Embroidery Digitizing 101 Course

Jul 3, 2024

Embroidery Digitizing 101 Course

Welcome

  • Presenter: John Deere
  • Introduction: How to turn any image into embroidery
  • Target Audience: Beginners and experienced embroiderers
  • Main Focus: Digitizing theory and tools

Overview

  • It's common to struggle with digitizing due to conflicting info
  • Assurance: Anyone can learn digitizing with the right guidance
  • Key Components:
    1. Software: Tools for creating designs
    2. Theory: Principles of creating designs, unchanged over a century

John's Background

  • Career Start: At 17 in grandparents' factory
  • Experience: Last schiffli Master digitizer, 40 years of experience
  • Clients: Disney, Coca-Cola, John Deere
  • Awards: 30 awards commercially
  • Teaching: Tens of thousands taught

Importance of the Course

  • Art Form: Combining software and theory
  • Understanding Theory: Essential even if not digitizing
  • Course Topics:
    1. What is digitizing?
    2. Basic rules for the three main stitch types
    3. Density
    4. Underlay
    5. Distortion
    6. Registration
    7. Pathing/Mapping
    8. Fabric assist

Basics of Digitizing

  • Definition: Creating a machine-friendly embroidery design using software
  • Aim: Avoid unnecessary jumps, trims, and ensure smooth machine operation

Three Main Stitch Types

  1. Running Stitch:
    • Most simple and foundational stitch
    • Control: Stitch length (min 0.5 mm, safe zone 1.5 mm)
    • Wearable Items: 5-7 mm
    • Non-Wearable Items: 7-12.1 mm
  2. Satin Stitch:
    • Watch stitch length (min 1-1.5 mm)
    • Direction and spacing (density)
  3. Fill Stitch:
    • Avoid short stitches (min 4 mm)
    • Control of texture and pattern fills

Density

  • Definition: Space between each stitch
  • Default: 4 mm
  • Factors Influencing Density:
    • Fabric type (vinyl, leather, fleece)
    • Layer buildup (reduce density with each layer)

Underlay

  • Importance: Lays the foundation within a design
  • Types:
    • Center run, Edge run, zigzag, combinations
  • Purpose: Acts as a break wall, keeps stitches clean
  • Fill Stitches: Underlay runs opposite to fill direction to prevent distortion

Distortion

  • Causes: Tension principles in embroidery machines
  • Pull Compensation: Adjusting for stitch width and fabric type
  • Push: Open ends of designs expand (toothpaste analogy)

Registration

  • Incorrect Registration: Misaligned stitch areas
  • Correct Registration: Aligned stitches (use of underlay and proper pathing)

Pathing or Mapping

  • Principle: Logical start and stop points, minimize unnecessary jumps

Color Changes and Trims

  • Extra Color Changes: Sometimes necessary for good registration
  • Unnecessary Trims: Avoid to save production time (120 lost stitches per trim)

Fabric Assist

  • Tool: Changes properties based on fabric types
  • Example: Wilcom's Fabric Assist adjusts settings with one click

Why Theory is Important

  • Analogy: Software without theory is like a calculator without math knowledge
  • Our education focuses on both software tools and the underlying theory

Next Steps

  1. Digitizers Dream Course: For those with software
  2. Free Trial: For those needing software

Conclusion

  • Call to Action:
    • Enroll in the Dream Course
    • Download free trial
  • Reminder: Stay engaged with resources