Charleston Cotton Exchange breaks down 8 common embroidery myths — covering design prep, fabric selection, durability, cost, and care — plus what’s trending in embroidery in 2026.
Upgrade your look with embroidered apparel. Embroidering your company logo or custom design on a jacket, hat, or polo shirt elevates your brand. Businesses across the Charleston area trust the Charleston Cotton Exchange team when they want to look polished and professional.
Embroidering apparel and promotional products like towels and tote bags isn’t quite the same screen printing or direct to film. Let’s break down how it works and bust some common embroidery myths.
Myth #1: Any image or graphic works for embroidery.
Reality: Every design goes through a digitizing process where we convert your artwork into a stitch file that the embroidery machine can read. A trained digitizer manually maps out stitches, colors, density, and sequence.
Not all images translate well. We recommend that customers avoid complex gradients, very fine details, and tiny text as they don’t reproduce as well. For a clean, crisp look stick with simple designs and logos.
Pro tip: If you’re working with a designer, ask them for a single-color version or a simplified version of your logo or graphic that’s suitable for embroidery. Make sure it’s a high-resolution image too. For a fee, our in-house design team can edit your artwork so it looks great as an embroidered design.
Myth #2: Embroidery can fade like screen printing.
Reality: Embroidery is stitched into the fabric, not printed on top of it. The thread is colorfast and tightly secured, meaning a well-embroidered design can handle hundreds of washes without peeling, cracking, or fading.
Polyester thread — the most common type used for commercial embroidery — has a lifespan of 10+ years with excellent color retention. For this reason, embroidery is an excellent choice for team uniforms that need a lot of washing. You’ll get more value from embroidered apparel.
Myth #3: Embroidery works with any fabric.
Reality: Fabric choice matters for embroidery. The best fabrics for embroidery are sturdy, tightly woven materials. So, think cotton twill, canvas, linen, denim, and most structured outerwear.
Fabrics with a deep pile (like fleece or terry cloth) can obscure stitching, while very thin or stretchy fabrics (like T-shirts) may pucker if not properly stabilized.
Our team can advise on the right garment for your design.
Myth #4: Small text is no problem.
Reality: Extremely small lettering is one of the most common embroidery challenges. Text must generally be at least 1/4 inch tall to be legible when embroidered. Anything smaller than that is hard to read.
If your logo or design includes a small tagline or fine print, consider adjusting or removing those for an embroidered version.
Myth #5: Machine embroidery is just pushing a button.
Reality: While the machine does the stitching after a file is loaded, quite a bit of skilled work goes into preparing the design.
Digitizing a design for embroidery requires understanding stitch types (running, satin, fill), thread density, color sequencing, and more. Poor digitizing leads to designs that pucker, stiffen, or look blurry — no matter how good the machine is.
That’s why it’s important to work with a skilled team and request a proof of your design before it’s embroidered. Here at Charleston Cotton Exchange, we embroider your design on a fabric sample and send customers a photo to approve. This way, you’re confident your design will look exactly the way you want it to.
Myth #6: Embroidery is more expensive than screen printing.
Reality: As with any form of printing, there’s a setup fee. For embroidery specifically, the cost comparison depends on design complexity and quantity. Smaller logos with multiple colors typically cost less than screen printing because screen printing requires a separate mesh screen for each color.
Embroidery is particularly cost-effective for small- to mid-sized logos on hats, polos, bags, and outerwear. Plus, we don’t have a minimum order for embroidery. So, if you need a small order, this can be more economical. It’s also a great choice for solopreneurs or small teams who might need just three or four items.
Remember, embroidered apparel lasts through hundreds of washes so investing in embroidered apparel makes financial sense.
Myth #7: You can’t wash embroidered items in the washing machine.
Reality: Go ahead and wash your embroidered items in the washing machine! A few precautions to extend the life of your garments: turn the garment inside out, use cold water, run a delicate/gentle cycle, use mild detergent (no bleach or brighteners), and air dry instead of using the dryer. Heat is the primary enemy — avoid hot water, a hot dryer, and direct iron contact on the embroidered surface.
Myth #8: You can’t supply your own garments for embroidery.
Reality: We are happy to embroider your design on items you supply. The only requirement is that garments be new and still have the tags attached. On the off chance, something happens to the garment, we can reference the tags to find a replacement.
What’s trending in embroidery in 2026
Ready to upgrade your look with embroidered jackets, vests, hats, or polo shirts? If you’re looking for inspiration, here are three embroidery trends popular with our customers in 2026:
- 3D Puff Embroidery: With this method the threads are raised off the garment for a three-dimensional look. Subtle, raised shapes in this puff embroidery style look great on flat-billed hats and on sweatshirts.
- Chain stitching: Typically done by hand, chain stitches create a raised embroidered look. This method produces thick, textured stitches that stand out.
- Appliqué: This ornamental needlework technique involves sewing pieces of fabric in various shapes and patterns.
At Charleston Cotton Exchange, we love embroidery projects. Customers appreciate the professional and high-quality look of embroidered apparel. Plus, embroidery is premium. It’s durable and can last for years in a way that screen printing typically doesn’t.
Work with our team to choose the right fabric for your embroidery project. And we’ll make sure your design will reproduce well when digitized for embroidery.
Request a quote online or stop by our showroom at 1758 Ashley River Road. We have samples you can touch and try on to ensure you get exactly what you want.
FAQs about embroidery
Q: What’s the minimum text size for embroidery? A: Text should be at least 1/4 inch tall to remain legible when embroidered. Smaller text tends to blur or become unreadable.
Q: Does embroidery fade over time? A: No. Embroidery is stitched into the fabric rather than printed on top, so it doesn’t peel, crack, or fade. Polyester thread — the most common type used commercially — retains color well and can last 10+ years.
Q: Can I bring my own shirts or jackets to be embroidered? A: Yes. Charleston Cotton Exchange will embroider customer-supplied garments as long as they are new and still have the tags attached.
Q: Is there a minimum order for embroidery? A: No. Charleston Cotton Exchange does not have a minimum order requirement for embroidery, making it a practical option for small teams, solopreneurs, or one-off orders.
Q: What fabrics work best for embroidery? A: Sturdy, tightly woven fabrics like cotton twill, canvas, linen, denim, and structured outerwear are ideal. Very thin, stretchy, or deep-pile fabrics (like fleece or T-shirt jersey) can cause puckering or obscure stitching.
Q: What’s the difference between embroidery and screen printing costs? A: It depends on the design. Smaller logos with multiple colors are often less expensive to embroider than screen print, because screen printing requires a separate screen for each color. Embroidery setup costs are based on design complexity, not color count.
Q: What embroidery styles are trending in 2026? A: Three popular trends right now are 3D puff embroidery (raised, dimensional stitching), chain stitching (thick, textured, handmade look), and appliqué (fabric pieces sewn onto a garment in decorative patterns).
Q: How do I know my embroidered design will look right? A: Charleston Cotton Exchange embroiders your design on a fabric sample first and sends a photo for your approval before completing the full order.