Hi,
I'm new to embroidery and working on my first patch. I'm going to delegate the actual implementation to a professional vendor. However, I'm currently trying to learn and understand the different components and processes. I've seen some embroidery that has a textured appearance like this:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vziynq1hzdtej0i/photo%20jun%2007%2C%201%2046%2040%20pm.png?dl=0
This patch has several different custom stitching styles:
* the stitching used for the stars has a 3D look to it.
* the "POLICE AIR ONE" banner has a larger waffle background
* the main image background has a ribbed effect with finer and tighter stitching
* the overall detail and resolution is very good
However, I bought a patch off of a random internet site recently and the quality was poor compared to the patch above:
* the lettering looked sloppy and lacked resolution
* the background stitching seemed very rudimentary and seemed to lack refinement/style
Since I'm a newbie I wanted to get advice from more experienced people here:
* Are there certain types/makes/models of embroidery machines that are considered much better than others? I think of patches as a personal expression so I don't mind spending extra $
* Are there any special details that I should ask for or validate with a vendor before commissioning service to ensure that my patch will be of the highest quality?
* What is the best software available for free or free trial that will allow me to digitize my images with different styles, patterns and textures?
* patchwarehouse dot com seem to have a very high quality website with high quality patches and competitive prices. Is this website considered a market leader?
Thanks for reading this post and thanks for your feedback!