Impressions - Team & Active Wear - Fall 2019 - 18

Offering sparkle and shine,
metallic twill is popular with
cheerleaders, dance teams and
for some fashion applications.

THE TYPES

It comes as no surprise that, as the fabrics
used to make team uniforms have become
lighter in weight, have more stretch and
include moisture-wicking properties,
tackle twill fabrics also have evolved.
When choosing the tackle twill fabric
type you want to use for an order, you also
should know the sport for which the jersey
will be used, as well as uniform fabric and
customer expectations.
Here's a breakdown of what's available:
1. Plain Twill: Made of 100% polyester,
this material has no coatings or adhesive
backing. It has less body and is less rigid
than coated or adhesive versions, making it harder to cut and handle individual
pieces. It is a good choice for making banners or flags, but not optimal if you will be
cutting it for appliqué.
2. Coated Twill: This version features
a finish that stabilizes the fabric, prevents
fraying and reduces shrinkage.
3. PSA Twill: Known as presssensitive adhesive, this material comes
coated with a sticky backing. When the
paper is peeled off, it can be adhered to
the garment or substrate without heat.
This holds it in place while being sewn
with a zigzag stitch to permanently attach
it to the jersey. This is a good option for
heat-sensitive fabric that may be damaged
if a heat press is used, as well as for bags
or other accessories that may not fit into
a hoop for application with an embroidery
machine.
4. HPO Twill: Heat-press-on twill is
coated and has a glue backing, so it can
be heat pressed onto a garment. It must
be zigzag stitched afterward to prevent
fraying. The purpose is to hold the piece in
place while being sewn. Ensure your fabric can withstand the necessary heat being
applied.
5. Glacier Twill: This type also is made
of 100% polyester. It has a herringbone
pattern, which offers a more textured look
than traditional tackle twill. Otherwise, it
comes coated in PSA and HPO versions.
6. Metallic Twill: This twill is woven
with high-gloss Mylar film to give it a
sparkling, shiny look. It is popular with
cheerleaders, dance teams, branded promotional apparel and has some fashion
18 * Fall 2019

applications. It comes with the coating and
in HPO and PSA versions.
7. Lightweight Stretch Twill: This is
one of the newer twill variations on the
market. It is made of 100% polyester, but is
woven in a different way to allow for more
stretch. It is specifically designed to be
compatible with new lighter, tighter fabrics. It only comes with the coating. R.L.
Liebe holds the patent for this fabric.
8. Sublimated Twill: Another recent
addition to the tackle-twill family is
dye-sublimated patterned twill. Because
the sublimation process can be used on
anything made of 100% polyester, it's perfectly compatible with polyester twill and
a great way to add interest and variety.
Its biggest advantages are bold, vibrant
color that will never fade in the wash,
and no hand, as with screen printing or
embroidery.
Suppliers offer stock sublimated patterns or you can order custom designs,
such as mascots, corporate logos and other
graphic elements printed in any color com-

bination. There is no limit to the number
of colors in the design and no per-color
fee. Sublimated twill has been growing in
recent years as teams look for a way to distinguish their uniforms.
You may see camouflage, plaids, polka
dots, chevrons or a team's mascot adorning
what used to be a solid-colored letter or
number. Like the other twill options, you
can order it on a roll in any yardage or precut and ready to apply with a PSA or HPO
adhesive backing.
9. Perforated Twill: The newest product in the tackle-twill family is perforated,
which features tiny holes that help ventilate and move sweat from the inside to the
outside of the uniform. The perforations
can be added to any type of twill, including polyester, lightweight stretch twill,
sublimated twill, etc. These holes can be
done in a random arrangement or pattern.
10. Satin: Satin technically isn't twill,
but definitely is in the sports-appliqué
family. It also is made of 100% polyester
but instead of the twill pattern, it has a
Impressions - Team & Active Wear - Fall 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - Team & Active Wear - Fall 2019
