Embroidery on textiles: everything you need to know before ordering

Embroidery is the premium technique for logos, lettering and details. No other print process conveys as much quality at first touch — and no other lasts as long. But embroidery is complex. Not knowing that risks results that fall short of expectations.

How embroidery works

An embroidery machine converts your design into thousands of individual stitches. First, a digitiser must prepare the motif as an embroidery file — this is called digitising. The file controls the machine: how many stitches? In which direction? With how much tension? These decisions determine the result.

Which motifs are suitable for embroidery?

• Clean logos with defined contours — optimal
• Lettering from 5mm height — below that letters become illegible
• Artwork without ultra-fine lines or gradients
• Colour areas from approx. 5mm width — narrower areas break up
• Photo-realistic artwork — not suitable

The most important technical terms

Underlay stitches are invisible base stitches that stabilise the fabric before the actual motif is sewn. Satin stitch creates smooth, shiny surfaces — ideal for narrow elements. Fill stitch (Tatami) fills large areas evenly. Density determines how closely the stitches lie — too tight and the fabric distorts; too loose and the base shows through.

„Good embroidery starts at digitising — not at the machine.“

— palstudios production team

Embroidery and product choice

Embroidery works best on stable, tightly woven fabrics. Polo shirts, caps, jackets, workwear — perfect. On very light jerseys (under 160g) the fabric can contract under stitch tension. Fleece works but needs stronger underlay. Cut & sew pieces from mesh or stretch are more challenging.