Embroidery How-to Guide

Got questions? We got answers. Whether you're new to the world of embroidery or a seasoned veteran, follow along with our comprehensive guide & you'll be ordering custom hats in no time.

Embroidery Guidelines

(What can be embroidered + what simply won't work)

Why Embroidery Is Different

Unlike digital prints or screen printing, embroidery is stitch-based. That means we’re working with needles, threads, and tension, not pixels. While this makes for premium, textured results, it also comes with some limitations on detail and complexity.

What Works Well

Bold, Simple Logos

The bottom line is clean lines, strong shapes, and limited detail work best.

Think: bold/thick fonts, blocky icons, and minimalist branding.

• A simple mountain outline 👍
• “SNAG” in bold sans serif 👍
• Cartoon-style icons with thick outlines 👍

Text Over 1/4” Tall

Tiny type is the enemy of legibility.

We require a minimum text height of 0.25 inches (6.5mm).

• Use sans serif fonts
• Avoid overly condensed styles
• Keep it short and sweet

Solid Color Areas

Embroidery shines with strong contrast and solid fills. We use high-quality threads, but gradients, shadows, and small color details just don’t stitch well.

• Ideal logos = 6 colors or less✨
• We recommend no more than 8 colors
• Absolute maximum is 12 colors (for larger designs)

Size It Right

On hats, your embroidery area is limited. Here’s what you’re working with:

• Front Center: 5” W x 2.25” H
• Side (Left or Right): 1.75” W x 2.5” H
• Back Arch: 4” W x 1.75” H

For apparel, you have a little more room for creativity:

• Left Chest: 4.25” W × 4.25” H
• Full Chest: 8.5” W × 8.5” H

Sleeves and other placements are dependent on the garment selected and are not customizable directly online. Please request a quote for custom placement options.

Photographic Images

We can't stress this enough. Embroidery can’t mimic photo realism. That iPhone picture you took of your dog is cute... But ask ChatGPT to turn it into a logo for you. Or consider having us print it instead. Keep in mind, printing isn't the best for fabrics like corduroy.

Avoid:

• Photos
• Low-resolution images
• Realistic designs

Tiny Text or Details

The logo above has ultra-fine details and the text "VINTAGE DESIGN" is too small to embroider.

Stitches need room to breathe. Ultra-fine lines will either disappear, fray, or become illegible.

Avoid:

• Text under 0.25" tall
• Intricate shading
• Hairline outlines
• Detailed illustrations (like cityscapes or blueprints)

Excessively Complex Logos

If your logo has 12 layers of overlapping objects, 17 colors, and a gradient dragon... you're gonna need a new design.

We promise we're not turning it down because it's hard. We're turning it down because it won't translate.

Avoid:

• More than 8 colors
• Excessive layering
• Gradients