Embroidery or printing: what’s the difference, and which should you choose?
Embroidery or printing? We honestly explain the difference: how long it lasts, what it looks like, and when it’s better to choose one or the other.
"Can you put this on a sweater?" There are really two questions here: do you want it embroidered or printed? We do both, so we’ll give you the honest rundown.
The short answer: With embroidery, the thread goes through the fabric; with printing, a layer sits on top of the fabric. Embroidery lasts the longest and is available from just 1 item. Printing is the budget option for large, colourful designs and is available from us from 10 items.
What’s the difference between embroidery and printing?
With embroidery, a machine pushes a needle and thread through the fabric up to 1,500 times per minute. We use polyester thread and run sixteen thread colours through the machine at the same time. We first manually convert each design into an embroidery file. You can feel the result: texture and shine.
With printing, a layer of ink is applied to the fabric. It’s flat and smooth, and lets you reproduce lots of colours and fine details, such as a colour gradient or a photographic detail.
Embroidery or printing: a comparison
| Embroidery | Printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Lasts as long as the garment. Doesn’t crack or fade. | May crack or fade after many washes, depending on the technique. |
| Appearance | Texture and shine | Flat and smooth |
| Best for | Names, text, logos, line drawings, smaller designs | Large designs with lots of colours and gradients |
| Size | Small on the chest or sleeve, or large up to 28 × 25 cm on the front or back | Large areas too |
| Minimum order at Tice Nits | From 1 item | From 10 items with the same design |
When should you choose embroidery?
- You want it to look good for a long time. Embroidery lasts as long as the garment.
- It’s a gift. You can see and feel the quality.
- It’s a name, text or logo. Clean lettering and shapes are ideal for embroidery.
- You want a line drawing based on a photo. Louise redraws your photo using a few lines, and Julie embroiders it. Is my photo suitable?
- You’re only ordering one or a few items. Embroidery is available from just 1 item.
See all personalisation options.
When should you choose printing?
- Your design is large and colourful, with gradients or lots of small details.
- You’re ordering for a group, such as a youth group, sports club or group of friends, and you’re looking for a budget option. From 10 items with the same design, you can have clothes printed by us.
How much does embroidery and printing cost for a group?
| Embroidery | Printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Group sweater | from €36.95 | from €29.95 |
| T-shirt | [price for embroidered group t-shirt] | from €19.95 |
| Minimum order | From 1 item | From 10 items |
You can have a different name embroidered on each sweater at no extra cost. We reproduce a logo or text exactly as you send it; for a drawing, we’ll email you a proof for approval first. Find out more at for groups.
Ordering for a group?
Still not sure?
Send us your design via info@ticenits.be or WhatsApp, and we’ll honestly tell you which option will give you the best result.
Frequently asked questions
Which lasts longer, embroidery or printing?
Embroidery. The thread goes through the fabric, so there’s nothing that can crack or come loose.
Is embroidery more expensive than printing?
Usually, yes, per item: an embroidered group sweater costs from €36.95, while a printed one costs from €29.95. If you’re ordering one or a few items, choose embroidery from us, because printing is only available from 10 items.
Can you embroider a photo?
Not as a photo. Louise first turns it into a line drawing or coloured illustration, which Julie then embroiders.
Can I wash embroidered clothes as normal?
Yes. Wash at 30 °C, inside out. Find more tips in how to keep your embroidery looking good for years.
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