Introduction
Embroidery is the art or craft of embellishing cloth or other materials with a needle, thread, or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequin. In its broadest meaning, an appliqué is a little adornment or item attached to another surface. In ceramics, for example, an appliqué is a separate piece of clay that is applied to the core work for decorative purposes. The term is derived from French and, in this sense, meaning “applied” or “thing that has been applied.” We will discuss more about the production process of embroidery and appliqué
Product Types
They have different types of embroidery product, such as….
- Embroidery with appliqué
- Knit embroidery
- Woven embroidery
- Denim embroidery
- Rubber Appliqué
- Woven appliqué
- Felt appliqué.
Production Process of Embroidery and Applique
Personalize embroidery with favorite fabrics, prints, and patterns through a process called “appliqué embroidery.” Click on the image to the right to watch a free video tutorial demonstrating this process. Or, look below for written instructions……
1. When you download an appliqué design, you’ll find two files: a dyeline (which begins with the letters DL) and the full embroidery file (which begins with the numbers 25).You’ll use the dyeline file to cut the appliqué fabric to the exact shape for the embroidery. You won’t sew the DL file on a garment – you’ll just use it to cut the fabric. Begin by opening the dyeline file in you embroidering software, and printing it.
2. If you don’t have embroidering software, or cannot print from it, then you can sew the dye line file to make a template.
3. Load the dyeline file into the embroidering machine and embroider that file. You can use an unthreaded needle, which will perforate the paper. The needle in the example on the left is threaded. A dye line is a basic running stitch outline, which takes only a moment or two to sew.
4. Once the dieline file has finished sewing, set the paper aside and prepare your appliqué fabric. You can use almost any fabric for appliqué. We’re using a lightweight cotton, so we’re backing it with a single piece of cutaway stabilizer. Spray the stabilizer lightly with adhesive
5. Smooth the appliqué fabric on top.
6. Spray some adhesive on the backside of the paper template and smooth it over the appliqué fabric and stabilizer.
7. Then, cut the shape from the fabric and stabilizer “sandwich.” Remove the paper template from the fabric and stabilizer (sandwich).
8. If you are planning on using the applique design again, you can store that paper template with the color change sheet for a future use.
9. Next, back the garment with stabilizer.
10. Hoop both fabric and stabilizer firmly.
11. Begin embroidering the design – the full embroidering file, the one that begins with the numbers “25.” For most appliqué designs, a dieline will stitch first. Some appliqué designs will stitch other detail first, then a dieline; refer to each design’s color change sheet to view the order.
12. Once the dieline has finished sewing, spray the backside of the fabric and stabilizer “sandwich” with adhesive.
13. Place the appliqué piece in the sewn dieline.
14. Continue embroidering the design. The next thing to sew is the take down stitch. This is a zig-zag stitch which binds the appliqué fabric to the garment.
15. You’ll also see a satin stitch border sew. This gives the appliquéd fabric a nice, smooth seal.
16. The applique design might have other elements that embroider, too. This bunny has ears, eyes, nose, and a tail. You’ll find the color change sheet useful when embroidering, as the fields are labeled with handy explanations.
17. Appliqué embroidery is a wonderful way to add your favourite fabrics and patterns to your embroidery. Let your imagination run wild!
Embroidery: A Dance of Needle and Thread
Embroidering is a process of sewing an ornamental designs on fabric by a needle or thread. It can be done by hand or machinery methods, and both of them have their benefits.
- Hand Embroidery: The human embroidering process is also called the hand method. An artist moves the needle and makes different types of stitches to make a single design. This method is perfect for high-detailed and custom art pieces produced in small series.
- Machine Embroidery: However, today’s embroidery specialists mostly use the machine method. Modern embroidering machine reads and sews digital files for perfect precision of complex designs in a fast process. It is perfect for large series of the same design artworks.
The Embroidery Production Workflow:
- Design Creation: Everything starts with the design. It can be drawn by hand, digitized to machine embroidery, or adopted from online libraries.
- Fabric Selection: Fabric selection: it is essential to choose proper fabric material. The most common ones are cotton, linen, and silk, and each of them has unique properties that affect the final look.
- Hooping: Hooping: a hoop is used to fix and stretch the fabric to prevent it from moving during embroidery.
- Stitching: In hand embroidery, the artist follows a design pattern, making different types of stitches to create textures and patterns. Machine embroidery uses a digital file, which the machine reads and stitches.
- Finishing Touches: When the embroidery is ready, the material is cut around the design, and, to stabilize it, some additional fabric is sewn accordingly and the edges are cut.
Applique: A Layered Look
Applique is the process of connecting pieces of fabric to a foundation fabric to create a design. The applique pieces can be finely cut or simple forms, providing a beautiful textural dimension..
What is Applique?
Applique is a decorative method for fabrics in which bits of cloth are layered and attached to a foundation fabric to form motifs or patterns. Imagine cutting out shapes from construction paper and pasting them to a background; appliqué utilizes fabric instead!
Key points about applique:
- Fabric Layers: The technique uses two or more fabrics. The pattern parts are formed by cutting individual pieces of fabric into precise shapes from a base fabric, which is usually a bigger piece.
- Attachment Methods: The applique pieces are then secured to the base fabric. This can be accomplished by sewing by hand or machine, utilizing heat-activated adhesives for a more seamless look, or even fusing with fusible web for increased rigidity.
- Design Versatility: Applique allows for a variety of designs. Based on the desired effect, simple geometric forms or complicated figures can be constructed.
- Textural Dimension: Because appliqué requires layering fabrics, it gives a lovely tactile texture to the finished work. This is extremely important for building a more visually appealing design..
The Applique Production Process:
- Design Creation: Similar to embroidery, the design is the first step.
- Fabric Selection: Fabrics for both the base and the applique pieces are chosen based on weight, color, and design compatibility.
- Pattern Creation: A template or pattern for the applique pieces is created to ensure accurate cutting.
- Cutting: The applique shapes are carefully cut from the chosen fabric.
- Attaching the Applique: The applique pieces are secured onto the base fabric using various methods like stitching, fusing with heat-activated adhesive, or even hand-sewing for a delicate touch.
- Embellishment (Optional): Embroidery stitches or other embellishments can be added to further enhance the design.
Conclusion
Applique can be used on its own or even combined with other techniques like embroidery for even more depth and detail. It’s a versatile and fun approach to adding embellishments to garments, quilts, bags, and other textile projects. Here we learn about The production process of embroidery and appliqué