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Get Great Results with Raw-Edge or Reverse Appliqué
The word “appliqué” is derived from the French term for “applied.” As a decorating technique, appliqué has been popular for centuries — and was particularly useful for mending clothes and presenting a bold image, such as those on flags or banners. Recently, it has enjoyed a long run of popularity, particularly in reverse and distressed treatments on ready-to-wear clothing.
January 02, 2012

Add Appeal to Embroidery with Specialty Threads
Today, high-quality thread is available in both rayon and polyester fiber types, and both are popular among computerized embroiderers. In addition to these basic thread varieties, manufacturers have developed other specialty threads that create special embroidery effects.
October 10, 2011

How to Keep Embroidery Costs Lean While Maintaining Quality
Keeping processes streamlined can go a long way toward reducing expenses, while allowing decorated apparel businesses to maintain exceptional quality for their customers. Quality work will keep customers coming back, but developing time-saving processes will help your embroidery shop keep an increased profit margin. Consider using these simple steps to save your business time and you'll feel like you actually have more hours in the day.
October 04, 2011

Basics for Training Embroidery Operators: Part 2 of 2
Since we identified the groundwork that needs to be laid in Part 1 of this two-part series, now let’s identify some ways in which you should get started with implementing your training regimen for embroidery operators. You’ll also find a list of training curriculum for your embroidery operator — and supervisor — trainees to ensure they thoroughly understand the core concepts of their disciplines and responsibilities.
September 02, 2011

Making It Your Own
Do you want quick results that produce accolades from your customers? If your embroidery shop offers eye-catching designs and prompt service, clients will continue doing business with you for years to come.
August 30, 2011

Streamlining Your Embroidery Order and Production Process
Creating a streamlined process to help keep your embroidery orders and production process straight can do wonders for your shop. Instead of paying extra to fix mistakes, losing money and potentially clients, learn how to streamline your production process to help you land large orders and accounts.
August 01, 2011

Basics for Training Embroidery Operators: Part 1 of 2
Does your shop have a training program? Even if you are a one-person shop, there will likely come a day when you will need to train a helper, salesperson or machine operator. Start keeping notes now about what your employees need to know and how you want to teach them.
July 05, 2011

First Aid for Embroidery Mistakes
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.
June 08, 2011

How to Fix Embroidery Realignment Problems
The need for embroidery realignment usually arises for one of three reasons: the machine moves off pattern, a repair was recently made or the item was removed from the hoop. Let’s look at each of these issues in detail and how they can be overcome.
June 08, 2011

How to Win an Apparel-Decorating Award
Many successful shop owners start in this industry with literally no information on how to screen print. Because this apparel-decorating technique has so many variables, it takes a certain level of commitment, trial and error, as well as patience to produce high-quality prints. Some screen printers are satisfied with good-enough designs, while others strive every day to improve and fine tune, all in the constant search to create the ultimate print.
June 07, 2011

Trend Update: Teen Apparel Decoration
In no other demographic is trying to follow what’s hot a faster-moving target than with teens. Heavily influenced by popular culture such as TV, movies, music, social networks and their peers, fads for this demographic may not even last a season. As young people make their journey from children to adults, they actively are seeking to establish who they are, which usually is expressed in how they look. Unfortunately, they change their minds a lot.
June 07, 2011

First Aid for Embroidery Mistakes, Part 2 of 2: From Stitch Removal to Hole Repair
Many garment decorators make their fair share of mistakes when doing embroidery. However, if you learn from these mistakes you can become quite adept at repairing garments, which can help save a lot of money. It also can save you time by not having to look for or wait on a replacement item.
May 02, 2011

Simple Solutions for Novice Digitizers
While embroidery digitizing may be technical in its execution, the theory behind it is rather simple: It involves working with a series of individual shapes that comprise a complete design. Novice digitizers often will become overwhelmed when looking at an upcoming digitizing job because the natural instinct is to look at the design as a whole. Instead, they should break the design into a series of individual sections, then break those sections into individual shapes, which often serves as the collective basis for even the most complex designs.
May 02, 2011

First Aid for Embroidery Mistakes, Part 1 of 2: The Basics
Mistakes happen to the best of us — some of us more than others — but if you follow basic procedures upon the problem's discovery, the likelihood for a full recovery is increased. When you notice a mistake in embroidery, utilize these helpful tips to help speed recovery.
April 04, 2011

Needle Knowledge Enables Easier Embroidery
In addition to a variety of needle manufacturers, there are many needle systems, sizes and points that will fit our embroidery machines. These properties are designed not only to fit the current class of machines, but also to address various thread sizes and sewing applications. However, all embroiderers must know these properties, as well as how to choose the right needle for a particular application.
February 28, 2011

Tips for Easy Embroidery on Thick Items
Some garments, such as down and bomber jackets, as well as quilted pieces, can be next to impossible to embroider because of the filler between the layers of material that cause them to be puffed up. Here are a few tips for easy embroidery on thick items.
February 04, 2011

Winning Decorators Focus on Intricate Details
This year’s Impressions Awards winners all share two common traits that are necessary for not only creating dynamic and innovative apparel designs, but also for ensuring that your customer base remains invigorated and excited about what you can offer as a decorator: attention to detail and envelope-pushing techniques.
January 25, 2011

How to Determine a True Thread Break
By its nature — and the complexity of the process — thread inevitably will break on occasion. Learn how to minimize embroidery production interruptions by knowing the difference between thread breaks, thread pull-outs and false thread breaks.
January 25, 2011

How to Calculate the Real Cost of Embroidery Supplies
When I talk with people about the cost of doing embroidery, supply costs are always part of the discussion. And while they should be, I’ve noticed that people tend to overestimate how much these costs factor into the overall picture. Let’s explore the numbers of a few of the most basic embroidery supplies and examine the real cost of doing embroidery.
December 20, 2010

How to Add Special Effects with Tasseling
If you want to look for a way to spice up ordinary designs or create a new look for something without investing a lot of time, you might consider using the process known as tasseling. Also called fringe embroidery, tasseling is a little-known technique that is easy to do and can make for some really neat effects.
December 03, 2010

Using Multiple Framing to Embroider Oversized Items
You don’t need a mammoth sewing field to embroider large pieces. When dealing with a project that is larger than your sewing area, you have to split the design into sections and use multiple framings. Read on to learn more about how to use multiple framing to embroider oversized items.
November 08, 2010

Thought Leaders: Views on a New Decade
Decorated apparel is an entirely different animal today than a decade ago for a variety of reasons. In addition to fashion and function, numerous factors have enhanced — and changed — the way the industry operates.
November 05, 2010

How to Balance Embroidery Quality and Production
As embroiderers, we always are faced with how to balance the quality of our work with the time it takes to do that work. If more time is spent on the quality, then productivity suffers. However, if there is too much focus on simply getting items sewn and out the door, then the quality of the product can take a hit.
October 25, 2010

A Look at Specialty Stabilizers
In the last issue, we looked at the basics of stabilizers, primarily exploring the tearaway and cutaway varieties. For many years, those were the only kinds that were available to most embroiderers. Today, however, there are many choices that allow embroiderers to do many different things.
October 11, 2010

Tips for Picking the Right Stabilizer
Stabilizers can be broken down into two major categories: cutaways and tearaways. The differences in these are obvious; cutaways have to be cut away with scissors, while tearaways can simply be torn off. Of course the difference between these two goes beyond how you remove them.
September 27, 2010

What is Embroidery? Learn from Impressions. For the latest trends and techniques in embroidery, appliqué, digitizing, embroidery thread, embroidery machines and embroidery designs, visit us at Impressions magazine. Impressions is a valued resource for those in the embroidered apparel business.