Sizing Is Key When You Make Your Own Hat

Do not overlook the sizing of the hat. Sizing is probably the single most important component to consider when you make your own hat. Why? Because you’re working in a very limited amount of space and there’s not a lot of wiggle room to play with. The curved shape of the cap severely limits your ability to work outside of the cap’s embroiderable area.

For most baseball caps you’ll have about 2 1/2 inches of vertical space and 5 1/2 inches of horizontal space. Obviously long and lean patterns won’t be a problem, but tall ones might have trouble fitting. If those size limitations won’t work for you, look at other hat styles. You may be able to find one that fits your design without compromising looks.

Understand The Constraints Of Embroidery

Embroidery presents special challenges. Every stitch must be made no matter how big or small the design. This means you can’t just reduce the size of a logo and expect the embroidery to be perfect. If the logo required 100 stitches at 100% sizing, it will still require 100 stitches and 25% sizing. The difference is, those 100 stitches may be right on top of each other at the 25% size making the final product look cramped or even puckered.

Working closely with the embroiderer when you make your own hat can help you avoid sizing problems. All embroiderers want their work to look great and want to keep their customers happy. They’ll gladly help you choose a hat style that fits your design and meets your needs.

Rethinking Your Design

There’s no harm in rethinking your design if the original idea isn’t going to fit or won’t translate well onto the curved surface of the hat. You might be able to retain the main elements or create a stylized image that still gets your message across. Or, maximize your use of space by using the entire cap. Break it down into separate components – main logo or image on the front, company name or website along the side, contact info on the back. Play around with it and get creative! A new look could make your own hat design really stand out.

Choosing Your Hat

When the time comes to make your own hat, think about your audience. Who will receive these hats? Why are you making them? Are they giveaways that will go to customers? Are they part of an employee uniform? Considering the audience can help you decide on a design as well as a hat style. A hat that is part of an employee uniform for example may have less room for creativity than a hat that will be given away to customers at a special event.