FAQs

Have a quick question about S&S Custom Designs & custom apparel? Check out our frequently asked questions below.

Embroidery FAQs

  • Embroidery is a decoration method where a design is stitched directly into fabric using thread. Instead of ink sitting on top of the material, embroidery uses needles and tightly woven stitches to form logos, text, or patterns that become part of the garment itself. Modern embroidery is done with computerized machines that precisely place each stitch, ensuring consistent results across every piece.

    Because the design is sewn into the fabric, embroidery is known for its durability and professional appearance. It holds up well to frequent washing and wear, making it a popular choice for uniforms, workwear, hats, polos, jackets, and corporate apparel. Embroidery is especially effective for logos, names, and simple designs where a clean, textured, and long-lasting finish is desired.

  • Embroidery is a great choice if you’re looking for a polished, professional look that holds up over time. Because the design is stitched directly into the fabric, embroidery works especially well for business apparel and items that see frequent wear. Common uses include company logos on polos, button-down shirts, jackets, fleece, hats, uniforms, and workwear. It’s also ideal for adding names or small branding elements where durability and a clean finish matter most.

    However, embroidery isn’t always the best option for every design. Large, highly detailed artwork, photo-style graphics, gradients, or designs with very thin lines can lose clarity when converted into stitches. Embroidery can also feel heavier on lightweight garments and may become stiff or uncomfortable when used for oversized designs or full-front imprints.

    If your design includes a lot of detail, bold graphics, multiple colors, or covers a large area of the garment, screen printing is usually the better choice. Screen printing allows for smoother color blends, sharper detail at larger sizes, and a softer feel on the fabric, making it ideal for t-shirts, hoodies, and promotional apparel. If you’re unsure which method is best, our team can help you choose the option that fits your design, garment, and budget.

  • We offer no minimum embroidery for logos, designs, text, names, and more. Get started today by requesting a quote!

  • We offer all standard thread colors, metallics, glow in the darks, and we even offer Pantone matched Madeira thread for critical colors or branding.

  • Embroidery digitizing is the process of converting your logo or design into a specialized file that embroidery machines can read. Unlike a standard image file, a digitized embroidery file tells the machine exactly how to stitch the design — including stitch types, stitch direction, density, and color changes — so it can be sewn cleanly and accurately onto fabric. We use .EMB files and .DST files, some of the most common embroidery files in use today.

    At S&S Custom Designs, we handle the digitizing process for you. Your logo or design is professionally digitized for a one-time fee, ensuring it stitches correctly and looks its best on your chosen apparel. Once your design is digitized, we keep it on file for life, so you won’t need to pay again for future embroidery orders using the same artwork. This makes reordering fast, easy, and consistent, while guaranteeing the same high-quality results every time.

Screen Printing FAQs

  • The short version is that your design or logo is printed by using a screen stencil and pressing ink through it, resulting in a crisp, long-lasting impression on every shirt.

  • Screen printing is a great option if your design is bold, colorful, or covers a larger area of the garment. This process pushes ink through a stencil onto the fabric, allowing for smooth, vibrant colors and clean edges. Screen printing works especially well for t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and promotional apparel. It’s ideal for large logos, full-front designs, simple illustrations, event shirts, team apparel, and designs with solid color blocks or limited color counts.

    That said, screen printing isn’t always the best fit for every project. Very small details, tiny text, or thin lines can be harder to keep crisp, especially at small print sizes. Screen printing also isn’t the best choice for garments like polos, button-down shirts, hats, fleece, or heavier uniforms where a printed design may feel out of place or wear down faster over time.

    For those situations, embroidery is often the better solution. Machine embroidery uses thousands of precise stitches to build a design directly into the fabric, making it ideal for small to medium-sized logos, names, and simple shapes. Logos with clean lines, minimal fine detail, and solid areas translate especially well to embroidery and provide a durable, professional look on workwear and structured garments.

    If you want a casual, eye-catching design or a large print area, screen printing is likely the right choice. If your goal is a more refined, long-lasting finish on professional apparel, embroidery may be the better fit. A printing expert can help you decide which method will best showcase your design.

  • With a low minimum of (12) S&S Custom Designs can print most any silkscreen order. We can even mix and match some garments and/or garment colors so you aren’t limited to (12) of the same shirts. Reach out to a printing expert today for details.

  • We offer all of the standard ink colors of the rainbow and can custom mix any color in between. Also available is metallic ink and glow in the dark ink for those really special projects!

  • Yes! We accept customer supplied designs. Simply submit your design when requesting a quote or send it here.

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