Computerized multi-head embroidery machines stitching a multi-colour patch at the LOVECOLOUR factory in Guangzhou.

Process guide · Embroidery

Custom embroidery, stitch by stitch.

Thread on twill, felt, satin, nylon or leather — raised, tactile, and built to survive washing. Digitized, sampled and stitched in our own plant in Guangzhou rather than bought in.

  • OEM / ODM
  • In-house digitizing
  • Stitch-out sample in 2–3 days
  • Pantone thread matching
  • Export packing
  • Macro photograph of flat embroidery stitches on cotton twill
    IMG-E26 · 800×800 Flat stitch · twill
  • Macro photograph of a dense embroidered fill in one thread colour
    IMG-E27 · 800×800 High-density fill
  • Macro photograph of metallic thread stitching catching the light
    IMG-E28 · 800×800 Metallic thread
  • Macro photograph of a thread-wrapped merrowed patch edge
    IMG-E29 · 800×800 Merrowed edge

Embroidered products

What we embroider.

Nine items at a time, newest first.

The making

From artwork file to finished piece.

Five stages, each with an owner and a record. The sample you approve is what every piece in the run is measured against.

  1. Step 01
    Artwork file on screen with a logo measured at its finished size

    Artwork review

    Proportion, small text, fine lines, stitch direction and density are checked at the finished size before anything is quoted.

  2. Step 02
    Digitizer preparing a stitch file at an embroidery workstation

    Digitizing

    Your artwork becomes a stitch file: stitch direction, density and thread colours set for the substrate it will sit on.

  3. Step 03
    Stitch-out sample of an embroidered badge held next to the approved artwork

    Stitch-out sample

    A physical sample comes off the machine for your approval — often inside 2–3 days when capacity allows.

  4. Step 04
    Computerized multi-head embroidery machines running patch production

    Bulk embroidery

    Approved work runs on 50+ computerized multi-head machines: flat, high-density, metallic, sequin and multi-colour.

  5. Step 05
    Finished embroidered patches being trimmed and inspected at a finishing bench

    Finishing & QC

    Backing laminated, edges cut on 30+ vision-guided machines, then inspected against the sample you approved.

Artwork requirements    Sample approval    How we work

Stitch vocabulary

Six ways thread builds a surface.

Stitch type, density, thread and substrate decide how the surface reads — and what the artwork can carry.

Macro photograph of flat embroidery: satin stitches forming a logo outline on twill 01

Flat embroidery

Even satin and fill stitches at a standard density — the everyday base for logos, lettering and borders.

  • SurfaceFlat, even build
  • Typical useSmall badges, uniform logos
  • Photo slotIMG-E10 · 800×600
Macro photograph of a high-density embroidered fill with raised 3D lettering 02

High-density & 3D puff

More stitches, more build. Dense fills read as solid colour, and raised lettering stands proud of the fabric.

  • SurfaceRaised, dense
  • Typical useCap fronts, large emblems
  • Photo slotIMG-E11 · 800×600
Macro photograph of metallic thread embroidery catching the light on a crest 03

Metallic thread

A reflective finish for crests, anniversary badges and heritage-style lettering.

  • SurfaceReflective
  • Typical useCrests, school and club badges
  • Photo slotIMG-E12 · 800×600
Macro photograph of sequin embroidery used as an accent inside a stitched motif 04

Sequin & special effects

Selected sequin and special-effect work, usually applied as an accent inside a stitched design.

  • SurfaceSparkle accent
  • Typical useFashion, limited runs
  • Photo slotIMG-E13 · 800×600
Macro photograph of an embroidered patch combining several thread colours with a woven panel 05

Multi-colour & mixed material

Multi-colour thread work, and embroidery combined with woven, PVC, laser-cut or printed elements in one piece.

  • SurfaceCombined build
  • Typical useComposite patches, keychains
  • Photo slotIMG-E14 · 800×600
Macro photograph of an embroidered patch cut to an irregular contour shape 06

Custom-shape embroidery

Contour outlines, letters and inside cut-outs, cut on the outline instead of by hand.

  • SurfaceAny outline
  • Typical useMascots, lettering, irregular shapes
  • Photo slotIMG-E15 · 800×600

Detail limits

What embroidery holds, and what it does not.

Thread has a width. The limit moves with the substrate, the stitch direction and the size of the piece, so it is checked on your artwork rather than published as one number.

Macro photograph of embroidered lettering legible at its finished size
IMG-E30 · 800×600 Reads at the finished size
Macro photograph of embroidered lettering whose counters have filled in because the detail was too small
IMG-E31 · 800×600 Forced too small — counters fill in

Two outcomes at the same size

The same artwork stitched at two sizes: open letterforms on the left, filled-in counters on the right.

Artwork review checks the smallest element at its finished size. If embroidery cannot hold it, we say so and recommend resizing, simplifying the design or switching to woven or PVC — instead of producing a specification that cannot work.

What artwork review checks

  • Logo proportion
  • Small text
  • Fine lines
  • Stitch direction
  • Stitch density
  • Thread colour
  • Border structure
  • Final size
  • Backing
  • Cutting line

Too fine for thread? The same artwork can be produced as a woven patch instead — decided at review, before a sample is cut.

Applications

Where embroidered work goes.

Textiles that get worn: headwear, uniforms, outerwear, bags and team programmes.

  • Embroidered cap with a stitched logo on the front panel
    IMG-E60 · 480×480

    Caps & headwear

    Front panels, side flashes and closures.

  • Workwear jacket with an embroidered name badge and company logo
    IMG-E61 · 480×480

    Uniforms & workwear

    Name badges and department marks that survive laundering.

  • Embroidered emblem on the sleeve of an outerwear jacket
    IMG-E62 · 480×480

    Jackets & outerwear

    Large formats, sleeves and hem tabs.

  • Embroidered patch sewn onto a backpack panel
    IMG-E63 · 480×480

    Bags & backpacks

    Patch areas, molle panels and haul loops.

  • Embroidered team letter patches on a varsity-style jacket
    IMG-E64 · 480×480

    Sports, school & club

    Letter patches, team sets and tournament editions.

  • Embroidered keychain and lanyard stitched with a small logo
    IMG-E65 · 480×480

    Keychains & small merch

    Embroidered keychains and lanyards on the same lines.

Structure

Backing and edge decide how it attaches.

Four backings and two edge finishes cover almost every application. All of them are confirmed on the spec sheet before sampling.

Cross-section diagram of an embroidered patch: face fabric, stitched logo, backing structure and edge finish
IMG-E40 · 1600×900 Face fabric · stitch · backing · edge

Backing structures

  • Iron-on / heat-seal

    Heat-activated adhesive film, applied with a heat press.

  • Hook-and-loop

    Hook side on the piece, with matching loop tape supplied.

  • Self-adhesive

    Pressure-sensitive backing for temporary use on hard surfaces.

  • Sew-on

    Plain fabric back, no adhesive. The most durable option.

Edge finishes

  • Merrowed border

    A thread-wrapped edge sealing the perimeter, for circles, shields, ovals and rectangles.

  • Laser-cut contour

    Cut on the outline by our 30+ vision-guided machines, for irregular shapes, lettering and inside cut-outs.

Manufacturing

Stitched in our own plant.

Embroidery runs on the same floor as digitizing, cutting, finishing, inspection and packing — a 7,000 m² facility in Guangzhou rather than a subcontracted job.

7,000 m² Owned plant

Embroidery, cutting, finishing, inspection and packing in one building.

80+ Staff

Digitizers, machine operators and finishing teams working from one specification.

50+ Embroidery machines

Computerized multi-head machines for flat, high-density, metallic and multi-colour work.

30+ Vision cutters

Camera-guided contour cutting for irregular shapes and lettering.

IMG-E50 · 800×600
Stitch-out sample compared with the approved artwork at the sampling bench

The sampling bench: a stitch-out is checked against the artwork before bulk.

IMG-E51 · 800×600
Computerized multi-head embroidery machines running on the production floor

Computerized multi-head embroidery machines, running patches, keychains and lanyards on the same floor.

IMG-E52 · 800×600
Finishing and inspection bench where embroidered patches are checked

Finishing and inspection: trimming, backing, colour and quantity checked against the approved sample.

Factory & manufacturing    Quality control

Keep exploring

The pages buyers read next.

The embroidered range carries the specification; the process and procurement pages cover material choice, artwork, samples and dates.

Page last updated  ·  Maintained by the LOVECOLOUR artwork and digitizing team in Guangzhou

FAQ

Embroidery questions.

Short answers to what buyers ask before sending artwork. Anything project-specific is confirmed in writing at review.

What is the minimum order quantity for embroidered patches?

Each product carries its own standard MOQ, and for many custom items it starts at around 100 pieces. It is confirmed for your specification, because the size, stitch count, thread colours and backing all move it. Below the standard MOQ the unit price can increase.

Can embroidery reproduce my artwork exactly?

It reproduces the shapes and colours faithfully; it does not reproduce gradients or hairline detail, because thread has a width. Send the artwork with its finished size and artwork review will say whether embroidery holds it or recommend woven, PVC or printed instead — rather than producing a specification that cannot work.

What file do you need for embroidery?

Vector artwork — AI, PDF, EPS or SVG with fonts outlined — is ideal, and a high-resolution raster file also works. Our digitizers rebuild it as a stitch file with the stitch direction, density and thread colours set for the substrate it will sit on.

How long does embroidery take, and can you rush it?

Bulk production usually takes 7–12 days after artwork approval, and a stitch-out sample can be ready in about 2–3 days when capacity allows. Rush orders are reviewed case by case against production capacity, material, artwork status and shipping method, so a rush date is confirmed rather than promised.

Are embroidered patches washable?

It depends on the structure, which is why the backing is confirmed before sampling. Iron-on and heat-seal performance, adhesive and hook-and-loop attachment, stitching and thread colour are all inspection points, and garments that are laundered heavily usually call for a sew-on back or a stitched perimeter in addition.

All frequently asked questions

Direct factory collaboration

Send artwork, get a real answer.

Include the finished size, quantity, substrate and backing you have in mind. We review the detail, recommend the process that holds it, and come back with a factory-direct quote — or tell you plainly that embroidery is not the right process for the job.