Embroidery Process
THE PROCESS
Machine embroidery is the process of stitching out custom digitized designs onto garments. Most embroidery machines today are driven by computers that read digitized embroidery files created by special software that detail the path of the design to be sewn.
Digitized Embroidery File
The process begins with the "digitized embroidery file" that can be created by our "in-house" digitizer or customers may provide their own digitized files. Tite Tee's reserves the right to refuse poor quality digitized files. Proper digitizing is essential to the quality of the final product, that is why it is important to purchase solid designs from a talented and reputable digitizer. Our digitizer uses digitizing software to create the embroidery design from a high resolution JPG file. The digitized native file format has the extension .DST and retains important information such as: object path and outlines, thread colors, color changes, and the original artwork used to punch the design. Final DST files may not be altered.
Garment Preparation: Stabilizing and Hooping
In order to prevent wrinkles, bunching, and other problems, stabilizers are used to stiffen the fabric to hold it taut as 
the machine does its work, in conjunction with the proper hooping. The method of stabilizing depends to a large degree on the type of fabric that is being sewn on. For example, napped fabric, such as terry cloth, needs a stabilizer on top to hold the nap down and prevent the loops of fabric from poking through the embroidery design. Water-Soluble and Heat-Away stablizers are commonly used to hold the fabric in place as the design is sewn. If the fabric moves, the design will not stitch out correctly. When a border does not line up with the rest of the design is a common tell tale sign that the fabric moved due to poor stabilizing.
Sewing and Trimming
Finally, the embroidery machine starts and the stitching begins! When the stitching is complete the hooping is removed, the design is steamed, top stabilizers are removed, and the underneath backing material is trimmed within 1/2" to 1" from the edges of sewn design. It is not recommended to trim the backing material further. This additional backing is left to prevent the dense thread from puckering or pulling when laundered.
THE FINAL PRODUCT
All completed orders are inspected, counted, folded, and packaged at Quality Control according to the Customers Order Form. Tite Tee's prides itself on our impeccable quality control.
How Is Embroidery Priced
Embroidery is priced by the number of stitches per design, not the number of colors in a design. You can use up to 6 thread colors at no extra cost. As design size and density increase so will the stitch count. Embroidery charges include art time fees (if required), digitizing (if required), and the embroidery cost plus garment. Digitizing is a one time fee to
create a design's software file required for the embroidery machine. Digitizing cost is determined by both the number of stitches and the complexity of the digitizing. A custom digitized file ranges between $75 - $125 per design. Keyboard set up (fonts only) are $35.
Monogramming (name only) is available in a limited amount of font styles and do not require a digitizing file or set up charge for individual names. See list of monogramming fonts.
A typical left chest logo ranges anywhere from 4000 to 8000 stitches at approximately 3 1/2" wide. Density of a design will increase stitch count. Outlines are less dense than a solid fill.
Here are some estimated stitch counts for embroidery sizes:
Logo size 2" by 1.5" = 5000 Stitches approx.
Logo size 3" by 1.5" = 6500 Stitches approx.
Logo size 2" by 3" = 7500 Stitches approx.
Logo size 3" by 3" = 9000 Stitches approx.
Volume Embroidery Discount
The more you buy, the more you save. Embroidery is priced in volume discounting. Our minimun embroidery order is 12 pieces. Price breaks follow at 24, 144, and 288+ per design. The same design may be embroidered on a combination of different garments such as both woven shirts and polo shirts with the exception of caps and visors. Caps and visors have their own specialized equipment.
Re-orders will be priced at the current quantity order.