There are so many eBay stores offering Custom Embroidered Items and Personalized Shirts with Iron-On designs that I thought I'd write a short guide regarding Custom Embroidered Items, particularly personalized t-shirts for children and adults versus Iron-On designs.   

My family owned and operated a t-shirt store when I was a kid and I worked in the store for quite a while as a teen-ager.  I become quite educated on the different iron-on designs as well as techniques for the proper adhesion of the design and lettering.  Iron-on transferred shirts and screen printed shirts have been popular for a very long time and remain so to this day.

A few years ago, I started shopping on eBay, fell in love with it and also love to shop on-line for EVERYTHING.  I wanted to be able to sell as well and bought a sewing machine that did embroidery.  I've always sewn and thought it would be interesting to be able to embroider with the machine as well.  I started making gifts for family and friends (Personalized Embroidered Lace Pillowcases and Personalized Children's Birthday T-Shirts).  I got such a great response, that I decided to start selling them on eBay and now have a store! 

I have found that the embroidered designs on t-shirts last much longer than iron-on designs because the iron-on transfers tend to fade and crack over time, especially when put into the dryer.  The embroidered design and wording is sewn directly onto the shirt and remains permanent, where the transfer lies on top of the shirt and is prone to come off or crack over time.   I have discovered that the shirts I've made for my 3 year old son wash very well, even when put into the dryer, and that the designs hold up great! 

Also, I use a high quality thread that withstands vigorous washings as well as bleach.  As a mother of a toddler, I know how important it is to be able to wash a white t-shirt and use bleach and have the shirt and design withstand a toddler's "abuse"!

Also, I am able to completely customize each design because I am able to change the colors and manipulate the design, making it smaller or larger, on the computer before it is sewn onto the shirt.

I've had lots of fun sewing these items and have worked with customers creating custom designs and sayings for them.      You can check out my store at Monkey Stitches

Thank you! I hope this was helpful!!

- Linda