Hooping T-shirt Backs

[Linus]

Hello all,
I am doing some t-shirt backs for a fire department with reflective lettering. Any ideas to consistently hoop the backs so they are centered with a 11x17 hoop?

Thanks,
Linus

[Juli in Kona]

I would definitely mark the shirt with chalk or something. Lay a yardstick down, after you have found the center, and run a long line down and across the shirt. I would use an iron=on stabilizer or spray glue. I use 505 and never have trouble with the needles getting gummed up. I have all my hoops marked with a Sharpie so I know where the centers of the sides are. Match the marks on the hoop to the marks on the shirt and you will hoop perfectly every time.

Juli in Kona

[Theresa S.]

If you are not using a hooping device definitely measure and mark with chalk or a water soluble fabric marker as Julie suggests. I smooth it out flat, then measure from the point right under the armpit. That's usually the widest point...mark horizontal line, then mark middle and make vertical line. I use quilter's rulers as they are clear and wide, so you can make sure it's straight. Ditto marking the hoops with a Sharpie...

[Linus]

What hooping device could I use? The All-in-one hooper?

[Dorothy Compton]

Once you've marked center on the shirt and you've hooped it straight (both described above), hopefully your design is not so big that you have a little play so you can move the hoop a bit to the right/left and/or up/down to place your needle center on your mark.

Dorothy Compton, Owner
Bee Embroidered
www.BeeEmbroidered.com
(916) 635-7467

[signman]

If you are buying standard teeshirts from a distributor like Sanmar, Alpha, etc.-all the big names (Hanes, Gildan, Jerzees) all will have a 'printers fold' down the back and front...if you know what to look for in the material-there is a visible 'crease' that is the center of the shirt. Sometimes you need to get at the right angle in the light. I see it by 'not' looking for it but looking at the full service and my eye will pick up the different light reflection. That's the 'line' that screenprinters use to line up a shirt on the pallet. That's how we can line up a shirt dead center in a second. My pallets are white, coated with transfer tape to accept hold down adhesive-and before spraying the adhesive we use a teesquare to mark the center height and width on the pallet, plus other reference bars for spacing up or down. As you pull the shirt over the pallet in one motion you can see the line and the printers fold and snap the shirt right to it. Black can be difficult but it's still easy.
If we aren't using the hoopmaster, we use one arm of my screenpress because it's already marked and we're used to it...so we can center the hoop on the marking, lay down the 'inside hoop' and snap the shirt down in place, press on the top of the hoop and bingo...instant lineup. Works great on jackets and bulky sweats for full back work.
Roland