Embroidery 101

Embroidered emblems and patches are a great way to put your design or insignia on a garment without applying the decoration directly to the garment. These emblems & patches are generally produced on a heavy twill fabric with a smooth texture.

In most cases a portion of the underlying twill becomes the background for the design, and a variety of thread colors make up the details of the design. There is a decorative cover stitch that covers the edge of the twill fabric to make your custom embroidered emblem.

Embroidered emblems and custom patches are commonly produced for outerwear, clothing and accessories. They work great for uniforms, caps, jackets and golf shirts when you want maximum recognition and exposure. We use the highest quality fabrics and threads to make your embroidered emblems and patches.

The Benefits of Custom Embroidered Emblems & Patches

Embroidered emblems & patches can benefit you in many ways.

Below we have provided you with just a few of the benefits of embroidered patches.

* Option to be heat sealed or sewn on garments.
* Designed for industrial laundering.
* Gives opportunity to remove design at anytime without ruining the garment.
* Removable, allowing for reuse of garments.
* Multiple shapes and sizes.
* Can save as much as 30% over the cost of direct embroidery.
* Allows you the opportunity to have your design sewn without purchasing a garment.
* Hold up in active environments such as industrial, healthcare and hospitality.

Patching Materials

Embroidered patches are precut in a wide range of sizes and shapes for you to choose from.
see our most popular shapes and sizes (available in any combination of fabric color and border thread color). More shapes are available by request for custom embroidered emblems.

If twill isn't the patch fabric you%u2032re looking for we also offer poplin, flame resistant, and reflective material for your custom embroidered emblem.

Backing materials used for embroidered emblems & patches

Embroidered emblems have different backing materials applied depending on the end use of the product. There would be no special backing applied to a patch that is to be sewn directly to a garment. If the patch is made to be heat applied to a garment, for easy application, it would be backed with a "heat-sealed" material. In our production facilities we have the proper machines to apply you embroidered patch.

Reflective embroidered emblems & patches

Embroidered patches can be made for people who work in poor visibility environments. Using a reflective material for the background, allows the patch to reflect when light comes in contact with the background material. You can incorporate this material in patches made for children%u2032s garments to add visibility at the bus stop, or add to sports apparel for bright, fashion-oriented embroidered emblems that stand out from the rest.

Embroidery Coverage

Embroidered patches and embroidered emblems vary in price depending on the following factors:

* Quantity: How many patches needed
* Patch Size: Height and width of background fabric
* Stitch Count: Number of stitches it takes to complete your desired design.

Embroidery is classified according to the use of the underlying foundation fabric. One classification system divides embroidery styles according to the relationship of stitch placement to the fabric:

In free embroidery, designs are applied without regard to the weave of the underlying fabric. Examples include crewel and traditional Chinese embroidery.

In counted-thread embroidery, patterns are created by making stitches over a pre-determined number of threads in the foundation fabric. Counted-thread embroidery is more easily worked on an even-weave foundation fabric such as embroidery canvas, aida cloth, or specially woven cotton and linen fabrics although non-evenweave linen is used as well. Examples include needlepoint and cross-stitch.

A second division classifies embroidery according to whether the design is stitched on top of or through the foundation fabric:

In surface embroidery, patterns are worked on top of the foundation fabric using decorative stitches and laid threads. Surface embroidery encompasses most free embroidery as well as some forms of counted-thread embroidery (such as cross-stitch).

In canvas work, threads are stitched through a fabric mesh to create a dense pattern that completely covers the foundation fabric. All canvas work is not counted-thread embroidery. There are printed and hand painted canvases where the painted or printed image is meant to serve as a color guide. Stitches are sometimes of the stitcher's choosing.

An important distinction between canvas work and surface embroidery is that surface work requires the use of an embroidery hoop or frame to stretch the material and ensure even stitching tension that prevents pattern distortion. Canvas work tends to follow very symmetrical counted stitching patterns with designs developing from repetition of one or only a few similar stitches in a variety of thread hues. Most forms of surface embroidery, by contrast, are distinguished by a wide range of different stitching patterns used in a single piece of work.

Ribbon embroidery is embroidery performed with ribbon rather than standard six-thread string. Silk ribbon or a silk/organza blend ribbon are commonly used for this type of embroidery. There are many different styles of ribbon embroidery, such as woven rose, French knot, feather stich, fly stich, fly stich fern, couching stich, lazy daisy, looped petal flower, Japanese ribbon stitch, stem stitch rose, split stitch, and straight stitch. Those are usually taught to beginners who are just learning silk ribbon embroidery. Ribbon embroidery is most commonly used to create floral motifs. It's said to have a certain romantic and antique quality.

In machine embroidery, embroidery designs are stitched with an automated embroidery machine. These designs are "digitized" with Embroidery Software. They can have different types of "fills" which add texture and design to the embroidery. Almost all basic types of embroidery can be created with machine embroidery. These include: Applique, Free Standing Lace, Cutwork, Cross-stitch, Photo Stitch, and Basic Embroidery. Most often this type of embroidery is associated with business shirts, gifts, team apparel and commercial use.

Overview

Digitizing is the indispensable foundation of any embroidered design. In essence, digitizing is the sophisticated process of converting text or a printed design into an embroidery format. The output of this conversion is a set of instructions that directs the embroidery machine to know what thread color to sew and where to place each stitch, culminating in a thread based mirror image of the original.

The specialized field of digitizing requires an artist's skill coupled with a precise understanding of graphics, text and imaging.

Digitizing fees

Digitizing your logo is a one-time charge, much like a setup charge for printed materials such as letterhead and business cards. Once the design is approved, it can be used over and over at no additional charge. The price of digitizing is based on the number of stitches necessary to create your logo. The fee for digitizing is around $20.00 per 1,000 stitches.

Quick Fact: When digitized for embroidery on the left chest of a shirt, the average corporate logo ranges from 4000-6000 stitches, translating to a $80-$100 setup fee.

Send the embroiderer your logo

The fastest, easiest way for your logo to be digitized is to
e-mail it in a digital format such as jpg file

Your logo will be reviewed and an estimated stitch count is determined. You will then be notified of the your price to digitize the logo. With your approval, the logo will be digitized and a sample sew-out of the logo will be provided to you before proceeding with the embroidery.

Quick Fact: A sew-out is a replica of the finished design and is provided to you for approval before proceeding with the actual embroidery. Any changes to the sew-out will incur additional charges and time to complete.

Logo Dimensions/Placement

Most corporate logos are sewn on the left chest of a garment and measure between 2-4" wide and 2-4" high. The location of the design will help determine its overall size.

Quick Fact: Resizing an approved design (to be either larger or smaller) will incur a small editing fee.

Digitizing Considerations

* Small elements such as tiny graphics or very small lettering may retain their detail in printing, however they do not always embroider well and may need to be either enlarged or removed completely from the design. For best embroidery results, avoid miniature graphics and text smaller than 25 points high.
* Ball caps or visors have a much smaller sewing field than garments due to the height limitation inherent in these items. Generally, designs up to 2" high are suitable for a cap or visor. The width is less restrictive at up to 5" wide.
* For best results on ball caps or visors, a separate digitized design may be required due to the curved construction of these items.