Impressions - April 2017 - 34

Stock-DeSign ReSouRceS
Following are a sampling of stock-design websites. Some are major suppliers to the commercial market, while some specialize in gift designs and have become popular with crossover
embroiderers.
Editor's Note: A more comprehensive list can be found at impressionsmag.com. However, due to
the proliferation of stock-design websites, compiling a complete list can be difficult. Remember
to consult embroidery manufacturers, industry forums and your peers for suggestions of other
resources for such designs.
Amazing Designs

amazingdesigns.com/embroidery-designs

Ann The Gran

annthegran.com

Balboa Threadworks

balboathreadworks.com

Dakota Collectibles

dakotacollectibles.com

Designs by Sick

designsbysick.com

Embird Embroidery Dog Designs

embirddesigns.com

Embroidery Designs

embroiderydesigns.com

Embroidery Garden

embroiderygarden.com

Embroidery Library

emblibrary.com

Embroidery

embroidery.com

Great Notions

greatnotions.com

Hatched in Africa

hatchedinafrica.com

The Itch to Stitch

theitch2stitch.com

Jolson's Designs

jolsondesigns.com

Oklahoma Embroidery Supplies
and Design

embroideryonline.com

Secrets of Designs

secretsof.com

Starbird Stock Designs

starbirdstockdesigns.com

Urban Threads

urbanthreads.com

Zundt Design

zundtdesign.com

automotive, wildlife and sports, the formula
was so well-received that a new six-pack
was featured in an ad on the inside back
cover of an industry magazine for 15 years.
They added smaller, left-chest-sized designs,
selling packs of 30 for $150.
"The 30-packs went like a rocket ship,"
George Westphal says. "We were doing
$2,000 a week, then $4,000, then $20,000
a week and we were happy.Then, we did
$20,000 a day during that time."
The Steamroll Continues
Machines for home hobbyists hadn't yet hit
the market,so design themes were somewhat
different. During this period, commercial
embroiderers might buy a stock design of
a tree to make a logo for a landscaping or
towing company. In fact, at Weatherford,
Texas-based Data-Stitch Inc., a tow truck
was the No. 1 seller in the early years.
P.34

In the early 1990s, Gary Gardner,
founder of Dallas-based Great Notions,
employed about 20 digitizers who created
custom logos and designs.The prices for
custom work became more competitive,
causing him to seriously consider the stockdesign business.
"I could see the writing on the wall,"
Gardner says, "and it took me two-anda-half or three years to compile the first
5,000 designs."
He did this partly by digitizing, and partly
by acquiring designs from independent
design companies in the United States and
abroad. But they still had to be edited to
be friendly to a wide range of fabric types,
translated to various machine formats and
placed in a printed color catalog.
"The job of making the stock design
catalog was huge," Gardner recalls."In those
days, everything was laid out by hand and
it was done with new designs every year."

i m p r e s s i o n s m a g . c o m APRIL 2017

Dakota Collectibles also made a huge
catalog annually, with color images of each
design in the collection.
"At that time, there weren't the internet
stores that we have today," GeorgeWestphal
says."Everything was retail. Embroiderers
had the book and told their customers,'You
pick it and we can stitch it.'"
Individual design prices were $25-$100,
so purchasing an entire collection for as
much as $5,000 was practical. Many, if not
most, embroiderers who serviced the public
invested in large design collections with
as many as 20,000 designs, reducing the
cost per design from $25 to $0.25.These
collections were frequently rolled in with
financing a new machine.
While Great Notions and Dakota Collectibles were the most-visible companies
with the largest offerings, several other
companies existed in the market.Californiabased Balboa Threadworks, founded by
brother-and-sister team Lee and Keith
Caroselli, offered exclusive, artistic designs
based on unique techniques they developed.
Peaks,Then Valleys
In the mid- to late-1990s, computerized
embroidery was revolutionized by the
introduction of home hobbyist embroidery machines. Stock-design companies
broadened their offerings to include formats
and new design collections tailored to this
market.The earliest models read memory cards, but needed special software and
reader/writer boxes.
Eventually, the home models became
compatible with the 3.5-inch floppy disks
- just like the ones used in commercial
machines - but each brand required its
own proprietary format.Dakota Collectibles
and Great Notions were active in this new
market that was hungry for new themes,not
just the commercial mainstay automotive,
sports and mascot designs.
This was the golden age of stock designs. There was plenty of room for
well-known and creative independent
designers. One-person design companies,
such as San Antonio-based Deegee's Digi
Designs and Carol Bauer's Minnesota-based
DesignsSewFine.com, easily topped six
figures annually by creating smooth-running
designs that hit the mark with hobbyist
embroiderers.
Sales were so strong that design companies secured high-profile licenses with
properties such as Sesame Street, Precious
Moments, CherishedTeddies, Laura Burke
and more. Memory cards with 20-30


http://www.impressionsmag.com http://www.amazingdesigns.com/embroidery-designs http://www.annthegran.com http://www.balboathreadworks.com http://www.dakotacollectibles.com http://www.designsbysick.com http://www.embird.net http://www.embroiderydesigns.com http://www.embroiderygarden.com http://www.emblibrary.com http://www.embroidery.com http://www.greatnotions.com http://www.hatchedinafrica.com http://www.theitch2stitch.com http://www.jolsondesigns.com http://www.embroideryonline.com http://www.secretsof.com http://www.starbirdstockdesigns.com http://www.urbanthreads.com http://www.zundtdesign.com http://www.DesignsSewFine.com http://www.impressionsmag.com

Impressions - April 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - April 2017

Impressions - April 2017
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Scene at ISS
On Design
Team Threads
Perforate Athleticwear Properly
Shop Talk
Embroidery Technique
Embroidery Design & Digitizing
Screen Printing Graphics & Design
Sublimation
Direct-To-Garment
Heat Printing
Ad Index/Online Directory
Classifieds
Impressions - April 2017 - CT1
Impressions - April 2017 - CT2
Impressions - April 2017 - Impressions - April 2017
Impressions - April 2017 - Cover2
Impressions - April 2017 - 1
Impressions - April 2017 - Contents
Impressions - April 2017 - 3
Impressions - April 2017 - 4
Impressions - April 2017 - 5
Impressions - April 2017 - First Impressions
Impressions - April 2017 - 7
Impressions - April 2017 - From the Show Director
Impressions - April 2017 - 9
Impressions - April 2017 - Overheard
Impressions - April 2017 - 11
Impressions - April 2017 - 12
Impressions - April 2017 - 13
Impressions - April 2017 - First Look
Impressions - April 2017 - 15
Impressions - April 2017 - 15a
Impressions - April 2017 - 15b
Impressions - April 2017 - Scene at ISS
Impressions - April 2017 - 17
Impressions - April 2017 - 18
Impressions - April 2017 - On Design
Impressions - April 2017 - Team Threads
Impressions - April 2017 - 21
Impressions - April 2017 - 22
Impressions - April 2017 - 23
Impressions - April 2017 - Perforate Athleticwear Properly
Impressions - April 2017 - 25
Impressions - April 2017 - 26
Impressions - April 2017 - 27
Impressions - April 2017 - Shop Talk
Impressions - April 2017 - 29
Impressions - April 2017 - Embroidery Technique
Impressions - April 2017 - 31
Impressions - April 2017 - 32
Impressions - April 2017 - Embroidery Design & Digitizing
Impressions - April 2017 - 34
Impressions - April 2017 - 35
Impressions - April 2017 - 36
Impressions - April 2017 - 37
Impressions - April 2017 - Screen Printing Graphics & Design
Impressions - April 2017 - 39
Impressions - April 2017 - 40
Impressions - April 2017 - Sublimation
Impressions - April 2017 - 42
Impressions - April 2017 - 43
Impressions - April 2017 - Direct-To-Garment
Impressions - April 2017 - 45
Impressions - April 2017 - 46
Impressions - April 2017 - Heat Printing
Impressions - April 2017 - 48
Impressions - April 2017 - 49
Impressions - April 2017 - Ad Index/Online Directory
Impressions - April 2017 - Classifieds
Impressions - April 2017 - 52
Impressions - April 2017 - Cover3
Impressions - April 2017 - Cover4
Impressions - April 2017 - I1
Impressions - April 2017 - I2
Impressions - April 2017 - I3
Impressions - April 2017 - I4
Impressions - April 2017 - I5
Impressions - April 2017 - I6
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20231011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20221011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20210809
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com