Quality T-shirts that will last?

[Courtney892]

I am ready to buy T shirts, and I don't need a huge quantity (only about 15) so I don't know that we'd be benefitted from buying in bulk from the online retailers I've read about here, but I'll go with anywhere that has good quality T-shirts that will look nice and last for a good price.

I went to Wal Mart yesterday and they are having a big $4 sale on T-shirts here on all their styles. I bought 3 for me in "soft shaping" style as I do not look good in the boxy look! ::no:: I just realized that the white one I bought has 5% spandex in it. In order to put a design on that will I have to buy a stretchy transfer?? There was nothing for hubby, and I found an awesome shirt (sort of golf style with a 4 inch zipper) for the family shirts, but it was about $8 and to buy 8 of them with no idea if the family will wear them (they are gifts for the welcome baskets)....don't want to spend that much!

I read here about the Michaels sale of 2 for $5 Jerzees shirts going on right now, and that price is definitely right but I'm afraid it will be a boxy look. I'm a small, hubby and FIL are Meds, I'd guess MIL and SIL at Large and BIL at XL, and then the kids (that is another thing--any one every get offended with you about size guesses??) How do I find tees that will look nice on all of us?? I have no idea if MIL and SIL would want a soft shaping look and don't want to ask and spoil the surprise.

Where to you buy stylin T-shirts on the cheap ?

 

[Disneymommy2006]

I bought mine at Jiffyshirts.com They had women's sizes in t-shirts so they were like the soft-shaped ones you mentioned. You can also get the same color in men's women's and children's. One style I really liked for my boys was the ringer t's- these turned out really cute! Shirt prices here range from as low as $2.00 and up. Hope this helps- I only bought about 12 or so and I still ordered from here.

 

[heartbeeps]

I bought them everywhere:
Wal-mart
Michael's
Jiffyshirts.com
Shirtsupplier.com
the Dollar store

I've already made over 60 and am starting a new project with about 15 more to make!

so here are my comments:
1) I really liked the styling of the ladies tees I bought (instead of the "unisex" men's tees you generically get at Michaels). I bought some of the ladies from both jiffy & shirtsupplier. The ladies' tees had more of a cap sleeve rather than down to the elbow and we're as long. However, the ladies' tees did run a little on the small size (I ordered Anvil and Gildan brands).

2) I also bought ladies tanks that ran BIG and I had to go down a size!

3) The mens seemed to run true to size.

4) I liked the tagless tees for the men - I bought the Hanes brand.

5) I just bought more Jerzee's from Michaels and washed & dried them last night. SOME of the large size shrank more than others! I have no clue why they wouldn't all shrink the same amount! I also bought Mediums, XL, and XXL which seemed to come out of the dryer the same size as they went in. (They were all washed & dried together so they weren't on different settings.)

6) I've used 100% cotton and 50/50 blend to make my shirts. I was pleased with all of them. I have never used any tees with Spandex in them.

7) When I buy store-bought tees for myself, I typically cut the bottom 5" off and rehem them so they look more girlish and I'm not stuffing a wad of material into my jeans!

8) I made at least 60 Disney tees for 16 family members and 4 friends - only 8 family members and all 4 friends wore less than half of them! So, lesson learned - don't invest a lot of money as they may end up as dust rags!

9) styling tees on the cheap - shirtsupplier.com (my preference over jiffyshirt.com b'c of their return policy and the discount code for shirtsupplier)

Questions (for yourself more than me)
- will you "stretch" or "fill out" the spandex tee? if so, the transfer could crack
- will the spandex take the heat of a hot iron?
- will your design fit on a tee with a zipper down the middle or will that perhaps place the design too low on the shirt?

I'm pretty sure Michael's tee sale will end TODAY as they'll have a new flyer on Sunday with different sales. So if you're at all considering Michael's, I'd suggest you go buy what you think you need today - you can always return them if you decide to order from some other place but at least you'll lock in at the discount rate!

good luck and post back how you make out.

 

[djmeredith]

I made lots of shirts last fall for my family. Like the above posters, I bought shirts from lots of different places! For men and boys my favorite was the Hanes tagless t's from Wal-Mart...they ran @ $4 each, were soft, and washed well. For ladies, Wal-Mart sells a Hanes tagless ladies cut that I liked for about $5 (and I just bought more there this week so they do still have them). Although, my absolute favorite for ladies were the nicer cotton "Style and Co." brand t's at Macy's. They cost about $10, but were much higher quality and much more comfortable!

FYI: I am returning a bunch of shirts to Jiffy Shirts today (Anvil brand mostly) because I thought they were very cheap quality...and they really aren't cheaper than Wal-Mart (because of shipping) unless you are buying super large quantities.

The Michael's Jerzees brand t's aren't bad, but I do prefer the Hanes.

 

[JnX1]

I'm not sure if they have locations everywhere but her in NJ I went to an AC Moore craft store this week and they had a sale on Hanes tees, 4 for $10.

 

[Courtney892]

I appreciate all the help and suggestions. I just placed an order with shirtsupplier and hope to be thrilled with the results! I went ahead an ordered some extra shirts for hubby to wear to work, so we got 25 shirts and it was just at $100 with shipping and the handling fees. $4 each is ok and we got almost all 6.1 oz because hubby demands thick tees. I hope they will work out well.

 

[newtodis]

Sorry posted in the wrong spot....thought I was starting a new thread. WOW! I'm starting to fall asleep or something!

Sorry for hijaking!

 

[Courtney892]

I didn't see your post, but I would be fine if you hijacked it as I think my question went about as far as it could.

I am working on figuring how much money I'll be out by returning shirts that I feel are too thin. I don't think they are made incorrectly at all, and I know ppl who wear shirts like these, but MIL, SIL, and I aren't really into the semi-seethrough look

Guess I'll see how good that return policy is!

 

[heartbeeps]

I didn't see your post, but I would be fine if you hijacked it as I think my question went about as far as it could.

I am working on figuring how much money I'll be out by returning shirts that I feel are too thin. I don't think they are made incorrectly at all, and I know ppl who wear shirts like these, but MIL, SIL, and I aren't really into the semi-seethrough look

Guess I'll see how good that return policy is!

wow, sorry to hear of your experience. I too cannot wear a thin tee shirt. (I ordered the 6.1 oz. ladies' tees from Shirtsupplier and felt they were more than adequate yet weren't so heavy as to feel like a quilt.)

Sounds like you have more "requirements" than you originally anticipated; probably best solved by touching the product directly so a trip to a local store is a better way to go. unfortunately, it's hindsight now. So sorry to hear.

Good luck with the return!