Embroidery Tips: Do’s and Don’ts

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Know the Do’s and Don’ts of Embroidery

 

GetBold is the custom t-shirt printer in Canada that wants you to be informed, and make sure you have a successful embroidery experience. When done correctly, embroidery adds a professional, permanent quality to your logo, monogram, or icon. It elevates it to a level above many other applications. Some guidelines should be followed to ensure a successful result. We’d like to go over some here so that you have as easy an experience as possible.


Keep it Simple

 

Just by the very process itself, do remember that this is about applying your artwork with stitches, not by printing ink. You’ll be preparing artwork for an embroidery template. So, think ahead as to how complicated and “fine-lined” your design is before handing it off. The intricacies of photographic design, for example, don’t translate well.

Using fonts is something else to consider. Serif fonts (fonts with extra strokes at the end of the main bold stroke of a letterform) depending on the size, don’t usually represent as well as bold, simple sans serif faces (fonts without serifs, referred to as gothic).

Do consider the space you’ll have to work in and the final size of the image. It’s a good idea to maximize your artwork in the space provided, that way you can be assured of the getting the most of your image on the garment.


Choose Colour Based on the Thread

 

Do design with colours from the selection of thread colours available. Also do think about how readable the image will be and how much it will stand-out, this is largely determined by contrast (a dark embroidered image on a light garment and a light embroidered image on a dark garment).


Select Apparel that Lends Itself to Embroidery

 

Although there are few limits to custom apparel printing, you don’t want to embroider on lighter weight fabrics like silk or fabrics that have a lower thread count. That can yield less than desirable results. You can add a stabilizer to the fabric to create a surface that helps hold the embroidery, but you’d still be faced with a heavy emblem that doesn’t hang well on the garment. Do try to stick with fabric with more substance that has a thread count of 28 or higher.

Typically, you do have success embroidering on garments like caps, hats, polo shirts, jackets, and hoodies. 


Limitations Are a Good Thing


Don’t consider parameters a bad thing. Knowing what can and can’t be done is a great way to identify the solution. From metallics, and fluorescent polyester, to 3D foam, these are great options to direct which way you take your design.

Embroidery on a beanie in process

GetBold Knows the Ropes

 

Designing for embroidery and the embroidering process can be quite challenging. It’s a whole lot different than direct to garment or screen printing. The more you know the limitations of the process the more you’ll understand how embroidery can accentuate your design.

Our talented team wants to help your design stand out. So, if you need help with the designing part, contact us for that too. We’ll help you start with the end in mind. We’re here to carefully guide you every step of the way.