Terry cloth headbands

[3Deep]

We have a client that is asking us to print some terry cloth headbands, we've printed terry cloth hand towels before with one color waterbase inks and this jobs looks like a 5 color print, which I'm thinking is a no no for terrycloth headbands...embroidery sounds like a better option.

darryl

[Get Shirts]

A print would look terrible, embroidery all the way.  The problem we have had is hooping and then keeping the headband still enough to sew.  We had some luck with a a six letter word spread out across 4 inches, but nothing else.

Depending on how many you need mayor could always go custom.  Let me know if you need a contact.

[TCT]

Is cad cut heat transfer a option?

[Get Shirts]

I can't imagine anything that bonds with the surface could stretch that much without becoming distorted. 

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

I'm in the same boat as Darryl was in December.

EXCEPT....these are one color yellow bands with BLACK ink. 

AND.... they are the brainchild of the woman who raised my babies and cuts my hair.

((GRRR....))

They are for our retail fanwear room, and I don't wanna do 'em.

First option is stretch 'em around a shirtboard about the right size to give a little tension and print them on the manual with some stretch additive.  (There is a nasty seam opposite the print surface that will need some extra attention:  Spongy platen cover, or a groove--like for zippers.)

Second option is to print some transfers and let the aforementioned female find out how bad an idea it is.

Third option is to post the TSB and see what sage advice flows forth. 

Let's see whats behind door Number 3.    A brief google search didn't come up with much.

Thanks!
Stan

[Frog]

I don't know how many your nanny/barber needs, but you may want to post this over in Promotional Products, and see what a specialist would do.
I think that like suspenders, these are best done by weaving in the imprint during manufacture.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

She showed me a stack of maybe 30? 50?  I didn't discuss the number with her.

I think I might print a sheet of transfers to try out. Probably won't work.

Anybody else have a word to the wise?

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

I thought I might update this thread with my latest experience.

I printed a few one color transfers with 6 per page, and pressed them in a relaxed state at 60psi, 350° for 12 seconds and peeled hot. The headbands truly came out excellent. The paper was set up for hot split or cold peel. I don't remember the brand of the papers.

I mixed in some Stretch Additive into Wilflex Matt Black Plastisol and printed them through 110 mesh. I then Gelled the sheets to the minimum level to avoid sticking, and transferred them with no adhesive powder. I decided the opacity was mildly compromised by the stretch additive and printed some of the transfers twice. It helped, but they all looked really good.

These were yellow headbands that were similar to Cotton Tee Shirt material.

I can actually HIGHLY recommend doing them this way.

I hope this helps someone.