Images Magazine Digital Edition February 2019

All images are courtesy of the author unless otherwise stated or drop density and make designs look handmade with thick, fuzzy, wool-blend threads. The wild stripes and speckles of variegated threads, the blend of ombrés, or the arresting brightness of neons can change the feeling of a design with colour alone, all while maintaining the set-up of standard 40wt threads. Anything from these wild colours to glow-in-the-dark filaments can create a new experience for your customers. Think of the contrasts you could create mixing and matching surface styles, special effects and colours in the same design. Do the detail Another way to leverage less-than- usual thread is to add fine detail through the use of thinner threads. Though you will generally find them only in conventional colours and fibres, 60wt threads give you 25% smaller text and details under favourable conditions, while those who aren’t afraid of a little needle flexion can even create insanely fine work with 75wt thread that stitches like hair. With planning and proper needle selection, 60wt can be used in most circumstances and, with the right garment, 75wt can create something truly tiny. Seek out speciality materials Add appliqué and anything from classic tackle twill to fully printed fabrics and heat transfer glitter becomes available, each deepening the draw your design exerts on the viewer by making your piece distinct from designs that employ thread alone. Have your digitiser prep for 3D foam – the drama and dimension can make even a plain text treatment literally and figuratively stand out. Create a standalone patch and stitch it to a cap for a retro-decoration feel. Additional materials and processes create a sense of complexity that’s sure to increase a customer’s assessment of the work and value you put into your embroidery. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT [Above, left] Even simple designs can benefit from dimensional touches created through varying stitch angles; elements of an animal‘s body can be separate objects, giving the piece more dimension [Above, right] Whether subtle or high contrast, the colour combinations in variegated threads can add interest to existing embroidery designs [Left] You can elevate basic appliqués by adding simple textural stitches over the expanse of an appliqué area. Standard polyester twill has a shine that works well with this kind of textural effect Polyester appliqué material can also be sublimated with custom prints to create an attention-grabbing addition to simple embroidery designs as seen in these custom plaid inserts Print designs can be combined with embroidery to create stunning multimedia looks. This piece is more complicated than most, consisting of a quilted, screen- printed base and 3D-embroidered appliqué elements, but a simple printed appliqué or direct print combined with embroidery can create a striking contrast in textures Combine appliqué for stitch savings and shine with a touch of conventional embroidery and object-based carving, and you get dimension, texture and a hint of shading without undue effort www.images-magazine.com FEBRUARY 2019 images 37

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