customer-supplied garments.

Many clients don't realize you can bring us items you already wear and have them decorated with your brand or logo. You absolutely can. Before every customer-supplied order we ask you to fill out a short customer-supplied garments waiver. We take immense care of every item in our shop, but accidents happen, fabrics pull, and machines break down. The waiver simply states that since we didn't source the garments, we won't source replacements. And you're always welcome to bring items in so our staff can double-check them first.

fabric checks.

• Weight. Thinner fabric can catch and become damaged, and lightweight fabric can sag under larger, thicker designs. Quick test: if a safety pin weighs the fabric down or creates a catch, think twice.
• How it lays. Some cardigans and deep V-necks fall so a chest design would sit near the underarm. Picture where the design lands when the garment is actually on a body.
• Size of item vs. size of design. Embroidery that looks right on a men's L can look oversized on a women's XS, and some sleeves are simply too small.
• Stretch. Overly stretchy fabrics (poly with spandex) can bubble around a design or damage the fabric after embroidery.

placement checks.

• Over pockets or existing logos. Stacking designs gets bulky fast, and a design over a pocket can end up sitting on the collarbone instead of over the heart. We may suggest a different location to keep things cohesive.
• Short sleeves. We center designs on the sleeve; oversized designs can bubble.
• Dress shirt cuffs. Cuffs need to lay flat with room for the design to stay visible when buttoned. Gathered cuffs can't be embroidered.

function checks.

• Pockets. Some pockets end up sewn shut, especially where external and internal pockets overlap.
• Weatherproofing. Embroidery makes thread holes, and thread carries water. Waterproof items won't be fully waterproof afterward.

hats are their own animal.

Location, design detail, and hat construction drastically change what's possible. Trucker caps with plastic mesh can't take side embroidery; full-fabric baseball caps often can. Single side panels need smaller, simplified designs. Thick-knit stocking caps (and thick sweaters or quilted jackets) may need an underlay of thread to keep designs visible.

color matching.

On request, our embroidery technicians do their best to color-match thread to existing designs on your garments. We can't always be exact, and you're welcome to choose thread colors yourself at any time.