Elevating Your Team’s Look: A Guide to Split Front Jersey Embroidery

Embroidering logos on split front jerseys is a fantastic way to give your baseball or softball team that extra edge. Whether you’re adding team names, player numbers, or unique logos, the split embroidery method has you covered. In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of split embroidery and the situations where it shines. We’ll also walk you through the step-by-step process, ensuring your team’s sportswear stands out.

Why Choose Split Embroidery?

Before diving into the process, let’s discuss why split embroidery is a popular choice:

Enhanced Durability: Split embroidery reinforces the area around buttons, making it more durable and resistant to wear and tear. This is especially valuable for sports jerseys subjected to regular use.

Seamless Appearance: Split embroidery creates a seamless look when the jersey is buttoned up, ensuring that your logo or team name remains visually intact.

Personalization: This method allows for customization on both sides of the split, making it perfect for adding unique details, such as player names or numbers.

When to Choose Split Embroidery

Now, let’s explore the scenarios where split embroidery is the best choice:

Baseball and Softball Jerseys: Split embroidery is particularly popular for baseball and softball jerseys, as it accommodates the buttoned front design and keeps logos and names intact when the jersey is buttoned up.

Team Sportswear: Teams in various sports, such as basketball and soccer, can also benefit from split embroidery when their jerseys feature a buttoned front.

Individual Player Jerseys: For individual player jerseys that require names or numbers on both sides of the split, split embroidery is the ideal choice.

Step-by-Step Split Embroidery Process

Now that you’re familiar with the benefits and scenarios of split embroidery, let’s delve into the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Choosing the Perfect Font

Your journey begins with finding the ideal font for your team’s name or logo. Websites like Dafont.com offer a wide selection. After downloading the font, use Chroma’s “Truefont Text” feature to upload it into the embroidery digitizing software. You can type out your desired text and make size and style adjustments.

Step 2: Identifying the Sections

Identify the areas of the design that you want to split into separate sections. This can be done by looking at the design and determining the most logical places to do the splits.

Step 3: Splitting the Design

Use the tools in your embroidery software to split the design into separate sections. This may involve copying and pasting the sections into separate design files or using the software’s split tool.

Step 4: Personalize Your Design

Beyond font selection, add your personal touch. Adjust the shape and stitch angle of your design by simply dragging and dropping nodes around the text’s perimeter with your mouse. Measure the space between the jersey’s front buttons and adjust the design’s size to fit the allotted space.

Step 5: Preparing for Embroidery

With your design ready, it’s time to prepare for the embroidery process. Hoop two sheets of tearaway backing using your Mighty Hoop and attach it to your embroidery machine. Use the “trace stitch” option to baste the outline of your logo, focusing on the left side.

Apply temporary adhesive on top of the trace stitch and align the jersey edge with the stitch. For extra stability, use pins to prevent any shifts that might cause alignment issues.

Execute another “trace stitch” to create the necessary overlap, ensuring a seamless result.

Step 6: Adding Layers and Polish

Now, add the first layer of felt and secure it using a tack-down stitch. This layer serves as the background. After stitching, trim excess felt from the sides. Consider adding a satin border around the felt’s raw edge to achieve a polished look.

Repeat the process with the second layer of felt, moving to the right side of the jersey and following the same instructions.

Step 7: The Finishing Touch

The final step is to give your design a clean, polished finish. Carefully burn the raw edges of both the left and right sides to prevent fraying.

How to Line Up Split Machine Embroidery Designs

Splitting machine embroidery designs into separate sections can give you greater flexibility and control over your projects. However, it’s important to ensure that the split sections line up properly when stitched out. To ensure a good lineup, you need to follow the appropriate way, as mentioned below:

1. Prepare the split designs: Make sure that each split design file is saved with a unique name and is loaded onto your embroidery machine.
2. Mark the placement: Use a fabric pen or fabric marker to mark the placement of the first design on the fabric. This will act as a reference point for the rest of the designs.
3. Stitch out the first design: Stitch out the first design, following the placement marks you made in step 2.
4. Mark the placement for the following design: Use the first design as a reference and mark the placement for the next design.
5. Stitch out the next design: Stitch out the following design, following the placement marks.
6. Repeat the process: Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each additional split design until all designs have been stitched out and lined up properly.

With this step-by-step guide and a little creativity, you can transform your team’s jerseys with split embroidery. Whether it’s baseball, softball, or other sports, split embroidery adds durability, a seamless appearance, and room for personalization. So why wait? Stand out from your competitors and offer custom-made jerseys that your customers will love.