Embroidery sews your logo into the fabric with thread. It looks premium, has real texture and holds up for years. We stitch it in our Miami shop on multi-head Tajima machines, and these are the things worth knowing before you order.
Stitch count: the number behind time and cost
An embroidered logo is built from thousands of individual stitches. The total, called the stitch count, sets how long each piece takes and drives most of the cost.
Our machines run at roughly 500 to 800 stitches per minute. A typical hat or polo logo is around 7,000 stitches, which takes close to 10 minutes per piece.
What raises a stitch count:
- Size. The 9-inch back logo on the Strength Culture zip hoodies takes far more stitches than the 3.36-inch left chest on the same hoodie.
- Filled areas. Solid shapes and backgrounds are packed with stitches. Lettering and outlines use far fewer.
- Density. How tightly the stitches are packed, which we fine-tune during digitizing.
To keep a logo efficient, drop solid background shapes, let the garment color show through, and size the design to fit its spot rather than filling every inch.
Digitizing: a one-time step
A machine can't read a JPG. Before we stitch your logo, our team digitizes it, building the instruction set that tells the machine what to sew: stitch type, density, length, angle and order.
Digitizing is a one-time fee. Once your logo is digitized, we can reuse it on every reorder, adjust the size, and fine-tune the settings for different garments.
Because we re-create your logo in thread, embroidery doesn't need high-resolution art. Vector files are preferred, but a simple JPG or PNG usually works fine. If a file is too rough to work from, we'll tell you.
Thread colors
Embroidery thread comes in over 400 colors. That covers most brand palettes with a very close shade, but not every Pantone has an exact thread match. If your project mixes embroidery with printing, pick the thread color first, then use the Pantone tied to that thread for the prints so everything lines up.
Multi-color logos don't need extra handling: our Tajima machines switch thread colors automatically, like the M1801 Super White and M1593 Blue Macaw on the Strength Culture hoodies.
For something different, there are specialty threads:
- Metallic in gold, silver, bronze and about 15 other colors.
- Variegated thread, dyed in a repeating multi-color pattern, gives large fill areas a textured, multi-color look. On thin details it can create a barber-pole effect, so we test it before a production run.
You're welcome to see thread samples in person at our Miami shop before you commit. Just book a time or give us an hour's notice.
What thread can't do
- Gradients and photo detail. Each thread is a solid color, so fades and shading don't translate.
- Very fine detail at small sizes. Tiny lettering and hairline strokes can close up. Keep embroidered lettering at least 0.25 in tall; 0.5 in or larger stitches cleanest.
When a logo has detail thread can't hold at that size, we'll suggest an alternative: a full-color DTF logo, or a PVC or silicone patch, which holds fine detail embroidery can't reproduce at small sizes.
3D puff: raised lettering
3D puff stitches over a layer of foam so the design stands up off the garment. The logo is digitized with tall, dense satin stitches. Foam goes on the hat, the machine stitches right through it, and then the extra foam is torn away and the edges are cleaned up so the letters stay crisp.
Puff suits bold shapes and thick lettering, and we use it most on hats. Three examples from our rack:
- Halo Yachts trucker. HALO in M1839 Christmas Red puff over a 2 mm sheet of foam, with YACHTS stitched flat in M1801 Super White below it. Mixing puff and flat stitching keeps the smaller word clean and sharp.
- Iron Swell 7-panel. IRON in M1801 Super White and SWELL in M1893 Sky Blue, both in puff, 4 inches across a black Decky 1133.
- OG pink puff. A 2-inch M1801 Super White puff monogram on a light pink Imperial X210P performance cap.
See them all on the hats we've made rack.
Patches
A patch is made on its own and then attached, which opens up looks that direct embroidery can't give you.
- Embroidered patches. The Iron Swell Hawaiian hat carries a 4.52-inch patch with IRON SWELL in puff, COMPANY in flat stitching and a white border. On a busy floral print, the patch gives the logo its own clean background.
- Leather patches. Laser engraved or debossed for a rugged, heritage or workwear feel.
- PVC and silicone patches. Molded rather than stitched, with crisp edges, vibrant color and serious weather resistance. Popular on hats, backpacks, jackets and tactical or athletic gear.
What to embroider
Embroidery is at home on polos, hats, jackets, bags and fleece. Each piece is hooped with a stabilizer behind the stitching area, and after stitching, jump threads are trimmed and the backing is cleaned up inside.
Common placements from our jobs:
- Left chest on polos, hoodies and jackets, like the 3.36-inch Strength Culture logo
- Full chest on crewnecks, like the 10-inch Quench & Co wordmark
- Full back on hoodies, like the 9-inch Strength Culture logo
- Hat front, from 2 to 4.5 inches
- Back of the cap, above the strap, like the 3.25-inch Sea Island Yachts lettering
Ordering embroidery
- Minimum: 12 pieces.
- Turnaround: 7 to 14 days, starting when your garments arrive and you approve the mockup.
- Speed once running: a 6-head machine produces around 20 to 30 pieces an hour, so most orders stitch in a day. A 500-piece run takes several days.
- Art: send whatever you have, and we'll digitize it.
Send us your logo, the garment and the quantity, and we'll tell you how it will stitch and what it will cost. More on custom embroidery, or get a quote or chat with us.
Quick answers
What is a stitch count?
The total number of stitches in your embroidered logo. It sets how long each piece takes and drives most of the cost. A typical hat or polo logo is around 7,000 stitches, which takes close to 10 minutes per piece.
What is a digitizing fee?
Digitizing turns your artwork into the stitch file the machine follows. It's a one-time fee: once your logo is digitized, we can reuse it on future orders and adjust its size without charging you again.
Can you match my brand colors in thread?
We have over 400 thread colors, so we can usually get a very close shade, though not every Pantone has an exact thread match. You're welcome to see thread samples in person at our Miami shop.
What is the minimum for embroidery?
12 pieces. Standard turnaround is 7 to 14 days once your garments arrive and you approve the mockup.
When should I choose a patch instead of direct embroidery?
When the garment has a busy print, when you want a rugged leather look, or when your logo has fine detail that thread can't hold at a small size. PVC and silicone patches keep that detail crisp.