T Shirts

[HH5131]

I have a job for T shirts. It's all custom lettering and most of the letters are small. When I sew out the sample, it's just not as nice as if it were sewn out on an oxford shirt (no stretch on oxford cloth) Can anyone give me tips on how to hoop tshirts and what kind of backing to use, etc. Will solvy help? I don't like using the sticky backing because it really gums up the needles and I get ugly thread breaks and piles, etc.
thx!

[signman]

Unfortunately, standard teeshirts (5.6-6 oz) are the absolute worst thing and cheapest thing to embroider on...just not worth doing $10 of embroidery on a $1.75 shirt! But if you can't upgrade the customer to a heavier shirt...well, double layer of mesh backing with a soft tearaway next to the shirt (so you can cut the mesh without cutting the shirt) is the only thing that's worked for me. As for small lettering...it just isn't going to do it-you'll actually see right through the shirt. But if you can't enlarge it...then get your density up to 5 or higher and don't go for 'script' or font with a serif (like the Times family) you want basic 'helvetica' fonts for small stuff. No underlayment on the lettering-only what the font calls for in the lettering chart. Your teeshirt material is only 1 thread thick...so there is nothing for embroidery to 'grab' onto!
Good luck...I do them only under protest and if I just can't get them to upgrade...but don't guarantee that it doesn't leave 'holes' around the sewing!

[Steve]

You mentioned small lettering, make sure the letters are at least 1/4" tall or they will not sew out right on your standard Hanes, Gildan, FOL, etc.

[heilman70]

Also helps to use 70/10 needles for small lettering. Good Luck!

[HH5131]

Signman, I agree, Tshirts are no good. However, I did get the heaviest weight Tshirt at 6.1oz and customer was happy with the sale that was running at the time. I did make the customer aware of tshirts being difficult to work with and don't expect perfection. I'm sewing them out now and surprisingly, they look good! I'm using 2 sheets of cutaway and solvy on top. I tried it without the solvy, and it looks much better with it. So, I have to stick with what works best on these.
I think I may try the smaller needles as well. I only have the 65/9.

[TinaK]

65/9 works great with 60 weight thread...

I do alot of t's however I don't do any small lettering on them. I use a no show mesh on them.

Good Luck!

[Steve]

I have 3 layers of clothes on today. Any T-shirt you do today would be covered up.
I'm flying to Florida in a month and it can't come soon enough.

[TinaK]

Sorry to see you wait so long to fly to Florida Steve as we leave on Saturday... Sunshine here we come!

I am sure all of us going on the cruise will be thinking about all of you that are in the bitter cold here in the states...

[Steve]

I would have gone there in the winter but airfare is a ripoff to and from Minneapolis as one airline has 90% of the gates here. Southwest has already started the 'Southwest Effect' when they start service here in March. As someone who grew up in Maryland where SWA has about 40 gates at BWI and flew Southwest many times, it can't come soon enough. I'm flying them the first week they show up. I couldn't pass up the $160 airfare to Fort Lauderdale.
Airfare the week before SWA gets here was over $400, go figure!

[TinaK]

Ah competition is good in the airline business wished they or anyone else for that matter would come to ND and do that...someday!