Appliqué digitizing for letters, mascots and big shapes

Appliqué embroidery sews a piece of fabric onto the garment and finishes the edge with a satin stitch. A digitized appliqué file has three steps: a placement line that shows where the fabric goes, a tack-down that holds it, and a cover stitch that seals the edge. It covers large areas with far fewer stitches than a full fill, so big shapes look bold and stay soft.

Upload artwork

Wolf head mascot with Argyle Wolves lettering embroidered in gray and purple

What you get

  • Placement, tack-down, cover

    The file stops at the right points so you can place the fabric and trim it before the cover stitch.

  • Lower stitch count

    A fabric shape replaces thousands of fill stitches, which cuts run time and keeps the garment flexible.

  • Sized for the fabric

    Cover stitch width suits the material, whether twill, felt or sports fabric.

  • Combined with embroidery

    Add embroidered detail, outlines and lettering on top of the appliqué.

Quick facts

Best forLarge, simple shapes
Stitch stepsPlacement, tack-down, cover
FabricTwill, felt, sports fabric
TurnaroundMost designs are returned within 12 to 24 hours
DeliveryBy email, anywhere in the USA

Best for

  • Varsity jackets and letterman letters
  • School and team mascots
  • Large shapes on hoodies
  • Kids’ apparel where soft stitching matters

How to order appliqué digitizing

  1. Upload your artwork

    Take a photo or choose a file. A phone photo is enough to get a quote.

  2. Add size, placement and fabric

    These details decide how the design is built.

  3. Approve the quote

    We email a price before work starts.

  4. Receive your files

    Stitch file, preview and thread sheet by email.

Get a free quote

Free quote. We reply by email before any work starts.

1 Add your artwork

    JPG, PNG, HEIC, PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PSD or CDR. Up to 6 files.

    2 Tell us about the job

    Optional Leave the height empty and we keep your artwork proportional.

    3 Where should we send the quote?

    Disclaimer: Please perform a sample sew-out of this design on a scrap piece of fabric before proceeding to final production. We are not responsible for any garment or material damage caused by failing to test the digitized file beforehand.

    Your files are used only to prepare your quote and order. See our privacy policy.

    Patch Digitizing questions

    Do you make the physical patches?

    No. We create the digitized stitch file and vector art you need to produce patches on your own machines or with your supplier.

    What border style do you digitize?

    Satin borders sized for your edge. Tell us your border width in the notes.

    Can you digitize a patch from a small logo?

    Yes. We often redraw the logo as vector art first so the stitch file follows clean edges.

    Can patches include 3D puff?

    Yes. Raised lettering can be added to a patch design.

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