How Long Does It Take To Do Digitizing Embroidery?

Whether you are embroidering a logo, name or random design on a shirt, hat or other blank, it is impossible to estimate the time required without knowing parameters such as the design size and machine speed. However, if you know these values, the methods Eagle digitizing discuss below will accurately estimate the time required.

Factors affecting the time required for embroidery design

Before making precise calculations, it is important to cover the parameters that affect the duration of embroidery.

1. Stitch number (design size) and type

The more stitches in the embroidery design, the more times the needle will Pierce the embroidery blank, which means the machine will spend more time embroidering.

Some stitches also take longer to create than others, with techniques such as decals or 3D foam embroidery requiring more user input and taking longer.

2. Type of embroidery machine

Multi - needle embroidery machine does not require the user to manually switch the line color. Instead, you thread multiple stitches and the machine switches between colors without a significant loss of time.

In contrast, a single stitch embroidery machine cannot itself change the embroidery thread. I have to stand near the machine or monitor it on an embroidery app to know when to re-pop and change the thread, which adds time to the sewing process.

Another important factor is whether your embroidery machine automatically cuts the jumper. Each time the machine jumps from one position to another in the design, it takes a few seconds to trim beforehand.

Conversely, if the machine does not cut the jumper and move from place to place via thread tracking, you still have to consider the time it takes to manually cut these stitches after the design is complete.

3. Maximum speed of embroidery machine

Embroidery machines are distinguished by the maximum speed at which they can sew (measured in stitches per minute or spm).

My lamp embroidery machine has a top speed of 1,050 spm, but that doesn't mean all stitches are created that fast.

For example, my machine couldn't quickly create wide, horizontal satin stitches. They can sew at less than half their maximum speed.

Commercial embroidery machines (multi-needle or multi-needle machines) usually have a faster maximum embroidery speed. Sturdier, more specialized machines can create trickier stitches (such as those wide, horizontal satin or wide, horizontal stitches) at a much faster rate than a home embroidery machine.

But even if you have a fast machine, some embroidery designs (such as embroidery designs using wire) and embroidery blanks (such as hats or other uneven items) require slower embroidery speeds to get the best results.

4. You need to set this parameter

Sometimes, embroidering a 1,000-stitch design that will take 3 minutes can take 10 minutes to complete!

Setting up the machine to start embroidery requires marking the embroidery stock where the design is to be placed, hooping or floating the embroidery stock and stabilizer, and loading it into the machine.

And not all blanks are easy to use. For example, my embroidery machine does not have a hat hoop to facilitate the embroidery of the hat, so setting up my hat embroidery takes more time than simply hooping a towel.

5. It needs to be cleaned

Don't forget that the stabilizer must be trimmed or torn off, and the water-soluble toppings must be removed.

Loose threads also need to be cut and any marks removed.

These finishing touches can add a few minutes to each embroidery project.

6. Order size

Whether you are a customer or an embroidery business order, the size of the embroidery order will affect the turnaround time.

If you need to embroider a shirt, you can do it in half an hour. However, an order for 100 shirts is a different story!

Estimate how long the embroidery design will take

Now, there are two ways to accurately estimate how long a design will take to embroider on a blank.

1. Use your machine

If you load the design into the embroidery machine, the machine will usually show you the expected duration of the embroidery.

This is the estimated time of activity splicing, excluding the time of line change required by the single user.

So take a moment to add one minute for each additional thread change to get a better estimate of the total time required. If you're doing decals, 3D foam embroidery, shadow work, cutouts, or other techniques that require more input, add a few minutes for each instance that requires intervention.

2. Use embroidery software

What happens if you don't insert the design near the machine, but you still need to calculate the embroidery time?

You can use embroidery software to estimate the time.

If you already have the software, simply load your design into the software and consult your manual to learn how to access the splicing time.

Approximate time estimate

Just for the curious, using an average sewing speed of 700 stitches per minute and a single thread colored embroidery design:

It takes 1.43 miles to embroider 1,000 stitches.

It takes 14.3 minutes to embroider 10,000 stitches.

A 100,000 stitch embroidery design takes 143 minutes to sew.

Adding additional colors, using a slower average speed, and increasing prep and finish times will change these estimates.

Custom embroidery turnaround time

I'm a hobby embroiderer, so I called local commercial embroidery shops to determine their turnaround time for custom orders.

Some embroidery businesses (like my local Lids) have same-day turnover for individual items. No one else (outside the mall area) has a same-day turnaround time, but all embroidery businesses commit to a turnaround time of less than or equal to one week for custom orders.

How long does it take to embroider?

In summary, factors such as order size, design size, number of thread colors, and maximum embroidery speed affect the time it takes to complete an embroidery design or order.