Almost everything in our catalogue is priced to include an embroidery in the typical position. We try to mention the standard embroidery position for each garment or item on it’s product page. Polo shirts for example are usually embroidered on the left breast.

We can also embroider in other “non standard” positions such as the sleeve of a polo shirt for example and are often asked about doing things like this.

To put a garment into the embroidery machine it has to be framed. Embroidery frames are round hoops and come in various sizes with the smallest having a 6cm diameter. Where we can and can’t embroider is down to the framing of the garment.

The maximum size we can possibly embroider is determined by the largest frame we can get into the garment.  A polo shirt, t-shirt or pretty much any garment you would embroider on the left breast has nothing obstructing it from being framed. For left breast embroideries we usually use a size 15 frame which allows us to embroider at whatever size is needed.

We are limited to smaller frame sizes on smaller items like golf towels or visors for example. Golf towels are only big enough to accommodate a size 12 frame, therefore we can only embroider at up to 10cm wide on them. Visors are very fiddly to frame up and only allow us a certain amount of room to embroider on the front as shown in the picture. Head wear such as caps and visors are actually framed differently with specific frames.

Zips and seams on items like bags for example restrict framing. A frame can not go over a zip so the top of the frame can only be placed as high as the zip allows. That means that there is also less room left for the frame, forcing a smaller one to be used. Sleeves can be embroidered so long as we can fit a frame inside them, for adults sizes this is not a problem but for children’s sizes as they get smaller there is less room for the frame. Shirt pockets can be embroidered but the size is again limited as we have to hoop through the pocket, unless we want to stitch the pocket closed to the shirt.

The frames themselves are about 1cm wide and we need to leave around another 1cm clearance so that the machine doesn’t hit the frame. So if the largest frame we can get into, say a shirt pocket, is a 6cm frame then the largest embroidery design we can fit inside it is 4cm wide.

It gets complicated so the best thing to do if you have a requirement is just to ask us.

From time to time we get enquiries from new customers asking for one off single embroidered items.

Our minimum order quantity is 12 pieces per embroidery design but this can be a mix of different garments. You could have 6 t-shirts, 4 polo shirts and 2 fleeces for example.

We always run a sample “strike off” embroidery for approval before going to production on new orders. We do this on a piece of fabric, in a similar colour and material to the garments then email it over for customer approval. It’s a standard part of our service which we don’t charge extra for but it’s only done once an order has been placed.

If you are looking to order a sample only, we can do this but we have to charge for it. As much as we would like to offer a free sampling service, it just isn’t viable for us due to the various costs involved.

First of all there would be the usual set-up charge to get the design digitised for our embroidery machines to run. A design can’t be embroidered without having been “digitised” so we have no way around this charge. Digitisation is a one-off charge as once digitised a logo will be kept on file for use in repeat orders. So if you are ordering a sample garment with a view to placing a proper order later on then the set-up cost shouldn’t be a problem. Set-up would only be paid for once in any case.

Samples of the plain garments themselves can be sent out without embroidery at the single item base price plus postage. This allows the garment to be seen before being embroidered so you can make sure it’s what you are looking for. The minimum charge for embroidery is £25 so this is what it would cost to embroider a one off.

In total then to order a single garment with an embroidered logo could cost up to £85 + VAT.

Disk @ £40
Embroidery @ £25
Garment @ £10
Delivery @ £10
+ VAT

Our suggestion would be to get the disk made (logo digitised), as this will need to be done anyway and order a garment sample to check out. If the value of the garment isn’t too great we might even send this out free of charge so long as it is returned. That way sampling cost is kept to a minimum.

Whether it is part of a uniform, team kit or even a marketing assault, custom embroidered clothing is an increasingly popular way of personalising an item of clothing. There are a host of companies that, for just a small fee, will replicate a design into a specific garment using the latest in digital embroidery machines.

Because embroidery is much more durable the more traditional screen-printing methods of finishing a garment, it is ideal for those items that are intended to be worn again and again, perhaps even exposed to a higher lever of wear and tear such as those found on a sports field. However, although the actual production of a team kit is relatively simple, designing it may require a little careful consideration.

Colours

Teams that represent their country or county might take inspiration from flags or regional symbols such as the Yorkshire White Rose or a Lancashire Red Rose, or schools and university teams might choose to adopt their own college `colours` as part of a long held tradition. Being original is a key element to any sports team and in most cases two different colours will be required for both `home` and `away` games so it is vital that teams choose those colours that will help them to be recognised and remembered.

Logos

A team logo can be a focal point to any sports team; in many cases it will give some indication as to the heritage or morals of the team and should therefore be a symbol that people will remember. Teams may look to the history of their sport and perhaps its influence in the location they represent as a clue to what their logo should be, others may prefer to keep in with a sporting theme such as the `animal` nicknames given to many UK rugby teams. There may be more than one logo on a team kit, particularly where a team receives sponsorship from local or national businesses and agree to include the branding on the kit.

Styles and Materials

The general design of a sports kit needs to incorporate both aesthetics with ergonomics; i.e., players need to be able to move around freely in their kit as well as being proud to wear it in order to enhance their psychological drive. The choice of fabrics for a sports kit can vary depending on budgets available – whilst traditional cotton t-shirts for example tend to be durable and airy, they can also get heavy when wet and absorb bacteria from sweat. Synthetic fabrics are therefore a popular choice too and can be cheaper unless you decide to maximise on the ergonomic factor and incorporate such features as `tear resistance`, `wind resistance`, and even what is sometimes referred to as `Evaporex technology` which is designed to wick away moisture from the skin. Water-sports and winter sports are most likely to benefit from advances in sportswear designs; wet suits in particular have come on significantly and are available in a variety of sizes and fits.

The Personal Touch

Customising team sportswear doesn`t mean that the individual can`t add their own personal touch to part of their kit. Where footballers have their names and allocated numbers printed onto the back – a similar stamp can be made with embroidery too. A player`s name can often be found on the breast of a shirt for example which, although not necessarily seen from a distance, at least recognises that teamwork relies on individuals coming together. Find more likeminded sportsfans at Ryder cup pga golf betting.

Videos on YouTube and now we’ve got a Flickr account to upload our photos to – our ‘photostream’.

We’re on YouTube.

Check out our first video of an embroidery machine at work.

After two years, a full site re-design and several tweaks and changes (we’re still working on it), we’ve finally gotten around to creating a proper blog. We’ve chosen to use WordPress and to host it ourselves rather than use blogger etc. We’ll be posting on topics relating to what we do, our website and anything going on around us that we feel motivated enough to write about – soon.