Digitizing for Caps and Hats Part 1: Center-Out Lettering Setup

In this video, we explain why digitizing and embroidering caps requires special consideration because of their shape and construction. The most common problems with caps are misregistration and distortion caused by movement on the embroidery machine. When digitizing for caps, we always work from the center out. For lettering, we select the center-out feature in the text properties window. Because the center seam can be bulky, it may cause uneven stitching, gaps, or distortion when stitching over that area.

We also emphasize the importance of stitch angle, underlay, and sequencing when working on caps. We try to minimize stitches that run into the seam and instead plan stitches to go across it. Working from the center out helps because the first stitches address the center seam right away. Slightly increasing the underlay in lettering helps stabilize the surface and lifts the top stitching so it does not sink into the cap.

In this exercise, we digitize the phrase “What’s Your Forté” for a cap. We first select the lettering tool and click in the center of the work area. In the text window, we enter the word “Fort,” then use the character map to insert the accented “é” as a shortcut for entering European characters. Under Settings, we choose the Basket Case font, keep the baseline straight, enable kerning, set the character size to 23.6 mm, keep character spacing at 1 mm, leave word spacing at 55, and change the character width to 95 percent. Under Stitches, we set the density to 2.5 mm, change the stitch length to 4 mm, keep lock stitch checked, keep trim at letters checked, enable underlay, select narrow column, set the width to 76 percent, leave the density at 1.587 mm, and set the sewing direction to center out.

We then select the lettering tool again and click above the word “Forté” to enter “What’s Your.” We keep the same font, change the size to 10.2 mm, leave the character spacing and character width the same, set the density to 2.38 mm, change the stitch length to 2.3 mm, enable underlay, select center walk, keep the sewing direction set to center out, and confirm the settings.