Let’s start with a full back picture,  because I think the full effect of the embroidery is pretty cool.   As far as I know,  all the metallic thread used in this piece was from EnMart.  When Erich first told me about this project,  I offered to send him some of our colored metallic threads to try if he would share pictures of the finished product with us.   I wasn’t expecting anything as elaborate as this.

When you look up close at the design, you really get a sense of the intricacy of what Erich has done.  I can’t imagine the digitizing and work that went into this.  Plus,  sewing something this elaborate with an average metallic thread would give most people heartburn if not actual heart failure.

Erich also managed to incorporate one of my favorite colored metallic threads into the design.  I’m a huge fan of the turquoise metallic,  and Erich used that quite extensively for one of the paisley designs.

I’m quite overwhelmed by what has been created here and it pleases me no end that EnMart products were part of it.  I think everyone who works in the garment decoration business knows that creativity and originality are part of what we do,  but sometimes you need to see something really special to be reminded.   Thank you to Erich for sharing his design with us and for all the time and effort that went into creating it.  Thank you also to his wife,  Celeste Schwartz,  who took the photos that were used in this post.  You can see more of her work here.

When it comes to embroidery there are a lot of people doing amazing things, but the reality of it is that the bulk of work for most machine embroidery business owners is pretty standard.  It’s the corporate logo on the polo shirt,  the monogram on the towel,  the sorority letters on the sweatshirt,  the football team name on the sports bag.  While such items may not be the most exciting in the world,  and may even become routine,  they’re also the items that pay the bills and buy the thread and keep the machines running.   Everyone needs a certain amount of this sort of thing to successfully run a business.

The danger comes,  at least in my mind,  when we forget that machine embroidery is also an art.  Think about it,  people who machine embroider make wearable or usable art, whether it’s an awesome design on the back of a jacket,  or a unique monogram for the pocket of a tote bag.   I’ve seen some amazing embroidery work and almost always that work came from someone who had stepped out of their routine and tried something new.  Maybe it was a new thread.  Perhaps they tried a new design technique.  Maybe they digitized in a different way.   Whatever the difference,  these people took a step outside their comfort zone and tried something new and the result was a spectacular finished piece that inspired others to try something new as well.

Today I want to spread that inspiration around a little.   If you’ve created and/or sewed out a design of which you’re really proud,  I invite you to share the story with us here in the comments on this blog.    If the unique and cool item you created was made with EnMart products,  you’re also more than welcome to add a photo on the EnMart Facebook page.   It would be really fun to have a collection of photos of amazing work that has been done using EnMart products.   Whatever avenue you choose,  I hope you all will share your work.

Let’s start with the brand of thread you use.   There are a variety of different brands out there,  which are manufactured in a variety of different places and which are sold at many different price levels.   When choosing a brand of thread,  you should investigate a few different things.    The first thing you should do is get a sample of the thread and run it in your machine.  Watch how smoothly it runs.  Keep track of breaks or birdnesting and other thread problems.  Take note of how much time it takes to run a standard design, do you have to slow down the machine for the thread to run its best?  Do you spend a lot of time rethreading your machine after thread breaks?  After you’ve gathered this data,  look at the color and sheen of the thread.  Are the dye lots consistent?  Is the thread redyed?  Finally, keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always the best choice.  Saving money on the original purchase price doesn’t really save you money if you lose production time due to poor quality thread.

Next let’s discuss the effect you want the thread to produce.   If you want embroidery that sparkles,  metallic thread is probably the way to go.   If you want variations in color and shade,  you may want to investigate variegated thread.   Glow in the dark thread is popular during Halloween.   Color changing embroidery thread can be fun on garments that will spend a lot of time in the sun.   Special effect thread is a great way to add a unique accent to your embroidered piece.

You should also keep in mind that you need to make a decision between the two most popular types of machine embroidery thread,  rayon and polyester.    For many years rayon was the thread of choice and , for some people it still is.   One of the reasons that rayon thread was so popular for so many years was the shine the thread produced.   The drawback to rayon thread is that it tends to be less durable and less color and wash fast.   For durability and color fastness, you best choice may well be polyester machine embroidery thread.   There are also polyester threads,  like Iris UltraBrite Polyester,  that have a shine that matches any rayon embroidery thread on the market.

This concludes part one of this discussion.  Next week we’ll cover machine type,  material type,  and a few tips that may help your thread run more smoothly no matter what type or brand you’re using.

There is also the issue of the obligation that those who write blogs have to their readers.  People visit the blog because they find the contents and the writing interesting.  Like anything else that is public domain, blogs can develop a readership, which expects that the blog will continue to be interesting and frequently updated.  Some people develop a relationship much like the one people have with a newspaper or a news web site.  They keep reading every day and they expect the content to be different and updated every day.  If people choose to read, does that mean you owe them new blog posts from now to the end of time?

When I first started writing this blog, I wrote two or three posts a week.  Some of that was because EnMart was new and I was still feeling my way with the blog and some of that was because a start up company requires a lot of tasks to be done.  As time went on, the load on my plate increased, but so did the readership of the blog, so I stepped up my posting schedule.  Some time after that, I started the second blog.  Most weeks I now write, on average, six posts a week.  I give myself weekends off, except I generally spend a small part of each weekend mulling over what topics I’ll write about next week.

What I’m trying to figure out is how frequently people expect to see posts updated on blogs they read on a regular basis.  Does it make any difference if the blog is a personal blog rather than a company blog?  How many days can a blog go without having a new post before you won’t be coming back again?

Personally, I like to see new content fairly regularly.  I will probably remain a loyal reader if the writer skips a few days, and I do have slightly different standards for personal vs. business blogs.  I do, however, know there are a lot of interesting blogs out there, and my reading time is at a premium.  If a blog I like doesn’t get updated on a schedule that I consider frequent enough, I’ll just move on to another blog I like that does.

I’m wondering what the rest of you think, though.  If you write a blog, how often do you post and why?  If you read blogs, how much does the frequency of new content have to do with how often you visit the blog?

I’m guessing most people have heard the horror stories that tend to accompany metallic thread.   Some people tell of the constant thread breaks.  Others will recount how they had to run their machine at glacial speed to enable the thread to sew.  There are tales of tangles and knots and other horrors.  In the end, each story concludes the same way,  with an emphatic “I hate metallic thread”.

My response to those sort of statements and stories is “You won’t hate our metallic thread”  and, as it happens,  I generally turn out to be right.   Iris Dazzling Metallic thread is designed to run smoothly.  While you do have to slow your machine down slightly,  it doesn’t require that you machine run at snail like speeds in order for the thread to perform well.  EnMart’s  parent company, Ensign Emblem,  runs this thread in all our plants, so we know it runs more smoothly, with less thread breaks and fraying.  We also know it adds a superior sparkle and shine to all your metallic embroidery.

Metallic embroidery thread is a great way to accent a design you particularly want to stand out,  and, with the recent addition of our colored metallic embroidery thread,   you have even more options when it comes to adding color and sparkle to your designs.  If you’ve one of the embroiderers who was sworn off metallic thread,  take Iris Dazzling Metallic thread for a test run and find the cure for the metallic blues.

First up today,  a post that really hit home with me.  Kathleen Fasanella,  who is a writer I admire anyway,  wrote a touching post about the death of her uncle.   In the post she asked people to reach out to someone they hadn’t seen or spoken to in a while, because anything can happen and ties with those you love are precious.  I think we all need to remember that those we love and who love us are the most precious things in our lives.  I’ll second Kathleen’s request.  Call or e-mail someone you haven’t been in touch with in a while and let them know they matter to you.   I guarantee it will make your day brighter.

Second on the list today,  is a pair of videos from Stahl’s that will be useful for those who have vinyl cutters.  EnMart doesn’t sell or use this sort of equipment,  but I am very fond of videos that teach people how to get more from their equipment, and I’m all about education.  The vinyl cutter training video and the pressure sensitive vinyl video should be useful to people who work with vinyl and I’m happy to pass them along.

Third on the docket is the announcement of a new service from the National Network of Embroidery Professionals.  The service is called SupplierFinder.net  and will allow machine embroiderers to find suppliers for the goods and equipment they need for their businesses.  You can read all about the new website on the NNEP Blog.

Fourth in the round-up today is some advice from Marie and Graham from Odd Guy Art.  They are now veterans at selling their wares at festivals and outdoor events,  and they’ve provided some tips to help others be successful at this type of sales event.   I think my favorite tip is the one that involves the ping pong paddle.  I do have to wonder what happens if you miss though.

Finally, just because I think they’re awesome, I need to point out the terrific rubber duck designs from Urban Threads.   There’s emo duck,  super duck, geek duck and more.  They’re adorable and they’re on sale.  What could be better?

Topic Area 1:  Backing – I can cover anything from types of backing,  to what backing is best for what sew-out or material,  to how to use backing effectively, to how backing is made.  I have access to a backing expert and he is happy to supply me with information.  I just need to know what questions you would like me to ask.

Topic Area 2:  Thread -  In the thread category we can discuss how thread is made, what is the best use for each type of thread,  the difference between polyester and rayon machine embroidery thread,  what redying of thread means and why it’s not a good thing,  how the raw materials impact the quality of the thread and many more thread related topics.

Topic Area 3:  Dealing with Common Embroidery Problems – What should you do to help reduce thread breaks (besides using Iris thread)?  How does bobbin tension impact the quality of your sew-out?   What should a standard machine maintenance schedule be?  How can you DIY when it comes to basic embroidery machine repairs?

Topic Area 4: Patches – How do you embroider a blank patch?  When are sublimated patches a good option?  How do you choose between heat seal and sew on backing?  How do you determine what size and shape is right for your design?

Topic Area 5:  Heat presses – How to choose the heat press that is right for you.   What is the difference between a swingaway and a clamshell press and what situations are right for each type? Troubleshooting common heat press problems.

The list of topics is endless,  and I’m sure I could keep going for  several more topic areas,  but that’s really not the goal of this post.  What I really want to know is what you want to know.   I can write about almost anything,  but there’s no reason to write about topics that the readers of this blog don’t find interesting or helpful.  I’m hoping those of you that read will chime in with your suggestions for posts.  As always, my goal is to make this both a useful and interesting blog, and feedback from all of you will help me reach that goal.

After searching for a while,  I came across the National Network of Embroidery Professionals or NNEP.  EnMart became a member shortly thereafter.  That decision has been one I have never regretted.

Fast forward to today and we’ve just completed exhibiting at NNEP Embroidery Mart in Nashville.  It was a great show.  As always, the NNEP members were interested in our company,  excited by our products and eager to buy what we had to sell.   The show was set up so we could talk one on one with customers and was big enough that there was lots to see, but not so big that it would take days to walk the show floor.  After a couple of years of being an NNEP supplier member,  going to a show feels like visiting family.   The excitement and enthusiasm for the craft of garment decoration is uplifting.

There may be bigger shows,  and there may be more technique specific shows,  but I guarantee there are no better shows.  If you own a commercial embroidery company,  membership in the NNEP is a great investment.  It will also bring you discounts from many suppliers,  EnMart included.   If you’re a supplier to the commercial embroidery community,  as EnMart is,  you won’t find a more loyal group of customers than the NNEP members, and you won’t find an organization that is more supportive of its supplier members than the NNEP.

We had a great time in Columbus,  Houston and Nashville this year, and I’d like to thank all the NNEP members who stopped by to meet us at one of the trade shows and stayed to become EnMart customers.  Your support and enthusiasm for EnMart means a great deal to us and is greatly appreciated.  My thanks also goes to Jenni, Arch, Susan, Jessica and all the NNEP staff.  The NNEP is a great organization and EnMart is proud to be a part of it.

Once upon a time,  there was a magical warehouse filled with every size and color of blank patches you could imagine.  The shelves rose high into the air,  but the ceiling was always magically higher.  The warehouse expanded as new sizes and color combinations were added, and was always just exactly the right size.   The keepers of the inventory had a magic mirror that let them see exactly where each shape and color combination was in the warehouse,  and new size and color combinations were added quickly to the shelves by little elves who did nothing but stock inventory.    A crystal ball allowed for accurate forecasting of blank patch orders,  so that there was never too little and never too much of any size and color combination.   The warehouse was an enchanted place where all the blanks sat tidily on their shelves and the right size and color combination was always available when necessary.

While that story is a nice one,  it isn’t how things work outside of fairy tales.  In the real world, in order to keep costs down,  and to eliminate the need to have an entire warehouse just for blank patches,  EnMart makes our custom blank patches when an order is placed. At last count we sold blank patches in thousands of size and color combinations.   Just stocking the possibilities for one size blank would take up shelves and shelves of space.    Making our blank emblems to order allows us to provide the best product to our customers while still offering an economical price.

This means that, when you place an order for blank patches,  you should allow one to two days for manufacturing time in addition to transit time after the order is shipped.   Our turnaround time is one of the fastest in the industry,  and the additional time for the blanks to be made is usually quite short,  unless the order being placed is for a large amount.  In those cases,  turnaround times will be longer.

If you have any questions about turnaround times or our blanks patches,  you can feel free to contact us at any time.   We will be happy to advise you about production schedules,  potential turn time for your order and how best to ship the order to get it to you in the time frame in which it is needed.

As always,  our goal is to provide the best product possible to our customers at a reasonable price.  For now,  until we get a magical warehouse and some inventory stocking elves,  making blanks to order is the best way we can find to do just that.

First, I wanted to discuss something that I didn’t know,  just because I think it’s a neat piece of information.  I’ve wondered, for a while now,  why needles are numbered the way that they are.  As it turns out,  the needle numbers are a combination of the American and European needle numbering systems.  The American system numbers needles from 8 to 19.  The European system numbers needles from 60 to 120.  The smallest numbers are the lightest needles,  the largest numbers are the heaviest.   So, for instance,  a 65/9 needle would be lighter than an 80/12.   Apparently how the numbers are listed is a matter of preference.

Second let’s talk about the needle shank.  There are two types of needle shanks,  flat and round.  As a general rule,  flat shank needles are used in home sewing machines and round shank needles are used in commercial embroidery machines.   Round shank needles generally have a larger eye which allows machine embroidery thread to pass through the needle more easily.   In either case,  whether your needle shank is round or flat,  the shank is the thickest part of the needle and fits into the needle clamp.

Third, we should probably examine the difference between ball point and sharp point needles.   Sharp point needles are exactly what the name implies, needles with a sharp point.  The needles create more a cutting action when they are used to embroider fabric.   The sharper tip makes it easier for the needle to penetrate densely woven fabrics.   By contrast,  a ball point needle has a rounded tip.    The rounded tip of the needle offers less of a cutting action which makes these needles ideal for loosely woven fabrics or knits.

Finally,  we should discuss how often to change your needle.   According to Schmetz Needles,  the manufacturer that makes the needles that EnMart sells, a good rule of thumb is to change the needle every 8 hours or at the beginning of each project.   Of course,  how often you elect to change your needle will depend on the type of fabric you sew and your machine.   As you get to knwo the machine better, you’ll be able to determine what schedule of needle changes is right for you.