 The day has finally come, and your all-star Kornit operator walks into your office and gives you his two-week notice. You are speechless as your stomach turns and your forehead sweats; what will you do now? I know this feeling since it has happened to me just in the past and just recently. Here are some suggestions on what to do when your operator quits. All the Kornit Information is in the Operators Head  Kornit printers are glitchy, and trying to write a complete manual on all the little problems would turn into a 500-page novel. There is no way to cover every Kornit operating hiccup. The scary thing is all this knowledge is stuck in the operator's head and not documented anywhere. Once the all-star person leaves, you start over from scratch like a company that has never used a Kornit before. Have the printer operator train you |
 Operations Manager, Erik Mickelson, shows off his Mr. Rags Hoodie. | AuthorErik Mickelson is a contributing co-author for Northwest Custom Apparel and has over 25 years in the embroidery industry. Questions on how to start an embroidery company, please reach out to Erik at erik@nwcustomapparel.com |
Northwest Custom Apparel
Little Known History of Carhartt Jackets
While you are on a construction site wearing a Carhartt hoodie or jacket and looking down at the Carhartt logo, you wonder what Carhartt's history was? You may think Carhartt is a brand for 20-30 years of age. Nope, you are almost 100 years off that guess. In 1889 Carhartt was founded by Hamilton Carhartt in Detroit, Michigan. Carhartt's started with two embroidery machines and six employees and was similar to Northwest Custom's beginning, but 100 years earlier. Old man Carhartt had a saying, "Honest value for an honest dollar." that resonated with many laborers in the Detroit area.
The 1890s were booming for Carhartt, with the Trans Northern Railroad laying track only 2 miles from Carhartt's original manufacturing site. The site was perfect for Carhartt to sell jackets to the railway workers. Plus, being so close to the rail tracks, he could ship his jackets to the West Coast. Carhartt's expansion grew to 8 facilities around the country and continued growing until the Great Depression hit.
The 1890s were booming for Carhartt, with the Trans Northern Railroad laying track only 2 miles from Carhartt's original manufacturing site. The site was perfect for Carhartt to sell jackets to the railway workers. Plus, being so close to the rail tracks, he could ship his jackets to the West Coast. Carhartt's expansion grew to 8 facilities around the country and continued growing until the Great Depression hit.
The railroad opens up the West for Carhartt
Carhartt in the Great Depression
The Great Depression did thousands of businesses to close down and send their workers packing. Carhartt wasn't immune to this either; however, they pivoted and refocused on new customers and products. Carhartt closed down its jacket manufacturing facilities and started to make canvas tents from the same fabric as their jackets. The tents were for the workers of Roosevelt's "New Deal" program, the WPA (Works Progress Administration). President Roosevelt executed the WPA in May of 1935 to lift the bludgeoned economy out of the Depression. The Carhartt and the "New Deal" put thousands of workers back into Carhartt's factories, weaving canvas and sewing together tents for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp). The CCC would cut trails in the newly formed National Park System. The CCC workers would again wear the Carhartt jacket and camp in the tents manufactured by Carhartt. It was a boom for Carhartt and its employees, who remained employed before leaving to fight in World War 2 in the early 1940s.
World War II and Carhartt
The boom of the Great Depression and Roosevelt's New Deal had Carhartt riding on cloud nine financially before World War II started and drafting many male employees. Luckily, Carhartt could retain many female seamstresses and hire additional "Sally the Seamstresses" to work while the men were fighting off Adolph Hitler. World War II was even a better deal for Carhartt than the Great Depression by sewing military uniforms, such as cold weather jackets for European battles in winter. The soldiers liked the Carhartt jacket for its warmth and durability during the battles. One soldier even claimed that the jacket was so durable that a German round bounced off the jacket, saving his life. When World Two was over, Hamilton Carhartt was in his mid-90s and resigned from the day-to-day operations by turning the reigns of Carhartt over to his eldest son, Vinny.
Carhartt Custom Embroidery
The completion of the Alaskan Pipeline in 1977 Custom embroidery on the Carhartt jacket craze started in 1977 when constructing the Trans Atlantic Pipeline in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Nearly every pipeline worker demanded Carhartt embroidered jackets for employee identification and, more notably, staying warm in the sub-zero temperatures of Alaska. Northwest Custom Apparels founder, Jim Mickelson, started his company also in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Jim initially worked for the Atlantic Richfield company as a project manager based out of Tacoma and worked two weeks per month in Prudhoe Bay. Jim would sell embroidered trucker caps to coworkers and other oil companies up north. Like Carhartt, the pipeline workers wanted a warm sturdy baseball cap to keep their heads warm in the arctic.
Carhartt in the 2020s and beyond
Carhartt is known for its industrial embroidered work jackets that construction workers find a necessity to wear on the job sites. The popular colors of Carhartt jackets are the muted earth tone brown canvas jacket. The jackets are stiff, durable, and long-lasting but difficult to hoop and embroider. Embroidery companies must use special heavy-duty locking frames that are extremely expensive and only trained operators can use. Northwest Custom Apparel's staff is trained in using the Carhartt embroidery frames and is able to frame the stiffest jacket or bag.
Author
Erik Mickelson is a 2nd generation embroider and has been in the industry since 1997. Northwest Custom Apparel is a supplier of Embroidered Carhartt Jackets, t-shirts and caps.
Erik Mickelson is a 2nd generation embroider and has been with his family's embroidery shop since 1997. Erik's favorite jacket is an embroidered Carhartt Detroit Jacket.
Carhartt embroidery is a necessity for my HVAC employees during service calls to identify our company and address any safety concerns.
Factory Tour, Embroidery, Thread, Caps, and Showroom.
In my inaugural episode of "Embroidery Adventures," I haven't laid out a roadmap to how I will create embroidery adventure videos to keep the audience entertained. I started by giving a factory tour of our embroidery and cap departments and ending with an overview of our showroom. I hope you enjoy the video and I would love to hear more comments about what you would like to see in upcoming "Embroidery Adventures". Stitching is in my blood and I am excited to share my embroidery adventure with you. You can reach me at erik@nwcustomapparel.com
Embroidery Machines
Our embroidery factory has commercial, industrial machines that can stitch 8 items in synchronization, which allows us to keep the embroidery costs down. You can see why embroidering one thing is costly because you aren't utilizing the other 7 embroidery heads.
The Japanese company, Tajima, manufactured our embroidery machines, and we have used this brand for nearly 40 years. The embroidery machines hold up to 10 different thread colors, giving you a pleasant color palette to make your design pop. The speed of the embroidery machines, on average, runs at about 550 stitches per minute to ensure quality and productivity. We ran the machines at nearly 900 stitches per minute, and they still produced crisp embroidery. The embroidery machine you see in the video is stitching polo shirts and fleece pullovers that are excellent choices for outfitting your employees.
The Japanese company, Tajima, manufactured our embroidery machines, and we have used this brand for nearly 40 years. The embroidery machines hold up to 10 different thread colors, giving you a pleasant color palette to make your design pop. The speed of the embroidery machines, on average, runs at about 550 stitches per minute to ensure quality and productivity. We ran the machines at nearly 900 stitches per minute, and they still produced crisp embroidery. The embroidery machine you see in the video is stitching polo shirts and fleece pullovers that are excellent choices for outfitting your employees.
Cap Embroidery
The difference between a baseball cap and garment embroidery is the frame used to mount the cap. The cap frame is circular, sits inside the cap, and then clicks into the embroidery machine. The machines are Tajima and can stitch 8 baseball caps at a time. Caps are a little trickier to get crisp embroidery due to the spherical layout of a cap crown. You are limited to the size of your embroidery logo to 4" wide by 2" tall. Anything more significant, the embroidery needle would strike the cap bill, causing damage to the cap and machine.
Showroom Tour
As you can see in the video, we have a fully stocked showroom with sample caps, promo items, workwear, t-shirts, polos, and much more. We specialize in workwear such as safety hoodies, vests, Carhartt jackets, and t-shirts.
Notable Customers
The video hits a panoramic shot featuring some of our notable customers over our 45-year history. The embroidered logos collages include football teams, fire departments, tribal, plumbing, Starbucks, and city and municipalities. Suppose you are familiar with the Discovery Channel and the show "Deadliest Catch." In that case, you will notice Captain Phil Harris and his son in front of our employee group photo. We stitched Phil's jackets for his boat, the Cornelia Marie.
Production Crew hits 20,000 caps embroidered.
On June 5th, 2008, our embroidery production crew hit a production record by stitching 20,000 caps within 7 days. This embroider feat hasn't been broken since then and may stay in the Northwest Custom Apparel record books for many more years. The order was for the release of Microsoft's "Halo" video game that year. Microsoft gave out a Halo cap to the first 20,000 customers who purchased the game. Our production manager at the time, Mongkon Ham, worked the crew for 12 hours per day, 7 days per week, to complete this order on time.
What's the next "Embroidery Adventure"?
In the following embroidery adventure, only time will tell what we will have in store for the audience. We are flying by the seat of our pants when creating these adventures. We would appreciate your comment and give us ideas on what you would like to see for the next adventure. I see embroidery daily and need your comments to keep the videos going.
Author
Erik Mickelson is a 2nd generation embroider, with over 25 years in the embroidery industry.
Embroidery is the bond between employees and their boss"
We are into our 2nd week of taking nominations for Milton's Pet of the Month. So far, we have had over 30 pets submitted and posted on our outdoor electronic readerboard. Owner Jim Mickelson says, "I never thought I would see so many cute pets on our readerboard. It is fun when I am stopped at the light to see the new pets flip through." Operations Manager, Erik Mickelson, envisioned the idea of "Pet of the Month" after seeing all the happy pet owners and pets at Milton's Triangle park earlier in the spring.
We want to highlight some of the recent nominations that come through for the week of July 4th to 10th, 2022.
We want to highlight some of the recent nominations that come through for the week of July 4th to 10th, 2022.
Boo the Horse
Boo is a lot sweet and goofy with a bit of sass. Loves: His girl (my daughter), rolling in the dirt, scratches, treats, jumping. Dislikes: Other horses/ponies, water, fireworks Name Meaning: Boo got his name because his birthday is Halloween. Fun Fact: Boo looks like a different pony from winter to summer. He grows a really thick, furry, dark coat in the winter. After he sheds (a lot!), his coat becomes sleek with reddish tones and adorable dapples in the summer.
Boo is a lot sweet and goofy with a bit of sass. Loves: His girl (my daughter), rolling in the dirt, scratches, treats, jumping. Dislikes: Other horses/ponies, water, fireworks Name Meaning: Boo got his name because his birthday is Halloween. Fun Fact: Boo looks like a different pony from winter to summer. He grows a really thick, furry, dark coat in the winter. After he sheds (a lot!), his coat becomes sleek with reddish tones and adorable dapples in the summer.
Charlotte "The Pirate"
Charlotte is the sweetest 1-eyed pirate dog that enjoys walks around the neighborhood, car rides, frolicking in the yard, and snuggling. She prefers to snuggle with a pillow, with a kid's stuffed animal, under the blankets. She is the very best!
Charlotte is the sweetest 1-eyed pirate dog that enjoys walks around the neighborhood, car rides, frolicking in the yard, and snuggling. She prefers to snuggle with a pillow, with a kid's stuffed animal, under the blankets. She is the very best!
Momo "The mischievous Kitty."
Momo is a mischievous and playful little guy who's more intelligent than you're an average cat, but only when he wants to be. He knows how to shake for treats and is good at getting his owners out of bed at 3am for an early breakfast. They happily oblige, though, because it's hard to say no to his cute face and mannerisms.
Momo is a mischievous and playful little guy who's more intelligent than you're an average cat, but only when he wants to be. He knows how to shake for treats and is good at getting his owners out of bed at 3am for an early breakfast. They happily oblige, though, because it's hard to say no to his cute face and mannerisms.
How to Submit Your pets to Pet of the Month
We want you to submit your pet as pet of the month. We will feature you on our Northwest Custom Apparel Facebook Page and your pet's photo will be on our outside reader board, so all everybody in Milton can see. Fill out this form.
Factory Friday Fun Video
It's a summer Friday at Northwest Custom Apparel, and we are filled to capacity with t-shirts, caps, and embroidered vests today. I decided to get out my GoPro and make a quick, fun video that flies through the factory, showing what we are doing today. In the first clip, Brian and Joe are printing t-shirts with our Kornit direct-to-garment printer. Brian says, "We are full to capacity, so stop selling orders!" Don't worry; they will be working overtime to put some extra money in their wallets. We really appreciate Brian and Joe for keeping the printers pumping out t-shirts. We do a GoPro fly by the t-shirts and sweatshirts the guys printed today.
Stitching Caps
Nai in our cap department is stitching some trucker caps with an Alaskan Lodge in a scarlet and snow-white thread. This trucker cap is one of our more popular caps, and Nai loves to embroider them.
Seattle Children's Hospital Embroidery
Theavy, our embroidery operator showing off an embroidered vest for the Seattle Children's Hospital. This is the same hospital Russell Wilson visited each Monday before being traded to the Denver Broncos.
I wanted to use my selfie stick to get a birds' eye view of the staff loading a new embroidery design into the computer. Our 8-head Tajima embroidery machine runs the Seattle Children's Hospital job that ordered 100 fleece pullovers and jackets for their nursing staff. My wife is a nurse and loves her pullovers from Cutter and Buck.
Thank you to our Awesome Staff
Antonio and Alicia are folding and preparing the completed shirts for shipment or customer pickup. Antonio has been a great help since he started last month. The kid's banner at the end of the video is from Little Giggles Daycare in Edgewood. If you remember, in our other Facebook videos of the daycare and the graduation t-shirts. This is the daycare we helped out with.
It's late Friday afternoon and about an hour before I head home, so I need to cut this blog short and start shutting up shop to enjoy a warm and sunny weekend.
See you guys next week, Erik
It's a summer Friday at Northwest Custom Apparel, and we are filled to capacity with t-shirts, caps, and embroidered vests today. I decided to get out my GoPro and make a quick, fun video that flies through the factory, showing what we are doing today. In the first clip, Brian and Joe are printing t-shirts with our Kornit direct-to-garment printer. Brian says, "We are full to capacity, so stop selling orders!" Don't worry; they will be working overtime to put some extra money in their wallets. We really appreciate Brian and Joe for keeping the printers pumping out t-shirts. We do a GoPro fly by the t-shirts and sweatshirts the guys printed today.
Stitching Caps
Nai in our cap department is stitching some trucker caps with an Alaskan Lodge in a scarlet and snow-white thread. This trucker cap is one of our more popular caps, and Nai loves to embroider them.
Seattle Children's Hospital Embroidery
Theavy, our embroidery operator showing off an embroidered vest for the Seattle Children's Hospital. This is the same hospital Russell Wilson visited each Monday before being traded to the Denver Broncos.
I wanted to use my selfie stick to get a birds' eye view of the staff loading a new embroidery design into the computer. Our 8-head Tajima embroidery machine runs the Seattle Children's Hospital job that ordered 100 fleece pullovers and jackets for their nursing staff. My wife is a nurse and loves her pullovers from Cutter and Buck.
Thank you to our Awesome Staff
Antonio and Alicia are folding and preparing the completed shirts for shipment or customer pickup. Antonio has been a great help since he started last month. The kid's banner at the end of the video is from Little Giggles Daycare in Edgewood. If you remember, in our other Facebook videos of the daycare and the graduation t-shirts. This is the daycare we helped out with.
It's late Friday afternoon and about an hour before I head home, so I need to cut this blog short and start shutting up shop to enjoy a warm and sunny weekend.
See you guys next week, Erik
1 hat's off limits to Seahawk fans
By Don Fair
P-I Reporter (1987)
P-I Reporter (1987)
Head Seahawk Coach, Chuck Knox wears his custom made cap from Northwest Embroidery Some football fanatics will pay scalpers' prices to watch Sunday's American Conference championship game in the Los Angeles Coliseum, but the cap protecting the scalp of Seattle Coach Chuck Knox is not for
sale.
Not even for the $100 offered yesterday by one Seahawks caller.
Knox favors a simple, navy-blue baseball-type model with the words "Seattle Seahawks" printed in white across the front crown.
And while several different Seahawk hats are on general sale, you need good friends on the team, not money, to wear a cap like the coach's.
The hat was designed by Walt Loeffler, the Seahawks' equipment manager, who has turned down a number of offers to mass market it.
"I've been fighting it," says Loeffler. "I don't want 6.5,000 fans wearing the same hat worn by Coach Knox. I want it to be something a little special.
200 Special Caps
"I knew Knox liked hats. I didn't like the one our coaches used to wear (blue with a Seahawks logo patched on the front), so I designed this one," Loeffler said.
More than 92,000 tickets were printed for Sunday's game but Walt Loeffler, the Seahawks' equipment manager, ordered only just over 200 of these special Knox caps. Members of the coaching staff wear them.
One fan, an admirer of Knox's headgear, telephoned Seahawks headquarters yesterday and offered to pay $100 for the head coach's hat.
When told it wasn't for sale and that none is available for public purchase, the fan yelled "Go Hawks!" and hung up.
Three Seattle assistant coaches join Knox in wearing the cap during games. They are assistant head coach Tom Prohaska, offensive coordinator Tom Catlin and backfield coach Chick Harris.
There are five different styles of Seahawks caps available to the public. The most popular model for sale has a blue brim, a gray crown, and the team logo running along either side of the crown.
3,500 tickets gone
Meanwhile, only 150 tickets to Sunday's game against the Raiders at home in Los Angeles are still available in the Seattle area. They are at Doug Fox Travel, and they are expected to be gone later today.
"I knew Knox liked hats. I didn't like the one our coaches used to wear (blue with a Seahawks logo patched on the front), so I designed this one," Loeffler said.
More than 92,000 tickets were printed for Sunday's game but Walt Loeffler, the Seahawks' equipment manager, ordered only just over 200 of these special Knox caps. Members of the coaching staff wear them.
One fan, an admirer of Knox's headgear, telephoned Seahawks headquarters yesterday and offered to pay $100 for the head coach's hat.
When told it wasn't for sale and that none is available for public purchase, the fan yelled "Go Hawks!" and hung up.
Three Seattle assistant coaches join Knox in wearing the cap during games. They are assistant head coach Tom Prohaska, offensive coordinator Tom Catlin and backfield coach Chick Harris.
There are five different styles of Seahawks caps available to the public. The most popular model for sale has a blue brim, a gray crown, and the team logo running along either side of the crown.
3,500 tickets gone
Meanwhile, only 150 tickets to Sunday's game against the Raiders at home in Los Angeles are still available in the Seattle area. They are at Doug Fox Travel, and they are expected to be gone later today.