How It Works

Your Custom Embroidery Journey

Custom embroidery at The Thread Lab is guided, collaborative, and made to order. This page outlines what to expect from your initial inquiry through delivery.

Our Process

Share Your Vision

Submit a custom inquiry with details about your idea. You may upload reference images, photos, handwriting samples, or inspiration. If you don’t have visuals, describe the item, placement, and occasion.

Design & Mockup

We create a digital mockup showing estimated size, placement, and thread colors. Designs may be refined at this stage before moving forward.

Approval & Production

Once the design is approved, your piece moves into production. For larger orders, detailed designs, or branded projects, a physical sample may be created when needed.

Delivery

Your finished custom pieces ship carefully packaged. Track your order in real-time and receive it ready to wear or gift. We stand behind every stitch.

Details

What “Custom Embroidery” Means

All pieces are made to order.
All designs are digitized in house.
Designs are interpreted for embroidery and may differ slightly from photos, handwriting samples, or inspiration images.
Adjustments are made based on fabric, scale, and stitch requirements.
Mockups are reviewed and approved before production begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Design & Submission

What file format should I use to send my logo for embroidery?

Vector files (EPS, PDF, SVG, or AI) are best, as they allow for clean scaling and accurate stitch paths. High-resolution files such as JPG, PSD, or TIFF can also be submitted, but not all image files are suitable for embroidery.

Where can I have my design embroidered?

Custom designs can be embroidered on a wide range of apparel, with common placements including the left chest, center chest, sleeves, back, and pockets on items such as hats, polos, jackets, and t-shirts.

What if I change my design after seeing the proof?

Design changes may require additional setup or embroidery work, which can affect pricing and turnaround time. Any updates to cost or delivery timing will be confirmed before moving forward.

Do you provide an embroidery sample before production?

For certain projects, we may create a physical embroidery sample to confirm size, placement, and stitch details. When a sample is produced, photos will be shared for approval before full production begins.

What if I cancel my personalized order after production begins?

Personalized orders are made specifically to your specifications and cannot be resold. For this reason, custom orders are non-refundable once production has started. We encourage reviewing all details carefully and confirming your approval before embroidery begins.

Items & Materials

What's the minimum order quantity?

We accept orders starting at just one piece. Whether you're personalizing a single garment or ordering 100 units for a team, we handle projects of any size with the same attention to detail and quality standards. We can can offer bulk discounts.

Can I send my own item to be embroidered?

In some cases, yes. Items are reviewed individually to confirm they are suitable for embroidery.

What items can be embroidered?

We embroider a wide range of fabric-friendly items, including apparel, bags, towels, linens, and home textiles.

Pricing

How is pricing determined?

Pricing is based on the item being embroidered, stitch size, design complexity, placement, and quantity. Custom embroidery pricing typically includes the cost of the item, design setup, and the embroidery itself. Quotes are provided after reviewing your request so pricing reflects the specific details of your project.

What should I budget for custom embroidery?designs?

Custom embroidery pricing typically includes two parts:

• One-time digitizing fee
Digitizing prepares your logo or artwork for embroidery. This a one-time setup to prepare the design for embroidery. Once a logo is digitized, it can be reused on future items without an additional digitizing fee.

Smaller designs (caps or left chest up to ~7.5"): typically $30–$40
Larger designs (jacket backs or designs over ~7.5"): typically $45–$55

• Per-item embroidery cost
Per-item pricing varies based on the item, placement, stitch count, and quantity. This cost is quoted after reviewing your request.

Most custom projects are more approachable than people expect.

Do I pay separately if I have more than one design?

Yes. Each unique design and placement is priced separately. If you’re embroidering two different designs, or placing designs in different locations, each will be treated as its own embroidery.

Can I combine multiple small designs into one placement?

Yes, multiple elements must be combined into one design and stitched in one location to be considered a single placement, with a maximum size of up to 7.5".

If designs are stitched separately or placed in different locations, they are priced individually.

Timing & Deadlines

How long does the entire process take?

Standard turnaround is 7-14 business days from design approval to shipment. Rush options are available for expedited projects. Complex designs or large orders may require additional time. We'll provide a specific timeline during the inquiry phase based on your requirements.

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