What Golf, Polo Or Knit Shirts Can I Order For My Embroidery That Do Not Shrink?
by The Embroidery Coach · Filed Under: Apparel Decoration · Embroidery Tips · General · Uncategorized
The big question that I get a lot is What Golf, Polo, or Knit shirts can I order for my embroidery customers that will not shrink? I ordered from Sanmar and the shirts that I ordered shrank after I washed them. Who should I order from?
Actually Sanmar is about the best out there that I know of. They are very easy to deal with and offer a huge variety of products and quality. What brand did you order? That is what you are going to have to pay attention to, not the supplier. All of the knit shirts are going to shrink a little bit. This is something that is totally unavoidable. Knit shrinks no matter what, especially when it is put in the dryer. I do not care how expensive the shirt it, there will be a small amount of shrinkage. Some are a lot worse than others.
“Order 3 Different Golf, Polo Or Knit Shirts In 3 Different Qualities And Test For Shrinkage”
Try ordering 3 different shirts, 3 different qualities, all well known brands and test from there and see how you make out. How are you testing the shrinkage? Lay the shirt out on a piece of backing, I mean from a large roll and trace around it. Wash and dry it and then lay the shirt back on your drawing again and compare that way. This is how I used to test my shirts.
I always offered 3 different qualities to my customers and I told them in advance about the shrinkage. If they were more interested in price, that was their issue, not mine, they were told. Sometimes they just order the next size larger to compensate for the shrinkage. Not only does this work, but it also covers your butt, so to speak.
Good luck, and remember no matter what shirt or how much shrinkage, the shirt will always need a little press to look great! The embroidery will always pucker or cup under a little after washing and drying when you have a lot of fill stitches in the design. A little press takes care of this issue. So many embroiderers think that it is the design when this happens, but that is not necessarily true.
If this tip helps you please leave a comment and let me know! I would really appreciate it. Sometime I do not know if my information is getting to you or know. If you let me know, then that will help me to deliver the kind of information that you are looking for.
Joyce Jagger
The Embroidery Coach
12 Responses to “What Golf, Polo Or Knit Shirts Can I Order For My Embroidery That Do Not Shrink?”
Leave a Reply
 |
Joyce Jagger, The Embroidery Coach with 30 years experience in the embroidery industry is the creator of several embroidery training courses such as Embroidery Tips and More, How to Price Embroidery and currently holding an Embroidery Webinar once each month. Joyce helps aspiring and struggling embroidery business owners find the right fit for their skills and passions. |
Great article on shrinkage. I’m just starting in this business (I finally got my Happy Voyager going this weekend) so this type of information is invaluable!
Thanks again!
Thanks Joyce – this was a helpful hint for all of us. Just reaffirmed my thoughts.
thanks again,
Stitch
I have been using Outer Banks 2100 and 2400 for 10 years! LOVE THEM! They only shrink a little and retain their color!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Especially about showing 3 levels of quality and about pressing the design after laundering.
Joyce,
As you know I went through similar. The shirts were top notch and do not shrink, that is the exception. However, the design was intensive. They looked beautiful stitches out but I made up a little “Care Card” and attached it to every shirt stating their logo was beautiful and the shirt gorgeous. However, due to the intensity and fill of the design please press using something similar to a handkerchief or pressing cloth after laundering according to instructions. Their beautiful logo would once again look top notch. The owner thought that was so special and sweet (I’m not often called sweet!).
Wish I’d known this sooner.
Rosalie
Thank you everyone for the great comments, Rosalie, that is a great idea! It is a huge addition to your service that would be very much appreciated by the customer. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Joyce
Joyce, This is so funny. I just got an order for polos and I was wondering what kind was good. Cust. said they wanted good quality.
There are alot of options and I didn’t know where to start. Then I seen your e-mail on polos. Felice said she uses Outer Banks 2100&2400, so I ordered the 2100. My lucky day!!
Thanks,
Brian
Joyce, I totally agree with you about SanMar. The few times that I had an issue, they took care of it immediately.
I, too, offer my customer, “Good, Better, Best” in shirts with an explanation of each. Price is an issue for a lot of the time, but not the first concern. I explain to them that the better shirt will last longer and be more economical in the long run. After all, the embroidery costs the same, whether I put it on a $5.00 shirt or a $20.00 shirt. I find that most of my customers will choose the “Better” one.
Thank you for this article. I liked Rosalie’s idea of a care tag. I do that will my custom pieces, but now I will include a tag will all my orders.
Monique
Thank you for pointing out that it is the brand of polo,rather than the supplier, that matters. I buy brands from many suppliers, but always look for “preshrunk” in shirt descriptions and talk to reps before ordering, if the word preshrunk is not mentioned. How much shrinkage is the #1 issue that comes up with customers. Customers deserve to know what they are buying and a reputable embroiderer needs to be able to explain differences. Shrinkage is generally only a problem with 100% cotton, as the more polyester in the shirt, generally, the less shrinkage. Personally, I don’t care for the “wicking” type shirts made with poly or poly/cotton, but they are gaining rapid favor over pure cotton with many market segments. I look for ring-spun, combed, long staple, Peruvian, Egyptian, or Pima cotton when buying a 100% cotton shirt–all these terms refer to the manufacturing process of the shirt’s fabric, before it is made into a shirt. The shorter fibers, which can cause pilling and sometimes shrinkage are eliminated. The end fabric, whether knit or woven has a much better hand than the fabrics that don’t have this extra process. The 100% cotton shirt that I trust most and also wear myself is the CH100/CH100W Chestnut Hill from Broder Bros. My customers love these and so do I. They do not shrink enough to notice, and are the best high-performance polo available for the price. My reputation is at stake every time I put a beautiful logo on a shirt–it doesn’t matter how great my embroidery skills are if the shirt is of inferior quality. Customers only remember the itchy, faded, shrunken shirt! That is why I buy the better quality ones from the start.
Thank you Marjorie for all of tha great information. I really appreciate it and I know that many other embroiderers will appreciate it as well.
Joyce Jagger
The Embroidery Coach
Thanks for all the information. I sew for friends and do not have a big customer list but it is great to receive the information you provide . Do you have a surplier for cotton tea towels as I sew alot of these for our local information centre. Looking forward to your reply. Regards Marie
thanks for you help,it is very useful to me.
looking for your next article.
also you can see the burberry polo shirts,thanks!