EMBROIDERY
Embroidery presents a professional look lasting the life of the product.
Thread colors and stitch style can offer more depth and dimension than other methods of printing.
Embroidery is applied with an automated sewing machine. Images are converted from artwork to a "digitized" series of machine instructions which direct the sewing pattern.
Advantages of embroidery: The image is permanent, will not fade and will retain its shape. Artwork is computerized into a "digitized" format so design updates are possible.
Disadvantages of embroidery: Some people do not like the stiffness or bulk of embroidery on their shirts. Some images require a significant amount backing material to prevent puckering or curling. Heavier garments, like jackets, have less of this problem. The reverse is true with embroidery on lighter fabric that do not have the stiffness to avoid being pulled by the threads and looking curled.
What you need to consider when thinking about having embroidery done:
1) What type of garment? Fabric type affect embroidery. Pique fabric knit (popular on golf shirts) results in an embroidered look different than a brushed cotton fabric. Pique's larger fabric weave moves when sewing, resulting in a rougher look. If you decide on pique consider a larger design with fewer small details. The same applies with knit fleece (hoodies or pullovers) versus a fleece pile or terry cloth material.
2) How big an embroidered image? As noted above, embroidery has size limits based on fabric weight and type. Softer fabric needs more stiffener (known as a stabilizer) to help sew the fabric and so it doesn't curl afterwards. The image (above left) details on a pique shirt looses details into the fabric texture. The image (above right) on brushed cotton has good detail but also puckering due to the amount of sewing. A good combination can be achieved with a little skill.
The Greenlee image (below right) was sewn on a nylon fishing shirt which had a lite fabric structure. The design is based on a business card (below left) and, with the help of Sooz's artistic styling, was rendered into a 10 inch wide image.
3) Is your message clear? As note above, image simplicity conveys a message better than one with lots of detail. Too much detail detracts from the message. Simple can be read, makes your message clear, and does not detract with clutter.
