Dissecting the Tee
Ringspun Cotton vs Carded Open End
There are an endless number of factors that can differentiate one tee from another. Two seemingly identical tees can be very different types of t-shirts when you dissect what goes into the construction all the way down to the thread level. How a tee is made has everything to do with the feel, fit, durability and printability.
Ringspun Cotton
Ring spun cotton is smoother and longer than open end yarn. The term “ring spun” means that the yarn goes through an innovative spinning process that’s designed to thoroughly soften and straighten each fiber. The result? Softer, more refined fibers (aka pieces you want to wear). Want something even softer? Combed and ring-spun cotton, the kind that Bella + Canvas uses means that cotton fibers are spun then combed through to remove impurities while ensuring it stays soft to the touch. Fewer impurities mean a smoother surface to print on.
Carded Cotton
Carded open-end is a cheaper way of turning cotton into yarn. In this method, fibers are bound by a wrapped fiber that runs perpendicular to the bundle, whereas In ring-spun cotton, all of the fibers are aligned in the same direction. Up close you can see that carded open end fiber is bulky, fuzzy and creates an uneven knit.
Side-Seamed vs. Tubular
Side Seams create the tailored structure a tee needs to fit correctly. Although pricier to make, these are the only type of tees you’ll find in a retail store.
Tubular Tees are cheaper to manufacture because they require less sewing. They are made by cutting “tubes” of fabric, so they’re exactly the same in the front and the back, aside from the neck drop. Because of this, and the fact that our bodies are not tubes, these types of tees tend not to fit right.
Singles and Weight
Single is a term that refers to the diameter of a yarn, determined by number of times you twist the fiber. The higher the single, the finer the yarn and the softer resulting garment. Think of it like you do sheets—a higher thread count means softer the sheets! Most cheap shirts are made from 18 or 20 singles. The Canada Sportswear jersey tee is 30 singles and is light weight 4.2 oz.
Weight, as you can probably guess, is the weight of per square yard or meter. Lighter fabrics tend to be made from combed and ring-spun cotton and are typically much softer than the heavy weight, open-end alternatives.
Quality Ring-spun Cotton Printed T-Shirts
Here at Designs Plus Custom Shirts in Moncton NB., We start with a high quality 100% Combed & Ring-Spun Cotton Jersey Tee from Canada Sportswear. To ensure our t-shirt prints turnout remarkably stunning every-time.