KLH Embroidery

Embroidery dates back to the middle ages. At that time embroidered garments were a sign of wealth and rich traders and merchants were willing to pay large sums of money for the luxury of embroidered clothing.

The first machine embroidery did not take place until the 1800’s. It was a hand embroidery machine which revolutionized the embroidery industry. This concept was followed by two other kinds of embroidery called “shuttle embroidery” and the “chain stitch embroidery “ methods.

The first commercial embroidery manufacturing facility was established in New York in 1848. At that time all of the stitching was done by hand by fifteen women stitching excellent designs by hand.

The next major change that occurred was in 1873 when twelve of the new embroidery hand looms were imported to the US. The looms although powered manually used multiple needles and were an unbelievable improvement over the age-old process of stitching by hand.

The industry continued to grow until World War II. The industry was put on hold from 1943 until the end of the war.

In 1953 Robert Reiner Inc. introduced the first American-made schiffli machine. Improvements followed from American, Swiss and German Inventors and Manufacturers. Today computers are playing a major role in commercial embroidery. It is now common to find embroidery machines with multiple heads and as many as 15 needles that are capable of stitching designs at incredible speeds over 1200 stitches per minute per head. These new high tech machines have really revolutionized embroidery and have made embroidered garments something that we can all afford to acquire and enjoy.

Another significant change is the way companies advertise. Many of the traditional ways of advertising through printed advertising and billboards are being replaced by more sophisticated kinds of advertising many of which incorporate embroidery. Because of new ways of hooping products there are more creative ways to place embroidery and with the explosion of the internet, companies are adding web addresses to many embroidered garments. The bottom line is that embroidery is a relatively inexpensive and flexible way to share your image and message.

Digitizing

One of the key elements in having a corporate logo embroidered is your artwork. We accept camera ready art work or digital artwork. If you do not have this then we can use fax, letterhead or business cards. Anything that has your logo, we will be able to scan it and proceed with the digitizing. This digitizing fee is a ONE TIME fee and any future orders of this exact logo will not include this expense. We keep these on file for 5 years.

If you would like we can stitch a sample on a square of fabric so that you can approve the design and the colors. If you are not interested in this we can proceed to the next step.

If you would like a sample of the product before placing your order, we can do this. You would be paying for the item plus the shipping to you directly. Let us know if this is of interest to you.

Embroidery digitizing is a true art form. Each digitized design is completely unique. No two digitizers will complete a design in exactly the same way. Taking a photo of a logo and transferring this in a format that the computerized embroidery machine can read and stitch requires a skillful, artistic digitizer.

It has been said that to become a quality digitizer can take 5 years to perfect. A digitizer must have knowledge of design, fabrics, colors, software, threads, stitch effects, shadowing, color blending, small detail and an understanding of the various embroidery machines. A digitizer must create designs that yield the end result that capture what YOUR vision is.

We have a wonderful, talented digitizer that will take your logo and produce it into a stitched design that will look like your logo and capture your vision. When he is done, and we embroider it on your product, you will have a garment you are proud to wear. WHAT A GREAT, INEXPENSIVE WAY TO ADVERTISE!

Thread
The most elemental variable of thread is the fiber. The threads used most in everyday embroidery are Rayon and Polyester. Some designs may call for specialty threads such as metallic, wool blends or variegated. Not all threads can be used in every design or on all types of fabric. Some threads have special instructions for laundering. Many specialty threads require special needles and other modifications to the embroidery process. A combination of many things is what it takes to get the perfect embroidered design. To minimize thread breaks and get the best looks, thread needs to be fresh. Thread over a year old dries out and needs to be discarded. We purge our thread inventory to be sure that no thread is over 12 months old.

We use Isacord thread as our primary. Isacord thread is precision wound from an exclusive raw material to provide proper elongation and the smoothest running thread available. It is twice the strength of a rayon thread allowing quicker machine speeds and less thread breaks making your logo look smoother. The original polyester, is engineered for an incredible sheen. There are 450 vibrant pantone colors. It is safe for Chlorine bleaching which makes Isacord perfect for most applications.

Stabilizers, Backing and Solvy
DOES ONE SIZE FIT ALL? There is an old wives tale of one magic backing. One that tears cleanly, is invisible under a sheer white fabric and has the stability required to make the thread float over the top of the embroidery without any pull, distortion, bowing, cupping or washing problems. The truth is that understanding backings and stabilizers that are available can make all the difference in the end product.

There are several reasons to use backing. The main reason is to provide more stability for the embroidery surface. An understanding of the properties of different fabric and what backing will address those needs is what will create a professional looking product. We use numerous types depending on the fabric, design, density, color of garment and weight of garment. There is also a product called “sticky back stabilizer”. This is used on fabrics that may stretch or slip when hooped and embroidered. We also have a specialized backing for baby garments so that the embroidery does not scratch their delicate skin.
So, as you can see, there is a lot for an embroiderer to know and many backings to choose from. All you need to do is pick your product and KLH Embroidery will do the rest.

Solvy is a product that is water soluble or heat soluble that is placed on the top of a garment to prevent the stitches from sinking into the fabric. This product makes the embroidery stand up above the fabric and look much more visable. We use Solvy on most orders unless the fabric can not withstand water or heat.

Final Stage
OK your order has been digitized and embroidered and now we need to prepare it to deliver to you. First we trim the stabilizer and trim loose threads. Then we press the embroidered area, fold and put in a poly bag that will be marked with the size of the garment inside. We do not charge for the poly bag. We then will box it and ship it through UPS to you.