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. We break down the different elements of a tee you’ll want to pay attention to so you can ensure you’re getting the right blank t-shirts for you and your business.

Carded Open End vs. Ringspun

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 on all our tees 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 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.

The industry standard used to be a carded open-end tee, but at BELLA+CANVAS, we do things differently. We promised never to sacrifice quality for price and only use cotton that is 100% combed and ring-spun. As people become more educated in in fabric and feel the difference in quality we see customers moving out of that carded open end tee and into BELLA+CANVAS.

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. They also happen to be the only type of tees you’ll find at BELLA+CANVAS.

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. All of our tees (aside from our Heavyweight Street Tee) are 30 singles or higher!

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.

Now you can navigate the market like a pro! What’s the number one factor you look for in a tee?

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T-shirt Jargon 101: Dissecting the Tee
Article Name
T-shirt Jargon 101: Dissecting the Tee
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We break down the different elements of a tee you’ll want to pay attention to so you can ensure you’re getting the right blank t-shirts for you and your business.
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BELLA+CANVAS
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