The Framers Forum

I have 3 polo shirts in that are signed, and pulling them doesn't seem to flatten them out.
Can they be ironed, or will that be an issue with the signatures?
Usually football strips just stretch out, but these seem to be thicker and therefore are keeping the creases in them.

I wouldn't be tempted do it myself. If possible i'd ask the owner to do it and advise them not to use steam!

I wouldn't advise it ...... not saying I wouldn't do it though, depending on the fabric. If it is to be done, by whoever, iron it inside out AND through a cotton pillowcase or something.

You do not know how the ink from the pens will react to the heat, so stay clear, tell the customer before you frame them so they can see the state they are in and will not moan when you have finished the job

I would never iron a signed shirt. There's just no way of knowing if there will be any problems caused by doing this.

Have you tried placing some padding inside the shirt? Maybe this will solve the problem.

Hi
I have ironed badly creased shirts in the past. If the signature is felt tip as usual, I would iron from behind. Depending on the fabric of the shirt, I always check on a small section that won't be seen. Natural materials such as cotton will take a hotter iron than most football shirts that are manmade fabric.
One thing to be careful of, as I learnt many years ago, is to beware of any badges, numbers, names that have been ironed on initially like transfers as these will melt if ironed over!
If you are concerned, point it out to the customer and ask them if they want to do it themselves.
Good luck.

Okay panic over.
I flattened out the shirts and put them under a board for a few days. This seems to have done the trick, and I've just finished it off by ironing around the signatures. I ironed over an extra pen mark that had been made, but wasn't part of a signature, and it didn't seem to affect it at all, although I'd still be a bit wary if I had to do it for real.
Thanks to everyone for their comments.
Only problem I have now is two people have signed one of the sleeves, and others have signed on the front, almost up to the armpit, so any folding over to show the ones on the sleeve hides some of the others!
Why do people insist on signing a sleeve?

There's no 'arm in it