StitchQuill is an online embroidery digitizing service for embroidery shops, print shops, promotional products distributors, Etsy sellers, schools and teams, and home embroiderers. You upload artwork, tell us the size, placement and fabric, and a digitizer builds the file stitch by stitch for that exact job. You get a stitch simulation proof and a PDF worksheet before you pay anything, unlimited revisions until you approve, and every format ready to download the moment you do.
This page is the overview of our embroidery digitizing services: what we digitize, how the files are built, what they cost, how fast they arrive, and how to order. Each specialty (caps, 3D puff, patches, towels and so on) has its own page with the technical detail for that job.
What embroidery digitizing is, in one minute
Digitizing for embroidery is the work of converting artwork into instructions an embroidery machine can follow: where every needle penetration goes, which stitch type fills each shape, what order the colors run in, and where the machine trims and jumps. An image file only describes color. A stitch file describes motion. A person has to decide how thread should behave on fabric, which is why good digitizing is a skill and not a file export.
If you want the full background on stitch types, underlay and density, read our guide what is embroidery digitizing. The rest of this page covers the service itself.
What our embroidery digitizing service covers
Every design is digitized for a specific placement and fabric, because a file that sews well on a polo can fail on a cap or a towel. These are the jobs we handle, each with its own page:
| Job | What changes in the file |
|---|---|
| Logo digitizing | Simplifying artwork for thread, small text, brand thread colors, multiple sizes |
| Left chest logos | Small-scale detail, minimum text height, underlay matched to polos and wovens |
| Cap and hat digitizing | Center-out and bottom-up sequencing, seam handling, cap frame limits |
| 3D puff digitizing | Satin-only columns over foam, capped ends, tighter density |
| Jacket back digitizing | Large fills split to control push and pull, sew time, hoop size |
| Applique digitizing | Placement line, tack-down, trim stops and cover satin |
| Chenille digitizing | Chain and moss stitch for chenille machines, quoted per job |
| Patch digitizing | Full fill backgrounds, satin borders or a clean edge for merrowing |
| Towel and terry digitizing | Knockdown base, heavier underlay, wider columns for loops |
| Knit beanie digitizing | Stretch control, cuff height limits, lighter density |
| Sleeve and small placements | Narrow hooping, collars, cuffs and vertical text |
| JPG or PNG to DST | Turning a picture into a real stitch file instead of an auto trace |
If your job does not fit a category (a bag panel, a pocket, an odd placement), choose "other" in the order form and describe it. We digitize for the placement you describe.
How we digitize for embroidery by hand
Every file is manual embroidery digitizing: a digitizer draws each object, chooses its stitch type and angle, and sets the values below for your fabric. Nothing is run through an auto-digitizing button and passed off as finished work. These are the decisions that separate a professional embroidery digitizing file from one that only looks right on screen.
Underlay
Underlay is the foundation stitching that sews before the visible stitches. It tacks the fabric to the backing, lifts the top stitches off the nap, and gives satin edges a crisp line. We pick the type per object: edge run for small satins, center walk for narrow columns, zigzag or double zigzag for wider satins, and tatami or lattice underlay under fills. Knits and fleece get more underlay than stable twill. More detail is in our guide to underlay and density.
Density
Density is the spacing between rows of stitches. A typical fill runs around 0.4 mm spacing, and we open it up on soft knits, lightweight fabric and large areas, or tighten it where coverage matters. Too dense and the design turns stiff, puckers or breaks needles. Too light and the fabric shows through.
Pull compensation
Thread tension pulls fabric in along the stitch direction and pushes it out at the ends. Without compensation, circles sew as ovals, outlines miss their fills and satin letters look thin. We widen columns and extend fills by an amount matched to the fabric, with more on stretchy knits than on stable wovens.
Sequencing and pathing
The order objects sew in controls registration and efficiency. We sew background before foreground, fills before the outlines that sit on them, and group colors to keep color changes low. On caps we work from the center out and from the bottom up so fabric is pushed toward the edges instead of bunching in the middle.
Trims, jumps and tie-offs
Every trim costs sew time and every missed tie-off can unravel. We path objects so the machine travels under later stitching where it can, add tie-ins and tie-offs where it cuts, and avoid long jump stitches that snag. The result is a file that runs faster with fewer thread breaks.
Lettering
Small text is where cheap files fail first. We keep satin lettering at about 0.25 in (5 to 6 mm) tall as a practical minimum, adjust letter spacing for thread, and switch to a cleaner stitch approach when text has to go smaller.
Fabrics we plan for
The fabric you enter in the order form changes the file. The same logo is built differently for each of these:
| Fabric | What we adjust |
|---|---|
| Pique polo and jersey knits | Extra underlay, lighter density, more pull compensation to fight stretch |
| Twill, canvas and structured caps | Standard density, crisp satins, cap sequencing where needed |
| Fleece, towels and terry | Knockdown or base layer, heavier underlay, wider columns so loops do not swallow detail |
| Nylon, softshell and leather | Fewer penetrations, open fills, no tight satin clusters that perforate the material |
| Knit beanies | Low density, stable underlay, sizes that fit the cuff |
Machine formats included with every design
You do not pay per format. Every order includes DST, PES, EXP, JEF, VP3, XXX, HUS and VIP, and we supply an editable Wilcom EMB working file on request. That covers Tajima and most commercial machines, Brother, Baby Lock, Janome, Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff, Singer and Bernina. Each order also includes a PDF worksheet with stitch count, finished size and color sequence, so your operator knows exactly what to load. If you already have stitch files that need a different format, that is a file conversion, not a new digitizing job.
Embroidery digitizing prices
We charge a flat price per design by finished size. Stitch count, colors and complexity do not change the price inside a size tier.
| Size tier | Finished size | Price per design |
|---|---|---|
| Small (left chest, cap front, sleeve) | Up to 4.5 in | $14 |
| Medium | Up to 8 in | $24 |
| Large (jacket back, full front) | Up to 12 in | $39 |
| Extra large | Over 12 in (over 14 in is quoted) | $55 |
Common add-ons: 3D puff $8, applique $5, a cap version of an existing design $6, an extra size $6, and a patch border $5. Chenille is quoted from $45. You see the full price in the order form before you submit. See pricing for credit packs and every service, or our guide to embroidery digitizing cost for how rates compare across the market.
How long does digitizing take?
Standard turnaround is 24 hours from the time you place the order. If you need it sooner, rush and express are available on every size.
| Speed | Proof delivered within | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 24 hours | Included |
| Rush | 12 hours | $5 |
| Express | 6 hours | $10 |
For quoted jobs such as oversize designs or chenille, the clock starts when you accept the quote. The actual hands-on time for a digitizer ranges from well under an hour for a simple text logo to several hours for a detailed jacket back, which is why complex work benefits from the standard window. Details are on the turnaround page.
How do I get my logo digitized for embroidery?
Upload your logo, enter the size and placement, approve the proof, and download your files. The whole process runs through your account:
- Create an account in the order form. Your first design is free up to $24 of design value, and no card is needed to place it.
- Upload your artwork. JPG, PNG, PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PSD or a ZIP all work. Vector art is best, but a clear photo or screenshot is fine. Our guide to artwork for embroidery digitizing explains what helps.
- Enter the details. Finished size, placement, fabric, the formats you need and turnaround. The price shows before you submit.
- A digitizer builds your file by hand for that placement and fabric.
- Review the proof. You get a stitch simulation image and a PDF worksheet in your dashboard and by email. Ask for changes as many times as you need.
- Approve and pay with PayPal or prepaid credits. Your files are ready to download instantly and stay in your dashboard for re-orders.
Have a logo ready? Upload it now and see your price before you submit. Start your embroidery digitizing order
Proofs, revisions and our sew-out guarantee
Your proof is a stitch simulation image plus a PDF worksheet showing stitch count, size and color sequence. Check the lettering, the proportions and the colors. If anything is off, send a note and we revise it. Revisions are unlimited until you approve, and nothing is charged before approval.
After delivery, minor edits are free for 30 days: a color change, a small text correction or a density tweak. Resizing by more than about 20% is treated as a new size at $6, because a proper resize changes stitch counts, underlay and compensation rather than just scaling the file.
If a file we digitized does not sew cleanly on the machine and fabric you gave us in the order, send a photo of the sew-out and we fix it free. If we cannot fix it, we refund that order. Full terms are on the guarantee page.
Can AI do embroidery digitizing?
Not to a production standard yet. Auto-digitizing tools and AI converters can trace an image into stitches, but they do not understand fabric, stitch direction, underlay or sequencing, so the output tends to be too dense, full of jumps, and weak on small text. They can work for a rough, simple shape on stable fabric. For a logo that has to sew cleanly across a run of shirts or caps, a person still needs to build the file.
That gap is exactly why sites offering to convert a JPG to DST automatically disappoint. Our page on converting a JPG or PNG to DST shows what goes wrong, and our comparison of auto digitizing vs manual digitizing covers the trade-offs in depth.
Choosing the right size before you order
Size drives both price and quality, so decide it before you upload. A typical left chest logo is 3 to 4 in wide, and a structured cap front tops out around 2.25 in tall and 4.5 to 5 in wide. Our guides to left chest logo size and hat logo size give placement measurements by garment. If you want a rough stitch count first, try the free stitch estimator, and you can check any existing DST, EXP or PES file in the DST viewer without uploading it anywhere.
Need the same logo at more than one size? Order the main size and add each extra size at $6. Each one is adjusted by the digitizer, not just scaled.
Custom embroidery digitizing services in the USA and beyond
We serve customers in the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia, all online. There is no need to search for embroidery digitizing near me: files arrive by download, proofs come by email, and every conversation happens in writing through your dashboard or at support@stitchquill.com, so there is a record of every change. That suits shops that take orders at odd hours and want answers they can forward to a customer.
Our customers include contract embroidery shops that outsource overflow, print shops adding embroidery, promo distributors who need files to send to decorators, Etsy sellers building a catalog, schools and teams, and home embroiderers with a single project. See who we serve for how the service fits each one, including credit packs and weekly invoicing for regular shops.
