For your information on what embroidery work involves here are some technical terms that may be unfamiliar. The following guide defines basic application and apparel terms.

APPLIQUE The use of fabrics sewn onto one another for decoration that adds dimension and texture. Designs with applique are economical because they reduce the amount of embroidery stitches needed to fill the design area.

BOBBIN Spool or reel that holds the bobbin thread, which forms secure stitches on the underside of the fabric.

DIGITIZING A modern term for punching, it is a method of programming a design. Artwork is converted into a series of commands to be read by an embroidery machine's computer.

Digitizing is the process of converting a standard graphic into a program that can be
read and interpreted by a computerized embroidery machine. We have a collection of
over 30,000 stock designs that are already digitized that may be used for free. If your
client needs personalization, that's easily accomplished for a small fee.
If you have a custom design that needs digitizing, we'll handle that for you as well.
The cost is $7.00 per thousand stitches, with a minimum charge of $30.00.

EDITING Changing aspects of a design using a computerized editing program.

EMBROIDERY defined in the dictionary as being 'to ornament with stitches'.

FILL STITCH A series of running stitches commonly combined to cover large areas.

HOOP A device made from wood, plastic, or steel with which fabric is held in place for embroidering.

LETTERING Refers to the embroidery of letters, either made completely with stitches or a combination of cutout applique pieces and stitching.

PIQUE A class of double-cloth fabrics made in both carded and combed yarn qualities in a variety of patterns. Piques are often made from cotton but sometimes rayon material and used for golf or placket shirts.

PLACKET A vertical slit extending from the front of a shirt's collar, often reinforced at the base to prevent tearing. Two or three buttons are usually placed within this placket area.

STOCK DESIGNS Digitized embroidery designs that are commercially available for general use by embroiderers.

TACKLE TWILL A twill material with a heat-seal backing, generally used for letters or numbers that are cut and sewn onto garments with a zigzag tack-down border. That border may then be covered with a satin-stitched border.

TENSION The tautness of thread when forming stitches.

TRIMMING The action of cutting loose thread, removing backing, etc., from the final embroidered product.

WEIGHT When referring to T-shirts, the three standard weight divisions are mid-weight/value, heavyweight/premium, and super heavyweight. Mid-weight/value items are generally less than 4.9 ounces; heavyweight/premium shirts range from 5.0 to 6.4 ounces; and super heavyweights are 6.5 ounces or higher.

Some definitions were provided by the Embroidery Trade Association and IMPRESSIONS magazine's spring 1998 issue. Call (800) 527-0207 for more information on these resources.