First Aid for Embroidery Mistakes, Part 1 of 2: The Basics

April 04, 2011
By Steven Batts, Contributing Writer

Mistakes happen to the best of us — and they happen to some of us more than others. We often get so upset when they occur, however, that we don’t immediately think about the best way to recover from the mistake. But just like in first aid, if you follow basic procedures upon the problem’s discovery, the likelihood for a full recovery is increased. When you notice a mistake in embroidery, remember the following tips to help speed recovery.

Don’t Panic
Much like real-life first aid, keeping a cool head is paramount to recovery. It seems like screw-ups never happen when no pressure is involved. The embroidery machine only malfunctions when an expensive item and a deadline are involved.

I have noticed that when I usually encounter a problem, it’s because I was rushing. This is compounded even more once I realize the problem. However, rushing the repair usually only makes things worse. If you sewed something incorrectly, then hastily attempt to remove stitches, you are more likely to cut a hole in the fabric trying to remove the stitches than if you took your time.

A former employer once told me the key to avoiding more mistakes during embroidery repair is to “slow down and go faster.” There is a lot of truth to that. If you keep your head and have patience during the repair, the process will proceed much quicker and have a better chance of success. On the other hand, if you are in too much of a hurry, you are likely to make another mistake. And I ought to know — I’ve done it.

Immobilize the Problem
The first thing to do when discovering an embroidery mistake is to leave the garment in the hoop. This sounds simple enough, but the first reaction usually is to pull it out of the hoop and toss the garment or item away. By leaving it in the hoop, your repair options remain open.

If you remove an item that needs repair, trying to re-frame it exactly the way it was is nearly impossible. By keeping the garment in the hoop, the probability that it can be realigned after the repair is much higher. You usually can correct the problem and snap the hoop back into the machine, find the right stitch and restart the machine without the need for realignment. If you do have to nudge the frame one way or the other, it should be minor. At least you will have a frame of reference (no pun intended) for lining it up.

What’s Your Location?
Once you realize there is a problem and repairs will need to be made, it is important to note where the problem occurred within the design. Whenever I take a hoop off the machine to make repairs, I always make a written note of the stitch count when the machine was stopped. Sometimes I write it on the stabilizer that is used on the back of the garment.

Usually, the problem will have occurred somewhere before that point, but at least I have a point of reference to work with in the design to work. I can go back to that point, or slightly before, once I repair the piece.

You may now be asking, “Why does this matter? You can just leave the machine sitting at the same point until you fix the problem and then put it back onto the machine and restart it.” While this is true, it is not very productive — especially if you have a multihead machine. Even with a singlehead, I would re-set the design and start sewing the next piece unless the repair is simple. If you spend 20 to 30 minutes pulling out stitches, you could lose three or four runs by just sitting around and removing stitches.

I like to have an extra hoop or two of each size in my shop. This way I can pull a hoop out of service for repairs and still maintain my production.

Keep Things Moving
The ideal scenario in making a repair is to maintain production. If I can keep the machine running while I make the repair — then finish the repaired piece at the end of the job — the time lost is very minimal. It may mean you have to remove stitches during the run and work a little faster when framing and trimming, but it usually is feasible.

I like repairing damaged pieces at the end of jobs for a couple of reasons. Not only does it help keep production moving, but it also gives me more time to make the required repairs. Sometimes I will use that time to modify the design so that the repair is even easier.

By following these basic procedures, you can help ensure successful recovery for your embroidered items. Then hopefully you, the garment and your customer can live happily ever after. In the next column, I will discuss some specifics of repairing holes and covering up mistakes.

Steven Batts, a consultant with more than 20 years experience in the embroidery industry, owns Righteous Threads, Greensboro, N.C., which offers digitizing, embroidery and machine maintenance services. Steven regularly leads seminars at ISS shows and is an industry speaker and consultant. For more information or to comment on this article, e-mail Steven at righteousthreads@gmail.com.



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