When your logo represents your business, every stitch matters.
Since 1977, Northwest Custom Apparel has helped Washington businesses create professional branded apparel that lasts. From embroidered work jackets for construction crews to polished corporate polos, every order is produced in our Milton, Washington facility using commercial Tajima TMAR-KC embroidery machines. Nothing is outsourced.
Whether you need six embroidered polos for a growing company or hundreds of uniforms for multiple locations, we’ll guide you through every step. You’ll receive a digital proof before production, honest recommendations, and a quote within one business day.
Because we’ve completed more than 125,000 projects, we know what works on real garments. We know how different fabrics behave. We know how stitch direction affects clean lettering. Most importantly, we know your order needs to arrive on time.
Request your free embroidery quote today and see your logo professionally stitched before production begins.
The bigger the order, the better the savings
Need it faster? Rush orders available.
If we miss your deadline, you don’t pay
See and approve your logo before full production.
Embroidery isn’t limited to polo shirts anymore.
Today’s commercial embroidery works on hats, jackets, backpacks, safety apparel, tote bags, uniforms, and dozens of other products. Using the right stabilizers, hooping methods, and stitch programming, we produce clean, durable embroidery across a wide range of fabrics.
Whether you’re ordering for a construction company in Tacoma, a technology firm in Seattle, a school in Puyallup, or a local nonprofit in Pierce County, we recommend products that match your logo, budget, and everyday use.
Custom hats remain one of the most popular branded products we produce.
We embroider premium brands including Richardson, New Era, Flexfit, Pacific Headwear, and Yupoong. For businesses wanting a bold appearance, we also offer 3D puff embroidery, which creates raised lettering using specialty foam beneath the stitching.
Popular choices include:
Our team evaluates every design before recommending flat or 3D embroidery because not every logo works equally well on every cap style.
Nothing creates a more professional first impression than clean logo embroidery on quality polo shirts.
We regularly embroider apparel from brands including Nike, Port Authority, Cutter & Buck, OGIO, and TravisMathew for office staff, sales teams, healthcare providers, municipalities, and service companies throughout Washington.
Embroidery adds texture, durability, and a premium appearance that continues looking professional after years of washing.
Common applications include:
✔️ Employee uniforms
✔️ Corporate apparel
✔️ Executive gifts
✔️ Customer-facing teams
✔️ Golf tournaments
✔️ Trade shows
Washington weather demands durable outerwear.
Construction crews, municipalities, utility companies, and contractors rely on embroidered jackets because thread won’t peel or crack like printed graphics can after repeated heavy use.
We frequently decorate:
✔️ Carhartt jackets
✔️ Dri Duck workwear
✔️ CornerStone work jackets
✔️ The North Face outerwear
✔️ Soft shell jackets
✔️ Hi-Vis safety apparel
Because embroidery becomes part of the garment, your logo continues looking professional through demanding jobsite conditions.
Branded accessories keep your business visible long after an event ends.
Custom embroidered tote bags, backpacks, duffel bags, blankets, and travel accessories are popular for employee onboarding, conferences, appreciation gifts, and customer giveaways.
Embroidery creates a polished finish that reflects your brand every time someone uses the item.
Not every project needs direct embroidery.
We also produce embroidered patches that can be sewn or heat applied later. Leatherette patches, woven patches, and custom emblems provide additional flexibility for uniforms, hats, clubs, motorcycle groups, and specialty apparel.
If your project combines embroidery with laser engraving, we’ll recommend the best approach during quoting.
Already have the apparel?
Our contract embroidery service allows qualified customer-supplied garments to be embroidered in our Milton production facility.
We’ll inspect every item before production because some materials don’t provide enough stability for quality embroidery. If we believe another decoration method will perform better, we’ll explain why before your project begins.
Our goal isn’t simply to decorate apparel, but to make your brand look its best.
Knit fabric requires water-soluble topper stabilizer to prevent the needle from sinking into the knit loops. Stitch density is kept lower on beanies than on woven garments i.e. above 8,000 stitches on standard 100% acrylic beanies risks distortion and puckering that no backing will fully correct.
NW Custom Apparel’s production team assesses logo complexity before confirming feasibility on beanie orders.
For beanie embroidery programs, see embroidered beanies for crews, teams, and corporate giveaways
300–400 gsm fleece requires cutaway backing plus water-soluble topper on brushed-fleece face. Left chest logos at 8,000–12,000 stitches produce clean results. Full back designs at 20,000–30,000 stitches are feasible on 12 oz. fleece with the correct backing weight, the TMAR-KC’s reinforced arms hold the heavier garment weight stable at full production speed.
For hoodie embroidery orders, see custom embroidered sweatshirts and hoodies for teams and uniform programs
Every embroidered logo begins as artwork—not stitches. Here's how we transform your design into durable embroidery that represents your brand.
Many people think embroidery starts with loading a logo into a machine. It doesn’t. Professional embroidery begins with planning. Every fabric, thread color, stitch angle, and stabilizer affects the finished result. That’s why we’ve refined our production process over nearly 5 decades.
Our in-house team controls every step inside our Milton facility. The same people preparing your artwork understand how the embroidery machines actually sew, helping eliminate surprises before production begins.
Every project begins with your artwork. Vector files such as AI, EPS, and PDF provide the cleanest results because they scale without losing detail. We also accept high-resolution PNG and JPG files when necessary. During review, we evaluate: Small lettering Fine lines Color count Stitch direction Fabric compatibility Overall embroidery suitability Sometimes a logo designed for digital use doesn't translate well into thread. When that happens, we'll recommend adjustments that improve readability while preserving your brand identity.
Digitizing is the process of creating a computer stitch file that tells an embroidery machine exactly how to sew your design.
A quality digitizer considers Stitch type, Underlay, Pull compensation, Stitch density, Fabric stretch, Thread direction, and Registration. Our digitizers don't simply convert artwork. They understand how thread behaves on hats, polos, jackets, fleece, and workwear because they work alongside our production team every day. Once completed, your design becomes a DST production file stored for future orders, making reordering faster and more consistent.
Before production begins, we complete a test sew-out.
This sample verifies stitch quality, registration, lettering, density, and overall appearance on the intended garment.
You receive a digital proof for approval before your order enters production.
If adjustments are needed, we'll make them first.
If the finished embroidery doesn't match your approved proof, we'll rework the order at no additional cost under our satisfaction guarantee.
After approval, your order moves into production. Our 8-head Tajima TMAR-KC embroidery machines operate at speeds up to 1,100 stitches per minute with 15 needles per head, allowing multiple thread colors without stopping production. Every order receives fabric-specific setup, including Proper hooping, Stabilizer selection, Thread tension adjustment, Pull compensation, Needle selection, and Quality monitoring throughout the run. Those small details are why clean embroidery stays clean after thousands of stitches.
Before your order leaves our facility, every garment receives a final inspection. Our team checks Stitch consistency, Thread trimming, Placement accuracy, Color matching, Garment cleanliness, and Overall presentation.
We also provide folding and bagging at no additional charge for most orders.
You can pick up your order at our Milton showroom or have it shipped anywhere throughout Washington State.
Whether you’re ordering embroidered polos for a growing company, branded Carhartt jackets for your crew, or custom hats for an upcoming event, we’ll guide you through every step.
Reorders are faster: Once your design is digitized and stored in the TMAR-KC’s 650-design memory, reorders run immediately. No re-digitizing, no new sample required for the same design on the same garment.
Choosing an embroidery shop isn’t just about finding someone with a machine. It’s about trusting a team with your brand. Your logo appears on every employee, every customer visit, every jobsite, and every event. Poor embroidery sends the wrong message. Clean, durable stitching reinforces professionalism every time someone wears your apparel.
That’s why businesses across Seattle, Tacoma, Puyallup, Bellevue, Olympia, and the Pacific Northwest continue returning to Northwest Custom Apparel year after year.
Since 1977, Northwest Custom Apparel has helped businesses build stronger brands through professionally decorated apparel.
What started with founder Jim Mickelson has grown into one of Washington’s most experienced in-house apparel decoration companies. Today, Erik Mickelson and the production team continue that same commitment to craftsmanship from our Milton facility.
Unlike companies that outsource production to multiple vendors, every embroidery order stays under one roof.
That means:
Everything happens in-house.
Because the same team manages every step, communication stays clear, quality remains consistent, and turnaround times stay predictable.
Our production staff includes team members with more than 25 years of embroidery experience, while many others have been with us for over a decade. That experience matters when your project includes specialty fabrics, challenging logos, or large production runs.
Whether you’re ordering 8 polos or several hundred embroidered uniforms, your project receives the same attention to detail.
Many embroidery companies send digitizing overseas or to third-party contractors.
We don’t.
Our digitizers work alongside our embroidery operators every day.
That difference matters.
A digitizer who understands real production knows how stitches behave on structured hats, fleece jackets, moisture-wicking polos, canvas bags, and heavyweight workwear. They don’t simply convert artwork into a machine file. They build a stitch program specifically for the garment being embroidered.
Every design considers:
The result is cleaner embroidery with fewer thread breaks, smoother fills, and better registration.
Once your logo has been digitized, we archive it for future orders so reordering is faster and more consistent.
Ordering custom embroidery shouldn’t feel risky.
Before production begins, you receive a digital proof showing exactly how your logo will be positioned on the garment.
If adjustments are needed, we make them before thread ever touches fabric.
For many larger or specialty projects, we also perform a physical sew-out to verify stitch quality.
That process reduces surprises, protects your investment, and gives your team confidence before production starts.
If your finished order doesn’t match the approved proof, we’ll make it right through our satisfaction guarantee.
Professional embroidery depends on more than experience.
It requires equipment capable of producing consistent results across hundreds or thousands of garments.
Our Milton production facility uses commercial Tajima TMAR-KC 8-head embroidery machines capable of stitching up to 1,100 stitches per minute with 15 thread colors per head.
That technology allows us to produce:
Combined with experienced operators, these machines deliver crisp lettering, smooth satin stitches, accurate fills, and reliable color consistency from the first garment to the last.
We don’t believe the biggest catalog creates the best customer experience.
Instead, we’ve spent decades testing apparel from manufacturers known for durability, comfort, and embroidery performance.
Brands we regularly recommend include:
Because SanMar and Alpha Broder operate distribution centers within roughly 10 miles of our Milton location, we can often source blank garments quickly, helping shorten production timelines when schedules are tight.
Rather than overwhelming you with thousands of options, we’ll recommend apparel that works well with your logo, your industry, and your budget.
See our Garment Brand Selection Guide
Many commercial embroidery companies require minimums of 12, 24, or even 48 garments.
We understand every business starts somewhere.
Our standard minimum for embroidered garments is just 8 pieces, making professional branding accessible for growing businesses, startups, nonprofits, and small teams.
Need under the minimum of 1-7 pieces or fewer than 8?
We charge a small batch fee of $50.
For details, see our Custom Apparel Pricing page.
Not every embroidery technique creates the same look. Some designs need clean, professional stitching for corporate uniforms. Others benefit from bold raised embroidery that stands out across a room. Larger athletic graphics may require layered fabrics instead of dense stitching.
We recommend the right technique based on your artwork, garment, and intended use. Embroidery style comparison
| Style | Best For | Appearance | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat embroidery | Detailed logos, uniforms, small lettering | Smooth, professional | Polo shirts, work shirts, aprons, jackets |
| 3D puff embroidery | Bold logos on structured hats | Raised, dimensional | Richardson 112 trucker hats, snapbacks |
| Appliqué embroidery | Large artwork | Layered fabric with stitching | Spirit wear, varsity apparel, jackets |
| Tackle twill | Athletic lettering | Heavy textured finish | Team uniforms, Greek apparel |
Choosing an embroidery shop isn’t just about finding someone with a machine. It’s about trusting a team with your brand. Your logo appears on every employee, every customer visit, every jobsite, and every event. Poor embroidery sends the wrong message. Clean, durable stitching reinforces professionalism every time someone wears your apparel.
That’s why businesses across Seattle, Tacoma, Puyallup, Bellevue, Olympia, and the Pacific Northwest continue returning to Northwest Custom Apparel year after year.
Flat embroidery is the most popular option for commercial apparel.
The stitching sits directly against the garment, creating a clean, professional appearance suitable for nearly every industry.
It’s an excellent choice for:
Because thread becomes part of the garment itself, flat embroidery withstands repeated industrial washing without cracking or peeling.
For businesses that value longevity, it’s often the best investment.
If you want your hats to stand out, 3D puff embroidery delivers a bold, premium appearance.
A layer of EVA foam sits beneath the stitching, creating raised lettering and logos with noticeable depth.
This style works best on structured caps such as the Richardson 112, where the front panel provides enough support for dimensional stitching.
Not every logo is suitable for puff embroidery. Fine detail and thin lettering usually perform better with flat embroidery.
We review your artwork and recommend the best approach before production.
Large embroidered designs often become heavy and expensive because they require tens of thousands of stitches.
Appliqué solves that problem.
Instead of filling the entire design with thread, we laser-cut fabric pieces and stitch them onto the garment.
Benefits include:
Appliqué is especially popular for varsity jackets, spirit wear, oversized logos, and decorative outerwear.
Tackle twill has been used on athletic uniforms for decades.
Individual letters and numbers are cut from durable twill fabric before being stitched around the edges with a zigzag border.
The finished result creates the traditional appearance seen on baseball jerseys, letterman jackets, and collegiate apparel.
It’s built for heavy use and remains one of the most durable decoration methods available for athletic uniforms.
Sometimes personalization creates more value than branding alone.
We offer custom monogramming and individual names for:
Personalized embroidery creates a polished appearance while helping teams quickly identify garments.
Upload your logo, tell us how the garments will be used, and we’ll review your artwork, recommend the best embroidery technique, and send a detailed estimate within 1 business day.
Custom embroidery pricing has two components: garment cost and decoration cost. We quote both separately so you understand exactly what you’re paying for.
✔️ Garment cost: Based on brand, style, and current wholesale pricing from our distributor network (SanMar, S&S Activewear, Alphabroder). Quoted per garment at your required quantity.
✔️ Stitch count: The more stitches your design contains, the longer it takes to embroider. Stitch count depends on:
For example:
| Logo Type | Typical Stitch Count |
|---|---|
| Small left chest logo | 5,000–8,000 |
| Corporate logo | 8,000–12,000 |
| Large back design | 20,000–40,000+ |
| 3D puff hat logo | 8,000–15,000 |
A design with fewer stitches generally costs less than a heavily filled design of the same physical size.
For more details, see our embroidery stitch count guide – what stitch count your logo needs by placement and garment type
✔️ Quantity ordered: Ordering more garments usually lowers your cost per piece. That’s because setup time is spread across a larger production run. For example:
| Quantity | Typical Cost Per Piece* |
|---|---|
| 8–11 | Highest unit cost |
| 12–23 | Lower |
| 24–47 | Better value |
| 48–95 | Volume pricing |
| 96+ | Best pricing |
Actual pricing depends on garment selection, stitch count, and logo placement. Explore custom apparel pricing to determine your cost. If your company orders uniforms throughout the year, we can often store your digitized logo so future reorders become faster and more economical.
✔️ Number of embroidery locations: Each embroidery location requires its own setup. Common placements include:
Multiple locations naturally increase production time and total cost. We’ll explain every option during quoting so you know exactly where your investment is going.
✔️ Decoration cost: Calculated per stitch count tier, per piece, with bulk discounts at 12, 24, 48, and 100+ pieces. Digitizing is included above 48 pieces, no separate invoice. Reorders of the same design carry no re-digitizing cost.
✔️ Color count: The TMAR-KC handles up to 15 colors simultaneously with no per-color setup fee; unlike screen printing where each color requires a separate screen.
We do not publish a standard price list because garment and decoration costs vary significantly by brand, style, stitch count, and quantity. Contact us with your specific requirements for an accurate quote. Most quote requests are turned around within one business day.
Volume pricing: Orders of 100+ pieces unlock our best per-unit decoration pricing. For ongoing uniform programs, ask about our custom webstore option — employees self-order from a pre-approved catalog, and we fulfill each order individually.
Most embroidery projects are completed within 10 business days after proof approval, depending on garment availability and order size.
Our production schedule includes
| Service | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| Quote | Within one business day |
| Artwork review | 1–2 business days |
| Proof approval | Customer dependent |
| Production | Approximately 10 business days |
| Shipping or pickup | Scheduled after completion |
Because we produce everything in-house, we’re able to maintain greater control over scheduling than companies relying on outsourced production.
Sometimes deadlines can’t move.
Trade shows.
Employee onboarding.
School tournaments.
Grand openings.
Construction projects.
If inventory is available and production capacity allows, rush service may be available for qualifying orders.
Rush production is handled on a first-available basis and may include an expedited production fee depending on timeline and project complexity. The formatting guide notes a standard rush surcharge for eligible orders.
The sooner you contact us, the more options we’ll have.
If we can meet your deadline, we tell you.
If we can’t, we’ll be honest before you place your order.
Whether you’re ordering embroidered polos for a growing business, branded safety apparel for a construction crew, or custom hats for an upcoming event, we’ll help you choose the right garments, the right embroidery method, and the right production schedule.
You’ll receive:
Or call 253-922-5793 to speak directly with our team about your project.
Every industry has different apparel requirements.
A construction company needs durable embroidered workwear that stands up to demanding jobsites. A corporate office wants polished uniforms that reinforce its brand. Schools need apparel that survives an active season, while event planners work against fixed deadlines.
Because we’ve been serving Washington businesses since 1977, we’ve embroidered apparel for thousands of organizations across the Pacific Northwest. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, we recommend garments and embroidery methods that fit how your team actually works.
Construction is one of our core specialties.
Branded workwear does more than promote your business. It helps crews look professional, builds customer confidence, and creates a consistent appearance across every jobsite.
Popular embroidered products include:
Our team understands the demands of construction apparel. We recommend garments that hold up to repeated washing, outdoor conditions, and everyday wear while keeping your logo looking sharp.
See construction company uniform programs with embroidered workwear across Washington state
Professional uniforms create a strong first impression.
Whether your employees work in an office, showroom, retail space, or meet clients on-site, embroidered apparel communicates consistency and professionalism.
Popular products include:
We help businesses maintain consistent branding across departments, locations, and future reorders.
See corporate workwear and branded staff uniform programs for Washington businesses
Schools often need more than one product.
Coaches need polos.
Athletes need warm-ups.
Staff need jackets.
Parents want spirit wear.
Because everything is produced in-house, we coordinate embroidery across multiple garments while maintaining consistent logo placement and thread colors.
Popular school projects include:
See school uniforms and custom team apparel for Washington schools and youth organizations
Healthcare providers and hospitality businesses rely on clean, professional uniforms that withstand frequent laundering.
Embroidery remains one of the best decoration methods because it won’t fade, peel, or crack over time.
Common products include:
Planning an event comes with enough moving parts. Your apparel shouldn’t be one of them.
Whether you’re organizing a charity golf tournament, fundraiser, trade show, company picnic, or community festival, we’ll help you coordinate apparel that fits your schedule and budget.
Many customers also combine embroidery with promotional products for a complete event package.
Hear from our satisfied clients who have made us their go-to provider for custom apparel and have seen the difference quality makes.
We take pride in our work and invite you to browse our portfolio to see the quality and creativity of our custom embroidery. From corporate uniforms to team apparel, our gallery showcases a variety of projects we’ve completed for satisfied clients.
Custom embroidery is the process of stitching a logo, design, or text directly onto apparel using commercial embroidery machines. Before stitching begins, artwork is converted into a digital stitch file through a process called digitizing.
8 pieces of garments minimum at NW Custom Apparel for standard embroidery orders. For orders below 8 pieces, contact us — we evaluate small-run requests individually. However, we charge under-minimum fee of $50. For Caps, 8 pieces are minimum order per style and color, as they come in standard boxes of 24.
Most projects are completed within approximately 10 business days from pre-production sample approval. Sample production adds 3–5 business days, so total elapsed time from initial quote submission to shipment is typically 13–15 business days. Rush service is available for qualifying orders, Confirm availability before committing to a hard deadline that requires rush processing.
If you need your project done quickly, our rush order embroidery services with a 25% rush fee can help you. Please call ahead to verify our production capacity to ensure that we can accommodate your needs.
Vector files like AI, EPS, or print-ready PDF produce the cleanest results and carry no artwork fee. High-resolution PNG or JPEG at 300 DPI minimum at print size are accepted with a small artwork conversion fee. We do not accept low-resolution screenshots or Word document exports without recreation. Send your file to sales@nwcustomapparel.com and we’ll assess it before quoting.
The Tajima TMAR-KC has 15 needles per head, meaning 15 thread colors loaded simultaneously. Most corporate logos use 3–7 colors. Designs requiring more than 15 colors would need color stops during production. contact us if your logo has an unusually high color count.
Embroidery works on most fabrics but not all perform equally. Heavy cotton duck canvas (12 oz.) and stable woven fabrics produce the best results. Very lightweight polyester under 5 oz. and loosely knitted fabrics are unsuitable for high-stitch-count logos without distortion. If you’re unsure about fabric compatibility, send us a sample garment before placing a large order.
Yes, for garments that are washed frequently. Embroidered thread is structurally integrated with the fabric and does not peel, crack, or fade under normal laundering. Screen-printed ink sits on top of the fabric surface and begins to crack and fade after 25–50 wash cycles under standard commercial laundering conditions. For work uniforms washed 2–3 times per week, the durability difference is significant over a 12–24 month wear cycle.
Pricing depends on factors like design complexity, stitch count, order quantity, and apparel type. Here’s a general breakdown:
Get an exact quote by sending us your logo and apparel details.
Yes! Pick up your order from our Milton, WA showroom or get fast shipping.
Yes! The most popular placements for embroidery include:
✔ Left Chest – Common for uniforms and business apparel.
✔ Back Center – Ideal for jackets and team branding.
✔ Sleeves – Great for adding slogans, flags, or secondary logos.
✔ Hats & Beanies – Front panel or side embroidery for visibility.
We ensure the best placement based on your apparel type and logo dimensions.
Embroidery performs especially well on Polo shirts, Jackets, Hoodies, Hats, Fleece, Backpacks, Tote bags, and Safety apparel. If another decoration method would better suit your project, we’ll tell you.
Yes. NW Custom Apparel accepts contract embroidery on customer-supplied garments. Contact us before shipping, we’ll confirm the fabric is compatible with our backing and hooping requirements. We do not guarantee results on garments with manufacturing defects or fabrics incompatible with our equipment.
Absolutely. Every embroidery order includes a digital proof for approval before production begins. This helps ensure placement, sizing, and overall appearance meet your expectations.
NW Custom Apparel proudly holds exclusive rights to the DST files we digitize, giving our clients the benefit of reproducing them only through us. An additional fee will be applicable if our clients want us to release the DST files outside of NW Custom Apparel.
✅ Embroidery: Best for logos on workwear, uniforms, hats, and jackets. It provides a textured, professional look with durable stitching. Ideal for long-term use.
✅ Screen Printing: Better for bulk t-shirts, large graphics, and promotional apparel. It offers vibrant colors but may fade over time with repeated washing.
If you need premium, long-lasting branding, embroidery is the way to go. If you need bulk promotional shirts at a lower cost, screen printing may be a better fit.
Yes. Once digitized, your embroidery file is securely stored for future reorders, helping speed up production and maintain consistent quality.
Yes. Our team reviews your existing artwork and recommend the best path forward before digitizing begins.
Still Have Questions?
Call Us Now! 📞 (800) 851-3671 | Visit Our Showroom in Milton, WA
Northwest Custom Apparel has embroidered apparel for Washington state businesses since 1977. Our 8-head Tajima TMAR-KC Type 2 runs in-house at our Milton, WA facility, No outsourcing, no coordination gap, one invoice for garments and decoration.
📞 Call Us: 1-800-851-3671
Email: sales@nwcustomapparel.com
📍 Showroom: 2025 Freeman Rd E, Milton, WA 98354 -0 Monday–Friday 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Minimum order: 8 pieces Garments, and 8 Pieces for Caps
Standard turnaround: 10 business days from approved sample
Bulk pricing tiers: 24 / 48 / 100+ pieces
Include your logo file, garment type, quantity, and delivery deadline when you reach out. Most quotes are returned within one business day.
Our service area for custom embroidery covers the heart of the South Sound and the greater Seattle metro area. Whether you are a small business in Puyallup or a major corporation in downtown Seattle, our local expertise ensures your project is handled with care.
