When to Choose Embroidery

TAPE TIPS

Successful digitizing and embroidery

WHEN TO CHOOSE EMBROIDERY

When considering the best method for creating a logo or design on a garment or non-apparel item, keep in mind that embroidery offers a rich, textured appearance that will last for years.

LOCATION

Left and Right Chest - The industry standard for design elements is to have the logo on the left chest and any personalization, such as an employee?s name, on the right chest. Sleeve - You might want to consider adding a logo, design or slogan to the left sleeve to add variety. This would create more visibility for businesses who have a message to display. Back ? below collar (yoke area) is also an area that can add some variety to design placement. One consideration for this area is to avoid designs that could be irritating for the wearer due to backing. Certain designs that require backing may not be advisable. Sometimes, thickness of thread coming through backing can create a great deal of irritation. Left Chest and Hat - If logo is to be placed on left chest or sleeve and a hat, make sure you have separate tapes digitized for each placement. A digitized tape for hats, for example, is engineered differently than for a left chest or sleeve placement, generally being sewn from the middle of the design out.

FABRIC

Typical fabrics for uniforms that would most often contain an embroidered element include cotton twill, pique, denim, cotton/polyester blend and fleece (for jackets).

THREAD

If a garment produced with embroidery is going to be washed in high temperatures and heavy bleach or will have rough use, thread selection is of particular concern. Polyester thread is the best choice in such a situation to avoid fading and bleeding of thread color into the garment.

If the vibrancy of color is important, then rayon is the best choice. Rayon is the traditional choice when a higher degree of luster and shine are wanted. You may have to direct your embroiderer to use rayon as they may have polyester as their standard due to its strength and ability to withstand the sewout process with less breakage than is potential with rayon. Don?t sacrifice the quality and appearance of your design to make it easier to sew out.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Letter size is an important consideration when creating a digitized design for the embroidery process.

Minimum Letter Height by Fabric:

Pique, Terry cloth, Fleece .?. 1/ 4?

Twill, Most other fabrics ?? 3/16?

MARKETING IDEAS

If you customer has vendors, you might suggest to your customer that their vendor may want to participate in getting shirts produced by having their name embroidered on the shirt (EG: on the sleeve). They may have coop dollars available to subsidize a portion of the cost of the shirt and create a better sales opportunity for you. Home Depot, for example, may choose to have Black & Decker or Porter Paints displayed on their employees shirt sleeves.

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