ImagesMagUK-Sep18

Waterproof workarounds TIPS & TECHNIQUES www.images-magazine.com 36 images SEPTEMBER 2018 a thermal adhesive sealing film to the back of the embroidery. Start by cutting a patch of the film that is larger than the embroidery by at least ½ inch. For thin garments, round any corners on the film to reduce visible outlines once you’ve applied the film. Then remove any protective covering, exposing the shiny, adhesive side of the film and placing it against the back of the embroidery from which you’ve removed excess stabiliser. Cover the film with a protective sheet and press, using the temperature and pressure settings specified by your film’s manufacturer. Once applied, this film will be bonded to the garment permanently, but you should allow the film up to 48 hours to set before washing. Note that not all films adhere to all material types; test on your specific garment type before offering to clients. A s the weather turns wetter and colder, branded apparel buyers turn their attention to water-resistant garments that offer effective insulation. Unfortunately, embroidery is the enemy of water resistance, for obvious reasons: punching thousands of tiny holes through a fabric and populating them with threads that act like a wick, drawing water through the design, can compromise even the most advanced fabric waterproofing and insulation technology. Fortunately, however, there are ways to stitch waterproof outerwear and still keep your customers warm and dry… Sealing film As explained, if you repeatedly penetrate a fabric with needles you create holes, so to maintain a fabric’s waterproof properties you need to then seal those holes. The simplest sealing method is to apply Erich Campbell reveals his top tips for decorating waterproof outerwear [Above] On a water-resistant softshell, using a sealing filmmay be difficult. Some materials with bonded fleece or other textured inner surfaces may not have great adhesion with the film. Always test before offering this option to a client [Below] For this job, the water-resistant and insulated jackets were manufactured specifically for use with patches. They each had a patch of loop fastener material stitched in the left-chest area before being made up and lined; this allowed for the creation of custom patches backedwith hook material which allowed for the use of interchangeable logos that didn’t compromise the protective properties of the jacket. This particular patchwas sublimated, but it could have easily been replacedwith a fully embroidered version Magnetic hoops Quilted, ‘puffy’ waistcoats and jackets can be difficult to embroider due to the thickness of the garment causing stitch quality concerns and difficulty in hooping, particularly with slippery shell This classic, thin, rain- and wind-resistant jacket is a prime candidate for sealing film provided you keep a careful watch on time and temperature when pressing. Follow your film’s directions and always test a garment before pressing on a decorated piece