Have you given much thought to the way in which your work clothing is embroidered? The way your logo is sewn onto your work garments is important, as a good stitch ensures a long-lasting logo. Having your logo embroidered can provide a professional look that potential and current customers alike will remember.
The Embroidery Difference
The modern embroidery process involves the sewing of a logo onto a garment with a machine. The computerised embroidery process is most commonly used for the stitching of logos and text onto fabric.
The image produced via embroidery is of high quality. As well, it can last far longer than other types of logo or text printing onto fabric. As well, embroidery allows for multiple colours to be used without incurring additional cost, as some other forms of printing can.
It is true that embroidery costs more than other types of printing, and large logos can be expensive. As well, if you require graduated colouring, this is not possible with embroidery. The same is true where small text is required; embroidering can only print text to a certain small size.
However, where a lot of complexity exists in a logo, modern embroidery can offer a lot of flexibility that traditional stitching simply is not able to.
Types of Embroidery Stitching
There is more than one kind of embroidery stitching, each with its own unique properties.
Fill
If you’ve ever admired the raised and colourful stitching on a piece of clothing, it’s likely you were looking at fill stitch. This type of stitch is used where large areas require colour. The fill stitch is raised so that it sits above the fabric onto which it has been stitched. The fill stitch can also be used as a base stitch for fabrics like fleece, which sometimes requires an underlay so as not to lose the detail of a logo. This type of stitch carries less sheen than its satin counterpart. However, it can fill a much larger area than its satin counterpart, as well as produce no ripples in the texture.
Walking/Running
This stitch type is also called a running stitch or straight stitch. The walking stitch is most commonly used for logos, and is applied in varying stitch length. Long stitches in this style tend to be smoother and shinier than shorter stitches, which have a pebbly, tighter texture. The walking stitch is also used by mass retail companies wishing to recreate the hand-sewn appearance of days gone by for their clothing, furniture and accessories. This stitch type is best for logos requiring a lot of small detail, manual shading, single colour drawing, outlining and engraving-inspired designs.
Satin
Those looking for a finish that carries a soft gloss are likely to choose the satin stitch. Also known as a damask stitch, the satin stitch works well when a logo’s letters need to be outlined. It also suits applications where small areas within large designs need colouring or filling in. When combined with screen printing, the satin stitch can provide an expensive-looking and innovative effect. However, the satin stitch is not the best choice for large areas, as an embroidery machine cannot make a satin stitch beyond 12mm in width without slowing down. However, this can also be an advantage, because satin stitching can easily snag due to its loose and looping nature.
Each stitch type can have a profound impact on the way your finished logo appears. Knowing more about each type can help you choose a stitch that will most effectively express what your company stands for.
