Embroidery Business Tip: Make Stock Designs Your Own!

Is your embroidery business looking for immediate results that customers will love?

A shop that offers stunning designs and excellent customer service will have clients doing business with you repeatedly.

There will be times when a customer will come to your embroidery business with only a concept and no artwork to show what they genuinely want. Starting with a stock design list will start a project with both of you on the same page. There is nothing like an actual model to know exactly what is on their minds.

Since you cannot be sure of the artistic ability of your clients, a rough sketch can be confusing.

Besides, isn’t that why they come to you?

Often, good ideas get mixed up in translation. You and your client can end up with two wildly different versions of a design. With a stock design inventory, you will have a common starting point to change, modify and otherwise tweak the design until it is perfect.

To make your embroidery business great, use stock designs and make them your own!

To modify a stock design for your embroidery business customer successfully, you need to know your software. The Sierra Stitch Era Liberty program will resize stitch files such as .dst, .exp, and more without distorting the how the design sews. No longer is your embroidery business limited to only 10 percent resizing of stitch files.

In the past, resizing stitch files, either up or down, was limited only about 10 percent without distortion. Nowadays, with advanced software like Stitch Era, an embroidery business can resize stitch files considerably better, as long as you create within digitizing guidelines.

When resizing a design, check elements like satin stitches to make sure they remain correct for the design.  After checking the stitches, make a sewout to make sure there is good coverage.

Test stitching is always a good idea, for the best results for your customer and embroidery business.

Once customers accept the sewout and before the final stitching, check the material of the garment. Make sure you are using the right stabilizer and stitch rules for that particular substrate. For example, when working knits or stretch fabric, such a fleece hoodie make sure you use CutAway backing. Use TearAway backing for cottons and solid fabrics, but for knits, stick to CutAway backing.

If you have had problems in the past with embroidering on knits, try fusible CutAway backing. You can use nylon mesh medium-weight backing. In addition to fusible is a peel-and-stick backing, both are ideal for demanding, dry-wicking fabrics, as well as substrates that will move or shift during sewing.

The hoop: an extra “pair” of hands in the embroidery business

Hooping is just as important as the backing. One convenient hooping hint: a too-tight Durkee hoop will cause marks, from friction between the inner and outer hoop. This friction dries out the fibers, which will require a little moisture to go back to normal. A short spray of a sizing starch will work to moisturize fabric and remove hoop marks.

After choosing the right stabilizer, attach it using your heat press and use the Nomex Heating Pad. It helps the stabilizer to press on the inside of the hoop only. If any backing presses outside the hoop, it will be difficult to cut away.

Determine if a topping is required for this design. If it a smooth surface, no topping is necessary, and the fabric is now ready to stitch.

Finishing the project: time to sweat the small stuff

When completing the stitching, check for loose threads or lint. Remove it from the embroidery region by clipping loose threads. Lint will appear on the embroidered area, especially with a dark garment. To take care of lint, take a bit of clear tape and wrap it (adhesive part out) around your fingers. This makes an easy to use lint brush. Gently lift lint or loose threads from the garment, check for hoop marks, neatly fold the finished piece and put it in a clear plastic bag.

A good presentation demonstrates how much you value your embroidery business customer.  The right custom project will show how good your embroidery business truly is; there is nothing like a good word of mouth to promote your shop.

For more information on how to grow your embroidery business, visit www. ColDesi.com or call 877-793-3278 today!

Do you have your own tips for taking stock designs and making them your own?  Let us know in the comments below!