Most custom clothing orders that go wrong do not go wrong at the printing stage: they go wrong before, during the brief. A logo that is too small, sizes guessed from memory, an event date shared too late. Here are the ten mistakes we see most often in the workshop, each with the simple habit that prevents it.
1. Sending a low-resolution JPG logo
By far the number one cause of back-and-forth. A logo pulled from a website is often 300 px wide: printed 25 cm across the chest, it comes out blurry and pixelated. Print size never rescues a file that is too small.
The habit: supply a vector file (SVG, AI, EPS, vector PDF) or, failing that, a transparent PNG at least 2000 px wide. Our file formats guide covers what works and what does not, and the preparing your logo guide shows how to clean it up first.
2. Choosing the technique before defining the use
"We want embroidery" is a preference, not a spec. The right technique follows from three things: the fabric, the number of colours in the artwork, and the life the garment will lead (office, building site, pitch, industrial laundry).
The habit: describe the real-world use, then let the workshop propose. To weigh it up yourself, our which technique to choose comparison sets out the criteria in order.
3. Collecting sizes "roughly"
Estimating a team's sizes from memory always produces the same outcome: too many M, not enough XL, and two people who never wear their sweatshirt. Cuts also vary between brands — a Stanley/Stella L is not a B&C L.
The habit: circulate a named list (one line per person, size picked from the size chart of the chosen model) and keep a sample to try on if the team is on site. See the sizing guide.
4. Ordering exactly one piece per person
Ordering 25 jerseys for 25 players means reordering the moment one tears or a new player joins. And a top-up of 2 pieces costs proportionally far more than 2 extra pieces added to the original run.
The habit: allow 5 to 10 % spare (at minimum one piece in every common size). The full quantity brackets are on our pricing by quantity page, and how to organise a textile reorder on its own page.
5. Confusing production lead time with delivery date
A lead time quoted in working days includes neither proof approval (which depends on you), nor transport, nor weekends. Between your "yes" and the opened parcel, the real gap is often double.
| Step | Realistic duration | Who holds the ball |
|---|---|---|
| Quote and fabric choice | 1 to 3 days | You + the workshop |
| Artwork prep and proof | 1 to 2 days | The workshop |
| Proof approval | 0 to 5 days | You |
| Production | 5 to 15 working days | The workshop |
| Transport | 1 to 3 working days | The carrier |
The habit: start from the event date and plan backwards, with one week of buffer. Our lead times guide gives the backward planning per season.
6. Forgetting that fabric colour changes the artwork
A logo designed for a white background loses its legibility on a burgundy or navy hoodie. Light greys disappear, gradients close up, and a logo without a white outline blends into the fabric.
The habit: ask for a monochrome version of your logo (all white, all black) from the start. The colour guide explains RGB → print conversion and the shifts to expect.
7. Positioning the print "like on the photo"
A logo placed too high on the chest ends up on the collarbone; an oversized back print gets cut by the shoulder seam on smaller sizes. Placement should be worked out in centimetres from the neckline seam, not by eye.
The habit: approve a numbered placement (artwork width + distance from the neckline) on the proof. See the placement guide.
8. Skimming the proof
The proof is the last moment a correction is free. Once the run has started, a misspelled name or a missing tagline can only be fixed by remaking the pieces — at your expense.
The habit: proofread with two people, checking proper names, years (graduation class, sports season), sponsor logos and the size breakdown one by one. The order process describes exactly what the proof covers.
9. Mixing very different fabrics in one run
Three brands, two weights and a technical polyester in the same order: colours do not land identically, cuts do not match, and some substrates need different press settings. In the team photo, the result looks uneven.
The habit: keep one reference per garment type, and only open a second one for a women's cut or a kids' size of the same model.
10. Neglecting the washing instructions
A properly applied DTF print or flock lasts dozens of washes — provided it is washed inside out at 30 °C, with no tumble dryer and no fabric softener. Almost every damaged print brought back to us went through a tumble dryer in the first week.
The habit: pass the instructions on with the garments (a message to the group is enough). The full detail is in our care guide.
The checklist before you approve your order
- Vector logo or PNG ≥ 2000 px, plus a monochrome version.
- The garment's real-world use described to the workshop (not just the technique you fancy).
- Sizes collected by name from the size chart of the chosen model.
- 5 to 10 % spare pieces on top of the headcount.
- Backward planning from the event date, with one week of buffer.
- Print placement and width given in numbers on the proof.
- Proof read by two people, proper names and years included.
- One fabric reference per garment type.
- Washing instructions handed over at delivery.
Frequently asked questions
I only have my logo as a JPG — is that a blocker?
Not necessarily. If the JPG is large enough and the logo is simple (two or three flat colours), we can redraw it cleanly. Send it over: we will tell you whether it is usable as is or needs redrawing.
Can I order a single piece to test before the full run?
Yes, on request, to validate a size or a colour result before production starts. Expect the unit price without volume discount and a few extra days: usually cheaper than remaking a whole run.
How many spare pieces should I really plan for?
5 to 10 % of the headcount, with at least one piece in every common size. For a club or a class that takes in new members during the year, go up to 15 %.
What happens if I spot a mistake after approving the proof?
Tell us immediately: as long as production has not started, the correction stays free. Once the pieces are printed, only the affected pieces can be remade, and they are invoiced.