Woven shirt is puckering after wash.

[Mike Garber]

I using a 3.1oz backing on dress shirts.
It looks good after I take it off the machine, but, after washing it puckers. The shirts are 4.5ox, 55/45. Could the backing be shrinking?

Thanks,
Mike

[Greenwing]

Do you have a lot of satin stitching?
If so you may need more underlay to prevent it from pulling when it is washed.

Other then that Guess I would have to see the design.

[Ballyhoo]

I bought some cutaway backing from AllStitch a few years ago. It has some reinforcing threads going through it. I don't remember what the number was, but I heat pressed something with that backing and had some big time puckering. I tried various heat settings with more plain sheets and it puckered every time. Now I have just about used it up while testing designs.

[Mike Garber]

This is SureStitch and I have a bunch of it.
I assume it is wet laid. Was using backing from Melco Mart before they closed and don't remember having this problem.

[Mike Garber]

The design is a fill with text on top.
I've noticed it on other designs also without fill.

[Maureen]

If those are Sanmar Easy Care, the shirts themselves shrink pretty bad.

[Mike Garber]

They are Easy Care. 55/45 shouldn't shrink should it? I didn't suspect the shirt. I have been struggling with polyester polos also. I'm considering my stitch length in fills being too long. I've been using 38-44pts. Is that short enough?

Thanks,
Mike

[Maureen]

The shirts shrink. Try one.

[ckramer]

On the poly polo's consider using a mesh cut away or fusible mesh. Makes a big difference.

[Mike Garber]

Thanks, will try the mesh cut away.

Maureen, is there a woven line you use that doesn't shrink?

Thanks,
Mike

[Maureen]

I usually do only a couple at a time and rinse and dry them first. I would be interested in hearing from other people on which brand is best.

[flebow]

Your problem may be that you shirts are shrinking 4-5% A 3 oz "wet laid A ' stabilizer shrinks less than 1%.
As suggested try the no show nylon mesh (its best for polos anyway) This will give a little (shrinkage is also 3-5%) or you can preshrink the mesh - not the fusible mesh , with steam if you preshrink your shirt. Try it noth ways
Also use a tearaway stabilizer behinhd the mesh for added punch to defimnition
Pls e-mail me off list if you want samples.

Fred

[Mike Garber]

Fred,

Thanks for the input. Preshrinking is hard when doing many shirts. The nylon mesh doesn't seem as stable as the 3 oz cutaway so I have never used it on wovens, but, I will try.

Thanks,
Mike