Embroidered patches and embroidery for teamwear

01Direct embroidery on teamwear

Your logo is digitized into a stitch file that tells the machine where every stitch goes, in what direction and in which thread color. The garment is hooped with a stabilizer behind the fabric, and the design is stitched straight through it.

Satin stitches give a smooth, shiny finish on lettering and borders. Fill stitches cover larger areas with a woven texture. 3D puff embroidery stitches over a foam layer to raise bold shapes, a common choice on cap fronts.

02Embroidered patches, sewn on or sold on their own

An embroidered patch is stitched on a base fabric, cut to shape and finished at the edge, then attached to the garment. Patches let you decorate garments that are hard to hoop, such as caps, bags and finished jackets, and keep one consistent crest across different fabrics.

We apply patches to garments we make, and we also sell embroidered patches on their own from 12 pieces per design for decorators, promo companies and brands that attach them in their own shop. Tell us whether you need sew-on or heat-seal backing.

• Sew-on backing for jackets, bags and garments that are washed often
• Heat-seal backing for fast pressing, with stitching added for heavy use
• Woven patches when the logo has fine detail or very small text
• Chenille patches for the textured varsity look

03Which garments suit embroidery

Embroidery works best on fabrics with some weight and stability: pique polos, fleece hoodies, jacket shells, twill caps and bags. On lightweight jersey, mesh and stretch performance fabric, a dense logo can pucker or feel stiff, so we reduce the stitch density, use a soft backing or suggest a patch or transfer instead.

• Left-chest logos on coaches polos and staff wear
• Crests on sideline, dugout and bench jackets
• Cap fronts and sides, flat or 3D puff
• Sleeve crests on baseball and hockey jerseys, often next to tackle twill numbers

04Durability and care

Embroidery is one of the most durable decorations: thread does not crack or fade like ink. Wash cold and inside out, avoid bleach, and iron only from the reverse side. On heat-seal patches, high dryer heat can loosen the adhesive over time, which is why we suggest stitching them down on garments that see heavy wear.

05Art requirements and digitizing

Send a vector logo (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG) with PMS color codes and the finished size for each location. We digitize it in house, in the same factory that stitches it, and match each PMS color to the closest thread color.

Thread has a minimum practical width, so very small text and hairline details close up. Gradients and photo effects do not translate into thread; we simplify them or suggest a woven patch or a printed method for that part of the design.

06How embroidery and patches are quoted

The blank garment is priced on our five quantity tiers. Embroidery is quoted on top, by stitch count (which follows the logo size and how much of it is filled), the number of thread colors, the number of locations and any 3D puff. Patches are quoted by size, shape, border, backing and quantity.

Before bulk production we send a stitch-out of the logo for your approval, so you see the thread colors, density and size on real fabric.

07Embroidery vs other decoration methods

Embroidery suits small and mid-size logos where a stitched, raised finish matters. For large areas such as jersey numbers, tackle twill covers the space with fabric for less stitching. For full-color artwork with gradients, sublimation or DTF reproduces detail that thread cannot.

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