ImagesMagUK_Digital-Edition_January2018

STEP-BY-STEP: EMBROIDERING ON TEDDIES 5 Once you have finished the embroidery, tear off the Solvy stabiliser; use a damp cloth to dissolve any pieces that remain. Finally, place the stuffing back into the bear. Brandable toys can be personalised with messages or names, birth dates and weights etc, providing a unique gift and adding value to a treasured product. 6 TIPS & TECHNIQUES www.images-magazine.com 104 images JANUARY 2018 GS UK breaks down embroidering a plush toy into six easy-to-follow steps Bear necessities P lush toys that are made for personalisation are perfect for numerous markets and occasions, including the upcoming Valentine’s Day rush. Brands such as Cubbies and Mumbles (see page 69 for Mumbles’ new 2018 styles) supply teddies and other toys, all of which are relatively straightforward to decorate with the right tools and knowledge. Here, Caroline Jones, GS UK’s technical consultant, shows how easy it is to embroider a Cubbies Lime Cubbieford Bear using Fast Frames and Filmoplast. www.gs-ukdirect.com The Fast Frame Set contains seven different sized and shaped embroidery hoops for items that are hard to fit into a frame because of their shape or thickness. Here, a 127mm x 102mm hoop is used for a design that measures 70mm x 70mm. 1 2 3 4 A piece of Filmoplast, (self-adhesive, non-woven backing), is cut so it overlaps the edges of the Fast Frame by approximately 10mm. Peel away the backing paper to reveal the sticky surface; place the film on a work surface sticky side up. Put the frame on the sticky film and fold the edges over to secure it. Attach the arm bracket to the embroidery machine. Remove the bear’s stuffing, slide the area to be embroidered on to the sticky Filmoplast surface and lightly press to adhere it. Place a piece of Solvy Water Soluble Stabilizer over the top of the area to be embroidered. This can be held in place until the sewing starts, or secured with small clips on the edge of the frame. Solvy Stabilizer can enhance the definition and detail of an embroidery on problematic fabrics such as those with a deep pile where highly detailed embroideries would sink into the material. It dissolves when it comes into contact with water or steam. Begin embroidering. Caroline recommends Sulky 40 Rayon thread, which is certified to Oeko-Tex Standard 100: “It is a high quality industrial embroidery thread renowned for its lustre and shine, and available in over 350 colours.”