Do you know what is the longest-running method of designing apparel? It’s none other than, Embroidery! Its beginning dates back to the iron age and still continues to take over the printing industry. Its methods surely have not changed from all those years but in these present times, it has grown bigger than it has been. But what exactly is embroidery?
Embroidery is one of the many methods used in decorating fabrics. It makes use of a needle and threads instead of printers and inks. As compared to printing methods, embroidery gives the garment more dimensions and allows the printed design or logo to stand out more. The embroidery thread is coated and the sheen from the thread is the one responsible for adding the 3D effect to your apparel.
Embroidery is generally used for work uniforms and in various promotional materials. This method of designing fabrics is recommended if the customer desires a more premium method of transferring designs to their product. Its end product generates an extremely durable and vibrant print that can survive any number of wash cycles.
Curious about how embroidery works? Take a look at its step-by-step process below:
Step 1: Visualize the placement of the design
Before you start the mass production of your embroidered design to fabrics, you must first ensure that the placement, size, and thread color of sections are correct. This can be checked by the use of a template that will be embroidered out on two layers of Cutaway stabilizer.
Step 2: Marking of placement in the embroidery
Traditionally, designs in embroidery are placed at the area where allegiance is pledged or in other words the area over a person’s heart. In this region, a horizontal line should be drawn at the center of the sleeve. From there, a vertical line will then be drawn where the shoulder seam meets the neckline. Now, the center point of these lines will now serve as the center of the design to be transferred.
One important thing to remember is that the fabric marker on the shirt must always be tested before use. If dark fabrics are going to be used in the process, white fabric markers should be selected. Straight pins may also be used as an alternative in marking lines.
Step 3: Choosing the right stabilizer
There is only one answer to the question, what is the best stabilizer in embroidery? And that is Cutaway. It is a permanent kind of embroidery stabilizer that stays in the garment after the process of embroidery is finished.
It is placed behind the knit fabric and becomes the foundation for the embroidery if ever the knit gets stretched. Without this, embroidery stitches break and lead to the design being distorted.
Step 4: Going for ballpoint or stretch needles
In embroidery, there are two types of needles that are often used. It can either be ballpoint or stretch needles. In choosing between the two, the fabric and method of transfer are taken into consideration. For ballpoint needles, it oozes through the weave in a careful manner rather than cutting the delicate weave. Stretch needles on the other hand are typically used on shirts that are heavily made with Lycra.
Step 5: Design placement
When it comes to centering the design to the fabric, the floating method is used instead of hooping a shirt over and over just to get it straight. This works by moving the needle to the center of the active embroidery design and having the embroidery machine show you the center of the design.
Afterward, the fabric is placed over the lightly 505 sprayed hoop that aligns the needle to the marked center point on the shirt.
Step 6: Removing the stabilizer
The last and final step in the process of embroidery is the removal of the stabilizer. Here, the cutaway stabilizer is trimmed to ¼” – ½” around the outside edge of the embroidery design. Remember that you should not cut between any sections or parts of the embroidery design.
As for water soluble stabilizers, mostly perforated after the embroidery process. It can simply be pulled away from the embroidery. If there are still small leftovers, a wet paper towel can be used along with the heat of a flat iron.
Planning to incorporate embroidery into your shirt or company’s promotional products? BagWear is here to help. Contact us and start your designing and shirt p
