ImagesMagUK_September_2021

How to use water- soluble topping on towels With the design digitised for towelling with additional underlay and density, frame as usual, with water-soluble topping on top of the towel (we used Avalon 20mic from Madeira). This helps lift the embroidery from the towel, preventing it from sinking in and giving a cleaner finish. Water-soluble topping dissolves in cold water, and can be removed with a steamer or a damp sponge, or by simply splashing some water over it. We do not use the water-soluble topping with the knockdown stitch as it can be difficult to get the topping all out unless washed first. This logo wasn’t digitised for a towel, hence the unsatisfactory result [Inset] The same logo created using additional underlay, density and the knockdown effect TIPS & TECHNIQUES www.images-magazine.com 72 images SEPTEMBER 2021 The 'knockdown' effect W hen working with towelling fabric, it is important to let your digitiser know that your design is intended for embroidery use on towels, as a design digitised for general garments will often not be suitable for this type of job. That's because the design does not have enough underlay or density to allow for the pile of the towel. While additional underlay and density are easy to achieve, using either the ‘knockdown’ effect or a water-soluble topping as well will further improve your final finish. The knockdown effect is where a mesh background is added to the design to ‘knock down’ the pile of the towel. This simple technique, as shown in the following step-by-step, adds a great deal of support to the design and when stitched in the same colour as the material is hardly noticeable. This is great not just for towels, but works on beanies and fleece too. www.davidsharp.co.uk Working with towelling can be a little trying, says Dominic Bunce of embroidery digitiser David Sharp, but with some simple steps, you can achieve uplifting results