it in-house, email the design (from Designshop in the format they use) to a patch house-about an hours' work...2-3 weeks (or sometimes less) and you get a package in the mail...done.

[signman]

Oh, forgot to mention...you don't seal the backs! What you think is a 'sealer' is a liquid based adhesive for iron-on patches...and in 25 years of this-I have never had a single request for it!
All the patches we do end up on uniforms or work shirts, etc. which are TREATED for stain resistance-in other words, an iron on patch WILL NOT STAY ON the fabric and must be sewn on!

[HERB]

Roland, you need to slow your machine down. You are gonna have a melt down at 12,000.

[Stubbytails]

HA HA,
I was thinking maybe I just go a very slow machine or my software is not working right...Mine only goes up to 1200! Do many people run full open.

[signman]

jittery fingers on the keyboard this week. Had to throw out my usual keyboard last week...trying to clean out spilled barbecue sauce on it...the keyboard didn't work after washing! :-( the replacement keyboard has very stiff keys so I'm hitting them harder and constantly double hitting....
sorry!
Stubbytails...even if you set the machine at full speed, it will still slow down or speed up as it runs according to the design...only runs full speed when the computer says it can do it.
I'm running hats, unstructured, low brow, 5,000 stitch design...and set it at 1000. It's taking about 7 minutes per hat so it probably is really running at 750-850 most of the design.

[TinaK]

I just got done working with Luke at Quality Lapel Pins here has been awesome thus far! I sent out to a couple of different patch places what my clients were looking for and he is the only one that could give me what I wanted and responded back to me.

Here is his contact info:

www.QualityEmbroideredPatches.com
[email protected]

Good Luck!

[Redina]

Last year when I was newer at this I found out I was running the machine too slow, causing thread breaks and other problems. Seems that I kept making it run a little slower everytime I had a problem until it was around 800 spm. The Amaya tech said to keep it up around 1150 and it has been ever since. Sews out much better now.

[Fabrications]

Have quotes from Emblem Enterprises of CA and Stadri Emblems in NY.....anywhere else to try for a quote on 200 maltese cross patches and 50 paramedic patches?

[signman]

Try EMT (I think it is www.emteasy.com) I've used them for years and they can take your embroidery design instead of starting from scratch!
Keep in mind that Stadri will sell DIRECT to anyone for the same price. Non-profits, scout groups-the company told me when I asked about 'wholesale' that they don't discount...I've lost a lot of good patch orders because Stadri advertises in the Scout magazine direct to troops.
If someone DOES get wholesale pricing I'd be interested to know!

Roland

[Fabrications]

You are correct, Stadri will not discount prices for wholesale...I asked. That's my problem. The fire department got a quote direct from Emblem Enterprises and I'm having trouble finding a place that can beat the pricing or do wholesale pricing.
I'll try emteasy.com.....thanks!

[signman]

Sometimes I've saved an order because I can do their artwork HERE, sew out a sample, they can proof it...and EMT has fast turn around service. So I can give them 'service' and make a profit.
Don't get conned into doing the artwork or even supplying them with a COPY of your design work-they'll send it in to Stadri and cut you right out of it...your time is your money...
Had that happen several times before I put a stop to it. NO usable 'copies' leave this shop-period! All artwork I print out has 'copyright by Sunrise Graphics' and the date right across it multiple times AND they get an invoice (quote) on the spot that itemizes ARTWORK, layout, setup charges and 'fine print' of course-those charges are payable if work is done and the order canceled!
Held up in court a couple of times. Now I have a reputation of one 'not to screw with' and it hasn't happened in a few years.

[Fabrications]

Looking on the emteasy web site and can't find contact information for them. Their prices are considerably higher than the other quotes I've received....I'd like to call them.
Do you have a number for EMT?

[signman]

The prices you see are RETAIL, discount is 50% to dealers!
If you have or see a 2007 catalog, add10% to metal pins, medallions, etc. and all the PVC stuff. Patches did not go up.
Contact info:
317-803-2400

[Body Cover]

I have purchased pre sewn patches from these guys before. You have to call and get log in info but it's a good place to get flag patches and
assorted stuff that seemed pretty reasonable.

http://www.herospride.com/scripts/pr...?idproduct=168

Might give them a look for other options.

Ron