Screen Printing Fleece Hoodies and Sweatshirts
In this guide
Fleece adds thickness and texture to a screen printing job. Small hoodies also have limited flat space between seams, pockets, and zippers. Test the specific blank, ink system, and artwork before applying settings from a previous cotton tee order.
Choose an ink system for the fiber blend
Read the garment composition and the ink manufacturer's technical instructions. Polyester-containing fleece can require measures to control dye migration. Cotton-rich fleece still needs a process that suits its surface and verifies the required cure. There is no single ink or dryer setting appropriate for every fleece blank.
Keep the print area flat
Position artwork away from raised seams, pouch pockets, and zipper tracks. Use a suitable platen for the garment size. For full-zip styles, consider separate chest placements rather than printing a continuous design across the zipper.
Set up from a production sample
- Confirm the screen, mesh, and stencil suit the ink and artwork.
- Check coverage and the feel of any underbase.
- Measure cure conditions using the ink supplier's recommended method.
- Inspect for texture, uneven coverage, color bleed, or scorching.
A dryer control-panel temperature does not by itself prove that the printed ink reached its required cure conditions.
Evaluate after washing
Follow the garment label and compatible print-care instructions. Check adhesion, cracking, color migration, and the fleece surface after washing. Keep a record of the blank style and color, ink system, setup, cure verification, and approved sample. Review the process again when changing fabric colors or suppliers, even if the artwork stays the same.
