Frequently Asked Questions About Embroidery

Ordering

Q: What kind of work does Embroidery Creations do?
A: Embroidery Creations is your source for embroidery on Shirts, Caps, Jackets, Casual Business wear, Aprons, Baby blankets, Bibs, and just about anything else that can support a thread and needle. We do work for all your different needs, whether you need something for business, promotions, Family, conventions or golf outings.

Q: Do you work with companies from other countries?
A: Of course! We are ready, and well equipped to deal with the global community! If United Parcel Service or Federal Express services your location, we can go to work for you right away! It is easy to handle most if not all of the particulars for your order in a professional and personal manner right here on the Internet. With e-mail, scanned pictures, and the rest of the electronic age at our fingertips, you get service that is just like being at our shop!

Q: Do you have a catalog?
A: For the most part, we create designs to your specifications. However, we also have a stock design catalog containing over 14,000 designs - which would be most difficult to post on the Internet or combine into a single catalog. If you are interested in a specific topic, we can fax or e-mail you scanned images from our collection that would best suit your needs for you to choose from.

Q: Do you supply the items to be embroidered?
A: Yes! We can supply you with highest quality, name-brand apparel that was made specifically for embroidery. We can also work with quality garments you provide. If you elect to provide your own goods for production, please be aware that embroidery is a manufacturing process, and some spoilage is likely to occur. While we endeavor to provide 100% quality on every piece in every order, the embroidery industry as a whole rejects 2% of every order sewn. We cannot be held responsible for spoilage that is within this tolerance. If you elect to provide goods for embroidery it is wise to send us a sample for inspection, since not every garment is capable of supporting or accepting quality embroidery.

Q: What kind of minimums does Embroidery Creations have?
A: At Embroidery Creations we have a minimum quantity of ONE.

Q: How much does embroidery cost?
A: We realize that most shoppers start their purchasing process by comparing prices. That is very difficult when shopping for embroidery. Since no two embroidery jobs are quite alike, pricing an embroidery order is a difficult task. We can tell you that Embroidery Creations offers the highest quality service at a competitive price. All designs are quoted based upon estimated stitch count and quantity, and we always offer a firm quotation of price in advance.

Q: Can I phone in, or fax in, my order?
A: Yes. You can e-mail a description or scanned image of your requirements to us by clicking here, or fax us your ideas for a quote at (937) 433-5947. We will return a quotation for your approval as quickly as possible. Embroidery Creations gladly accepts VISA, Mastercard and American Express.

Artwork

Q: Do you have any stock designs available?
A: Yes, we offer a catalog of over 14,000 stock designs and 16 lettering typestyles from which you can choose.

Q: What kind of designs can I choose from?
A: Embroidery Creations has a huge collection! Whether you want cars, wildlife, floral or occupational designs, we have it in stock! Just give us a call at (937) 433-5866 or e-mail us by clicking here. Tell us what you want, and we’ll show you what we’ve got.

Q: Do you have different typestyles available?
A: You bet! We have over 16 typestyles to choose from. We have block styles, script styles, old English, Greek letters, and more. Click here to see samples of our favorite typestyles.

Q: Will there be a set-up charge if I create a design using stock designs and stock lettering?
A: No.

Q: Can I change colors within stock designs?
A: No problem! Just tell us what you would like to see, and we can get it done. We’ll even offer our advice if we foresee a conflict in your color choices and the design layout / background colors.

Q: What colors do I have to choose from?
A: We offer a wide variety of colors and shades of thread. We can even match many PMS colors. If you like, we can send you sample threads to examine.

Q: What do I need to supply to Embroidery Creations for Artwork?
A: The better the quality of the artwork you provide, the more closely we can match what you are looking for. We prefer to work with good, clean full color renditions of the art you want reproduced. If you have a design that you are happy with, that was previously created by another embroidery shop, sending us the “tape” (the computer disk that created that design) from that job ensures a perfect reproduction, and lower setup fees.

Q: I have a logo. What disk formats can Embroidery Creations work with?
A: Our computers can read all the major bitmap formats, such as .BMP, .TIFF, .PICT, .JPG and .GIF. We can also work with vector formats of .WMF and .EPS.

Q: How do you send a file by E-mail?
A: File attachments are one of the best things that ever happened to E-mail, and almost every E-mail program supports this function. To attach a file, compose a normal E-mail message to us at: sales@embroiderycreations.com. Before sending the message, look within the menu structure of your E-mail program. You should find a command that says something to the effect of “Attach file.” Click on that command, and a dialog box should appear asking you to find the file on your computer that you wish to send. Select the file by clicking on it, and then click on the button which says “OK” or “Open,” or something similar to that. Once the file has been attached, send the E-mail message as you normally would.

Q: Will I See a Proof of my design?
A: With custom digitized designs we will send you a sewn sample, or scan the sewn sample and E-mail you a picture of the design. we do not normally offer a sewn sample of designs created from our stock design collection.

Q: Can the same embroidery tape be used on different garments?
A: Usually. But to avoid complications, please tell us what kinds of garments you are considering using the design on in the future if possible. This way we can design the tape to work on as many of the different applications you have in mind as possible.

Q: I got a “tape” disk from another embroiderer. My Computer says the disk is blank. . .
A: Many embroidery design disks are stored in formats that Windows or Macintosh cannot read. Don’t worry, just send us the disk and we will examine it. It is probably just fine!

Q: When Embroidery Creations creates an embroidery design for me, who owns the design?
A: That depends. When we create a custom design for you, and charge a “tape charge” - the charge for turning your artwork into an embroidery file - you own it. When items from our stock design collection are involved, we cannot transfer ownership to you under any conditions because the suppliers of the art and typestyles only license those elements to us for in-house work.

Q: Are design charges applied to every order?
A: No. Once your design is on file with us, or if you supply us with an embroidery-ready design file on disk, there is no design charge.

Production

Q: How soon will my order be ready?
A: Most orders will be completed within 2 weeks from the day your design is ready and approved by you. If for some reason your order will take longer, we will notify you as soon we become aware of a possible delay. If you need your order sooner, we can usually still accommodate you, although additional charges may be necessary to accommodate the circumstances.

Q: What about over-runs and under-runs?
A: We always attempt to ship the exact quantities you order, but with orders in excess of 100 pieces, we have no choice but to ship and bill up to 5% over or under the ordered quantity. This is necessary because when manufacturing a high-quality product, some goods are often rejected. To plan for spoilage, we must purchase and embroider more product than the order calls for, and reject any pieces that do not measure up to our standards.

Q: Does Embroidery Creations sell non-embroidered Items?
A: Most of the garments we sell can be purchased without embellishment if you so desire.

Q: What kind of embroidery process do you offer?
A: To many people, that may seem like a strange question, but the fact is: there are many different types of embroidery out there. Some of the processes include chenille stitch, loop stitch, Schiffli, zig-zag stitch, and satin stitch. We use (brand name) embroidery equipment, which produces the finest satin stitch embroidery. Satin stitch embroidery allows the thread to travel in smooth, silky columns, with the thread direction able to change to accommodate the design. We feel that this process is the most superior method available for decorating on garments.

Q: Do you offer product samples?
A: We can send you a sample embroidery design on cloth if you wish at no charge. Due to the costs involved in creating and sewing embroidered designs, we cannot offer speculative samples of your design.

Q: Can you drop ship to multiple locations?
A: Yes. There will be a minimal charge for the extra packaging and separate shipments.

Q: How many colors can you accommodate in a design?
A: There is no additional charge for having up to 12 colors in a design, because our machines hold up to ten colors of thread in them at any one time. Since needles will have to be re-threaded during the machine run to accommodate any number of colors over 12, additional charges will apply to any design requiring over 12 colors.

Q: What is the largest size design Embroidery Creations can handle?
A: Our machines routinely handle jacket-backs up to 14” wide and 12” tall. Larger designs can sometimes be accommodated, call or E-mail us with your specifications, and we will see what we can do.