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What is the best material to use for sample swatches?
One quality issue that many customers complain about, is that the embroidered garments they receive from the Embroiderer, don't look as good as the embroidered sample they were given prior to the start of the job. And of course, the approval for the order was based on their customer's review of the sample.

Some Embroiderers wave this aside and accuse the client of being too critical or blame the garment of being substandard if the customer supplied it. In reality, the quality of stitching is affected by many variables, including the garment itself. What sews great on denim, may not look as good on a t-shirt. The characteristics of the fabric have a direct impact on the embroidery.

To avoid falling into this trap, try to provide a sample of embroidery on the same fabric as the garment that will be used for the actual job. This will give your customer a clear picture of what the final result will look like.

It's a known fact among Embroiderers that everything looks good sewn on felt. It's great for creating a portfolio, but not for creating samples upon which important buying decisions must be made.

In addition to supplying a proper sew-out, spend some time educating your customer about how different fabrics affect the sewing quality. They should understand that the concept of “one design fits all” doesn't necessarily work for embroidery. Take the time to sew a “Test Design” on a variety of fabrics and have it readily available to demonstrate the affect of the fabric on the stitches.