What is embroidery digitizing?
Digitizing is the process of converting a graphic or text into an embroidery program (.dst file) which will run on a industrial sewing machine. Most decorators charge a set fee per thousand stitches for creating a custom embroidery logo, for example if your design is estimated to be 8,000 stitches you would be charged anywhere from $80 to $160 depending on their cost per thousand. Since Prewards is in the business of making things less complicated, digitizing is FREE for any custom order over 48 pieces and only $15 per thousand if your order is under 48. There is no minimum order size for embroidery.
Digitizing is the process of converting a graphic or text into an embroidery program (.dst file) which will run on a industrial sewing machine. Most decorators charge a set fee per thousand stitches for creating a custom embroidery logo, for example if your design is estimated to be 8,000 stitches you would be charged anywhere from $80 to $160 depending on their cost per thousand. Since Prewards is in the business of making things less complicated, digitizing is FREE for any custom order over 48 pieces and only $15 per thousand if your order is under 48. There is no minimum order size for embroidery.
How do different fabrics affect embroidery quality?
The type of fabric your design is sewing on makes a HUGE impact on both how we digitize your logo and how that logo will end up looking on the garment. This is why it is critically important to let us know when you’re getting a quote or placing an order to list the fabric content of the item(s) we are sewing on.
The stronger the fabric the better the sewing looks, for example: caps, twill, canvas, poly denier nylon (like bags and duffels), most outerwear materials and other very sturdy fabrics sew extremely well. Small lettering looks fantastic and logos don't need as many underlay fill stitches to maintain the integrity of the design. On the flip side, soft or flimsy fabrics like rayon, silk, soft pima cotton, dri-fit fabrics and other very delicate garments require a very different digitizing approach and more underlay stitches to stabilize the design. High pile fabrics like fleece, sweatshirts, hoodies, polar fleece, terry cloth (beach and bath towels) and other thick fabrics hide the small detail of a custom embroidery design and therefore have to be modified to work well on those substrates. However, let us worry about all of this; just make sure we know what material we are sewing on and we will make sure your design sews perfectly EVERY TIME!
The type of fabric your design is sewing on makes a HUGE impact on both how we digitize your logo and how that logo will end up looking on the garment. This is why it is critically important to let us know when you’re getting a quote or placing an order to list the fabric content of the item(s) we are sewing on.
The stronger the fabric the better the sewing looks, for example: caps, twill, canvas, poly denier nylon (like bags and duffels), most outerwear materials and other very sturdy fabrics sew extremely well. Small lettering looks fantastic and logos don't need as many underlay fill stitches to maintain the integrity of the design. On the flip side, soft or flimsy fabrics like rayon, silk, soft pima cotton, dri-fit fabrics and other very delicate garments require a very different digitizing approach and more underlay stitches to stabilize the design. High pile fabrics like fleece, sweatshirts, hoodies, polar fleece, terry cloth (beach and bath towels) and other thick fabrics hide the small detail of a custom embroidery design and therefore have to be modified to work well on those substrates. However, let us worry about all of this; just make sure we know what material we are sewing on and we will make sure your design sews perfectly EVERY TIME!
What are embroidery backings?
Most people own an embroidered garment and have seen the white stiff material that is on the inside of the shirt behind the embroidered design. This is called "backing." What most people don't know is that it is one of the most important tools we use to ensure the custom embroidery looks great and stays on the shirt without falling apart after a few washings. There are hundreds of backing materials and weights which we use to stabilize thinner fabrics and create a strong foundation to sew on. Along with the recent trend in the past few years towards extremely delicate garments and dry release materials we have also started using new woven fabric backings made of what feels like super-strong silk. These more costly yet effective innovations in backing have helped us prevent the see-through issue some thin garments have with traditional stiff white backing. If you’re interested in learning more contact your sales rep for more details.
Most people own an embroidered garment and have seen the white stiff material that is on the inside of the shirt behind the embroidered design. This is called "backing." What most people don't know is that it is one of the most important tools we use to ensure the custom embroidery looks great and stays on the shirt without falling apart after a few washings. There are hundreds of backing materials and weights which we use to stabilize thinner fabrics and create a strong foundation to sew on. Along with the recent trend in the past few years towards extremely delicate garments and dry release materials we have also started using new woven fabric backings made of what feels like super-strong silk. These more costly yet effective innovations in backing have helped us prevent the see-through issue some thin garments have with traditional stiff white backing. If you’re interested in learning more contact your sales rep for more details.
3 Basic types of embroidery stitches
The satin stitch is the most recognizable sewing technique to most people. This is the type of stitch used in the majority of lettering and design outlines. Only when a line weight is too thin or a fill area too big do we need to employ a different stitch type. Satin stitching creates a beautiful raised, rounded, and finished edge to the embroidery and is the cornerstone of monogramming and lettering.
The walking stitch or running stitch is also very common but typically used to accent very small details, too small to accomplish with a satin stitch. Many people think the walk or run stitch looks more like hand embroidery because of the "dotted or dashed" style of this line. Outlines around fine detail and other fine art designs employ the walk / run stitch to create effects satin stitches are too rounded and wide for.
The fill stitch is the workhorse in custom embroidery designs. Fill stitches are used just as the name implies to "fill in" large areas of color that are too wide or not suited best for satin stitches. Digitizing artists also use fill stitches to create "underlay" foundations to layer multi-colored or more complicated designs. This stitching accounts for the most number of stitches in a design so if you’re trying to estimate stitch count for a logo knowing how much fill stitch area is required is the most important thing to consider.
The satin stitch is the most recognizable sewing technique to most people. This is the type of stitch used in the majority of lettering and design outlines. Only when a line weight is too thin or a fill area too big do we need to employ a different stitch type. Satin stitching creates a beautiful raised, rounded, and finished edge to the embroidery and is the cornerstone of monogramming and lettering.
The walking stitch or running stitch is also very common but typically used to accent very small details, too small to accomplish with a satin stitch. Many people think the walk or run stitch looks more like hand embroidery because of the "dotted or dashed" style of this line. Outlines around fine detail and other fine art designs employ the walk / run stitch to create effects satin stitches are too rounded and wide for.
The fill stitch is the workhorse in custom embroidery designs. Fill stitches are used just as the name implies to "fill in" large areas of color that are too wide or not suited best for satin stitches. Digitizing artists also use fill stitches to create "underlay" foundations to layer multi-colored or more complicated designs. This stitching accounts for the most number of stitches in a design so if you’re trying to estimate stitch count for a logo knowing how much fill stitch area is required is the most important thing to consider.
Threads and Thread Charts
There are 2 main basic types of thread used for most embroidered logos, rayon and polyester. Rayon is shiny and smooth with a soft supple finish; polyester is not as shiny and leaves a stiffer hand to the design on the garment. For these reasons rayon is the most popular choice for corporate apparel, golf apparel, and other retail-style items. Polyester is more frequently used when durability and color fastness are major concerns. Industrial uniforms that have to be bleached or are laundered in industrial laundries are great candidates for polyester thread.
Prewards uses Medira, Marathon, and Robison-Anton rayon and polyester threads. Choosing the right thread colors can be tricky, so you can leave it to the experts and we will make the best match to a PMS color you provide.
There are 2 main basic types of thread used for most embroidered logos, rayon and polyester. Rayon is shiny and smooth with a soft supple finish; polyester is not as shiny and leaves a stiffer hand to the design on the garment. For these reasons rayon is the most popular choice for corporate apparel, golf apparel, and other retail-style items. Polyester is more frequently used when durability and color fastness are major concerns. Industrial uniforms that have to be bleached or are laundered in industrial laundries are great candidates for polyester thread.
Prewards uses Medira, Marathon, and Robison-Anton rayon and polyester threads. Choosing the right thread colors can be tricky, so you can leave it to the experts and we will make the best match to a PMS color you provide.
