Embroidery on a garment you already own

Why finished garments are different

Embroidering a finished garment is harder than embroidering flat fabric. The area has to be held flat and reached from both sides, and seams, facings, pockets and linings get in the way. A neckline with a facing, a sleeve sewn into a narrow tube or a fully lined abaya may limit where work can go, or how much.

• Easier: open, flat areas such as the front below the neckline, the lower part of a wide sleeve, a dupatta edge or an unlined hem.
• Harder: narrow cuffs, areas crossed by seams, close to zips or buttons, or behind a lining.
• Fabric: stretch knits, very sheer fabrics and heavily embellished pieces are the most limited.

Photos that help us decide

Clear photos let us give a clear answer, and save a wasted journey for your garment:

• The whole garment, front and back, laid flat in daylight.
• The inside of the area you want worked, showing any lining, facing or seams.
• A close-up of the fabric weave and the care label if it has one.
• The width and length of the area to be worked, measured with a tape.
• A reference photo of the embroidery you like; our reference photo guide explains what to include.

Before you send it

Wash or clean the garment first, following its care label, and make sure it is completely dry. Embroidery over a mark or a crease that has been pressed in sets it permanently. Check for small holes or loose seams and mention them, because the work is done on the garment as it is.

Pack it folded loosely, with tissue between layers if it has existing embellishment, in a sealed bag inside the outer packaging. The guide to posting fabric covers the practical side.

Think, too, about how much the garment means to you. Embroidery on a finished piece cannot easily be undone, and the work changes how the garment behaves in the wash. For a much-loved or irreplaceable item, start with a small, delicate area, such as the cuffs or a motif below the neckline, rather than a large panel. If you later love the result, a second piece can always follow.

Two shipping stages

Like Stitching Only, standalone embroidery involves two separate journeys. First you send the garment to us in Pakistan, as agreed after our confirmation; that shipment is arranged by you unless the quote says otherwise. Then we ship the finished piece back to you. The written quote includes that return delivery and any import duties, taxes and customs or courier fees, so nothing more is due on delivery.

Quotes for customers in the USA can be in US dollars, euros or pounds; the USA fancy work page explains ordering from there. Payment is in full, once you approve the quote.

Starting your enquiry

Use the quote form, choose embroidery on my own fabric or garment as the garment type, and upload your photos. Our custom embroidery page explains both routes, embroidery on outfits we make and on pieces you send.