The benefits of embroidered apparel are numerous including a professional first impression, continuous advertising of your brand and it builds camaraderie among employees.
Whether you want to outfit your staff with a professional branded look or provide a nice gift for employees or clients, embroidered apparel is a classic option that will positively represent your brand for years to come.
We decided to check in with our very own embroidery expert, Renee Steckbeck, to learn more about the do’s and don’ts of the embroidery process.
Embroidery is pretty popular for businesses. What items do we embroider most often?
Mostly shirts and jackets, but we also do a lot of bags, backpacks and baseball caps. Recently we just did an order of aprons for a cooking school. And we have a new exclusive relationship with Under Armour, so we expect to see lots of people wearing their apparel pretty soon.
Are there different types of embroidery? If so, what are the distinguishing characteristics?
Traditional flat embroidery is most often used. For baseball caps, you can also use 3D embroidery for an extra charge. This technique adds a foam under the stitch giving it a three-dimensional look. This works best with simple, bold logos.
What does stitch count mean and how does it affect the cost of embroidery?
Stitch count is the number of embroidery stitches it takes to create a logo. Pricing is based on the total number of stitches in your logo. For example, a few of the common price breaks are up to 4999 stitches, 5000-7499, and so on. The higher the stitch count, the higher the cost of embroidery.
Does it cost more to embroider in full color as opposed to one or two colors?
No, the cost is the same! Embroidery charges are determined by the stitch count of the logo. One exception would be if a logo requires an excessive number of colors (like 10 or more colors). Additional charges may be required in that rare situation.
Can any logo/design/message be embroidered?
Not necessarily. There are certain variables, such as small text, that could cause a logo to not embroider well. In some cases, modifications to the art may be needed to make it embroidery-friendly.
Where is the best place to embroider apparel? Left chest, right chest, sleeve, back, etc?
Left or right chest is most often used for apparel embroidery. You can also embroider a short sleeve or on the back. Depending on the artwork and shirt, it is possible to stitch on the cuff of a long sleeve. You would want to keep that art simple and bold. Typically, no more than 3” wide depending on the artwork. For all embroidery, there has to be an access area that works for the embroidery hoop, so not all items can be embroidered.
Once embroidered, can the stitching be removed?
It can be removed; however, it will leave an ugly scar. If you remove a logo, it’s best to replace it with a logo of like size, but even this doesn’t guarantee you will not see the previous logo. It is a very time consuming & expensive process to shave off the logo. Since there is no guarantee of a favorable final outcome, we recommend replacing the item instead, or adding on an embroidered patch that is larger than the original logo.
Hope you enjoyed the info about embroidery. You can shop our apparel stores for hundreds of items we recommend for a custom embroidered logo. If you regularly need orders for your staff, we also offer custom apparel stores where employees can shop from pre-selected options and pay for their order directly on the site.
Contact us for more info!