| If you're embarking on a mission to have a batch of | | | | up until the end as different layers of colour and thread |
| clothing (perhaps a sports kit or a work uniform) | | | | need to be sewn at different times. Each different |
| embroidered then it's more than likely you'll want to | | | | colour and shape comes together at the end. |
| know what the process involves. With today's | | | | The only interruption in the process comes when the |
| technology you would think that it's all done digitally by | | | | colour of threads or the strength of needles need to |
| computers, but that's not entirely the case. | | | | be changed by a human, rather than by the machine |
| To have an image embroidered onto clothing it must | | | | itself. As a result, customers usually have to wait |
| first be digitized. What this means is that the image | | | | between one and two days for their designs to be |
| must be scanned on to a computer using CAD | | | | sewn on from when their image reached the |
| (Computer Aided Design) or CAM (Computer Aided | | | | embroidery company's manufacturer. Each design only |
| Manufacture) technology and then put into a format | | | | needs to be digitised once because it gets stored on |
| that the computer can read. Because different image | | | | the memories of both the sewing machine and the |
| have different numbers of pixels and different sizes, | | | | computer, making multiple copies of one design very |
| sometimes when they are digitized the image | | | | easy to process. As a result, the time taken to |
| becomes 'skewed' and doesn't come out looking the | | | | embroider the same image on a whole boxful of |
| same as it did in the original picture. As a result a | | | | garments is considerably less than it is for even just |
| human is needed to look over each image and ensure | | | | half a box of different designs. |
| that it looks the same as the original, before it is | | | | Whether it's embroidery done on just one garment or |
| embroidered on to the fabric for the customer. If this | | | | on 1000 this article has outlined the method and |
| isn't done then hundreds of designs could be sewn | | | | techniques used to get the job done. Embroidery has |
| onto fabric looking terrible and in some cases | | | | not always been carried out using computer |
| unrecognisable, not only meaning that the customers | | | | technology and indeed not always with electronic |
| don't get their products but also that thread and | | | | sewing machines, but since the days in which these |
| employee time are wasted. | | | | methods started to be used the industry has simply |
| So, once an image has been checked by a human to | | | | been growing and growing. Whether it's embroidery |
| see if it has been digitized correctly it can be sent to | | | | done on just one garment or on 1000 this article has |
| the sewing machine for embroidering. If it has come | | | | outlined the method and techniques used to get the |
| out skewed then the person will have to manually | | | | job done. Embroidery has not always been carried out |
| adjust the image so that it looks the same as the one | | | | using computer technology and indeed not always with |
| sent by the customer. The sewing machine reads the | | | | electronic sewing machines, but since the days in |
| pattern which the computer has worked out for the | | | | which these methods started to be used the industry |
| image. When it's being embroidered sometimes the | | | | has simply been growing and growing. |
| image doesn't look anything like the finished one right | | | | |