ImagesMagUK_February_2021

due to the long and unbound nature of the stitch – prone to unravelling when they do. The simple solution to this issue is to use a patterned stitch. Smaller stitches hug the surface of the garment more closely, and patterned stitches outside of a classic ‘down the middle split’ specifically look to offset penetration points, which makes them less likely to have several stitches snagged at once like their perfectly aligned satin- stitch cousins. For medium-sized lettering that you want to benefit from the overall shine of satin and won’t be used in the most hazardous environments, use a length-limit or auto-split satin stitch with a ‘padding’ or minimum stitch long enough to provide some sheen to the edge of the garment, but with stitches short enough to avoid snags. E mbroidery on workwear often has to deal with adverse conditions. Whether they are snagged on textured surfaces, hooked by branches or parts of machinery, exposed to the harsh climate outdoors, or simply subjected to intense laundering, workwear decorations are under regular assault. It would be easy, then, to run to print instead, but with the application of commonsense alterations to your digitising, the proper materials and process, and potentially with the application of multimedia decoration, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t create embroidered designs with the required level of durability. Filed under delicate The durability issues I’ve most frequently witnessed were caused in digitising. Although the material execution is important, poor choices made in the initial interpretation of the embroidery were often at fault when customers came to me complaining of unravelling stitches from a competitor. Chief among the complaints was the loss of large lettering on jacket-back designs. The problem is simple to understand and even simpler to remedy. With most applications, the stitch of choice for lettering, even up to a fairly stunning size, is satin stitch. ‘Keyboard’ lettering, whether built into digitising software or purchased, is most often digitised in segments made for satin stitching and defaults to its use. The problem is that satin stitches that cross wide strokes are incredibly long and lofty, creating loops that stand proud of the garment surface. These loops are easily snagged, begging to break, and – [Photo credit: David Sharp Ltd] KB TIPS & TECHNIQUES www.images-magazine.com 30 images FEBRUARY 2021 Embroidery that works Erich Campbell drills down into the skills you need to ensure that your workwear embroidery remains intact, no matter what conditions it faces in the workplace