Don’t confuse material weight of a shirt with quality

It’s a question that comes up with customers.  For generations, it has been engrained in our national psyche that the weight of something is a reflection of the quality of that item.  For the most part the perception is the heavier something weighs, the better the quality of that item.

That is only natural as in many cases; weight really can be a reflection of quality.  But in the case of material specifically used to make shirts, weight is not necessarily a reflection of quality.

In nearly all of the product descriptions on our website Thread Logic, you will see the weight of the material.  We provide that information as a way for customers to use as a point of comparison for shirts.  In addition, customers have a better understanding of the kind of shirt they are looking at.  Some of our customers live in warm climates and want a lighter weight material.

However, just because a polo shirt has a material weight of 7 ounces does not mean the material is a better quality than one that weighs 5 ounces.  It just means that the 5 oz. shirt is a lighter weight material than the 7 oz. shirt-nothing more.

So how does one compare shirt quality?  One of the best reflections of shirt quality is the price.  Like something things, you get what you pay for.  And logo embroidered apparel is no different.

For example, the NIKE Dri-fit golf shirt that sells for $45.75 including the embroidery of your logo.  The material in this shirt weighs 4.4 oz.  Here is another golf shirt, that with the embroidery of your logo sells for $23.25 and it weighs 5.6 oz.  Which shirt is better quality shirt?  Not the heavier one.  It is the more expensive NIKE shirt.

So when comparing shirts, whether they are golf polo shirts, button downs or even sweatshirts, use the material weight for the purposes it is intended and not as a way to measure quality.

How long should it take to get an order of logo embroidered apparel?

We live in a “get it now” society.  Many things can be downloaded from the Internet instantly.  Orders from many companies can be shipped the same or next day. Amazon has changed and is changing the way we order merchandise and how quickly we get it.

With all of that, it begs the question of how long it takes to get an order of logo embroidered apparel. As with most things, the answer is more complicated than the question.  But we can make it very simple for you to understand.

The biggest reason is logo embroidered apparel takes longer to create-the fact everything is custom made.  Every order that leaves Thread Logic is different because it has a different logo embroidered on it.  Many companies the sell the same product, when an order is placed, they simply pull it off the shelf in the warehouse, package it and ship it out.

But because we have to embroider your order with your logo, it would be impossible for us make your custom logo embroidered shirts ahead of time and pull them off the shelf and ship them when and order is placed.

The second reason revolves around cost control and logistics reasons.  We don’t inventory any product.  When an order is placed, we have to then order those specific shirts from the supplier.  While we are able to get those orders in 1 to 3 days, that still takes some time.

Not carrying an inventory saves us a lot of money and allows us keep our prices down.   Can you imagine if we had to carry every style in every size and color?  Wow, that would be a lot of shirts and a lot of extra costs.

The final reason it can take days to ship out an order is production time.  It takes time to receive, sort and prepare garments for logo embroidery even before they are embroidered.  Then it takes some time to make sure the logo is going to embroider on the shirts exactly the way you want it to.

At Thread Logic, we are shipping orders of custom embroidered logo apparel in 8 to 10 business days.  In this industry that is better than average.  Some companies are able to do it a little faster and most not as fast.  In fact, almost every day we hear from customers who regularly have to wait 4 weeks or more for their order.

We work very hard to create processes and procedures that keep an order moving through the system as quickly as possible.  Yes, when compared to ordering non-custom products, the turnaround time for custom logo embroidered apparel can be longer.  But when compared with other companies providing this service, we are doing it faster than most.

What’s are the differences in fabric for dress shirts?

Shopping for a dress or buttoned down shirt that can be embroidered with your logo can be a daunting task.  There is so much to consider.  There are colors, feature like easy care, wrinkle resistant, stain resistant, collar types, etc. would make anyone confused.  But then there is the fabric to consider.

The fabric discussion alone is enough to put most people in a tailspin.  The fabric you choose can make the difference between a good shirt choice and a not so good shirt choice.  So that’s why we put together this easy to understand information on fabric types.

It should help you choose the right fabric for your logo embroidered shirt.

Broadcloth

Broadcloth: very similar to poplin–is a tightly woven fabric with a very simple over-under weave and slight sheen, which makes it very dressy. Broadcloths are great for guys looking for as little texture as possible. They are generally a thinner, lighter fabric. (S608)

Chambray

Chambray: Chambray is a plain weave fabric.  That means it has a similar construction to broadcloth, though it is generally made with heavier yarns for a rugged, blue-collar workwear appeal. Generally there will be white threads running in the weft/width direction such that the fabric has an inconsistent color to it.  A chambray is generally heavier and more appropriate for casual wear than dress. (W380)

Denim

Denim: We all know denim as the fabric of our jeans.  But construction wise, denim is a twill fabric.  A sturdy, possibly coarser twill.  For the most part thought, you’re mostly going to find much softer, lighter versions of the fabric then what your jeans are made of. (SP10)

Dobby

Dobby:  Dobby (which is very similar to Jacquard, although technically different) can vary widely. Some versions are quite similar to broadcloth in terms of thickness and weight, while others can be thicker or woven to almost look like twill. Many dobby fabrics have stripes woven into them, although some are solid colors. The solid colors tend to have a faint stripe or dotted patterns woven in the same color as the base cloth.

End-on-End:  End-on-end broadcloths are a very popular type of dress shirt fabric with a distinct contrast coloring. Woven with colored thread in the warp and white thread in the weft, it looks like a true solid from a distance, but has more texture when seen from up close. Typically a lighter weight fabric, it’s a great choice for those living in warmer climates.

Oxford

Oxford:  Oxford is very similar to pinpoint oxford, except it uses a slightly heavier thread and looser weave. It has a slightly rougher texture but is more durable than most fabrics. A symmetrical basket weave where one yarn may cross two yarns. Oxford cloth has recently become quite popular used in casual button down oxford shirts. (8970)

Pinpoint Oxford 

Pinpoint Oxford: Pinpoint (also referred to as pinpoint oxford) has the same weave as oxford cloth, although it uses a finer yarn and tighter weave. It is more formal than oxford cloth, but less formal than broadcloth. Pinpoint fabrics are generally not transparent and are slightly heavier and thicker than broadcloths. Because of their heavier construction, pinpoints are fairly durable fabrics. A great choice for business shirts. (RH240)

Nailhead

Nailhead Woven: Consists of a solid background and color with little pinheads’ (or small nailheads) of fabric spaced at regular (and very small) intervals. The effect of this pattern is that the background color tends to overshadow the nailhead pattern.  (RH370)

Royal Oxford

Royal Oxford:  Royal Oxford is what we call a “pretty fabric”. Although the name is similar, it is not at all similar to pinpoint oxford or oxford cloth. It is a dressy fabric with a distinctive shine and texture. With a more prominent weave than broadcloth or pinpoint, it’s ideal for those interested in a dress or formal shirt with visible texture. (MCW00142)

Twill

Twill: Definitely one of our favorites, twill could be the perfect dress shirt fabric. Twill is easily recognizable because it will show diagonal lines or texture. It is generally slightly shiny. Because of the diagonal texture twill is a bit softer than broadcloth and will drape more easily. Twill won’t give you the same “crisp” look that freshly pressed broadcloth can, but it’s relatively easy to iron and resistant to wrinkles.

Poplin: Poplin is so similar to Broadcloth that we decided not to distinguish between the two in our fabric descriptions.  For all practical purposes you can equate the two.  They are both a plain weave fabric that is going to be quite thin, smooth and flat.  The amount of shine on a poplin can vary from fabric to fabric.  That said, technically Poplin is different than Broadcloth in that Poplins can have different weight yarns in the warp and weft while broadcloths will have a symmetrical construction. (W100)

What’s the difference between direct embroidery and a patch?

There are a number of ways to apply an embroidered logo to a shirt or some other item.  Two of the most common are direct embroidery and embroidered patches.  There is a difference between the two.  Understanding that difference can be confusing for people because patches are generally embroidered and many people refer to direct embroidery as a patch.

The key difference is really in the way the image is applied to the shirt.

Direct Embroidery

Direct embroidery is a process of applying an embroidered logo directly to a polo shirt, cap, bag or other item. With direct embroidery, the item to be embroidered is placed in a hoop and put into an embroidery machine.

Then the logo is embroidered directly onto a shirt. Or it may be more accurate to say the logo is embroidered to become a part of the shirt. This happens because the embroidery is woven directly into the fabric.

Patches are still embroidered images, but they are different. Patches are embroidered onto a substrate of material often a number at a time-not individually like direct embroidery. Patches then lay on top of the fabric and are either ironed on or sewn on.

The most common application for a patch is on the sleeve of public safety personal like police officers, paramedics and fire fighters.

Embroidered Patch

One of the big advantages/differences of patches is that they can generally be removed from one shirt and placed on another shirt. With direct embroidery, it is very difficult and time consuming to pull out or remove the embroidered logo of a shirt without damaging it.

Another difference is the flexibility to embroider more detail. Because the substrate of a patch is more stable than the material of shirt, it offers the embroiderer the flexibility to embroider smaller details and text on the image than direct embroidery.

One of the disadvantages of a patch however is they can be heavy when placed on a shirt and it some cases it feels like you might be wearing a bullet proof shield.

A patch is also has a perceived lower value than direct embroidery. Most people would not choose to wear a patch on a nice golf shirt. Patches are best used for uniform situations like law enforcement or the military vs. branding situations like the promotion of your company.

4 reasons to consider logo embroidered backpacks

Have you noticed the number of people carrying backpacks around these days?  And it is just not students or young people.  It is business people and professionals who have once again discovered the utility and value backpacks can provide whether travelling for business or just carrying your stuff to the office each day.

In this article we will explore four reasons logo embroidered backpacks might make sense for your company or organization.

For backpacks, it all starts and ends with utility and versatility.  There are a wide range of styles and colors available.  You can find just about any pocket configuration to hold those specific items you carry around on a regular basis.  Whether it is a laptop, a tablet, files, papers, water bottles or just about anything else, you can find a backpack that will carry your stuff.

Backpacks make for a great tool to promote your brand with an embroidered logo. Most logo embroidery on backpacks takes place on a pocket.  Whether being worn on the back, over the shoulder or sitting on a seat next to you on the bus, the logo is very visible to everyone around you.  A great opportunity to build your brand.

Depending on where it is carried, a backpack will produce tens of thousands of impressions a year. And all of those impressions and exposure are good for your company and brand.

Here is something else to think about as you consider the third reason.  Most backpacks get used almost every day.  At minimum a backpack gets used a few days a week.  A custom logo embroidered polo shirt may only get worn once before it has to go into the wash.  But a back pack is always on the job, always being seen and that creates many more impressions for your brand.

Finally, logo embroidered backpacks make great gifts.  They are less likely to be rejected or disliked by people due to style, color or size when being given away. One of the challenges in giving away an embroidered polo shirt is the variety of sizes you need to fit everyone who might get one.  If someone gets a shirt as a giveaway and it is the wrong size, style or color for them, in all likelihood, they won’t wear it.

With a backpack, those problems are eliminated and it is more likely to that it will get used and carried around.

As you can see, backpacks make for great utility, exposure and value for your marketing efforts.  Consider a logo embroidered backpack today.

How hard is it to remove an embroidered logo from a shirt?

This is another question that gets asked of us often.  There are a couple scenarios where this question comes up.  The two most common are people who have a shirt they love, but it has a logo on it that they really don’t care for.

The second scenario is a company already has some logo embroidered shirts but now they have changed the name of their business or logo and want to put the new image on shirts they already have without buying new ones.

In both of those cases, it is logical to assume one option would be to remove the undesirable logo and/or replace it with a different one.

Well, as is true with many things, it is not always as easy as it may appear.

Most logos are embroidered onto shirts using a method called direct embroidery.  With the direct embroidery method, the logo is actually sewn into the material of the shirt.  The embroidered logo becomes part of the shirt or the item it is applied to.

The goal is to remove the logo without damaging the shirt or item.

Therefore removing a logo cleanly can be problematic.

This is not to say removing a logo cannot be done, it can.  But the definition of how successful one can be in removing a logo is based on a number of factors.  The first is the stability of the shirt material it is sewn onto.  Cotton knit and twill shirts work better than polyester knit shirts for example.  The second factor is the logo design itself.  If it is an image with a lot of small text and details, it is less likely the logo can be removed without damaging the shirt.

The next problem is related to the fact that thousands of holes were created in the shirt material when that logo was embroidered.  Depending on the shirt material, those holes will remain in the material after the embroidery is removed.

If you were planning on embroidering another logo onto that shirt, that certainly helps.  Now you have a chance of covering up those holes.  But if you were just going to remove that logo, chances are really good you will be able to see those holes left by the embroidery of the first logo.

Finally, it can be very time consuming to sit and pick out an embroidered logo.  How long it takes can depend on your skill level and the tools you have available.  But there is a good chance you could spend some significant time doing it and still ruin the shirt to the point where it is not wearable.

As you can see, it is really not very easy to remove an embroidered logo.  It can be done, but it is not easy and there is a good chance you will ruin the shirt in the process.  Our best advice, don’t try it.

Why does custom logo embroidered apparel take so long?

This is a question we get asked almost every day. It’s a good question and one for which there is a logical answer. 

Actually, creating custom logo embroidered apparel does not take any longer than it did ten years ago. Part of the answer is that our expectations have changed. With Amazon Prime and companies like Zappos, many of us have been trained to think items can be pulled off the shelf and shipped the same day in order to arrive the next day.

A logo being embroidered

The broadest answer to the question is that we are making a custom product. No two orders that leave our facility are the same. Everyone is different. So we are manufacturing each order to the specifications of each and every customer. That takes time and that prevents us from being able to manufacture items ahead of time so they are ready to ship out when the customer is ready to buy them. 

The second reason it takes longer is the fact that we do not carry any inventory of the items we embroider. We have to order in those items from the manufacturer when they are ordered from us by customers. We can usually get those items fairly quickly, but it does take time as we are not pulling anything off the shelves. 

One of the reasons we do it is this way is because it keeps our costs and prices down. It would be a huge expense for us to physically inventory every size and color of every shirt we offered. scanned-logo-proof Logo on a black shirt. Valencia Harvesting Original art from customer. 

Logo on a black shirt.

Original art from customer.

And finally, it takes time to set up the artwork for each specific logo that we embroider. Every logo has to go through a set-up process where we take the flat graphic image we get and create a custom image for embroidery. That process can also take a couple of days to make sure we get it right. 


So while our turnaround time of about 10 business days is among the fastest, we are not able to ship orders as fast as companies like Amazon. Primarily because they are shipping products that have already been manufactured and we are creating something custom specific to each customer’s needs.