Embroidery

Embroidery stitches thread directly into the garment. There is no ink and no film - the decoration becomes part of the fabric. It is the most durable option available and the one that signals quality fastest, which is why corporate programs default to it.

Minimum 10 units · 10-15 business days production · Priced by stitch count

Why choose embroidery

It outlasts everything else

Prints eventually crack, peel or fade. Stitching does not. An embroidered logo will typically still look correct long after the garment around it has worn out, which makes it the right call for uniforms and anything washed weekly.

Perceived value

The raised, textured finish reads as premium immediately. For polos, jackets, caps and executive gifts, embroidery does more for how a garment is received than any print method.

Low minimum

From 10 units. Once your design is digitized, the stitch file is reused on every future order at no additional setup cost.

Any fabric

Cotton, fleece, French terry, denim, canvas and performance fabrics all embroider well - including heavyweight garments where prints struggle with texture.

Specialty techniques

  • 3D puff - foam under the stitching creates a bold raised effect, the standard for cap front logos
  • Applique - fabric shapes stitched onto the garment, covering large color areas without a huge stitch count
  • Metallic threads - gold, silver and copper
  • Specialty threads - variegated, glow-in-the-dark and UV-reactive

What is digitizing?

Before anything can be stitched, your artwork has to be converted into an embroidery file (DST format) that tells the machine exactly where to place every stitch. A technician analyzes the vector artwork, determines stitch types and directions, assigns thread colors, and optimizes the file for the machines.

  • A first-time digitizing fee applies to each new design
  • The fee is waived on repeat orders of the same design
  • Complex designs cost more to digitize
  • Small text and fine details may need to be simplified during the process

Limitations to plan for

  • Stitch count drives the price, not the number of thread colors. A dense or physically large design can cost several times what a simple one does.
  • It is not for large graphics. A chest logo of roughly 3 to 4 inches is the practical sweet spot. Full-front or back designs push the stitch count - and the price and the stiffness - to impractical levels.
  • Minimum letter height is 5 mm. Below that, characters lose definition and legibility.
  • No gradients or photographs. Embroidery works in discrete blocks of solid thread color.
  • Thread colors cannot be custom mixed or adjusted. We match to the nearest available thread in inventory. Some Pantone references have no close equivalent, and thread appearance shifts with lighting and fabric texture. When a match is approximate, we get your approval before production.
  • Lightweight jersey needs care. Dense stitching on a thin 150 GSM tee can pucker. Backing helps, but heavier fabrics are a safer choice.

Artwork requirements

Vector art is required - AI, EPS or PDF with fonts converted to outlines. Raster files cannot be digitized reliably.

Convert fonts to outlines before sending. In Illustrator that's Type → Create Outlines; in CorelDRAW, Arrange → Convert to Curves; in Inkscape, Path → Object to Path.

Keep designs simple. Tell us the finished width you want and where it should sit, and we'll flag anything that will not hold at that size before we digitize - it is far cheaper to catch it then than after.

Not sure your files are ready? Send them and we'll review them before quoting, at no charge.

Ready to stitch?

Email your logo, quantity, garment choice and placement to info@organicblank.com. Comparing methods? See screen printing and DTF, or all our printing services.