Alley Cat Bowling Shirt

[sschroed2]

I have an order to embroider 12 ALC-5 Bowlng shirt from Virginia T's (formerly Hilton Apparel). The shirt back will be a very dense design (aprrox 60,000 stitches). I've sewn the design out on cotton/poly poplin and it looks good. It's 11" by 6.5" I'm waiting for the shirts to arrive and looking for some guidance prior. I've sewn Dickies shirts before and allways have a problem with puckering. On my test of this design there's almost no puckering but don't know how the shirts wil do. Also does anyone know it washing will cause shrinkage and how it will affect the design. These shirts are going to be costly and I hate to sthink they'd be wasted after a washing. Should I launder them first?

Sue
All Custom Embroidery

[HERB]

Yup, this stuff is so easy anyone can do it. (Salesman talk) What did you sew the sample on. Is it close enough to the shirt fabric to be a good comparison? If it is then you have already passed that hurdle. If not then a trip to the fabric store is in order.
I would do the laundry first and eliminate shrinkage as an issue. You have done all your homework, take it one step at a time and you will be fine.

[sschroed2]

Thanks for the response Herb. I don't have the shirts yet so cant compare. Descriptions says it's 65% poly 35% cotton poplin. The material I test sewed on is a cotton poly, but not sure if it's the same percentage.

As for hooping, I know it's suppose to be tight but not too tight, etc. But I notices with the dickie shirts that to help eliminate some of the puckering I had to hoop tighter, but never could get rid of all the pukering. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Sue