Embroidery: What Is It?

By:
T-shirt Timmy
September 15, 2018
Embroidery in depth

Here at AMPRO, we offer an array of embroidery services allowing you to add eye-catching, sophisticated, and durable crests, logos, or unique designs to your accessories and clothing.  Embroidery offers you the chance to create truly elegant designs for your clothing and accessories.  Names or initials are frequent applications; however, embroidery is capable of much more!  The designs possible today are limited only by your imagination.  These services are perfect if you are looking to create professional work uniforms for staff members or high-quality and personalized uniforms and equipment for your sports team. We perform all this using machine embroidery.  So what is machine embroidery: how exactly does it work: what are the benefits of choosing machine embroidery over other methods; and what makes an excellent embroidery design? In this piece, we will answer all questions you might have regarding the embroidery process. Let’s get started.  

Embroidery What Does It Mean?

If a piece of clothing or accessory is embroidered, it simply means that a specific pattern has been sewn into the fabric with thread. This could be done for decorative or practical purposes: for instance, a business owner would want to have their firm’s logo embroidered on his employee’s polo shirts while a pop star might want to market sweatshirts with the logo for an upcoming tour to adoring fans. There are different types of embroidery, but in this piece, we will focus our attention on the kind of embroidery that is done using a machine.  

What is Machine Embroidery?

As you might suspect, machine embroidery uses a computerized embroidery machine or special sewing machine to create a pattern on the textile pieces of your choice. It is often used for commercial purposes since it serves as an excellent branding tool for uniforms or other products.  Machine embroidery could also be used in the creation of patterns meant for purely decorative purposes. Machine embroidery is usually classified into two main groups: computerized and free-motion embroidery. When it comes to free-motion machine embroidery, the designs are usually created using the simple zigzag sewing machine, but this could be quite limiting. This production technique requires a skilled technician and a deft
hand.   The work of a skilled technician can often rival the precision of the digitized machine.  And while there are applications well suited to this method of embroidery, this type of machine embroidery is very time-consuming and labor-intensive since the embroiderer must often follow designs drawn directly onto the garment using the different settings of the
sewing machine.  

However, most embroidery today is produced with precision and speed of the digital age.  Ampro’s state-of-the-art computer-controlled embroidery machines can help you realize your most ambitious designs.  These commercial and industrial embroidery machines, like the ones we use at AMPRO, have a framing or hooping system that holds the fabric to be embroidered tight under the sewing needles. This area is then moved automatically by this computerized machine to create a design from your pre-programmed digital embroidery pattern.

Embroidery machines usually have different capabilities, and they will often need varying degrees of the user’s input. Some machines will need you to change the thread color during the embroidery process while others will trim threads and change colors automatically.  Multi-needle embroidery machines have many sewing heads, and this implies that such a machine is capable of embroidering multiple garments at a go.

 

At AMPRO, we are equipped with the most recent technology our customers the highest quality products at affordable prices and remarkable turnaround times from order placement to delivery. We load up our machines with your designs and watch it appear almost magically. 

What Makes a Good Embroidery Design?

There is more that goes into a good design than just visual aesthetics and subject matter. A well-digitized embroidery design is composed of a robust framework of stitches that form its outer edge, satin and fill stitches, and underlay stitches where necessary. The model also needs to have a well-planned sewing sequence, with very few jump stitches from one section to the other, so that you will do very little of thread trimming. Additionally, it must be paired with an ideal fabric which displays it to its best.

 

If you digitize your designs or choose to have them custom-digitized, you could take into account the features of the fabric onto which the design shall be sewn on. However, when you are handling stock designs from an independent design company, from the web, or a design that comes with the embroidery machine, you want to ensure that the design complements the fabric. This is no easy task, but when done correctly, it could result in masterpieces.

 

1.     Consider the Fabric’s Weave and Weight

 It is essential to understand that not all designs can be used on every type of fabric, not even with the right stabilizer. A densely stitched design, for instance, is unsuitable for some fabrics: lightweight fabrics, some knits, or loosely woven fabrics cannot support dense embroidery; it can become too heavy for the garment resulting damage to foundational garment or a misplacement of the design.   Densely embroidery would be too stiff for fluid fabrics but would be ideal on medium to heavy weight with tighter weaves.

 

Small and less densely stitched designs are not ideal for a thick pile fabric, like terry cloth or fleece, since the coverage could be inadequate, resulting in loss of the design. This kind of design often works well on plain-weave, smooth-surface fabric. A design with sufficient underlay stitches could be a considerable advantage in the case of deep pile fabric because it prevents the pile from poking through the stitches.

 

Your color palate is obviously critical to your design.  Bold patterns or colors will obscure pastel embroidery, and a compact floral design embroidered on silk velvet, for
example, could be an excellent choice for a pillow cover but be awkward for a fluid skirt.

 

2.    Compatibility of the Fabric and Design

For the successful marriage of design and fabric, it is crucial that you consider carefully the characteristics of the fabric, the intended use, as well as the details of the design. Ask yourself these questions and make the necessary test samples:

•             How will the fabric’s texture, weight, and color influence the design?

 •             Could you achieve better results by using a topping or backing? 

•             Is there sufficient color contrast between the item to be embroider and your design?  

•             Ampro’s artists and staff can offer you terrific advice to help you create exactly the look and feel you desire.  Use our expertise to help you create whatever
your imagination can conceive.

What is Embroidery Digitization?

The term “embroidery digitization” refers to the process that converts an existing piece of artwork, like a company logo, into a stitch file that an embroidery machine can read and replicate a design on a garment. At AMPRO, we are able to digitize your design, emblem, or logo as part of embroidering your accessories or clothing.  

What is the Best Thread for Machine Embroidery?

You could use multiple types of threads when doing machine embroidery. The Rayon thread is the most common thread since it is widely available and usually has an attractive sheen. It also comes in an array of colors withstands high-speed stitching without fraying or breaking.

The polyester threat is also an excellent and popular choice since it offers the same effect as rayon and comes in an array of colors. This thread is usually resistant to bleeding, fading, and shrinking, which implies that it is excellent for sports kits and kids’ clothes. The only significant difference between rayon and polyester is generally the sheen; polyester is
typically less shiny.

While the cotton threads are not widely used for machine embroidery. . Fine cotton threads are generally weaker and more prone to snapping, so heavier rayon and polyester threads work best when you are working with a machine. They are generally stronger and offer more coverage.


The Benefits of Machine Embroidery

When you want to have your accessories and clothing decorated or branded with a design of your liking, there are other techniques, like hand embroidery and printing you could consider. All the same, there are an array of advantages that usually come with machine embroidery that make it an excellent choice for specific projects, and we shall look at some of those benefits here.

 

1.    It is Reliable 

At Ampro, we can produce a single and uniquely embroidered item, if that is your desire, but more typically, orders are for a number of pieces.  Variation in a multi-piece order is not usually desirable.  Normally, your design is copied onto your fabric producing identical images every time. This implies that if you will be embroidering several accessories or pieces of
clothing, they will all be decorated or branded in the exact manner.  Our digital embroidery machines ensure that all your work will be produced to the highest standards, so you are guaranteed excellent results each time

 

2.    Fast and Efficient 

Besides being reliable, machine embroidery is also quick, so that huge jobs can be completed in a small span of time. In fact, choosing your products and design may take more time than our process.  Ampro has the skills and the means to realize your order with the precision of computers at prices that reflect modern speed and efficiency.

 

3. Little Manual Labor is Required 

Compared to other forms of embroidery, machine embroidery usually needs little manual labor, and this often implies that it is an affordable option for your branding or decoration needs. Other methods, like hand embroidery, typically need a great deal of workforce and time, and you would obviously have to find and pay someone with those very specific skills.  They are not quite as rare as unicorns, but it’s close!  So unless you are creating haute couture, having your accessories or garments machine embroidered is your
very best option.

 

4.  Durability 

Another advantage of using machine embroidery is that you will enjoy the benefit of durable final pieces, whether they are branded accessories or decorated garments. The quality of a machine embroidered design stands up beautifully with frequent wearing and is usually designed to withstand heavy laundering at relatively high temperatures with colors that will not fade. The design will not be ruined by the ordinary wear and tear –in fact, the decorated garment will show wear long before the embroidery will!

 

Whether you are looking to prepare hundreds of polo shirts to identify and sharpen the professional appearance of your employees or personalize and brand uniforms and equipment for your sports team, consider machine embroidery. With machine embroidery, you will not only get a professional finish, but also the job will be completed promptly. We are here to help you with every phase of your order, and together we can produce exactly what you need and want.