Meus Bordados Blog
Straight answers for machine embroiderers: file formats, digitizing, stitch types, hoops, pricing and running the shop. Every article opens with the answer and ends with a FAQ.
Latest
20 articles
- Business and pricingEmbroidery business sales calendar: what are the key selling dates of the year in the US?The dates that sell the most embroidery in the US, month by month (Mother's Day, graduation, back to school, Christmas…), what to offer and when to start promoting. · 7 min read
- Files and digitizingHow do you digitize a logo for company uniforms? Left chest, full back and cap sizes, plus customer approvalHow to turn a company logo into an embroidery file for uniforms: standard left chest, full back, sleeve and cap sizes, needed simplifications and customer approval. · 7 min read
- Business and pricingWhich embroidery machine should you buy to start a business?What to evaluate in an embroidery machine for a new business: hoop field, formats, needles, caps and price, with a fair comparison of home, multi-needle and commercial. · 7 min read
Files and digitizing
DST, PES, JEF, conversion and how to digitize names, lettering and logos.
- Files and digitizingHow do you digitize a logo for company uniforms? Left chest, full back and cap sizes, plus customer approvalHow to turn a company logo into an embroidery file for uniforms: standard left chest, full back, sleeve and cap sizes, needed simplifications and customer approval. · 7 min read
- Files and digitizingEmbroidered monograms: which styles, fonts and sizes work on each item?A guide to embroidered monograms: letter order, styles (classic, circle, interlocking, block), fonts that stitch well and a size chart for towels, shirts and linens. · 7 min read
- Files and digitizingHow do you convert PES to DST (and DST to PES) without ruining the design?A 2-minute tutorial to convert PES to DST and DST to PES in the browser, what changes in each direction (colors, hoop), how JEF fits in and when not to resize. · 7 min read
- Files and digitizingDST vs PES vs JEF: which embroidery file format does your machine need?PES for Brother and Baby Lock, JEF for Janome and Elna, DST for Tajima and commercial machines. What each embroidery file stores, how to convert and what gets lost. · 7 min read
- Files and digitizingHow do you convert an image or logo into an embroidery file?Step by step to turn a logo (PNG, JPG) into a stitch file: prepare the artwork, auto-digitize or digitize by hand, choose stitch types, review and export DST, PES or JEF. · 7 min read
- Files and digitizingHow do you digitize a name or lettering for machine embroidery?How to digitize names, monograms and lettering: choosing a font, minimum letter height, satin stitch settings, spacing, stitch order and exporting DST, PES or JEF. · 6 min read
Embroidery technique
Stitches, hoops, stabilizers, fabrics and what to avoid at the machine.
- Embroidery techniqueHow do you make embroidered patches and appliqué on an embroidery machine?Step by step for embroidered patches (base, satin border, heat-seal backing, trimming) and machine appliqué: file order, stabilizer, fabrics and mistakes to avoid. · 7 min read
- Embroidery techniquePolyester or rayon embroidery thread? And what about 40 wt vs 60 wt, bobbin thread and needles?Polyester or rayon for machine embroidery, what 40 wt and 60 wt mean, which bobbin thread to use and the right needle for each fabric, in one practical chart. · 7 min read
- Embroidery techniqueHow do you embroider a hat and a t-shirt without puckering?Step by step for embroidering knit t-shirts and structured caps without puckering: the right stabilizer, hooping without stretching, stitch order, needle and design size. · 7 min read
- Embroidery techniqueEmbroidery stabilizer guide: tear-away, cut-away or wash-away, and which to use on each fabricWhen to use tear-away, cut-away, wash-away and fusible stabilizer for machine embroidery, with a fabric-by-fabric chart, weights, hooping tips and common mistakes. · 7 min read
- Embroidery techniqueEmbroidery hoop sizes explained: which hoop should you use?Embroidery hoop sizes (4×4, 5×7, 8×12 in), what fits in each, why to use the smallest hoop that fits, magnetic hoops and how to check that a design fits before stitching. · 6 min read
- Embroidery techniqueSatin, fill or running stitch: which embroidery stitch type should you use?When to use satin stitch, fill (tatami) stitch and running stitch in machine embroidery, with recommended widths, density, underlay and pull compensation settings. · 6 min read
- Embroidery technique12 common machine embroidery mistakes and how to fix themPuckering, thread breaks, bird nests, gaps in outlines, bobbin showing on top, hoop burn and more: the most common machine embroidery problems and the fix for each. · 6 min read
Business and pricing
What to charge, how to organize orders and sell more.
- Business and pricingEmbroidery business sales calendar: what are the key selling dates of the year in the US?The dates that sell the most embroidery in the US, month by month (Mother's Day, graduation, back to school, Christmas…), what to offer and when to start promoting. · 7 min read
- Business and pricingWhich embroidery machine should you buy to start a business?What to evaluate in an embroidery machine for a new business: hoop field, formats, needles, caps and price, with a fair comparison of home, multi-needle and commercial. · 7 min read
- Business and pricingHow to sell embroidery on Instagram and over DMs and texts: photos, catalog and a message scriptA practical guide to selling custom embroidery through Instagram and DMs: which photos to take, how to build a catalog, a message script, deposits and a weekly plan. · 8 min read
- Business and pricingHow much should you charge for custom embroidery? Formula and pricing tableHow to price custom embroidery: machine hour cost, thread and stabilizer, price per 1,000 stitches, digitizing fee, order minimums and margin, with a worked example. · 6 min read
- Business and pricingHow do you start a home embroidery business and keep orders organized?What you need to start a machine embroidery business from home: machine, supplies, software, workspace, going legal, a five-stage order workflow and money tracking. · 6 min read
Embroidery software
Comparisons and choices of embroidery software.
- Embroidery softwareHow do you turn a pet photo (or a portrait) into embroidery with AI?Step by step to turn a pet photo, a portrait or a blurry logo into an embroidery file with AI: illustration, instant digitizing, 3D check and DST, PES or JEF. · 6 min read
- Embroidery softwareOnline vs installed embroidery software: which is right for your shop?An honest comparison of installed embroidery software (Wilcom, Hatch, Embrilliance, PE-Design, Ink/Stitch) and browser-based subscriptions: cost, OS, features and fit. · 6 min read