wet suits

[Wishes]

Does anyone do embroidery on wet suit fabric or accessories. I need suggestions for a wet shoe that doesn't need to be waterproof but is made of the same kind of fabric. Thanks Margaret

[signman]

The fabric is neoprene, and comes in several weights (thicknesses) for insulation value. If you are lucky you might find some at a fabric store to practice on. I screenprint on it every year for a diving goggle maker-they have custom shaped 'straps' made out of it and the 'cutout' is merrowed by someone in Florida. So I know it can be sewn on. I am pretty sure we put one under the amaya once just to see what happens. It will 'pucker' like sewing on foam baseball hat if your density is too tight-and also-if the stitching is too close you can 'rip' the logo right out like a perforated patch. Most of what they supply for me to print has a layer of neoprene and then a 'mesh' layer bonded to the back so the merrow won't pull out-that's the good material you want.
I wear wetsuits and 'drysocks' when I kayak-and I know the footwear is 'loose'-it doesn't get stretched out much. But the paddling gloves all 'popped' along the stitching for the fingers, and the wetsuit has 'holes' opening up at the ends of the zipper where it gets a lot of 'pull'. (yeah, I need to lose a few pounds before I wear it again-no kayaking this year because of surgery so I have some time to slim down!)
But it can be sewn...just practice and take it careful!

[Steve I]

Margaret,

I have some or you can pick it up at tempe sales.
if you use the same settings as you do with the puff foam you should be ok if the neoprene has a backing.

Steve
Trinity Embroidery