Common Digitizing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
admin2025-06-29T14:16:42+00:00Digitizing is the heart of embroidery. If you get it wrong, everything else falls apart. Your design may look messy. Your thread may break. Your fabric may pucker. At NKEMB, we fix these issues every day.
This blog will help you learn the most common digitizing mistakes and how to avoid them. Let’s go step by step in plain and easy words.
1. Using Blurry or Bad Artwork
Embroidery starts with art. If the artwork is poor, the embroidery will also be poor. Blurry images, small pictures, or low-resolution files confuse the digitizing software. It can’t read fuzzy lines. So it guesses. That leads to rough stitches and uneven shapes.
How to avoid it:
Start with clear, high-quality artwork. Vector files work best. They stay sharp and don’t blur. We help convert images to vector at NKEMB. Clean artwork gives clean stitches.
2. Sending the Wrong File Format
Your machine needs a stitch file. It cannot read JPGs or PNGs. Those are images, not embroidery instructions. If you use the wrong file type, the machine won’t work, or worse, it will mess up your fabric.
How to avoid it:
Always send the correct stitch file like .DST, .PES, .EXP, or the type your machine uses. If you’re unsure how to make one, check our Step-by-Step Guide to Prepare Your Artwork for Digitizing.
3. Ignoring Fabric Type
Every fabric reacts differently. Light fabric stretches. Thick fabric may resist the needle. If you don’t digitize for the fabric, the design may pucker, shift, or break.
How to avoid it:
Choose the right stitch settings for each fabric. Use light, open stitches for soft fabric. Use strong, dense stitches for jackets or canvas. Learn more about this in our Digitizing for Different Fabric blog.
4. Forgetting Underlay Stitches
Underlay stitches are the foundation. They hold the fabric flat. They stop the top thread from sinking or shifting. If you forget the underlay, the design may fall apart.
How to avoid it:
Always add underlay. Use center-run for letters. Use edge-run for large shapes. At NKEMB, we always set the right underlay.
5. Making Too Many Jump Stitches
Jump stitches are those tiny threads that connect one part of the design to another. If there are too many, the machine keeps stopping. It wastes time. It also makes the design look messy.
How to avoid it:
Plan your stitch path carefully. Use smart tools that reduce jumps. Our team at NKEMB uses clean jump-reducing software like the ones listed in our Top Tools & Software blog.
6. Using the Wrong Stitch Density
If the stitches are too close, they bunch up and break the fabric. If they are too far apart, the fabric shows through. Stitch density controls how thick or thin the embroidery looks.
How to avoid it:
Adjust density based on the fabric and size. Don’t use the same settings for everything. Trust experienced digitizers like us at NKEMB who test and tweak every file.
7. Poor Lettering and Fonts
Small text can be hard to read. Thin fonts don’t stitch well. They may disappear or look broken. Some fonts simply don’t work for embroidery.
How to avoid it:
Use bold fonts. Keep text large—at least 4mm high. Avoid cursive or extra-thin lines. Want your logo or patch text to look great? Our Patch Services can help.
8. Using Too Many Color Changes
More colors mean more stops. The machine stops after each color to change the thread. That slows everything down and increases error chances.
How to avoid it:
Keep the design simple. Limit color changes. Group same-color areas together. At NKEMB, we always check for color efficiency.
9. Skipping a Test Run
Some people send their file to the machine without a test. That’s risky. The design might look fine on the screen but stitch wrong on the fabric.
How to avoid it:
Always do a test sew-out. Use the same thread and fabric as the final piece. Fix problems early. This saves money and time.
10. Wrong Patch Sizes
If your design is too small, the letters and shapes won’t look clear. If it’s too big, it may not fit the patch.
How to avoid it:
Keep your design size realistic. We help adjust patch sizes for events and companies. Check out our Custom Patches for Events.
11. Using Raster Art Instead of Vector
Raster files (like JPGs or PNGs) are made of pixels. When you zoom in, they blur. That’s bad for embroidery. Vector files don’t blur. They stay sharp.
How to avoid it:
Use vector files. If you don’t have one, we can create it for you with our Vector Services.
12. Not Choosing the Right Thread Type
Metallic thread, cotton thread, and polyester all behave differently. Wrong thread can break, shine too much, or clash with fabric.
How to avoid it:
Pick thread types that match the fabric. Test before stitching a large batch. Let professionals like NKEMB guide you.
13. Ignoring Trims Between Sections
Loose threads between letters or shapes look ugly. They tangle. They catch on fingers or zippers.
How to avoid it:
Set clean trims. Trim jump stitches where needed. Our digitizers use software that trims smartly.
14. Bad Hooping
Loose hooping leads to moving fabric. The needle misses, the stitches shift, and your design becomes distorted.
How to avoid it:
Always hoop tightly. Choose a hoop that fits the fabric and design size. Don’t pull fabric too tight or leave it loose.
15. Not Checking Direction of Fabric
Some fabrics stretch. Some twist. If you stitch against the grain, the whole design may warp.
How to avoid it:
Check the fabric direction before you digitize. Stitch with the stretch, not against it. Learn more in our Digitizing for Different Fabric blog.
16. Wrong Scaling of a Design
A design made for a cap won’t work for a jacket. Changing size without re-digitizing causes problems. The stitch pattern stays the same, even if the design is smaller or bigger.
How to avoid it:
Never resize without digitizing. The software must recalculate stitches. At NKEMB, we handle scaling the right way.
17. Not Understanding Software Tools
Some people try to digitize using free tools or old software. That causes problems. The file may not work. The tools may crash. The stitch plan may be wrong.
How to avoid it:
Use trusted tools. Our team uses pro software. We keep everything updated. Learn about the best options in our Top Tools & Software list.
Real-World Fix: A Case Study
One of our clients sent a blurry JPG. Their local shop tried to digitize it. The result was awful. Letters were missing. Lines broke. They came to us at NKEMB. We cleaned the art, digitized it from scratch, and used the right fabric settings. The client loved the patch.
You can read the full story in our Real-World Case Study.
Final Tips to Avoid All Mistakes
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Always send clean vector art
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Know your fabric
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Test before final stitching
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Choose the right file format
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Keep designs simple and bold
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Limit jump and color changes
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Let experienced digitizers help you
Let NKEMB Help You
Mistakes happen. But you don’t have to fix them alone. Our team at NKEMB offers complete embroidery digitizing solutions. From patches to full apparel—done right, the first time.
Use our expert services:
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