How to show designs without using up t-shirts

5053 Views 31 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Cattledog13, Apr 21, 2014

Cattledog13

Discussion Starter · Mar 14, 2014

I'm new to this. I've created several designs with both vinyl and embroidery and I'm happy to say they're nice and have gotten some great reviews!

My question is, as I create new designs (and I have tons in my head as I've been dreaming stuff up since I was a kid), where can I get a hold of material to press them or embroider them on rather than going through so many t-shirts? I don't want to overkill on the t-shirts and maybe not sell all of them. I've been to various trade shows for other industries and have seen t-shirt vendors display their designs either in a book or even on sheets of t-shirt type material. What would you suggest? Thanks

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

Brandz13

· #2 · Mar 14, 2014

You can go buy what we call "PELLON" you can test print on these and store. They come in pre-cut square sheets suitable for embroidery and screen prints. We use them as Masters for color matching and a solid sample .

royster13

· #3 · Mar 14, 2014

I put all my designs on shirts.....That way I have something I can sell versus something that just gets tossed out......

Brandz13

· #4 · Mar 14, 2014

Cattledog13 said:
I'm new to this. I've created several designs with both vinyl and embroidery and I'm happy to say they're nice and have gotten some great reviews! My question is, as I create new designs (and I have tons in my head as I've been dreaming stuff up since I was a kid), where can I get a hold of material to press them or embroider them on rather than going through so many t-shirts? I don't want to overkill on the t-shirts and maybe not sell all of them. I've been to various trade shows for other industries and have seen t-shirt vendors display their designs either in a book or even on sheets of t-shirt type material. What would you suggest? Thanks

Point is they do not want so many shirts.

sandmanbjj

· #5 · Mar 14, 2014

If you are in the U.S. Go to Hancock fabric (or any fabric store for that matter) and get 100% cotton canvas. It's great for embroider and I dtg print on it all the time. They have multiple colors and it's not all that expensive.

TLK

· #6 · Mar 14, 2014

So why not mock the new designs up on your computer, on tees or whatever garments you want (free). They can be printed in a catalogue if that's what you want to do? You can have some actual embroidered and heat pressed on real garments to show quality etc.

Reactions: 2

mcallister8

· #7 · Mar 14, 2014

we run all of our designs on test fabric before actual clothing, and we just purchase fabric or canvas from the discount or discontinued section of our local fabric store, we have also used old garments that were damaged or missprint and use any available space on it, you can then cut out the piece with the logo to use as display, we have used dollar store frames or embroidery hoops to display logos.

mfatty500

· #8 · Mar 14, 2014

I heat press them on a piece of felt,and use some double-sided tape. Of course you want match as close as possible to your shirt color.

W.E. Productions

· #9 · Mar 15, 2014

Cattledog13 said:
I'm new to this. I've created several designs with both vinyl and embroidery and I'm happy to say they're nice and have gotten some great reviews! My question is, as I create new designs (and I have tons in my head as I've been dreaming stuff up since I was a kid), where can I get a hold of material to press them or embroider them on rather than going through so many t-shirts? I don't want to overkill on the t-shirts and maybe not sell all of them. I've been to various trade shows for other industries and have seen t-shirt vendors display their designs either in a book or even on sheets of t-shirt type material. What would you suggest? Thanks

Do you take pics of the items you create for your customers? You could always print them up and make a portfolio of your work. Sometimes I print an extra when I create an item that I think came out really nice just to make it a sample.

Cattledog13

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 18, 2014

Thanks, everyone! You've given me some good ideas. So far I've, of course, been saving everything on a flash drive, and taking pix of all my finished work so I have something to show customers. I didn't know if there was a better way to do it. Lol! I'm always looking for a better way.

Brandz13

· #11 · Mar 18, 2014

T-Shirt Printing Trilogy Products Test Square Pellon Sheets. Black14" x 16" Sheets - Screen Printing Supplies, Machines and Equipment Store in Temecula and Murrieta, California
Your welcome... Just one of many sites.. the Pellons are pretty much the same as embroidery backing so you can embroider right on them.

Reactions: 1

bpsapparel

· #12 · Apr 10, 2014

On a side note, where do you get your vinyl designs? I'm looking for a company that can print my designs in vinyl and send back to me so I can heat transfer them.

oldsewandsew

· #13 · Apr 10, 2014

Not sure what you mean. Do you just need single color vinyl cut for you or do you want a printable vinyl and to do a multi-color design? There are companies that do both. BUT the first thing - single color vinyl is easy and pretty cheap to do yourself. The multi-color design not so much. I have the capability to do both, but have a large investment in the printable vinyl.

bpsapparel

· #14 · Apr 10, 2014

Thanks for clarifying. I am interested in the printable vinyl for multi-color design. (1) What companies do you recommend, and (2) what equipment should I invest in?

oldsewandsew

· #15 · Apr 10, 2014

Well the only company that I have used is Stahls. Great quality and service but you have to price your shirts accordingly.
I invested in a Versacamm. There are other manufacturers, but I wanted the support that came along with a Stahls company. I haven't spent time to really know the machine, so I haven't done that much on it yet. Hope that helps.

bpsapparel

· #16 · Apr 10, 2014

Yes, thanks oldsewandsew

nivniv

· #17 · Apr 10, 2014

Why don't you just place the graphic on a plain shirt using photoshop (image editing) instead of printing it?

Maxzarmar

· #18 · Apr 10, 2014

If you are looking for someone to print on vinyl for you I can do that. I have a Roland BN-20 and used it for multiple things feel free to contact me via email.

Reactions: 1

oldsewandsew

· #19 · Apr 10, 2014

Hey Nivniv, you don't mention how the graphic is supposed to get from Adobe to the shirt! If you are talking about DTG, they don't have that equipment. If you are talking about printing your own transfer off a laser, I assumed they wanted higher quality than that. Your message isn't complete in that it doesn't make sense to me.

sandmanbjj

· #20 · Apr 11, 2014

He/she is saying just photoshop your design on to an image of a t shirt. They can see how it will look on a t shirt.
Maybe print up (on paper) the images and put them in a book.

I know this doesn't address how it will ACTUALLY look and feel on a shirt, but it's a way to showcase your designs

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

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