Embroidery Decoration Guide

Contents

• What is Embroidery?
• When to Use Embroidery
• Costs Associated with Embroidery
• The Benefits of Embroidery
• Situations to Avoid with Embroidery
• Things to Remember with Embroidery

What is Embroidery?

Embroidery adds ornamental needlework to your promotional item, with designs worked into fabric with high-luster threads. For many forms of apparel, machine embroidery is the preferred form of imprinting for its elegant look that enhances perceived value.

When to Use Embroidery

Embroidery enhances any garment, making it ideal for situations where you want to impress customers, clients and employees

• Corporate and Executive Uniforming: The high quality of embroidery add a professional tone to corporate uniforms.
• Headwear Decoration: The attractive look of embroidered hats endures thanks to the stitching’s durability.
• Employee Gifts: Reward top performers with an embroidered golf shirt or pullover, sure to raise morale and inspire loyalty.
• Customer Appreciation: Show customers your gratitude with embroidered apparel to inspire ongoing loyalty to your company.
• Decorating Ribbed or Pique Fabrics: Textured fabrics, such as pique polo shirts, do not work well with screen-printed imprints, so opt for embroidery when ordering apparel made out of these fabrics.

Costs Associated with Embroidery

Embroidery is priced by the number of stitches required to complete the decoration, normally in increments of 1,000. All prices on Deluxe for embroidered goods include up to 8,000 stitches for decoration which satisfies the needs of the majority of our customers. If your logo requires more stitches, we will work with our decorators to quote you the most competitive price possible. Because pricing is determined by stitch count, intricate designs or large logos will require a larger investment.

Embroidery shops charge a one-time fee for digitizing your artwork, which converts your logo into a suitable format for machine-sewing into garments. Note that plain text does not generally require a digitizing fee since it can be generated easily. Because the digital file can be easily stored, digitization tends to be a one-time fee. As long as the logo or the dimensions of the imprint haven’t changed, you will not be charged another digitization fee when you order a reprint.

The Benefits of Embroidery

Embroidery offers several benefits, including:

• Quality: Although there have been considerable advancements in screen-printing, embroidery is still widely considered to be the most beautiful and durable form of apparel decoration.
• Durability: While screen-prints and heat transfers may eventually wear off the garment, embroidery last reliably last longer.
• Cost-Effectiveness: While embroidery can be expensive for large runs, it can be a preferred option for smaller orders. A one-time digitization fee also makes embroidery an appealing option for businesses that plan on placing repeat orders.
• Versatility: Embroidery works on fabrics of any color and almost any material. Only extremely stiff fabrics cannot be embroidered because they cannot be run through the embroidery machine.

Situations to Avoid with Embroidery

While embroidery offers several notable benefits, there a few situations where it is not advisable:

• Very Small Lettering: Characters smaller than a quarter-inch tall are difficult to sew correctly.
• Large Logos: The larger the logo, the more stitches required.
• Extremely Detailed Logos: The finer the detail, the higher the stitch count.
• Stiff Fabrics: Some fabrics may be so thick that they cannot be sewn through using a computerized embroidery machine.
• Layered Items: In the case of shirt pockets, for instance, you run the risk of sewing the pocket shut.

Things to Remember with Embroidery

If you decide to use embroidery to decorate your apparel, bear in mind:

• Stitch Count: All our prices include embroidery up to 8,000 stitches. We will let you know if you need more, raising the overall price of your order.
• Logo Size and Detail: Embroidery can be expensive if you have a large or extremely detailed logo.
• Sew Outs: A sew out is when you receive a sample that shows how your logo will appear when sewn onto your apparel. While these are generally virtual sew outs, our decorators can produce an actual sew out if you wish.
• Order Size: The larger the order, the more expensive it will be to fulfill.