Think of metallic embroidery thread as the equivalent of the foil effect popular on screen printed T-shirts sold at retail today. It adds a similar trendy look whether used in concert with other apparel decoration applications or alone.
June 09, 2008
Don't forget these important tips when creating a digital embroidery design file to sew out on towels and other deep-pile fabrics.
Monogramming bath towels and bathrobes can be a lucrative niche for embroiderers. Upscale department stores and linen shops are eager to set up arrangements with embroiderers who can monogram towels as wedding gifts.
May 22, 2008
The latest embroidery threads include unique materials designed to create special eye-catching effects, improve production efficiency and open new markets.
It's easy to marvel at the technical sophistication of today's computerized embroidery machines and overlook the more mundane role of thread in the embroidery process.
April 29, 2008
When deciding which stabilizer to use, you also need to consider the material to be embroidered.
Previously, we explained the need for backings or stabilizers behind the fabric while it's being embroidered (see "Stabilizers: The Foundation of Embroidery"). Now we want to focus on the what and the where.
Stabilizers can be broken down into two major categories: cutaways and tearaways. While there are many weights and types of each of these, I recommend keeping the decision of which to use as simple as possible.
April 14, 2008
When a customer requests patches, first determine whether you should handle the order yourself or outsource it.
April 01, 2008
Those customers who come to your shop for emblems also often need to embellish employee uniforms with a name badge. Some may want a temporary ID solution to save money when there's turnover and a uniform is passed to a new hire. Temporary name badges eliminate the need to embroider new name patches and the cost of ripping off the old and sewing on the new.
April 01, 2008
Digitizing small lettering can be a challenge, but it's important to remember that every stitch in a small letter matters. Stitches must be perfectly placed and connected, including the tie-off stitches. It has been said that a good digitizer can digitize small letters with any digitizing system. However, some digitizing packages do this better than others, depending on the mathematical formulas programmed into the software.
April 01, 2008
Choosing the right needle for a job helps improve embroidery quality. However, it's not necessary to store every type of needle known to mankind. The following needle types will suffice for most embroidery shops:
April 01, 2008
Printing quality athletic numbers starts with knowing the fabrics with which you are working, since nylon and polyester fabrics require the use of specific products and procedures. Most manufacturers formulate screen printing inks intended for athletic printing. These have high opacity and are made with specific resins and plasticizers that, when properly cured, will withstand many years of use and laundering. Following are a few tips for successful uniform printing.
April 01, 2008
One of the biggest challenges for a startup or small shop is figuring out what true screen costs are and ensuring these costs are reflected in pricing. If you are not charging enough in your price structure for screens, you have to charge more for something else. To figure out screen costs, consider more than just the price of the screen.
April 01, 2008
Couple the inherent instability of the fabric with our effort to draw a picture on it with stitches, and you can readily see why a stabilizing backing material is crucial.
Decorating apparel with embroidery would be nearly impossible without the stabilizing backing materials we use today. Yet, a lot of confusion exists as to why it's used, when it's used and what kind should be used. In this article and the next, I'll try to answer all these questions to give you a better understanding of this foundational element of embroidery.
March 31, 2008
Stitch length, density and underlay all impact embroidery quality. In Part 2 of this series, learn how to correctly manage underlay.
Embroidery digitizing technology has come a long way. New developments in software and high-speed hardware have brought many advances to the design creation process. Jobs that once took hours to complete can now be done in minutes. But as the industry has become more dependent on technology, the knowledge required to produce elaborate, top-quality embroidered designs has been pushed aside in favor of bells, whistles, shortcuts and automated functions.
March 01, 2008
There's probably not an embroiderer among us who doesn't rely on stock designs. Whether you're based out of your home, retail location or in a large industrial area, you probably use them on a regular basis. Today, there is a multitude of companies that offer thousands of stock designs.
February 01, 2008
Even if you are an accomplished decorator, mistakes are bound to happen. For embroiderers, the good news is that it's fairly easy to fix a poorly sewn design.
February 01, 2008
When flashing designs created using plastisol ink, it's important to know the ink's characteristics. You can accomplish either a gel (the ink remains a bit tacky) or a cure (fully dried ink) when drying. The ideal temperature range needed for a gel effect is 190º to 230º F, and plastisol fully cures in the 320º F range. (Always refer to your ink manufacturer's guidelines for gel and cure temperatures.)
February 01, 2008
The technique of printing a thin layer of ink (usually white) on a garment is called underbasing. The underbase blocks out the color of the garment, serving to brighten the colors printed on top. The brightness of overprinted colors can be varied by breaking up the underbase into different percentages of halftones.
February 01, 2008
A great way to keep designs on hand for repeat orders without having the expense and space requirements for stocking inventory of finished garments is to print your own plastisol heat transfers. These are fairly simple to make using your existing screen printing equipment and a few inexpensive supplies.
January 01, 2008
When embroidering on towels, there are a few thread properties and washing guidelines to keep in mind. Dark thread colors, such as black, navy and deep red, may be overdyed and could bleed during the first washing. While no thread is immune to bleach, polyester threads hold up better than rayon threads.
January 01, 2008
Add to your company's bottom line by improving your production process with properly prepared screens.
Working as a technical consultant to screen printers, I'm amazed at how many screen printers don't know how to properly prepare a screen. Stretching and taping a screen is just the beginning; the prep process involves several steps to ready the screen for exposure and printing.
January 01, 2008
Master the four stitch types that form the basis for all embroidery and you will be in the driver's seat when it comes to producing aesthetically pleasing, production-friendly designs.
All embroidery is created from four primary stitch types. While all stitches are formed the same way — through the impeccable timing of a needle and hook marrying the top and bottom stitches into a lock stitch formation — a design is created through the use of run, zigzag, satin or fill stitches.
November 01, 2007
There are many tests to verify that the plastisol ink on a garment is cured properly, but the best gauge is the wash test. When ink on a dark-colored shirt is fully cured (or fused), it will not crack or lose its color. When wash-testing light-colored garments, expect a slight color loss after the first wash (approximately 5%). But after future washes, there should be no color loss. If the print continues to lose color, the ink probably is not cured properly.
November 01, 2007
Automatic digitizing software programs can help save time and money, but human intervention is often necessary for the best results. Try the following six tips to ease the process.
November 01, 2007
Automatic digitizing software can save time and money, but good artwork is key to its success.
Has automatic digitizing technology caught up with the master skills of an experienced digitizer? The answer seems to be a qualified "No." Auto-digitizing software has come a long way, and improves every year. However, as you will see in this article, there are certain designs that require the deft touch of an experienced human hand to help the software do the best job possible. The promise of "push-button" digitizing is here, but it requires that your client supply carefully crafted artwork in the correct digital format and that doesn't happen too often.
October 01, 2007
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