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Embroidery is the art of decorating fabric using a needle and thread to form patterns, logos, or text. It adds a textured, professional finish that stands out on apparel. This technique can be done by hand for a traditional touch or by machine for precision and speed. Embroidery offers a durable, high-end look to garments from uniforms to custom gifts.
Here is the step-by-step process to create your own embroidery pattern or logo for customising garments:
- Pick Your Design Platform Wisely: Select a tool that matches your skills and budget—whether it’s Canva, Photoshop, or Illustrator. Once the design is ready, you can upload it to our design tool.
- Decide on Thread Colour Strategy: Choose your embroidery colours based on design complexity, visibility, and whether you’re stitching by hand or using a machine.
- Stick to Smart Embroidery Standards: Use readable text sizes, avoid intricate textures, and pick sturdy fabrics to ensure clean, long-lasting results.
- Build a Stitch-Ready Visual: Focus on strong shapes and clear outlines—steer clear of gradients, tiny details, and photographic effects.
- Leave File Conversion to the Experts: Submit a high-res file, and Garment Printing will take care of converting it into a format compatible with embroidery machines.
- Test It Before You Sell It: Order a sample to inspect the quality, colours, and stitching before placing large orders or offering it for sale.
- Proceed with Your Bulk Order: Once satisfied with the sample, confidently place your full embroidery order with Garment Printing.
The following steps are for doing embroidery on apparel of your choice:
Get Your Logo Stitched to Perfection
1. Pick Your Design Platform Wisely
Before stitching on garments via embroidery, you need to sketch. Choosing the right tool to create your design for embroidery is the first step—and it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Whether you’re a beginner or a design pro, there’s a suitable platform out there to create garments with your custom embroidery designs on them.
Here’s a breakdown of some reliable options based on your skill level, goals, and how hands-on you want the process to be:
Canva
If you want a fuss-free, beginner-friendly design experience, Canva is a fantastic place to start. It’s cloud-based (no software download needed), and its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for anyone to jump in—no prior experience required.
- Free and Paid Versions: The free version is often enough to design simple embroidery artwork. But if you need transparent backgrounds or premium illustrations, upgrading to Canva Pro unlocks more flexibility.
- Pros: Huge library of templates, icons, and fonts. Extremely user-friendly. Great for mock-ups and visualising layout.
- Cons: You might be limited when it comes to shaping fine details or exporting high-res transparent files without a paid plan.
Photoshop
Got a bit of graphic design experience under your belt? Adobe Photoshop gives you full creative control—ideal for more intricate or professional-level embroidery designs.
- Why It Works for Embroidery: You can fine-tune everything from line thickness to colour schemes, and it’s excellent for custom text, monograms, or geometric shapes.
- Pros: Total creative freedom. Supports layered editing. Excellent resolution and control over image scaling.
- Cons: It’s not beginner-friendly and does come with a cost. Even with a 7-day free trial, the learning curve may be too steep for first-timers.
Garment Printing’s In-House Design Preview (via Online Design Tool)
Want to skip the tech headache and visualise your embroidery directly on a garment? Garment Printing offers access to an intuitive design tool —perfect for testing thread colours, placement, and sizing in real-time.
You don’t need to worry about stitch types or technical specs. Simply drag, drop, and adjust. What you see on the screen is what you get embroidered. 100% free. Shows live previews of embroidery designs for workwear, casual wear, business wear, or more on shirts, hats, hoodies, and other garments. Access to clipart, fonts, and templates.
2. Decide on Thread Colour Strategy
Once your design idea is ready, it’s time to think about colour. The embroidery thread colours you choose have a massive impact on how your design will appear—not just up close, but from a distance too. Whether you’re keeping it classic with a few tones or going bold with vibrant transitions, your colour choices should align with your embroidery method.
Simple Colour Palettes – Ideal for Hand Embroidery or Minimalist Looks
If you’re hand-stitching or aiming for a clean, understated style, it’s best to keep your colour palette limited. A few well-chosen shades not only make the stitching process easier but also help the finished design stay neat and recognisable.
- Designs with 2–5 colours are ideal for traditional embroidery.
- Avoid overly detailed patterns, as they’re hard to replicate manually.
- Bold shapes and high contrast colours will make the most visual impact.
Remember, hand embroidery comes with natural limitations—finer gradients or layered textures often require the precision of machine work.
Pre-Set Thread Colours – Great for Classic Machine Embroidery
Using machine embroidery with a fixed set of thread colours allows you to maintain control while still adding more variety. Garment Printing offers a wide range of pre-set colours that can be used to build clear, durable embroidery designs.
- Stick to thread combinations that provide visual contrast and readability.
- Avoid fine, intricate line work if you’re using multiple colours—large, filled shapes work best.
- Think about viewing distance: designs should still look good from a metre away.
Choosing the right thread combo isn’t just about aesthetics—it also affects stitch density and how the fabric holds the embroidery.
Unlimited Colour Embroidery – For Smooth Gradients and Complex Colour Work
Want to use gradients, blends, or full-colour visuals in your embroidery? Companies offer unlimited colour embroidery powered by advanced thread-dyeing technology. Rather than relying on individual spools of thread, this method dyes the thread during stitching, allowing near-infinite colour possibilities.
- Perfect for logos designed for embroidery with shading, gradient backgrounds, or detailed illustrations.
- Allows smoother transitions between colours than traditional embroidery can handle.
- Best used on machine-embroidered garments and accessories.
Important Note: Even with this technology, embroidery isn’t printing. Designs must still be optimised for thread—super fine details or photo-realistic images may not translate cleanly. Always preview your embroidery design at full size and distance. What looks sharp on screen may blur on fabric, especially with small fonts or soft colour transitions.
3. Stick to Smart Embroidery Standards
Before turning your design into stitches, it’s crucial to follow embroidery-friendly guidelines. At Garment Printing, we’ve seen great ideas fall flat simply because they weren’t built with embroidery in mind. Thread isn’t ink—it behaves differently on fabric. That’s why planning your design with these stitch-specific limitations in mind is essential.
Below are key rules every embroidery design should follow to avoid disappointment and ensure a clean, professional finish.
1. Avoid Tiny Text and Ultra-Thin Lines
Small text and delicate lines often get lost in the stitching process. For clarity:
- Keep letter height above 0.25 inches (6.4 mm)
- Maintain a line thickness of at least 0.05 inches (1.3 mm)
Anything finer may become barely visible, especially from a distance. If you’re aiming for minimalism, opt for clean, bold shapes rather than hairline elements.
2. Skip Negative Space Tricks
While transparent backgrounds are fine, avoid using hollowed-out spaces or intricate cut-outs within your design.
- Fabric may show through those gaps and disrupt the overall shape.
- Edges around negative space can stitch unevenly and lose their crispness.
Instead, use solid fills to maintain consistency and avoid weak spots in your pattern.
3. Don’t Use Distressed or Textured Effects
Grunge, faded, or scratchy effects might look great on screen or with direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, but embroidery doesn’t replicate texture well.
- Textured effects often lose their detail once stitched.
- Stick to bold, block-style designs for the best embroidered outcome.
4. Say No to Photorealistic Images
Embroidery isn’t built for photographic reproduction. Trying to convert a photo directly will result in a blurry, cluttered mess.
- Convert images into simplified vector-style illustrations before digitising.
- Use clear borders and flat colours rather than fine gradients or pixel-level detail.
5. Don’t Rely on Neon or Metallic Colours
Even with advanced thread-dyeing technology, embroidery still works within CMYK-based limits.
- Bright neons and shiny metallics aren’t achievable with standard thread.
- If your design depends on these effects, consider revising the colour palette or using pre-dyed threads where possible.
6. Match Design Complexity to Fabric Weight
Embroidery interacts differently with various materials. Heavier fabrics hold complex stitching better, while lightweight materials may pucker or warp.
- For designs with fine detail, opt for thicker garments like fleece, canvas, or cotton twill.
- Lightweight t-shirts or linen should stick to simpler, less dense designs.
7. Refer to Visual File Guides
Garment Printing offers comprehensive visual guides for both standard embroidery and unlimited colour embroidery. These resources help you preview how your design will look once stitched, before committing to an order.
- Access file guidelines directly on each product page.
- Use interactive previews to fine-tune spacing, sizing, and colour choice.
Pro Tip
The most common embroidery fails happen due to overlooking these technical limits. When in doubt, simplify your design, boost your text size, and double-check how it will appear on the actual garment.
4. Build a Stitch-Ready Visual
Now that you’ve chosen your tool, finalised your colours, and reviewed the technical guidelines, it’s time to make your custom embroidery designs a reality. This is where creativity meets functionality. Unlike digital or print designs, embroidery has unique constraints, so it’s important to build your artwork specifically for thread-based execution.
Keep It Bold, Simple, and Purposeful
Embroidery thrives on clean, bold visuals. Small gradients, detailed textures, and overlapping shadows that work in digital prints often don’t translate well when stitched. Focus on:
- Defined shapes: Use sharp outlines and clear borders.
- Solid fills: Stick to block colours over intricate fades.
- Balanced layout: Ensure your design doesn’t feel crowded, especially in smaller spaces like caps or chest logos.
The key is clarity—not just up close, but from a distance.
Transform Existing Print Designs into Embroidery
If you already have a popular DTG (Direct-to-Garment) or digital design, you don’t have to start from scratch. Many elements can be adapted for embroidery with minor tweaks.
- Strip back excess detail and simplify layers.
- Adjust colour counts based on embroidery capabilities.
- Resize and reformat to fit your intended garment placement.
This is a smart way to repurpose proven designs while maintaining brand consistency.
Need Inspiration?
Not sure what to create? Think logos, initials, custom typography, mascots, or abstract shapes. At Garment Printing, we offer expert support and design previews to help you visualise your embroidery before stitching begins.
- Want subtle branding? Opt for tonal thread on hats or workwear.
- Looking to stand out? Try vibrant logos on hoodies, polos, or tote bags.
- Exploring something unique? Ask us about unlimited colour embroidery options.
Pro Tip
Preview your design on actual garment mockups. It’ll help you catch sizing, placement, and proportion issues early—and ensure the final result matches your expectations.
T-Shirts for Doing Custom Embroidery
Embroidered logos for uniforms and work apparel are best for branding. If you want to try embroidery on t-shirts, you can put your hands on the following options:
5. Leave File Conversion to the Experts
Before your embroidery design hits the fabric, it needs to be converted into a digital embroidery file that machines can read. This critical step is called digitisation, and we’ve got it covered for you at Garment Printing.
Digitisation isn’t just saving your design in a new format. It’s a technical process where every stitch, angle, thread path, and fill is programmed so the embroidery machine can recreate your design with precision and consistency.
Here’s How We Handle It:
- Designing Through Our Platform?
If you use our design interface, digitisation kicks in automatically as soon as you place an order or add your embroidered product to a store. You won’t have to lift a finger. - Uploading Your Own Design File?
If you’re working in software like Canva, Photoshop, or Illustrator, just upload your design in vector format (AI or PDF) or a high-resolution PNG. We’ll take care of the digitisation for a small one-time fee. - Why We Don’t Accept Outside Digitised Files
Files digitised by other services often aren’t compatible with our embroidery settings. To maintain consistent quality and prevent stitching issues, we digitise everything in-house.
Pro Tip
Stick with bold outlines and clean fills. Designs with sharp edges and solid colours digitise better and help avoid thread misalignment during embroidery.
6. Test It Before You Sell It
Before launching your embroidered product or placing a bulk order, it’s smart to check how your design looks in real life. At Garment Printing, we make this easy by letting you order a sample of your custom embroidery piece.
A sample lets you inspect the final result—checking stitch quality, colour accuracy, size, and placement—so there are no surprises down the track.
- Ensure your design translates perfectly from screen to stitch.
- Confirm the embroidery holds up well on your chosen garment.
- Make confident decisions before scaling production.
We also offer a discounted sample order option at checkout, so you can test affordably and move forward with confidence.
Pro Tip
Use your sample for product photography or promotional previews—it’s a smart way to validate quality and start marketing early.
7. Proceed with Your Bulk Order
Once you’ve approved your sample and you’re happy with the embroidery quality, colours, placement, and garment fit, it’s time to move forward.
With everything validated, you can now confidently place your full embroidery order with Garment Printing. Whether you’re ordering for a business, event, brand, or retail line, our team ensures a smooth production process and high-quality results every time.
- Bulk orders are stitched using the same specs approved in your sample.
- Our experienced team handles the production with care and precision.
- Quick turnaround times and consistent quality guaranteed.
Pro Tip
Want to make changes before going big? You can tweak thread colours, adjust design size, or switch garment types between sample and bulk order—just let us know.
Some of the top garments to do embroidery on are as follows:
When to Use Embroidery?
Embroidery is the go-to method when you want your apparel to feel premium, polished, and built to last. It’s ideal for businesses, clubs, teams, or personal branding where quality and professionalism matter most.
Best for Durable, Professional-Looking Apparel
Embroidery offers unmatched durability thanks to high-quality polyester or rayon threads that resist fading and wear. It’s a smart choice for garments that need to endure repeated use or regular washing, making it especially popular for:
- Work uniforms and tradie wear
- Corporate polos and button-ups
- Custom jackets and hoodies
- Structured hats and beanies
Because embroidery uses thread, it works best on heavier or midweight fabrics. Materials like cotton pique, denim, canvas, fleece, and poly-blends hold the stitching firmly without puckering.
Perfect for Simple, Clean Designs
Embroidery excels with minimalist logos, monograms, and text-based designs. While it can handle multi-colour stitching, overly detailed or photorealistic artwork may not reproduce cleanly.
- Designs with bold lines, clean edges, and limited colours give the best result.
- For intricate gradients or fine texture, you may want to explore printing methods instead.
Use Embroidery When You Want a Premium Touch
If you want your garments to look high-end and feel elevated, embroidery is worth the investment. It delivers a tactile, textured finish that stands out, especially on formal or branded clothing.
- It conveys professionalism, trust, and quality—great for first impressions.
- Embroidered logos often hold their shape and colour longer than printed designs.
When to Consider Other Methods
While embroidery has many strengths, it may not be the right fit for:
- Highly detailed artwork or photographic designs
- Tight budgets or short-run promo items
- Very lightweight fabrics like thin cotton tees
In these cases, screen printing or direct-to-garment (DTG) printing can offer more flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Pro Tip
Use embroidery for your best sellers, team uniforms, or pieces that need long-term durability. Pair it with screen printing for your larger, budget-friendly runs—get the best of both worlds with Garment Printing.
Embroidery Design Requirements – What You Need to Know
Creating embroidery-ready artwork isn’t the same as preparing files for print. Because embroidery is a thread-based medium, your design must meet certain specifications to look sharp, stitch accurately, and wear well. From colour selection to sizing and file type, the following guidelines will help you get the best possible results from your custom embroidery project at Garment Printing.
Submit artwork in PNG (with a transparent background) or JPEG format. Resolution matters—aim for at least:
- 1200 × 720 px for caps
- 1200 × 1200 px for garments like polos, jackets, or hoodies
Avoid low-res or pixelated files, as they won’t digitise well and may blur when stitched.
Stick to Simple, Clean Artwork
Embroidery favours simplicity. Choose designs that have:
- Solid shapes
- Minimal overlap
- Clear boundaries between elements
The simpler the design, the better it holds up on fabric.
Use Appropriate Text Sizing
Small text can easily get lost in embroidery. Follow these minimum size recommendations:
- Lowercase letters: at least 0.25″ (6.4 mm or 18pt)
- Uppercase letters: at least 0.3″ (7.6 mm)
- Minimum legible size: 0.18″ (4.57 mm)—anything smaller will be resized or removed
Measure your text at its thinnest point, especially for script or decorative fonts. That’s is why it is important to pick the right font for embroidery on apparel of your choice.
Consider the Embroidery Area
Every product has a different embroidery zone. Before finalising your design, make sure it fits within the stitching boundaries. Oversized or off-centre designs may get cropped or misaligned during production.
Embroidery Design Don’ts
Avoid Small Details and Thin Lines
Tiny lines and complex details don’t translate well to thread. Stick to a minimum line thickness of 0.05″ (1.27 mm) and keep overall shape thickness between 0.05″ and 0.5″ (1.3 mm–12.7 mm).
Don’t Use Gradients
Embroidery doesn’t support smooth gradient transitions. Instead:
- Use solid colours
- Define shapes with bold lines
- Avoid shading and subtle transitions
For gradient-style effects, you may want to explore unlimited colour embroidery instead.
No Photographic Images
Embroidery is not suitable for photographs or hyper-detailed visuals. The digitisation process simplifies the design too much, and you’ll likely lose clarity.
Convert photos into flat illustrations or icon-style graphics before submission.
Avoid Small Gaps or Negative Spaces
Tiny gaps or hollow areas in your artwork can close up during digitisation, especially when dealing with text. To avoid this:
- Use a transparent background when needed
- Fill tiny spaces manually with a solid colour that matches your design
- Don’t rely on precision holes or negative shape
What is the Difference Between Digital Printing and Embroidery?
Digital printing and embroidery are two distinct methods of apparel decoration. Digital printing uses inkjet technology to print detailed, full-colour designs directly onto fabric, making it ideal for complex images and small orders. In contrast, embroidery uses threads stitched into the fabric to create raised, textured logos or text, known for its durability and premium finish. While digital prints offer more design flexibility and faster turnaround, embroidery provides a professional, long-lasting look. Both methods are different and suit different needs depending on the design and fabric.
