Stica (pizzeria)

We had fun with this one. Our friends at Stica, the pizzeria over in Santa Ynez, asked for corduroy hats — a fabric with real character and a little more attitude than the usual twill.

Corduroy is a texture, and texture changes the embroidery. The wales of the fabric can swallow thin stitching, so we adjust the digitizing — more underlay, the right density — until the logo sits proud of the ridges instead of sinking into them.

We ran a stitch-out on the actual corduroy before the real hats went on the machine. That is standard practice here; a proof on the wrong fabric proves nothing.

Restaurant gear does double duty — it works a shift and it walks around town after. A good hat is often the piece customers ask about first, which is why we put the same care into caps as we do into the gear that survives a kitchen. And if you are craving pizza, go see Stica — you have got to check them out.

If your Central Coast restaurant wants gear with a little more character, bring us an idea. We will find the fabric and make the stitching earn it.