Impressions - July/August 2010 - (Page 42)

EMBROIDERY >> HANDS ON Production Batts, EMBROIDERYBy Steven Writer Contributing HANDS ON ITAL DECORATING >> HANDS ON CREEN PRINTING >> HANDS ON Basic Embroidery Shop Essentials These ﬁve small tools can prove to be a big help on a daily basis. Most embroidery supply houses offer HANDS ON some sort of starter kit — a collection of supplies that supposedly includes everything you need to get started in embroidery. Most of them come with a variety of common colors of thread, bobbins, various types of backing, snips and more. While these kits are really helpful when you’re getting started, they don’t include some of the basic tools I use on an almost daily basis to help get my embroidery work done. Some are well-known among embroiderers, while some may be a little less than conventional. 1. (Lots of) Rulers — In embroidery, there are so many things to mark, measure and line up. I am constantly using a ruler of some sort and I like to have lots of them — of different varieties — in my shop. My favorite type of ruler is the little plastic one with inches on one edge and centimeters on the other. I prefer it for two reasons: It is perfect for measuring left-chest and cap logo placements and it helps me convert inches to centimeters or millimeters easily. I also have a tailor’s tape measure to help with longer measurements and oddshaped items. 2. Masking Tape — This sounds odd for embroidery, but it is incredibly useful. Many embroiderers use pins, chalk or other items for marking alignment. I prefer masking tape primarily because it comes off easier than a pin or chalk. Secondly, I can write on it — drawing a crosshair for better accuracy, if needed. Occasionally, customers want something embroidered on an item in an odd location. When this happens, I let them place tape where they want the embroidery to be done. I also use masking tape to tag items. When customers need different names embroidered on a cap or shirt, I simply write the name on masking tape and place it on the item. I prefer using regular beige masking tape because the blue tape doesn’t adhere well to garments. 3. Lighters — A cigarette lighter can be useful for a number of things, mainly cleaning up the look of your work. If you have embroidery that has a couple of loops in it — speciﬁcally with polyester thread — you can pass the lighter over it 42 Impressions >> July/August 2010 DIGITAL DECORATING HANDS ON SCREEN PRINTING HANDS ON TECH TIPS HANDS ON TECH TIPS >> Plastic squeeze clamps can be used to clip together parts of a garment so they don’t fall into the framed area while you are sewing. and the heat of the ﬂame will draw up the thread, making the loops disappear. When making patches, I appliqué them to a piece of tearaway backing to get the over-sewn edging. I then use the lighter to clean up the edges, melting away the “hairs” of backing that are left after the patches are torn out. The key to doing this successfully is to move the lighter quickly instead of letting it hover over a particular spot, which can cause the ﬂame to burn or singe the item. 4. Fray Check — There are many frayblocking solutions out there, but I use Fray Check, which is a clear liquid that dries quickly. It can be applied to the edge of cut fabric to keep it from fraying. For embroiderers, Fray Check also can keep stitches from unraveling. Occasionally, I will miss a tie-off in a design or snip something that shouldn’t have been snipped. When this happens, the thread can unravel with the slightest friction against the surface of the embroidery. By applying Fray Check, you are effectively gluing the stitches so they can’t unravel. 5. Clips, Clamps or Clothespins — Take your pick; I originally used clothes- pins, but have switched to using small plastic squeeze clamps, which can be found at any home-improvement store. These can be used to clip together parts of a garment so they don’t fall into the framed area while you are sewing. There is nothing more frustrating than having a garment sewn together because it fell over into the hoop while you are sewing. Clamps also can be used for other things — such as helping the hoop stay together on really thick items. This may not be a list of conventional items found in embroidery shops, but mine would not function nearly as well without them. Steven Batts, a consultant with 17 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. impressionsmag.com http://www.impressionsmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - July/August 2010

Impressions - July/August 2010
Contents
First Impressions
FYI
Product Gallery
SFX Solutions
SFX Decorating: A Hands-On Experience
Grown-Up Fashion Drives Kidswear and Teen Trends
Design & Digitizing
Production
Graphics and Design
For Screen Printers Only
Tech Tips
Adding Digital Garment Printing to Your Shop
Online Directory
On Design
Business to Business
Classifieds
Ad Index

Impressions - July/August 2010