Simmzy's Wave Surfer Tee In Navy Recipe

Prepare Pattern and Fabric

Prewash the navy cotton and spandex blend fabric to remove shrinkage and any finishes: wash warm, tumble dry medium. Press flat. Lay out the sewing pattern (men's medium tee block) on the fabric, aligning grainline with fabric grain. Pin the pattern and cut: front, back, two sleeves, neckband, and hem facing as indicated.

Assemble Shoulder Seams

With right sides together, match front and back at shoulder seams. Use a 1/2 inch seam allowance and a straight stitch. Finish seam with a serger or narrow zigzag to allow stretch. Press seams toward the back.

Attach Neckband

Apply lightweight interfacing to the inside of the neckband if desired. With right sides together, stretch the neckband slightly and pin to the neckline, matching quarter points. Sew with a stretch stitch or serger, then topstitch with a coverstitch or twin needle at the neckline for a professional finish.

Set Sleeves and Side Seams

Insert sleeves: align sleeve notch to shoulder, pin around armhole. Sew sleeve cap with a stretch stitch, then press. Fold tee with right sides together, align underarm and side seams, and sew in one continuous seam from sleeve cuff to hem on both sides. Finish seams with serger or zigzag and press flat.

Hem and Finish

Fold and press sleeve hems and bottom hem to the inside 1/2 inch, then again 3/4 inch for a clean double-fold hem. Topstitch with twin needle or coverstitch to maintain stretch. Attach the neck tag centered inside the back neckline. Give the whole tee a final press.

Artwork Prep

Prepare the Wave Surfer artwork on transparency film at the final print size scaled for the front chest area (approx 10-12 inches wide for adult medium). Separate colors if using multiple screens (white base/discharge, blue gradient, aqua highlights). Create film positives for each color.

Screen Coating and Exposure

Coat each mesh screen evenly with emulsion in a low-light room. Let dry fully, then place transparency with artwork on the screen and expose under a UV exposure unit for the time recommended by the emulsion manufacturer. Rinse out the screen to reveal the stencil and let dry thoroughly.

Base Print (Discharge/White)

Place the finished, fully sewn navy tee flat on the printing platen and align the screen so the design is centered on the chest. Flood the screen with white water-based discharge ink and pull an even print with the squeegee. Immediately flash the print with a flash dryer or heat gun to begin curing and open the navy dye for better color pop (follow ink manufacturer's instructions).

Blue Gradient and Highlights

Register the next screen(s) for the blue gradient and pale aqua highlights. Using process blue, print the larger wave shapes with a slightly diminished force to allow blending into the discharged white base. Use pale aqua for small highlights and foam streaks. For a soft gradient, feather inks on the screen and use multiple light pulls rather than one heavy pass.

Curing

After all colors are printed and flashed as needed, cure the print using a heat press or conveyor dryer at the temperature recommended for the ink (commonly 320°F / 160°C for plastisol; water-based/discharge cures vary - follow manufacturer). If using discharge ink, ensure proper temperature/time to activate discharge without scorching the fabric.

Quality Check

Inspect the print for registration, bleeding, and coverage. Touch up edges if needed or reprint garments that do not meet standards. Allow printed tees to cool and rest for at least 24 hours before final pressing or packaging.

Final Stitching and Labels

Use double-needle for hem and sleeve topstitching to give a clean, commercial look. Sew in the printed or woven Simmzy's label centered at the back neck. Trim any loose threads and re-press the tee to set stitches and print.

Wash & Softening (Optional)

Optionally launder one sample tee following recommended care to ensure inks and seams handle real-world washing. Use wash stable fabric softener if desired to soften hand feel; recheck the print and garment for any changes.

Pack for Sale

Fold tees neatly, insert tissue if required, and pack into polybags or hang tags per brand standards. Include care instructions: machine wash cold, inside out, tumble dry low, do not bleach, warm iron inside out on low if necessary.