WHAT IS EMBROIDERY?

Embroidery is the process of stitching a design into fabric using thread. Unlike printing, embroidery uses physical thread, so designs have limitations when it comes to detail and colour blending.

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS

Your design will be redrawn during the digitising process, so the file doesn’t need to be "production ready", but it does need to be clear enough to work from.

Preferred file formats:

- Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF)

- High-resolution PNG or JPG (at print size & 300dpi minimum)

ARTWORK LIMITATIONS

Embroidery has some physical limitations. Keep these in mind when creating your artwork:

- Minimum line width: 1.25mm. Thinner lines may not stitch cleanly.

- Text: Avoid serif or script fonts under 7mm tall. Bold, simple fonts work best.

- Max colours: Up to 15 thread colours per design.

- Thread colours: Exact Pantone matching isn’t possible. We’ll match your artwork to the closest available thread colour from our shade cards. 

- Solid colours only: No gradients, fades or transparency. Embroidery uses blocks of solid thread colour, blending isn’t possible.

HOW ARTWORK AFFECTS PRICING

Embroidery pricing is based on the number of stitches in the design. More stitches = more time = higher cost.

Things that increase stitch count:

- Size, bigger designs require more stitches

- Large areas of filled colour

- Dense/blocky designs

Small & simple designs are usually quicker and more economical to stitch.

GARMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Embroidery works best on medium to heavyweight garments.

Recommended garments:

- T-shirts & polo shirts (180gsm or heavier)

- Sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets, headwear

Avoid: Lightweight or stretchy garments. Heavy embroidery on these garments can cause puckering, affect durability, or distort the fabric.

HOW YOUR DESIGN IS EDITED

Every embroidery job starts with digitising – redrawing your artwork into a stitch file.

This isn’t automatic. A digitiser decides:

- Which stitch types to use (satin, fill, run)

- Stitch direction, density, and underlay

- How to keep the design clean and stable on fabric

We handle this ourselves, we only use files we've digitised in-house to ensure the best quality and reliable results. Digitising is included in our pricing for simplicity.

PROOFS, RESIZING & TURNAROUND

Digital Proofs

We always supply a digital proof before we go ahead with production. If we have any questions or concerns after digitising your design, we’ll be in touch with either:

- A digital preview of the stitch simulation, or

- A photo of a physical sew out for approval

Changes After Approval

If you need to change the design, or design size after digitising is complete, a new digitising fee will apply. This is because stitch types, direction, and density often need to be recalculated at different sizes. The digitising cost for changes after approval:

£2 per 1,000 stitches

(e.g. a 5,000 stitch design = £10 to re-digitise)

Turnaround Time

Standard turnaround is 7–10 working days from approval.

FINAL CHECKLIST

Before sending us your artwork, ask yourself:

- Is all text legible and linework over 1.25mm thick?

- Is the design size appropriate? (large designs cost a lot more than small designs)

- Are all colours solid (no gradients or shading)?

- Is the artwork clean and high resolution?

- Is the garment suitable (not too lightweight or stretchy)?

- Do you have any colour references or brand guidelines?