Embroidery: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What embroidery is

An embroiderer stitches logos, names or designs onto clothing, bags, hats, towels or other fabric. The work uses a machine or hand needle, and the design is digitized or traced onto the item before stitching.

Signs you need it

  • You want a company logo or team name on uniforms, jackets or hats
  • You want a monogram or a name on a gift, a bag or a set of towels
  • You want a custom design stitched onto a special item, such as a wedding dress or a family quilt
  • You need embroidery that will hold up through washing and daily use
  • You want a hand-stitched piece that is not available as a printed item

What the pro does

  • Asks what you want stitched, where it goes and how many items need it
  • Checks the design size, the fabric and the placement for the item
  • Digitizes the design for a machine, or traces it for hand stitching
  • Tests the stitch on a sample of the same fabric and adjusts the tension
  • Stitches the design onto each item, checking the placement as they go
  • Trims the threads and gives you care steps to keep the stitching in place

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of stitches in the design, which depends on size and detail
  • The number of colors in the design and how many thread changes are needed
  • The number of items to be stitched
  • The fabric type, since thick or stretchy fabrics need more care
  • Whether the design needs digitizing or a new file
  • Whether a sample or test stitch is included

What a written quote should spell out

  • The design size, the number of colors and the placement on each item
  • The number of items to be stitched, and the fabric type
  • Whether digitizing, a test stitch or a sample is included
  • The completion date and the pick-up or delivery date
  • The care steps and whether any repairs are included

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can I see embroidery you have done on fabric like mine?
  • Do you digitize the design yourself, and will I receive the file?
  • How many colors will the design use, and can I approve the thread colors?
  • Will the design hold up through washing, and how should I wash it?
  • How will you test the design before stitching all the items?
  • What happens if the stitching puckers or shifts on the fabric?
  • What is the minimum size for the design you can stitch cleanly?

Red flags

  • Stitches all the items without a test on the same fabric
  • Cannot say how the design will be digitized or how it will be sized
  • Uses a design that is too small or too dense for the fabric without warning
  • Will not show embroidery work on fabrics like yours
  • Promises the stitching will never fade or pucker with no care steps

What you can do yourself

You can stitch a simple name or initial by hand with a backstitch on a scrap first, then on the item. Use a stabilizer under the fabric and keep the thread tension even. Hire an embroiderer for logos on many items, for dense designs, for thick or stretch fabric, or for anything where the placement must be exact.

Licenses and permits

A license is often not required for embroidery, but rules differ by state and city. Ask for a portfolio of finished work on fabrics like yours and proof of training or equipment experience.

Embroidery questions

What is digitizing?

Digitizing is turning a design into a stitch file that the embroidery machine can read. It sets the stitch direction, density and order. A clean digitized file gives a better result on the fabric.

Can you embroider a logo on a jacket that is already made?

Often yes. Ask the embroiderer about the placement, the fabric thickness and whether the jacket has seams or zippers in the area. They may suggest a test on a sample first.

How do I care for embroidered items?

Wash the item inside out in cool water, avoid high heat in the dryer, and iron on the reverse side with a cloth. Ask the embroiderer for specific care steps for the fabric and thread.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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