Guide for Customers: Preparing the Artwork
for Embroidered Canvas Bags
Creating personalized canvas bags with a child’s artwork is a wonderful way to celebrate their creativity! To ensure that their drawings or love notes look amazing when embroidered, there are some simple guidelines to follow. This guide will help you understand how to prepare any child’s designs for the best results.
**If you have an already completed artwork that you would like embroidered but aren’t sure if it’s suitable please reach out and we can have a chat.
Why Artwork Matters
Embroidery is a special way to turn a child’s art into a lasting keepsake. However, because embroidery uses thread to create images, it works best with certain types of designs. Here’s how to make sure their artwork shines!
Key Guidelines for Artwork
1. Use Thick Lines
- Minimum Line Thickness: Encourage the child to use thicker lines in their drawings and messages—aim for at least 2-3 mm by using thicker Texta’sm markers or even thick paint (water colours are difficult). Thicker, defined lines and shapes help the embroidery machine create clearer and more defined images.
- Avoid Tiny Details: Remind them that very small details might get lost when stitched. Simple shapes and bold outlines are much easier to work with.
2. Keep It Simple
- Limit Complexity: Help the child focus on simple designs. A few big shapes or a heartfelt message can be more powerful than a busy picture.
- Fewer Colours: While it’s fun to use different colours, too many can make the embroidery tricky. Suggest sticking to 2-3 colours for a clean and beautiful look. It’s also a good idea to check what colour threads we have available before they get started. Head to the bottom of this page to view all thread colours.
- Use solid colours instead of gradients or shading, as these can complicate the stitching process.
- Ensure there’s good contrast between the design and the paper it's created on.
3. Easy to Read Writing
- Handwriting is a work in progress - even for us adults! However, when your child is writing their message, encourage them to take their time.
- Mistakes are beautiful and we will embroider those too. However, too many mistakes or scribbling out things may make it difficult to embroider.
- Use texta or marker: Please see point 1 above regarding thick lines.
- Bigger is better: We love big, bold writing - it's the best. Small handwriting can be difficult to read once embroidered.
- Letter spacing: We know this is a difficult one. Letters that are too close together may become one big blob once embroidered! Encourage leaving a little space between letters (see image example).
- Sign it: If you've got artwork being made, have them sign it! It's not essential, we just think it's a fun and beautiful touch.
Preparing the Artwork
1. File Format
- If possible, take a photo or scan their artwork in high resolution (300 DPI or higher). This ensures that the details remain clear when we embroider.
- If taking a photo with your phone, take it straight on with no dark shadows over the art.
- We accept .jpg, .jpeg, and .png formats. (Most phones use one of these).
Current Thread Colours
Here are the thread colours we currently offer! Your childs beautiful creations will be brought to life using these shades, carefully matched to your design as closely as possible.
- Magenta/Red
- Coral
- Orange
- Pink
- Yellow
- Green
- Baby Blue
- Violet
- Silver
- Black
Final Tips
- Mock-Up Review: Before completing your order, we will send you a mock-up of how the design will look on the bag. This is a great way to see if any changes are needed!
- Ask for Help: If you have questions about making a child’s artwork suitable for embroidery, feel free to reach out! We’re here to assist you every step of the way.
- Our email: [email protected]
By following these simple guidelines, you can help any child create artwork that will look fantastic on a personalized canvas bag. Remember, simplicity and boldness are key! We can’t wait to turn creative expressions into cherished keepsakes!
Ready to Turn a Little Moment into a Lasting Treasure?
Our Stitch in Time
Capture cherished memories with Our Stitch in Time’s custom canvas bags. Family-owned and crafted with love.
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