Tech Tip: Achieving Crisp 3-D Embroidery

July 1, 2009

Crisp 3-D embroidery requires plenty of cutting stitches and density so the foam easily tears away from the design.

Puffy foam embroidery continues to be a popular option for those customers looking for something different to give dimension to their designs. One of the biggest challenges with this process, however, is preventing the foam from sticking out between the stitches in 3-D designs. Some simple solutions in both the digitizing and embroidery stages can help correct this problem.

First, before you try editing the design (or having your digitizer edit it), use a blow dryer to keep the foam in its place. Use a thin, pointed object such as a needle or a toothpick to push as much foam as possible under the thread. Then set the blow dryer on high and wave it over the design to shrink it a bit. Don’t get too close to the design because the foam will melt if it is exposed to too much heat.

If a lot of foam is poking through, ask your digitizer to see if the design has enough “cutting stitches,” which are running stitches around the design’s outline. It’s possible that there aren’t enough stitches to perforate the foam for easy removal after the design has completed sewing out. Or, there may not be enough density in the satin stitches. By adding density, the foam will tear away better. — From the Impressions archives

Tips for Training Embroidery Operators
Does your shop have a training program? Even if you are a one-person shop, there will likely come a day when you will need to train a helper, salesperson or machine operator. Start keeping notes now about what your employees need to know and how you want to teach them.
September 14, 2009

How Fabric Color Impacts Contract Digitizing
A common frustration for contract digitizers is when the sew-out of their file tests perfectly but turns out horrible on the customer's machine. The file is sent back and the digitizers are then trying to fix an already perfectly digitized file and can only guess where the problem may lie.
September 14, 2009

Off the Cuff: Selling to Religious Organizations: Part 1 of 2
In our industry we decorate a massive assortment of items by a broad variety of technologies. Then we distribute what we produce to virtually every economic sector in every nook and cranny of society.
September 14, 2009

Diversifying Your Customer Base  
Learn to evaluate and adjust your mix of clientele for optimum profitability and stability.
While the economic lows that many American markets have been experiencing for the past year are certainly painful, they’re also nothing new. Historically, the tide of business success continually ebbs and flows, with one market experiencing a rush of good fortune while another watches its revenue all but dry up. This cyclical nature of business is precisely why decorators must have a diverse customer base that allows them to weather slowdowns — or even meltdowns — in parts of the economy.
September 02, 2009

Jacket Sales Stay Warm 
Styles and price points may change, but thankfully, jacket sales won’t cool off anytime soon.
When the going gets tough, the tough keep going — and they keep wearing jackets. That’s the positive message from numerous industry suppliers, who say that even as the economy continues to sag, sales for jackets remain robust — albeit often at lower price points and in different styles.
September 01, 2009