Introduction

T-shirts are all-time favorites for most of us, isn’t it? After all, what could be a handier and more comfortable option than this as a regular wear? Irrespective of whether you are a male or a female, a teenager or an office-goer, a retired employee or a home maker, t-shirts must be your favorites. If you are planning to get a t-shirt embroidered, here are some of the tips you should be aware of after getting your embroidery digitizing from a reliable source.

1. Choose better quality – Choosing a good quality t-shirt is important as you get only what you pay for. Be sure to choose a good quality shirt. Keep in mind that the heavier cotton blends the stitch better, as compared to the lightweight shirts.

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2. Pre-wash – Even if you buy a no-shrink cotton piece of cloth, it can shrink after a wash. So, be sure to wash and dry the shirt before you embroider it. Even a perfect embroidery design can pucker if the fabric under it shrinks slightly.

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3. Stabilize properly – If you are embroidering a t-shirt for wearing it, be sure not to tear it. Remember that the key rule is to stabilizing a cloth. Be sure to use a cut-away stabilizer, and try to get a fusible no-show mesh. These keep the knits from getting out of shape and ensure that the embroidery stays in its proper place. Be sure to turn the shirt inside out and fuse a mesh that is larger than the size of the hoop. Also, ensure the shirt is snug in the hoop, and not pulled.

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4. Use the correct thread and needle – While embroidering t-shirts, consider using ball point needles. Try to use the smallest needle. Since these shirts are washed and worn extensively, consider using polyester thread as it doesn’t fade and is resistant to bleach.

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5. Use light design – To begin with, choose designs that have a lot of open area. Prefer light designs as the heavy ones make the shirts lumpy and stiff. What’s worse, such heavy and intricate designs pucker around the edges most of the times since the fabric can’t offer them adequate support.

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6. Add a topper – Consider using a water-soluble topper as it helps perfect the embroidery design. Be sure to place a layer of a water soluble film that is quite thin. You should place it over the embroidery area and pin it in place. It helps you to keep the threads on top of the knits, thus ensuring a professional presentation. Once you are done, remove the excess layer by washing it off.

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7. Baste in the hoop – If you are using an embroidery machine with a basting stitch, be sure to make use of it. This will keep the water-soluble topping in proper place. It will also help tack the shirt to the stabilizer and restrict design shifts.

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8. Test stitch – Before doing the final embroidery on a t-shirt, keep a stained shirt for test stitching. Make sure it’s of similar weight as that of the new shirt. Consider hooping the t-shirt several times until it’s not at all useful. During the process, you can also check out the combination of the thread, design and stabilizer.

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9. Remove excess stabilizer – Once you are done with the embroidery, trim the stitches and the round edges carefully. If you are worried regarding the irritation of the thread and stabilizer on sensitive skin, be sure to cover it with a fusible backing.

10. Press from the back – When the process is completed, consider pressing back of the embroidery area gently, using a press cloth. This will help release the hoop marks and wrinkles, if there are any, which were caused in course of the embroidery work.

Now that you have got an insight about what goes into the making of an embroidered t-shirt, get one of your choice that’s customized to fit your requirements. You can then proudly flaunt it at a sport or a special event.