In recent years, heat-applied decorations have been sighted all over the country. From a raised, rubbery logo on a jacket from The North Face, to a stretchy, smooth design on an OGIO performance polo. Embroidery for branding has been replaced by these newer, heat-applied objects. Today we’re going to dive into this topic to uncover: … Continued

Looking for a little boost in sales? Workwear uniforms are worthy of a concentrated effort. Coming out of the pandemic, U.S. jobs increased by 379,000 in part due to returning service and restaurant workers. Now is a perfect time to focus on workwear that is decoration-friendly and that holds up to the demands and the … Continued

In our last article we took a look at how to embroider decorations on a bag with heavy fabric, like our new bags from Carhartt. This time let’s move on to heat transfer, and how to make it work on a fabric that is water-resistant. Carhartt bags have a Rain Defender water-resistant coating, but that … Continued

Bags with heavy fabric and small pockets can be tricky and may require special set-ups to achieve success. There are many variables to consider! The decorator’s equipment, accessories and supplies all play a crucial role in both embroidery and heat transfer. The two basic techniques that you’re going to rely on for Carhartt bags are … Continued

One of the most frequent decoration questions SanMar receives is “How do I embroider on lightweight performance fabric?” Performance knits are perhaps the trickiest substrates that embroiders work on. They come in many different brands, weights and fabric properties, but one thing remains the same: these fabrics stretch in all directions. Stretch is a big … Continued

Over the past 12 months we’ve seen an unbelievable surge in on-demand printing and DTG is taking center stage. But what exactly is on-demand printing? Think about ordering a t-shirt online. You find the brand or logo you want, the right color and size, add it to your cart and check out. Is it truly … Continued

Reading this article’s title, you might already be thinking to yourself “But I’ve been printing on polyester for years.” Think again. When it comes to heat printing polyester, there are unique challenges you might not be aware of. Polyester fabrics have changed dramatically year after year. From chemical additives for controlling odor and managing moisture, … Continued

Second only to questions about a shop’s ability to run a job is a customer’s need for effective communication about whether their project is on schedule for completion. The ability to meet that need typically starts the moment the product arrives at the shop door. However, within the industry, checking in product is not a … Continued

If you have been screen printing for more than a few years, then you have likely encountered your share of challenges: dye migration, scorching, under curing, etc. Most of those challenges seem to have a straightforward cause and effect but there is something extra frustrating about the five-piece puzzle that is ghosting. Let’s define what … Continued

Neck gaiters are growing in popularity and are usually made from 100% polyester, which makes them ideal for sublimation. We’ve fielded many questions about how to sublimate gaiters all over without gaps or white seams showing. Some gaiters are completely tubular (no sewn seam) and some have a seam down the back or side. The … Continued