Impressions - August 2015 - 22

On DESIGN
Design Details
Dimensions: 11.03" x 7.67"
Embroidery Machine: Tajima singlehead
Digitizing Software: Pulse
Thread Type: Madeira

Several types of
stitching - double-run,
single-run, loose fill
and regular fill - were
combined to create the
effect of the tree bark.

A double satin

Forest of Threads

ince its establishment in 1985, Sunshine Embroidery
Punching has grown to become a premier digitizing
center in North America, servicing garment manufacturers worldwide. The company merged with GraphXsource
in 2011, and today operates out of offices in Calgary, Alberta;
Dallas; and Bangkok, Thailand, offering professional digitizing,
artwork services, virtual proofs and data-entry services for the
apparel industry.
While Sunshine Embroidery Punching has seen many years
of growth and development, the company has specialized in
logos - specifically for the golf market - since its inception,
and its flair for intricate, artistic detail continues to be a point of
differentiation from the competition.
"Lone Autumn Wolf," created by Sunshine Embroidery's
manager Char Abeig, speaks to the company's long history of
detail-focused design. Created solely for entry in the 36th annual Impressions Awards, it boasts 56 thread colors, 71 color
breaks and 245,141 stitches, with stitch types ranging from
single-run to double-run, satin, loose fills and regular.
"The biggest challenge was choosing the right thread colors
for the entire design in order to give a realistic effect," Abeig
explains. "In my experience, I have found that you can blend

Impressions | August 2015

stitch was used for
the leaves to achieve
the effect of puff
without using foam.

a design beautifully, but color choice can destroy all the work
put into any digitized design."
Abeig completed several sewouts of one of the trees to
evaluate the palette and ensure the optimal colors were used
for the final design.
Just as important as color, texture was key to the piece's
natural appearance. Abeig began by painting the canvas with
acrylic paint to give the background a rough look prior to embroidery. She used puff under every tree to create a raised effect.
"I tried using puff on the leaves, but found it was too thick
for the design," she says. "So, I used a double satin stitch on all
of the leaves to achieve the effect of puff without using foam."
A double satin stitch - where the satin stitch is digitized and
then another wider stitch is layered over it - also was used on
some of the branches.
"[I wanted] to show what can be done with embroidery
and to show people that you can create incredible work with
thread and a lot of imagination," Abeig says. "I wanted to see if
I could make this picture look like an actual painting."
Like a piece of art, the finished piece draws viewers in with
its colorful, dimensional appeal and attention to detail.
- Lauren Mitchell

impressionsmag.com

http://www.impressionsmag.com

Impressions - August 2015

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