Frequently asked questions

A single personalised piece (bunny, stocking, small linen) is usually stitched and posted within 5–10 business days from the day the invoice is paid. Sets of 4–12 pieces take 10–15 business days. Event or bulk orders are quoted with a realistic dispatch window, typically 3–5 weeks. Christmas peak (October to mid-December) runs longer.

Digitising only (stitch file returned by email) is 3–5 business days. Rush add-on is available for $15 and returns the file within 24 hours.

Every order is quoted first. Once you're happy with the piece, price and turnaround, a Square invoice lands in your inbox. Pay by card through the invoice, and the receipt is emailed to you automatically. Stitching starts as soon as the invoice clears.

Card details are handled by Square directly. Threaded Designs Melbourne never sees your card number.

Yes. Send a reference photo (a logo, a child's drawing, a photo, or a rough sketch) and Vanessa will suggest a font, thread palette and placement. Nothing is stitched until you approve the design.

Names, initials, dates and short phrases (up to about 60 characters) are the sweet spot. Very small text or extremely detailed portraits are quoted case by case — some designs work beautifully in thread, others don't. Vanessa will tell you honestly if a request isn't a great fit.

Every stitch file is delivered in the format your machine reads: .PES (Brother), .DST (Tajima), .JEF (Janome), .EXP (Melco), or .VP3 (Husqvarna Viking). If you're not sure which one you need, tell us the make and model of your machine and we'll pick the right format for you.

Files are emailed directly, usually within 3–5 business days of the invoice being paid.

Yes. Send a note through the order form and we'll quote the personalisation only. You cover the postage in both directions. We can't guarantee results on very stretchy fabric, delicate laceweight items or heavily sequinned pieces — ask first and Vanessa will let you know if it's a fit.

Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, inside a mesh bag if the piece has delicate parts (like a plush toy). Hang or lay flat to dry — the tumble dryer is fine on low but shortens the life of the thread. Iron around the embroidery, not directly over it. If you have to press the embroidered area, use a cloth in between and low heat.

No minimum. A single personalised bunny is treated with the same care as a set of 40 wedding napkins. Bulk orders are quoted as a set and usually attract a per-piece discount — ask when you send the enquiry.

Yes, this is a big part of what the studio does. For weddings, milestone birthdays, baby showers and corporate events, give us the event date at the quote stage and we lock in the turnaround around it. Please book event orders at least 4 weeks out where possible.

Yes. Once we send you the file, it's yours to use as many times as you like, on your own machine or for stitching onto your own products. We may keep a copy so future reprints and tweaks are easy; we never resell or licence your file to anyone else.

Not by default, but ask if you're outside Australia. We quote Australia Post International Standard with tracking (typically 7–20 business days depending on where you are). Import duty and tax at your end is your responsibility.

Digitising files are delivered by email, so international digitising customers pay nothing extra for delivery.

Before stitching begins, yes — message us and we cancel with a full refund. Once the piece is hooped and the machine is running, the personalised work can't be resold, so we can't refund it. Full detail is in our refund policy.

If we misspell a name or use a colour that wasn't confirmed, we remake the piece free of charge or refund it in full — your choice. Message us within 14 days of delivery with a photo and we sort it out. Please double-check names and colours carefully at the quote stage — we always send those back to you for confirmation before stitching.