Hey there! Today we wanted to go over one of our most popular ways to get a design onto products and that is embroidery! We will talk below more about what the process is as well as things to think about when you are designing for embroidery.

First let's start off with, what is embroidery?

• Embroidery is the process in which a needle with thread travels through a garment multiple times and creates the logo by tying the top thread to the bottom thread known as a bobbin.

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Here's a quick video showing the process:

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Here's a list of some terms that we use frequently:

• Thread - This is the material used to create the logo on the garment. We use 2 separate styles, Rayon or Polyester thread depending on the color required or the application.
• Digitize- This is the process of which the logo is put into specialized software and is plotted out stitch by stitch so that the machines know where to sew. This process is done by a speciality artist who is trained on how the thread interacts with products to ensure once it gets to the machine it's ready to go!
• Stitch Count- Instead of pricing out a logo based on the amount of colors as you would with screen-printing, with embroidery it’s based on how many stitches are in the logo.
• Backing - This is a piece of fabric that is placed behind the garment that provides stability during the production process and helps create a better quality. Please note that we do trim this backing, however on most garments there is still backing as it is sewn through during the production process.

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Things to think about when designing for embroidery:

• One of the biggest things to take into consideration when designing for embroidery is that it's harder to capture smaller details vs screen printing or other print methods. Once you have any lettering that falls below .21”H, there is a dramatic level of detail that is lost. Reason beingi s there is only so much that can be done when puncturing the garment at high speeds with a needle.
• Depending on the product you plan on using, large areas of embroidery can result in what is known as "puckering". The result of puckering is that the fabric buckles in on itself around the edge of the graphic. It's best to use caution with the amount of stitches you use on lighter weight fabric like performance wear.

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Here's some ways to add value to your next embroidery order

1. 3D Puff

Adding 3D to your design can elevate a good design to AWESOME! The way we are able to achieve this end result is we use a piece of foam and embroider over and completely cover with thread. Once it's finished we remove the excess foam and clean up to end up with absolutely great product.

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2. Metallic Thread

We have many different colors of metallic thread that adds just a little cost but goes so far when it comes to the ulitmate outcome!

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3 - Pair with another technique

Thinking out of the box on how to pair embroidery with other decoration techniques can be a game changer when it comes to adding value to your products!

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Thanks so much for reading and hope this was helpful in understanding how embroidery is done and how it can help build your next great product! Reach out to us with any questions or would like more information.