The Richardson 112 is a structured, mesh-back trucker cap with an adjustable snapback. It holds a logo well, fits most heads and suits crews, offices and teams. We make custom Richardson 112 hats in-house at our Milton, WA shop. This guide helps you pick the right decoration, logo size and color.
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What is the Richardson 112 trucker cap?
The Richardson 112 is a structured six-panel trucker cap with a mesh back and an adjustable snapback. It sits mid-profile and has a pre-curved visor. It is a core style in our lineup of custom embroidered caps in Washington.
Richardson 112 construction and fit
The front panels hold their shape, so the cap stands tall and the visor keeps its curve. The mesh back lets air through on warm jobsites. The snapback strap adjusts, so one size fits most heads.
Why the structured front works for decoration
A structured front is firm and flat. Stitches sit on a stable surface, so lettering stays sharp and logos do not sag. Soft, unstructured caps pucker under dense stitching. A clean digitized file on a 112 reads clearly from across a parking lot.
Richardson 112 specifications
| Feature | Richardson 112 |
|---|---|
| Construction | Structured six-panel |
| Profile | Mid-profile |
| Back | Mesh |
| Closure | Adjustable snapback |
| Visor | Pre-curved |
| Front | Cotton/polyester twill |
| Best use | Business, crews, teams, events |
We confirm every specification against Richardson’s current product data before each production run.
Ready to order? Start with your customized quote.
Mesh Back Embroidery: Technical Constraints and Solutions
The 100% polyester mesh back presents specific embroidery challenges. The open weave structure lacks the stability of solid fabric front panels. Standard embroidery needles catch in mesh holes, causing thread breaks and registration errors.
3 Solutions for Mesh Decoration:
- Tear-away Backing provides temporary stabilization during stitching. The backing tears away after embroidery completion, leaving minimal residue. This method suits low-stitch-count designs under 5,000 stitches.
- Cut-away Backing remains permanently attached. It provides superior stability for dense embroidery or 3D puff applications. The permanent backing adds slight rigidity to the mesh but prevents distortion during wear.
- Foam Backing creates 3D puff effects. A foam layer placed under the top thread pushes stitches upward, creating raised dimension. Structured front panels handle 3D puff better than mesh backs, but foam-backed mesh embroidery succeeds with simplified designs under 3 inches wide.
Northwest Custom Apparel recommends avoiding mesh back embroidery for logos under 0.75 inches in height. Small text and fine details lose definition in mesh embroider
Why is the Richardson 112 so popular?
Richardson calls the 112 collection “America’s Favorite Cap”. That is the manufacturer’s own positioning, not independent market research. Our reasons come from what buyers tell us at the counter and on the phone.
One adjustable fit simplifies group orders
You do not collect hat sizes from 30 people. One adjustable size covers most of your crew. That saves you a round of emails and cuts the risk of a wrong-size reorder.
Structured front gives logos a clean canvas
The front panel is a stable decoration surface. Your logo looks the same on every cap in the run. Buyers pick the 112 for these reasons:
- Easy sizing for large groups
- Familiar trucker look
- Breathable mesh back
- Firm surface for embroidery
- Wide color selection
- Fit across industries
Which Richardson 112 decoration method is right for your logo?
We decorate every 112 in-house, so one team handles artwork, stitching and inspection. Our in-house custom embroidery uses Tajima TMAR-KC machines with 15 needles per head, running at 1,000 RPM on caps. Pick the method by the shape of your logo, not by habit.
Flat embroidery for detailed business logos
Flat embroidery gives the crispest detail. It handles multi-color logos, thin lines and short taglines. Very tiny text can fail, so we check your artwork before we digitize it.
3D puff for bold, simple designs
3D puff lifts the design off the cap with foam under the stitches. It suits block letters and simple shapes. Learn more about 3D puff embroidery on hats.
Leatherette patches for a premium branded look
A laser-engraved leatherette patch gives you a strong shape and steady color on every cap. It suits simple marks and a rustic or premium feel. See our Richardson 112 leatherette patch caps for patch options.
Back or side personalization for teams and crews
Add names, years of service or a short slogan on the side or back. It turns a uniform cap into a personal one. Placement stays secondary to the front logo.
Richardson 112 decoration comparison
| Decoration | Best for | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat embroidery | Detailed logos | Crisp detail | Tiny text can fail |
| 3D puff | Bold marks | High visual impact | Less detail |
| Leatherette patch | Premium or rustic branding | Strong shape and color control | Different feel and care |
| Back embroidery | Names, years, slogans | Adds personalization | Secondary placement |
60-second clip of a Richardson 112 running on the Tajima machine in Milton below:
How large should your Richardson 112 logo be?
Logo size depends on the design, not a single number. A tall logo, a wide logo and a text-heavy logo each need different proportions. Our art director, Steve Deland, has more than 40 years of experience and sizes every file by hand.
Front-panel logo sizing
The logo should fill the front panel without crowding the seams. Stitch density and logo proportions set the final size. Read how embroidery stitch count affects cap design.
Small text and fine-detail limits
A web-ready image is not an embroidery-ready file. Thread has thickness, so thin lines and small letters blur together. We tell you early if a detail will not stitch cleanly, and we suggest a fix.
Which Richardson 112 colors work best for branded caps?
Pick colors that match your brand and contrast with your thread. A dark cap with light thread reads well. A light cap with a dark logo does the same. Skip colors that blend your logo into the fabric.
Matching your brand colors
Send your Pantone numbers if you have them. We match thread to your brand colors and flag any gap before production. Your logo should look the same on a cap, a jacket and a truck door.
Choosing contrast for embroidery
Here is what we see across our industries:
- Construction and HVAC: dark caps in navy, black or charcoal hide jobsite dirt
- Corporate: brand colors with a clean one- or two-color logo
- Schools and teams: school colors with a bold mark
- Outdoor and events: bright or light caps for visibility and photos
We do not list every colorway here. Ask us for the current color range for your style.
Who should choose custom Richardson 112 hats?
Custom Richardson 112 hats fit any group that wants one durable, familiar cap. Our Washington customers use them in four main ways.
Construction and trade crews
Crews want gear that holds up and looks professional. The mesh back suits long days outside. Pair your caps with custom construction workwear so the whole crew matches on every jobsite from Tacoma to Seattle.
“They had the items ready even before the due date. Would highly recommend.”
Jeremy Hanson, Construction Project Manager
Businesses and corporate teams
Offices order 112s for staff, client gifts and trade shows. A one-color logo on a navy cap is a safe, clean choice. Reorders are simple because your stitch file stays on record.
Schools and sports teams
Coaches and athletic directors like the one-size fit. You skip the sizing chart and the parent emails. See our custom team uniforms and spirit wear for matching gear.
Events, promotions and customer gifts
Event planners need a cap that arrives on time and looks right. We handle fixed deadlines every week. A cap with your logo is a gift people wear.
Case study placeholder: [Add one real Washington client, their order size, decoration method and result. Get written permission before publishing.]
Richardson 112 vs other cap styles
The 112 is not right for every order. Here is how it compares, so you choose with confidence.
Richardson 112 vs fitted caps
Fitted caps give a sleek, sized fit. They need a size count from every person, and a wrong size means a reorder. The 112 snapback skips that problem and costs you less planning time.
Richardson 112 vs low-profile caps
Low-profile caps sit closer to the head and have a softer front. They suit a casual, relaxed look. The 112 stands taller and holds heavy stitching better, which matters for 3D puff and bigger logos. When comparing the 112 with other trucker hats, check the front structure first.
How NW Custom Apparel customizes Richardson 112 caps
We have run this shop in Milton since 1977. We are family-owned, with 99.8% on-time delivery across 125,000+ projects. 95% of customers reorder. Nothing goes to an outside vendor.
Artwork review and digitizing
Send your logo in any format. We review it and digitize it into a stitch file. Digitizing is the step where a computer file tells the machine how to stitch your design. Reorders get free digitizing from our stored library.
Proof and sample approval
You approve a digital proof first. Then we make a free physical sample before the full run. Nothing is stitched in volume until you sign off.
In-house embroidery and quality control
Our team stitches your caps on Tajima TMAR-KC machines in Milton. We inspect every cap before it leaves. If the finished order does not match the approved proof, we reprint it at no cost.
Minimums, pricing and turnaround
The minimum is 8 caps per style and color. Under-minimum orders carry a $50 charge. Standard turnaround is 10 business days from sample approval, and rush service adds 25%. See custom apparel pricing factors for what moves your price.
Ready to put your logo on Richardson 112 caps?
Tell us your quantity, logo and preferred decoration. We help you choose between flat embroidery, 3D puff and patch options before production.
Request a Richardson 112 Quote | 253-922-5793
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Richardson 112 is one of the best caps for embroidery. The structured front stays firm under the needle, so stitches sit flat and lettering stays sharp. We run it on our Tajima TMAR-KC machines in Milton. Send your logo and we recommend flat embroidery or 3D puff.
Yes, we stitch logos on the front panel. We add names, years or slogans on the side or back. Send your artwork and we digitize it into a stitch file. You approve a proof before production starts. Steve Deland, our art director, has 40+ years of experience.
Yes, 3D puff works well on the 112. It suits bold, simple shapes and short lettering. Foam sits under the stitches and lifts the design off the cap. Fine detail reads better as flat embroidery. We review your artwork and recommend a method before we digitize.
Yes, we laser-engrave leatherette patches for the 112. Patches suit simple marks and give a premium look. Shape and color stay consistent across the whole run. See our Richardson 112 leatherette patch caps page for options.
The minimum is 8 caps per style and color. Orders below the minimum carry a $50 under-minimum charge. Two colors need 8 each, so 8 navy and 8 black is a valid order. Tell us your quantity and we quote within one business day.
Yes, we add names on the side or back panel. Names suit crews and teams where each person wants a personal touch. Send your list in a spreadsheet with exact spellings. We confirm placement on your proof before we stitch.
Standard turnaround is 10 business days from sample approval. We send a physical sample in 3-5 business days. Rush service is available for a 25% surcharge. Call 253-922-5793 with your deadline and we tell you what fits.
Yes, you approve a digital proof before production. We also send a free physical sample before the full run. Nothing is stitched in volume until you sign off. If the finished order does not match the approved proof, we reprint it at no cost.
Ready to customize your Richardson 112 caps?
Custom Richardson 112 hats give your crew or team one clean, durable look. We stitch them in-house in Milton, show you a proof first and reprint at no cost if the order misses it. Send us these five details:
- Quantity
- Your logo file
- Preferred cap color
- Decoration method, if you know it
- Your deadline
Request Your Richardson 112 Quote | Call 253-922-5793 or toll-free 1-800-851-3671
Visit our showroom at 2025 Freeman Road East, Milton, WA 98354, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
AUTHOR BIO
Erik Mickelson is the Operations Manager at Northwest Custom Apparel in Milton, Washington, with 29 years of hands-on experience in embroidery digitizing, screen printing, and custom apparel production. He graduated from Washington State University in 1996 and founded the Apparel Graphic Academy. His father, Jim Mickelson, founded Northwest Custom Apparel in 1977.
