Embroidery – The art of placing your logo, message, important info or call-to-action on soft items like clothing or bags using high tech computer controlled sewing machines – is like NOTHING ELSE in the world. Done well, it can create an absolute work of art. However, many purchasers have had a product end up looking nothing like what they expected.
Unlike standard imprint methodologies using AI art files, there is an EXTRA step required to enable embroidering on your product. This step is called DIGITIZING (DIGITIZATION). This is when a highly skilled DIGITIZER takes the artwork file and transforms it into a series of stitching steps that will create the requested imprint using THREADS.
This shift means a definite change in how any final imprint (either logo, text or a combination of the two) will look in its finished form. Thread and stitching have some limitations in how they can best flow and work together. Compare the imprint artwork below and the final embroidery created from it:
Here are some important considerations for successful embroidery:
- Embroidery designs must be “hoopable.” An embroiderer uses hard frames (known as “hoops”) to lock and stretch fabric taunt for sewing. If an embroidery shop does not have the right size hoop (to fit around your design or fit onto the clothing item without encountering seams, zippers or pockets) they will NOT be able to stitch your design.
- Embroidery runs smoother and faster when the elements (like each letter in words) are set close to one another. Different words and separate graphic elements can still spread out where required, but embroidery designs will always look tighter together in their final design. (See design comparison above)
- Text to be digitized should not be smaller than 1/4″ high.
- Baseball Caps require an entirely different set up on the embroidery machine to be done properly. The embroidery file you are using on flat surfaces may need to be edited for proper/consistent running on the curved surface structure of a cap.
- The highest dimension you can usually do on the front of a cap is 2.25″ from top to bottom. If you want something bigger, you will need to consider doing a CUSTOM CAP. This allows the embroidery to be done on the flat fabric FIRST. Then the manufacturer can cut and sewn it specifically into a final custom hat design.
Brymark has guided countless clients from trepidation in EMBROIDERY to being consummate pros at turning out high quality, stunning finished items. Call us at 1-877-521-1102 ext # 0 to get things started right away or drop us an email with your specific questions. You can even send us a sample of the artwork you’re considering for digitization. We can let you know all of the steps and costs for it to be readied to embroider with! Brymark’s digitizing team can perfectly set up your artwork. Then, we can request a sample stitch out (SWATCH) of your finished design. There is nothing better than seeing the exact finished embroidery first-hand.
