How large can an embroidery be?

How much fits on a cap? How big can that design on your back be? Here you'll find the sizes we work with every day, and the reason behind each limit.

Why does an embroidery have a maximum size?

An embroidery machine only embroiders on fabric that is stretched tight, in an embroidery hoop. Whatever falls outside that hoop, the needle can't reach.

So the limit isn't set by your design, but by the largest hoop that fits on the garment. A cap or a sleeve simply takes a smaller hoop than the back of a sweater. Embroidering a larger design in several goes is possible in theory, but it almost always shows in the result.

How big can it be per position?

Cap: mind the seam

Many caps have a seam in the centre front. A design that falls right across it looks a fraction different on each side. That's why we deliberately place it symmetrically over the seam, or next to it.

Beanies and terry cloth

Possible, but ribbed knitwear and terry cloth have ridges and loops that stitches sink into. That's why we place a water-soluble film on top. It disappears with the first wash.

How small can an embroidery be?

Smaller is always possible, but you want to avoid too small. Every line and letter is built from thread, and thread has thickness. Below a certain height, letters run together and a face becomes a blur.

There's no hard minimum: an initial can be very small, while a logo with thin letters needs more height than you'd think. If your design is too fine for the size you have in mind, we'll tell you honestly, before we start.

Tip from our studio: Want to have a photo embroidered? The smaller the embroidery, the fewer people fit on it. Read what works in Is your photo suitable for embroidery?

What's underneath your embroidery?

Under every embroidery there is a stabiliser layer. Without it, the fabric pulls together under the weight of the stitches and your design puckers.

• Tear-away for sturdy fabrics, such as a dense cotton sweater. We tear away the excess.
• Cut-away for thinner or stretchy fabrics. It stays behind the embroidery and holds it in place, even after years of washing.
• Water-soluble film on top for knitwear and terry cloth.

Do you see a faint round mark around the embroidery when it arrives? That's the embroidery hoop. It disappears with the first wash.

Which thread colours can you choose?

We work with Madeira Polyneon and keep the full range in stock. So we never have to take the closest colour: we take the right one.

Want to order more later?: Mention it with your first order, and we'll note the exact thread colour. Two shades that look identical separately can still differ side by side.

Large and very colourful? Consider printing

Embroidery is at its best for logos, names, line drawings and anything where you want texture and durability. With large, colourful areas the stitch count rises quickly. Then printing is more supple and better value. We do this for orders from 10 pieces.

Frequently asked questions