Embroidery Lettering

Posted by Alexandra Perry - Webmaster on 9/27/2016

There are a few different fonts that can be used in embroidery lettering such as pre-digitized fonts, true-type fonts, key board fonts and digitized letters. A font is categorized as a complete set of characters that make up a specific typeface in a specific size. A font would include upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

  When using any type of word design quality is the most important factor. If a font is poorly digitized it can exude major flaws when enlarged so it is important to be mindful of your pre-digitized font when it comes to sizing. Native fonts in your software tend to yield the best results when resizing a font and of course it is always better to invest in many different types of fonts as well as different types of threads.
  Machine files such as DST and CND do not resize well because different software produces different results when translating non-native languages. An important thing to know is that if you change a design’s size then the stitch type or tie-ins and tie-outs must be changed as well. Script lettering can present a challenge because the connectors often do not line up correctly which is why there are only a few script fonts that feature successful joins as opposed to overlapping.

  When creating lettering; true-type font presents an easily accessible and high quality product. The outcome of true-type font is generally affected by the quality of font being used because it has more powerful and flexible hinting capabilities. True-type is the best for digitizing.

  Keyboard fonts are great because you can type the lettering in as needed and are generally arranged right to left, center out, and left to right manner. You must be able to move from each letter efficiently and should test character spacing in order to make sure that spacing is correct regardless of the lettering.

  Digitized letters provide you with an opportunity to match your artwork and change the column width in order to make embroidery friendly. A great tip is to view the lettering upside down which forces your brain to consider the shapes, the negative spaces between them and their relationship together. Stitch-outs are another great way to check progress and using a cross-hatched underlay as a base will help stabilize the stitching process.

  Appearance, obviously, plays a big role in the professional embroidery field. Using a solid embroidery backing and a spray adhesive will help join the layers. Placement which also falls into the category of appearance can make or break the outcome of the lettering because it can make it look sloppy. Overall embroidery is a beautiful art with a complex background and the overall appearance determines the success of the work. 

Care of you Embroidery Equipment - Needles

Posted by Dawn Dellinger - Customer Service on 2/12/2016

Proper observation of your embroidery equipment with regards to your needles can save you from downtime and ensure that your machine runs smoothly and efficiently.


Sometimes it is difficult to know when to make changes to your needles - if everything is running smoothly and you are having no problems with your thread, then chances are that your embroidery equipment is fine and there is no need for any changes.  The most obvious time to change a needle is, of course, when you have a break.  But waiting for that to happen isn't always the smartest move to make, as a breakage can cause downtime and a stop in production for your business.  

Texsource sells a variety of embroidery needle sizes for Embroidery Machines

The most common sign that an embroidery needle should be looked and and possibly replaced is when the thread starts experiencing breakage  or the thread is riding up on itself.  Usually the tip of the needle will be fine, but the eye is the first part that normal wear will start to show on.  

The common colors on your embroidery machine will be the needles that wear out the fastest - black, white, red, blue, green, etc.  The yellow, pink, purple and other lesser used colors may rarely if ever require a needle replacement (depending, of course, on your common embroidery jobs).  You may find that with your common colors you are replacing a needle every week 2 weeks, or 3 weeks.  Such numbers are normal in a busy embroidery shop.  

Choosing the right needle type from the very start of the job will also improve needle life.  I was able to find the following general guidelines from a forum that I will share here - 

 - Use ballpoint needles for knit fabrics

 - Use sharp needles for woven fabrics

 - The finer the detail, the smaller the needle you should use.  A 70/100 needle is usually a good choice to ensure clarity

 - Teflon coated needles help to reduce friction when working with synthetic materials like cordura, nylon, sticky-backed fabrics, or heat-seal fabrics

 - Titanium needles are more expensive than other needles, but can have as much as 5 times the lifespan of ordinary needles.  They work best in high-speed production shops such as those doing a lot of caps

 - With leather, try a 70/10 sharp, 75/11 sharp, or wedge needle made especially for leather.  The wedge needle will work best with heavier leathers.

 - For metallic threads, use a needle with an elongated, rectangular eye to ensure that the thread can pass through without snagging.

With proper care and the right choice of needle for the material you are using, you can keep uptime maximized and the quality of your work high!