I want one of those "learning" hats to hang in my shop for motivation. Appreciate you sharing your trials and tribulations. Love seeing your business grow.
I love your no nonsense “inspirational” quote on the wall! There’s only so much “dream big” shiz that I can take, and it’s fair enough dreaming big but you have to put in the f*ing work!
It's all about the set up and the digitizing ... Make sure caps sew from the centre out ... I have the same designs digitized differently for flats and for caps ... It wont be long before you get a second machine ... 1 for caps 1 for flats ... Top video as always ...
Lee I have been following you for a long. I enjoy watching and binge watching. From the beginning of your journey up until know is AWESOME. Please continue to INSPIRE and LEARN and TEACH. Your Easy to FOLLOW. Keep up the GOOD work
watching your video totally reminds me of the good ol days when I was still working as a printmaker😂 from printmaking with a silkscreen frames>>embroidery machine>>customer services>>graphic designer🤣 I've tried & learned it all during my time
It's been a minute since you started, have you figured out some digitizing? White thread on dark colors is always tricky! When possible I will lay down some tear away backing underneath the white to get the look of "enough thread" without adding so much extra underlay and density. Nice video, at least you've got that part down! I've been running Melco's for 15 years and this is, hands down, the funniest/best video I have seen for a beginner embroiderer. Best of luck to you Lee.
I love making embroidery designs with my new software and I like how my motifs are comming out. Embroidery makes so much fun if you know what you are doing 😀 but I also love making designs for htv
haven't been on the tube for a while trying to get my shit together. Then I finally make it on and see you killing it! large format printer, embroidery. DAMN all in one shop! Congrats on your journey!
I've long waited for a video where you'll work with the Melco Embriodery machine Rogue Lab's got. Thanks Lee, you're an inspiration for people like me to keep pushing. Greatness awaits you.
Can't imagine how many files you had to juggle to edit this video. Great as always, and glad to see the next step of Rogue Lab blossoming. This business of yours is starting to feel like a Mortal Kombat ladder, fighting tooth and nail for that next rung. Keep it up.
It took 2 full days to edit this one, the final edit had over 630 items in it 😳. I love that description, just kicking my way to Shang Tsung. I'm only at sub zero at this point 😂
The feeling when the design was really complicated and has tons of tiny stitches but it run perfectly and the upper thread didn't break on the very first design, gosh I love that feeling :))
I’ve had my highland embroidery machine for about 4 months. It is definitely a love/hate thing. Richardson and other structured hats have a steep learning curve. I am still breaking needles and fraying my thread haha
Great video.I was waiting to see how you did your first time. I have had my machine attack itself, sew parts of things together that didn't get out of the way and made many bobbin bird nests!! I highly recommend testing each design on scraps. Oh and I would absolutely love a cap machine!
Hi Donna, pay a little more and get your logo ''punch'' by a professionnal. Then, your machine will sew correctly without jumping stitches. You can broke your machine with cheap logo so pay attention.
My wife and I are embroidery techs for a huge North East US operation. We run a bunch of 12 heads. It’s such a fun job until we get slammed at the end of the year. They’re loud as f 😂 get ready for some good ol Tinnitus Also, Melcos are great for home/smaller shops for sure. And very reasonable in price
@@leestuart38 Check out hat frames from Hoop Tech. The ones you are using are difficult at best. You did well for a first timer. Remember, if you outsource your digitizing be sure to tell them what you are sewing on. Hats sew different than say a left chest logo. Good luck and get after it!
I love this video! Remembers me when I bought my melco EMT16+ two years ago … I did make lots of mistakes and had some trouble with my machine. But I learned a lot that time. I really love doing embroidery. Your green and purple colour design looks great! And it really sounds like you have an cool business running!
@@SYKOK1LLER Well no. I do embroidery just as second job because I like it so much. I had real trouble with my machine in the first month. Now my machine is running an I am getting better at hooping and machine settings. If you have no experience of doing embroidery it will take some time till it will cover the cost.
nice machine,,,love the part that you actually aim for your personal quality taste before start selling it...and even learning the process first hand...it may took sometime but definitely worth it..
I work with large 4-8 head industrial Tajima Embroidery machines daily, and its pretty cool and funny seeing someones fresh opinion and reactions to this process. I laughed at the intro and b roll because the mundane shit I deal with all day got a hip hop back track and slow-mo... lol
Yeaaah!!!! Been waiting for this video to come out for what it feels like an eternity 😂😂 Went through the all videos more than twice now 😅 I really love the green and purple colour combo and that blue one 😍 im definitely going to buy that! Waiting for my thirty eight hat to arrive 😁 Glad to see you finally have some time to show us this beast at work and follow your journey in the embroidery business. Learn to throw, lool 😂
Lee, Glad to see you finally got it up and running since we last spoke. Its funny seeing all the damn mistakes you made. Same shit that I went through when I first got my EMT16. If you want here are a few tips and advice coming from someone who has gone through all the headaches of it. 1. Check out and invest in Mighty Hoops. They will make your life so much easier when it comes to Embroidery on Flat Items Yes its costly as shit but saves you the headache an frustration from their plastic hoops that dont line up perfectly for a Front LC or Sleeve or whatever you are embroidering on. 2. Try out a different Cap Hoop. The Hoop you have is the standard, however there is an upgraded version that is about $400 from Melco that is really worth the money and I find that it secures the cap much better and it doesn't shift on you. 3. If you plan on learning to digitize, Melco's digitizing software that you can upgrade to is great, however there is an embroidery software that is 1/3 of the price called DRAWINGS XI. Its a great program and you can pretty much do anything the melco software offers. Pretty much can turn any Vector into an embroidery file with the push of a button and edit it as needed. Once you have one embroidery machine you will learn quickly that one is definitely not enough, especially when the orders keep coming in and you want to get some sleep lol. I hope these tips help, and im happy to share the tricks of the trade. Good luck on your business journey. Happy to see the new things you are adding to your shop.
Thanks a lot man. I've already got a little mighty hoops setup going, video on that coming soon. As far as digitizing, they sent me design shop pro 10 with my machine so I've got the tools, just need to learn 🤘🏻
I would use Wilcom embroidery studio for digitizing. I wouldn’t use anything else. It’s a very pricey software but worth it as you will have more control. But if you can find a good digitizer I would outsource and just use the software to make tiny tweaks.
@@uriel11ful Im new to embroidery, I have a tajima sai machine and it came with writer software. It’s pretty easy to use and it’s simple. But I feel like it doesn’t have a lot of options like other softwares. I was looking at pulse but it’s like $12-13,000 for the whole package. What do you recommend using for a beginner, but I also want the best. I’m a fast learner. Idk if we could talk through email or another social platform to make it easier. I’ve been trying to get some help for for a while but it’s tough getting advice back for people lol I really appreciate you responding.
Lee, are you still doing stuff like this now in the new setup or plan to? Would love to know what your opinions on embroidery is like having had time since this video.
I just re-watched this and caught the bit about the presser foot. No adjustment needed. The closer to the bill you get the less ‘movement’ there is in the cap (less flagging) as you’re close to where it’s locked in by the strap. If you loosen the presser foot you’ll lose the pressure you need elsewhere. The marks are easily dismissed with a hit of steam. Two or three seconds will do it. (Also works on hoop marks left on flat items as well....called hoop burn).
Honestly not a hat guy but that color combo is pretty sick with the blue.. keep it up.. and for some odd reason I feel like you will have this all figured out by now.. cheers sir. and words are hard.
Hey I love your videos I’m trying to start a screen printing operation and all you advice has been invaluable. I hope you continue to make these videos
Def gonna be my big purchase for next year . Working on storage since I'm doing This out my garage and have no space for a conveyor with a 88 mustang in the garage lol. You litterally keep me going on this grind.
I want one of those machines just embroider my own hats because it's so hard for me to find a hat with a design I like. Either the hat itself is nice but the design I don't like or the other way around.
We have this one the EMT16 plus right. so good - it's so easy nothing like the effort needed to start screen printing! just thread it up and press the scary green button
Man I wish I had one, the amount of hats I would make. Funny after watching this I was looking at the hat the boss had our print embroidery shop do and the amount of flaws are nuts. Need to find someone like you.
I'm from Northwest Wisconsin I miss the squeak of a cheese curd lol, beer, boys, and cheese. Sucks that I live in Las Vegas now. lol. I want an embroidery machine so bad. Don't toss those hats give them to your fans lol hugs Terrie
Lee, it's time to come clean! Tell the truth bro. Do you have like a twin brother? You must have a twin with the amount of things you get done, you're not human! 😂😂 Cheers on all the growth.
Costs aren't everything, that's just a short term solution. Building a brand based on quality product means everything out there with your name on it has to be quality, no exceptions. Those costs will recoup themselves 10x in the long run by doing it this way
@@leestuart38 never thought of it that way, I too have a apparel brand and we have top quality products and packaging. I’ve been checking out your videos because our warehouse was producing things too slowly so we switched to manually doing things. It’s been a learning curve so we have some waste as you have, we thought about selling misprints but what you said makes a good point. Thanks
Trust me after 12 caps u will become a pro, i have the same machine and im doing hats with my eyes closed now, but i will say this, my machine has been messed up and melco never fixed it! Sucks and my warranty expired! Melco let me down on that but wtv
Whoever loves and trust you enough to turn you loose in their shop w/ that machine is a friend whom I hope you appreciate greatly. I wouldn't do it, for anyfreakin body. Looks like you're well on your way though and have at it.
Lee what made you choose the Melco embroidery machine over all the other options... I know from your videos you are a great perfectionist and for you to choose something it had to be the best....
welcome to the embroidery club!! 600 SPM & 2 finger width from brim for bottom of design is good rule to follow for hats - if you have any questions i can maybe help you out!
By all means start the digitizing journey but do. not. rush. If you’ve got a really good digitizer, great...just keep using them for now. (Hint: if they called you in the first place....they’re not a good digitizer.) digitizing is a get-what-you-pay-for deal. I’m nearly three years in and I still use both outside and self digitizing. It’s a balance between available time and production needs.
Thanks man. I've definitely seen and paid for waaaaay worse haha, but I need that perfection. I'll be making these in full production once I get that file cleaned up next week
Hows it going Lee, looking into T-shirts and business ideas and found your video. If you need laugh and have a 5 to 6 minute break... I have about fifteen videos up on this channel and the one comedy video with Michael Jr. and Tim Hawkins is one of my favorites; if someone doesn't laugh at this video... they are not alive! Take care Brother
Dude, those Rogue Lab lids look SICK! I might hafta snag one, once you've got 'em dialed in! Speaking of that...you still have future plans for any line of Flexfits??? Snapbacks look like ass on my peanut head, lol.
Bro I have the XTS. I’m guessin u got the EMT16. You’re not gonna get that crisp quality out of these machines. Especially on finished caps. Maybe if you bolt it to a solid surface u might squeeze some extra detail out. U can still do some pretty cool things with it; appliqué or jacket back embroidery....etc
Curious to see how this Embroidery machine has been working for you? I've watched both videos you have on it but wanted to get some feedback a few months in. Thanks man.
