Embroidery

There’s something special about the texture and color of embroidery. An embroidered garment can be both sophisticated and fun with a touch of artistry that makes just about any image say, “Look at me.”

At Rival Screen Printing, we have an in-house creative team that will make your embroidered garment stand out. You can come to us with a design or just tell us what you need. Either way, we’ll give you what you’re looking for and more.

The best embroidery in town, guaranteed

For price, service and quality, you can’t beat Rival Screen Printing in Kansas City. We make the best embroidered garments and we deliver them in three business days, every time. All our products are 100% guaranteed, and we accept returns with no charge and no questions asked.

What goes into embroidering?

Step 1: The thread

It makes sense that the thread would be the most important element in embroidery, so it’s a good idea to know a little about it. Rayon and polyester thread are most often used in embroidery. Which one to choose depends on the design and the fabric the embroidery will decorate.

If the fabric is delicate, then rayon is probably the right choice. For tougher fabrics, like those used for many sports uniforms, the nod probably will go to polyester.

Your choices also include a variety of specialty threads, such as:

  • Metallics, which make for standout images, but more expensive
  • Fire-resistant for industries where safety is an issue
  • Solar-active for fun with threads that change color in sunlight
  • Reflective for nighttime wear
  • Neon for a vivid appearance
  • Glow in the dare, just for fun

Step 2: Choosing colors

Most often, embroidery thread color choices are made using the Pantone system. Lots of colors are available in the Pantone range, and thread manufacturers provide a book that we keep available to help you make the right decisions. You can view the specialty threads as well.

If you can’t find the thread color you want, look for something that comes as close as possible. Not only will the difference probably be unnoticeable in even the best light, but it will be extremely difficult to see in everyday light.

You also have the option of providing your own thread. Just ask us, and we’ll help you find a place to buy it. You also get the advantage of having your own thread on hand when you need more garments.

How does great embroidery come to be?

Like screen printing, embroidering takes a number of steps from before you place your order until the final product is in your hands. In general, here’s what goes on:

Step 1: Selecting the garment

What kind of fabric you choose has a lot to do with how well the embroidering turns out. You have to pick a fabric that’s the right weave and thickness to hold the stitches.

For the best results, your garment of choice should be made with strong, but not too-thick, fabric. Strong fabrics hold stitches, but if they’re too thick, you lose the fine details that can make embroidery truly striking.

Step 2: Determining quantities

It’s important to know how many embroidered items you need. Too few means you might have to add another order and pay additional costs. Too many means you’re stuck with the extras, and you’ve spent money didn’t have to.

To make the best deal on your project, you should:

  • Know how many printed items you need
  • Work with us to make sure the garment is available and right for your project (there are many, many choices if the first doesn’t work out),
  • Find out where the price breaks come,
  • Make sure your order and our minimums are compatible
  • Request an estimate when you have all the information you need

A few more things to think about when you want to place an order:

  • Minimum order: (?)
  • Minimum pieces per ink change: (?)
  • Minimum pieces per size, color and style: (?)
  • Minimum pieces per custom relabel: (?)
  • Minimum pieces for full-color (CMYK) printing: (?)

Step 3: Design and artwork

If you’re a designer or work with a designer, you’ll bring your artwork to us and we’ll take a look at it to make sure it’s a good candidate for embroidery. We’ll check things like fine details and small lettering that might not be compatible with the process.

If you have an idea and want us to help you turn it into an embroidered image, we’ll work with you to achieve the best possible result.

When you submit artwork to us, make sure you:

  • Tell us what kind of fabric you want to use
  • Give us vector digital files from Adobe Illustrator
  • Keep the smallest lettering to at least 1/4 inch

Step 4: Stitch mapping

It’s a digital world, and embroidering is computerized. We take digital art files and use our software to create a “stitch map” that we’ll follow during the embroidering process.

Step 5: Sewing out

Using the stitch map, we create a sample of the actual embroidered image. We use that embroidery to make any necessary adjustments then send a sample to you for your approval.

Step 6: Hooping and clamping

It’s important that the garment be very stable during the embroidering process. We ensure this stability by placing an embroidery hoop around the area to be embroidered and then clamp the hoop to a head on the machine that does the embroidering.

Step 7: Running the lines.

This is just the embroidering process itself. A line is the number of pieces that can be embroidered at one time.

Step 8: Trimming

Embroidering requires a backing. Trimming refers to removing the excess backing for a clean look.

Step 9: Steaming

It’s like steaming a pair of wrinkled pants. If the hoop that helps keep the fabric stable during embroidering leaves an impression, steaming takes it out like a wrinkle.

Step 10: Prep for delivery

We fold and bag each garment before delivery so you receive it in the best shape possible.

Step 11: Delivery

We are committed to making sure you receive your order on time and the way you want it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Turnaround time doesn’t include shipping
  • Once the shipping company has your order, we can’t accept responsibility for delivery dates
  • We do ship out of the country, but you need to let us know where in the world your shipment is going to make sure the country is among those we ship to
  • We ship via (CARRIER)

To learn more about embroidery and working with us to create guaranteed great embroidered garments, contact us. We’d be happy to answer your questions.