What is the best type of t-shirts for embroidery?

By Anonymous (not verified) on Feb 07, 2006

For such a simple thing as a t-shirt, there sure is a lot of fancy stuff to describe blank t-shirts out there. Is there any thing special I have to look for when purchasing t-shirts for custom embroidery or are all t-shirts suitable for embroidery? Thanx.

By Anonymous (not verified) on Feb 14, 2006 - 8:26 AM EST

ScottyStitches wrote:
t-shirts are really not ment to be embroidered

What do you mean by this? I embroider on tshirts all time and have not had much problem. Of course, some tshirts are better than others :p

By Marc on Feb 15, 2006 - 1:45 AM EST

Welcome Rodney :)

Candygirl, I think what ScottyStitches meant was that t-shirts or lightweight garments are not suited for full front designs. For example, try embroidering 10x10 design with 80% coverage on a lightweight t-shirt. It can be done, however it is more practical to screen print the design instead.

Rodney, I mainly look for heavyweight and preshrunk t-shirts.

By Earl Smith on Oct 2, 2009 - 6:38 AM EDT

This may be a stupid question. But arent all t-shirts pre shrunk? I thought they all started out as a Raw , natural colour shirt then they were coloured by repeatedly dying them and drying them to give them the colour. Sometimes dyed and dried 15 to 20 times the darker they get. Therefore they shrank in the process.
Or are they made from coloured thread or cloth?
Interesting to know.
Earl

Worn Id's picture
By Worn Id on Oct 2, 2009 - 11:52 AM EDT

I only stitch on t-shirts if the customer absolutely won't go any other direction.
Even the pre-shrunk will shrink over time and makes the design look like crud! I have a couple of samples of what the t-shirt will look like over time. This generally detours them to rethinking what they want done. If it is simple enough, we might cut it in vinyl, or then have gone to polos.

Laurie

WORN IDENTI-TEES
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