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Embroidery anyone??
Can`t sleep, so I just thought I`d elaberate on a previous thread, regarding embroidery. What you need/require etc. I`m not the worlds expert, but know a bit more than some..
Machines.
They come in various formats. Single heads(embroiders 1 garment) twin, three, four,six,eight, etc.
Loads of differant makes, SWF(mine) Tajima,Happy, Toyota, Melco,and a few more. Tajima has perhaps the best reputation.One of the latest is the new Amaya. A modular system, which allows you to use all heads on the same design, or split your heads up to sew differant designs. You can add heads at a later time, should the need allow. This machine is quite new, perhaps yet to be tested to the full.
New machines are whisper quite, very useful if used in a closed/small area. This is something I wish we had.
Up to yet, not had any trouble with ours, apart the regular service. Had it now for 4 years. Bought new from Your embroidery services, in notts.
One of the reasons I bought new, was 2nd user units could have been used 24hrs a day, only 3 months warrentee is given. I wasn`t prepared to take the chance. Got 2 years parts and labour with ours.So you`ve sorted out your machine, you now have a couple of choices. Take orders for designs, create/digitise them yourself or farm the digitising out.
Basic programs, will allow you to type in text, using only a few selected fonts. It might allow you to inport designs already digitised so you can drop text above or below.
You can buy ready digitised designs. We have the Great Notions version, 14,000 already digitised designs. Cost £1000. Quite useful sometimes, but the down side is very Americanised. Quite a few diferant companies offer these catalogues.Top of the range programs do it all, but cost the earth. Take care when buying such programs, loads of differant levels. You need one that can use true type fonts. Sound like a basic bit of kit, but some don`t include it till you get higher up the levels. Newer programs are using vector based converters. From what I`ve heard, still in the develope stage.
Experiance is needed when digitising, knowing how the material will re-act when sewed. No program can predict this 100%. But who knows what will happen in time!!Program manufacturers. Pulse, Tajima, Wings, Wilcom, to name but a few. Best and most expensive I would say is wilcom.
Buying the program, is off set buy charging the customer for the digitising. Anything from £10 to £200+. Price goes on, how many 1000`s stiches are in the design. Cost of per 1000, depends up on you. We decided to buy a digitising program, to give us the freadom, we didn`t want to rely on others all the time.
If you farm out your digitising, expect to pay anywhere bewteen £4-£8 a 1000. Most breast size logos will have minimum of 8000 stiches in it. A logo with 8000 stiches, will take approx 10-15 minutes to stich out.
So you`ve got your machine and software. What else?
Backing! This is a stiff type of material, that you trap between your hoop and your garment. It is used to stablise the movement of the grament. Most embroiders use either 2 or 3 pieces. Backing comes in cutaway or tear versions. While the machine is stiching out the design, the worker would be hooping up the next batch.Thread. Just like vinyl, theres loads of diferant makes. We use a polyester brand as it is slightly stronger that cotton treads. Less tread breaks.
So there you are, beckys quick guide to embroidery.
The biggest hurdle for embroidery is the software, not only mastering it, but using your experiance, on how you last design stiched out, and applying what you learnt in your new design.
ps. I don`t do the embroidery, I leave it to my partner. Give me a tub of ink or a squeegee anytime….
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4 Replies
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Thanks for a very informative piece on embroidery. I have always been interested in this form of ‘marketing’. Who would be the main suppliers in the UK of embroidery equipment and materials? Have a good day. Hope you are not too tired (!)
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there are loads of suppliers. best bet is to get a copy of printwear & promotion. All suppliers are listed in there.
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Hi,
You don’t have to spend a fortune on embroidery software, I bought a package from the US via the internet for well under a grand especially now the pound is $1.71. Not the nicest interface or easiest software I have used but it will do everything including auto digitising that packages costing over £6000 can do. Also when he ships he will put the value of the shipment for the cd and dongle at $100 so you get a good saving there.
I have been using it for over a year and I am reasonably competent with it now. I use it to run a Happy 9 needle four head machine.
I will say something though especially with a multi-head machine, embroidery is hard work no two ways about it. It requires physical hands on not like doing a large format print or cutting and weeding a bit of vinyl, making a few mugs or whatever. It is more difficult than you think with the hooping of the garments, thread breaks then cleaning up and packing the garments. To be honest I wish I had not bothered but with a big investmet in kit I have to stick with it. So if you are going into it make sure you will have the time or staff (not like me!)
Regards, Allan
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So what software are you using then?
I nearly bought a happy machine, nice and compact design, just a little too much money for me at the time.
Must say I prefer signage/graphics, more profit for less material. Make a spelling mistake on a sign and it easy to change. Make a mistake on a garment and its a complete right off.
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