Impressions - June/July 2011 - (Page 47)

By Steven Batts, Contributing Writer EMBROIDERY >> HANDS ON Technique EMBROIDERY HANDS ON SCREEN PRINTING HANDS to From stitch removalON covering holes in garments, follow these tips to perform easy ﬁxes on embroidered items. First Aid for Embroidery Mistakes >> TECH TIPS HANDS ON >> TECH TIPS HANDS ON DIGITAL DECORATING >> HANDS ON DIGITAL DECORATI HANDS ON SCREEN PRINTING HANDS ON If you have to make a correction, keep extra hoops and frames of each size available so you can pull one out of service for repairs and still maintain production. 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 them. 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 an embroidery mistake, remember the following basic advice to help speed recovery. We’ll also look at some common remedies for embroidery mistakes you may encounter. ‘SLOW DOWN, GO FASTER’ Much like ﬁrst aid, keeping a cool head is paramount to recovery. It seems like screwups never happen under normal conditions. Rather, the embroidery machine only impressionsmag.com seems to malfunction 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 nature of the problem. However, rushing a repair only makes things worse. If you sew something incorrectly and hastily attempt to remove stitches, you are more likely to cut a hole in the fabric. A former employer once told me the key to avoiding more mistakes during embroidery repair is to “slow down and go faster.” He meant that if you remain calm and patient 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. KEEP OPTIONS OPEN The ﬁrst thing to do when discovering an embroidery mistake is to leave the garment in the hoop. This sounds simple enough, but the initial 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 reframe 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 realignment. If you do have to nudge the frame, it should be minor. At least you will have a frame of reference (no pun intended) for lining it up. June/July 2011 << Impressions 47 http://www.impressionsmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - June/July 2011

Impressions - June/July 2011
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
FYI
Product Gallery
Cool Kidswear
Cpsia: Three Years Later
Trend Update: Teen Apparel Decoration
Recession Survivors Reveal Strategies for Staying in Business
How to Win an Apparel-Decorating Award
Technique
Graphics & Design
Production
For Screen Printers Only
Online Directory
Pressing for Profit
Tech Tips
On Design
Business to Business
Classifieds
Ad Index

Impressions - June/July 2011