In this column we publish questions and answers from people in the industry. These companies are participating in a discussion group found on www.screenprinters.net. You can subscribe to the group and participate in several discussions at www.screenprinters.net.
I am embroidering on a flex-fit hat. At the same place on two hats the needle breaks and the inside of the hat feel like a wire brush. Has anyone had this problem? The design embroiders fine on backing.
* Try lightening up your density in that area of the design and also you may need to lengthen your underlay. On hats you don’t need as much underlay because the material will not stretch like a polo material so check the area that is having the needle break and see if there is too many stitches in that particular area.
* Maybe your design stitch is extra than required?
I am a digitiser and my designs pucker. Is there a solution to prevent this?
First, of course you need to have the digitising right. Second, make sure your using proper backing and the correct amount. You can actually have too much backing and that will cause puckering. Finally make sure you’re hooping the garments right, not too tight or too loose. I have learned throughout the years some logos you can’t do anything to prevent puckering especially on certain fabrics.
Is there a significant difference between rayon and polyester thread? We notice that rayon will bleed if a little too much bleach is added to white garments. Does polyester hold up better than rayon?
* Polyester thread is cheaper, runs better and is much less likely to run. It has fewer colours and less sheen but most of the colours are good although I still use rayon thread for shades of gold.
* Polyester thread holds up way better than rayon. We use polyester thread. I find it is stronger and runs better than rayon thread. We use it on chef jackets and the colour holds up to bleach.
The only downside I find is it doesn’t have the same sheen as rayon thread but they are getting better.
* Polyester thread is much stronger and thicker but has that dull quality to it. I prefer rayon thread if you are doing tone-on-tone embroidery so that you have that shine to it to make it look nice.
* I only use polyester thread. I seldom have orders that I need the rayon thread for. The strength alone is why I use it.
For white garments which will be washed a lot I would sudgest Polyester threads. Also on whites these threads does not look too dull. I am using Poly-Threads mostly for workwear and Rayon for embroideries on colored garments, because it is colorsafe detergents I would use for washing it.
Both Poly and Rayon threads getting better and better, so it is a choise you make.