| Now that you've got a great-looking logo, lettering, or | | | | And, even if they do, what good is a shrunken |
| other graphic embroidered on your shirt, sweatshirt, or | | | | garment that's too small for you? |
| jacket, how do you keep it looking great? | | | | How do you know what combination your embroiderer |
| The easy answer is also the most obvious: wash and | | | | has used for your garment? You don't! |
| dry according to the label directions. | | | | Chances are that she uses polyester thread for |
| Problems with good embroidery don't come up | | | | embroidering. Besides not shrinking, polyester is more |
| frequently. When they do, it's usually because the | | | | color-fast, and has better sheen than cotton thread. It |
| customer didn't follow the directions recommended by | | | | preserves the appearance of the design longer. But |
| the manufacturer. | | | | your decorator may use cotton. Each has her own |
| Threads used in embroidery can be either cotton or | | | | preferences, and everyone can give you good |
| polyester. Cotton shrinks when not washed properly. | | | | reasons why they prefer one over the other. |
| Polyester doesn't. Polyester embroidery on polyester | | | | So what do you do? Do you need to talk to your |
| shirts doesn't cause problems. | | | | embroiderer about the possible combinations? |
| Problems can result when cotton embroidery thread is | | | | Well, you could. Some people do like to know every |
| used on a polyester garment, or when a cotton | | | | detail of their projects. And, if you're that type, that's |
| garment is embroidered with polyester thread. When | | | | okay. But that's not a conversation that's necessary. |
| improperly washed, cotton embroidery thread on a | | | | You might even come across as micro-managing. |
| polyester garment can cause puckering. This is due to | | | | Remember, the majority of shops are |
| shrinkage of the embroidery while the garment stays | | | | owner-operated, usually with the owner as the sole |
| the same. On the other hand, an improperly washed | | | | operator. They're independent entrepreneurs that don't |
| cotton garment can shrink while its polyester | | | | always take well to what they perceive as excessive |
| embroidery doesn't, again distorting the design relative | | | | control by the customer. |
| to the garment. | | | | Rather than potentially antagonizing your embroiderer, |
| Now you'd think that cotton-on-cotton would be no | | | | all you really have to do is to follow the directions on |
| problem, because both the shirt and the embroidery | | | | the garment's label. The garment won't shrink, it will hold |
| thread would shrink, but would stay the same size | | | | its color and shape longer, and your embroidered |
| relative to each other. | | | | design will outlast whatever it's been put on. |
| But that's not necessarily the case. The thread and the | | | | You took the trouble, and paid a good price to have |
| shirt will definitely come from different lots of cotton | | | | your shirt, jacket, sweatshirt, or cap embroidered. Don't |
| fabric, and they won't have identical properties. So, | | | | take shortcuts, and you'll be happy with it for a long |
| they probably won't shrink at the same rate, either. | | | | time. |