When you’re ordering embroidered apparel for your business, there are a lot more options than simply choosing a shirt and sending over your logo.
What garments work best for embroidery? How big should the logo be? What is digitizing? Does stitch count affect the price? And how many pieces do you actually have to order?
At Fuzzy Loon Designs in Waite Park, Minnesota, we produce commercial embroidery for businesses, organizations, schools and groups throughout Minnesota. Here’s what we recommend knowing before placing your first embroidery order.
What is commercial embroidery?
Commercial embroidery uses professional multi-needle embroidery equipment to stitch a design directly into a garment using thread.
It’s especially popular for company apparel because embroidery creates a polished, durable look that works extremely well on polos, hats, quarter-zips, jackets, sweatshirts, workwear and other professional apparel.
Unlike printing, your design first needs to be converted into a file that tells the embroidery machine exactly how to sew it.
That’s called digitizing.
What is embroidery digitizing?
Digitizing isn’t simply converting a JPG or PNG into another file format.
An embroidery digitizer determines things like stitch direction, stitch type, density, underlay and the order in which different portions of the design will sew.
A properly digitized logo can make a significant difference in the finished product.
This is also why a logo that looks great on a computer screen doesn’t necessarily translate perfectly into embroidery. Extremely small lettering, thin lines, gradients and tiny details sometimes need to be adjusted for thread.
How much does embroidery cost?
Several factors can affect embroidery pricing, including:
- Number of garments
- Stitch count
- Size and complexity of the design
- Number of embroidery locations
- Garment style
- Whether the logo needs to be digitized
A small left-chest company logo will generally require considerably fewer stitches than a large embroidered design across the front or back of a sweatshirt.
At Fuzzy Loon Designs, we can review your artwork before production and help determine the best size and embroidery method for your project.
Does embroidery have a minimum order?
Not every embroidery shop handles minimums the same way.
Large contract embroidery companies may require substantial quantities, while local custom shops can often accommodate smaller orders.
At Fuzzy Loon, we work with businesses with a wide range of needs — from smaller apparel orders to larger commercial runs and ongoing employee apparel programs.
That can be particularly helpful for growing businesses that need to add apparel as new employees are hired instead of purchasing a huge quantity at once.
What apparel works best for embroidery?
Embroidery works especially well on:
Polos and quarter-zips for employee uniforms and professional apparel.
Hats and beanies for company apparel, giveaways and branded merchandise.
Sweatshirts and jackets for employee apparel, outdoor crews and branded merchandise.
Workwear for contractors, construction companies, service businesses and other teams that need durable apparel.
Some very lightweight garments may require different techniques or stabilization, so it’s always worth discussing the garment with your embroiderer before ordering.
Can you embroider employee names?
Yes.
Adding individual employee names is one of the advantages of embroidered company apparel.
A business can use the same company logo across every garment while personalizing individual pieces with employee names, departments or job titles.
This is particularly popular for polos, jackets, quarter-zips and workwear.
Can you embroider hats?
Absolutely — but hats are different from flat garments.
The shape and construction of a hat can affect how a design needs to be digitized and embroidered. Designs that work perfectly on a polo may need adjustments before being embroidered on a cap.
That’s another reason working with an embroidery shop that understands both digitizing and production matters.
Embroidery vs. DTF printing: Which should a business choose?
We offer both at Fuzzy Loon, and there isn’t one answer that’s right for every project.
Embroidery is often the better choice for polos, hats, jackets, quarter-zips and professional employee apparel.
DTF printing is excellent for colorful graphics, detailed artwork, T-shirts and designs where reproducing lots of small details with thread wouldn’t make sense.
Sometimes businesses use both.
For example, a company may embroider polos and jackets for employees while using DTF printing for event shirts, promotional T-shirts or larger graphic designs.
Can businesses reorder embroidered apparel later?
This is something worth considering when choosing an embroidery provider.
Many businesses don’t want to order apparel once, they need a partner they can come back to when they hire someone new, change garment styles or need another batch.
Once a logo has been properly prepared for embroidery, future orders become considerably easier.
For businesses with ongoing apparel needs, keeping artwork, embroidery files and previous order information organized can make reordering much simpler.
Local embroidery in Waite Park and St. Cloud, Minnesota
Fuzzy Loon Designs is located in Waite Park, Minnesota, right next to St. Cloud.
We provide custom embroidery, apparel printing, DTF transfers, die-cut stickers, promotional products and other custom printing services for businesses and organizations.
Being local also means businesses in the St. Cloud area can actually stop in, look at garment options, discuss a project and see samples instead of trying to make every decision through an online ordering system.
We also work with customers throughout Minnesota and beyond.
Need embroidered apparel for your business?
Whether you need embroidered polos for five employees, hats for your crew, company sweatshirts or a larger commercial embroidery order, the best place to start is with your logo and an idea of what you’d like embroidered.
Our team can help determine the right garment, embroidery size and production method for the project.
Fuzzy Loon Designs
Waite Park, Minnesota
Commercial Embroidery • Custom Apparel • DTF Transfers • Promotional Products • Custom Printing