The Embroidery Column
In this month’s Embroidery Column, Jas Purba, managing director of ETC Supplies, takes a look at embroidery for the health and beauty sector. He offers some excellent advice for embroidering tabards and aprons, as well as those tricky soft polyester workwear fabrics.
Embroidery on tabards, aprons, and overalls T
abards, aprons, and overalls are normally manufactured from poly/ cotton fabric that tends to be strong and does not need a heavy embroidery backing for stitch retention.
But the problem with these types of garments is the industrial washing and drying they go through.
If you use a normal low weight soft backing the embroidery tends to stay wrinkled and sunken after washing. However, if you use something like our Strong & Stiff embroidery backing range, this will give you a nice crisp finish. The embroidery backings are available in 60g and 90g weights. Because they are made from polyester fibres, they tend to withstand industrial
You don’t need a heavy embriodery backing for stitch retention
washing better than viscose based backings. We know this works as many of the garment rental companies buy these products from us. Companies such as health and beauty, hairdressers, make up and food
related business may be washing these garments at home or in the business on a low temperature wash and dry. If that is the case then a soft heavy backing, such as the Ultra Soft 100g product would be better suited. This backing can come into contact with the skin without causing any irritation as it is extremely soft and is free of any chemicals. The other item to look at is your embroidery thread. Always use polyester embroidery thread as it withstands higher washing and drying temperatures. Polyester thread is also less prone to colour loss, due to the chemicals used in industrial washing. Finally for woven fabrics Schmetz recommend the use of DBxK5 SUK in size 75 ball point needles.
Embroidery on soft polyester workwear fabrics and those with a stretch in them
A
new generation of fabrics has now come on the markets. These are very
different to the poly/ cotton woven fabrics we are talking about in the above paragraphs.
These fabrics are lightweight and stretchy. They are used for the same types of business but are intended to be more modern and more comfortable to wear. These fabrics present a whole new range of challenges. As these tend to be micro knitted fabrics and often with a coating of some kind, such as anti-bacterial or water repellent, they are very difficult to embroider. These fabrics do not like being disturbed by needle penetration so they will pucker or hole during embroidery.
The best way to embroider these fabrics is to use a product like our Super Spun cut away backing. You only need to use
one piece of Super Spun backing as it is very strong and light weight. This backing is translucent so it does not show through the thin garment fabric. You can use a soft rayon embroidery thread on these fabrics. But if the garment is subjected to high temperature was or drying then use polyester embroidery thread. Some of these fabrics will require the use of a water soluble topping to stop the embroidery thread sinking into the fabric. We suggest the use of our Easy Sol water soluble film. Just simply frame up the topping with the garment. Be aware that embroidery thread tensions are set very high in the UK, so try and reduce your thread tensions to avoid puckering. The most suitable need for these fabrics is the Schmetz DBxK5 SES in size 65 or 70. This is a light ball point needle, and the eye is larger, actually the eye is equivalent to a needle two sizes larger.
These new stretchy fabrics present a whole new range of challenges
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
May 2023 | 83 |
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
