Learn tips for making swim suits with embroidered designs

CMEP-090800-044045:Layout 1
4/27/09
12:58 PM
Page 44
Swim
Fan
by Jennifer Gigas
Take your favorite swimsuit from simple to stunning with a
touch of embroidery, and enjoy an afternoon by the pool,
at the lake or on the beach.
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SHOPPING LIST
ready-made swimsuit
polyester embroidery thread
water-soluble mesh stabilizer
polymesh stabilizer
temporary spray adhesive
embroidery needle
embroidery designs
Getting Started
• When selecting swimwear for embroidery, look
for areas of the garment that will highlight the
designs. Avoid swimsuits that contain excessive
details that will compete with the embroidery.
Take into consideration the fabric color and print.
Busy prints may camouflage rather than enhance
the embroidery.
• Be careful when selecting embroidery designs.
Designs with a high stitch count will stiffen the
fabric, affecting the fit of the garment. Swimsuit
fabrics are very stretchy, which poses another embroidery challenge. Select relatively open designs
and carefully position them on the garment.
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• Don’t place designs in areas that need stretch,
such as the neckline of a one-piece swimsuit. Appliqué designs are a viable option, adding color
and texture without adding to the stitch count.
• Always print templates of the designs and audition them on the garment. Try on the swimsuit
and pin or tape the templates in place, making
sure the designs aren’t positioned in an awkward location. The hip, shoulder, chest or skirt
areas of swimsuits typically lend themselves
to successful embroidery.
• Embroider the design on a piece of scrap fabric
first. Choose fabric that has similar weight and
fiber content as the chosen swimsuit.
Embroidery
• As swimwear is often subjected to both
sunlight and chlorine, choose a colorfast, bleachresistant thread. Polyester bobbin thread typically
works best.
• Use temporary spray adhesive to adhere a layer
of polymesh stabilizer to a piece of water-soluble
mesh stabilizer wrong side.
• Adhere the swimsuit to the water-soluble mesh
stabilizer, using the design template as a guide;
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hoop the fabric. Make sure the
design is positioned appropriately
on the garment.
• Embroider the design, clipping any jump stitches after
thread changes. Once the
embroidery is complete, trim
away the excess polymesh
stabilizer and rinse to remove
the water-soluble stabilizer.
• Add any embellishments, such
as crystals, to the embroidery
if desired.
DESIGNS
Children’s swimsuit: Oklahoma Embroidery Design
& Supply (OESD), Fun with Minkee Gelato, #12184,
design 107_48; embroideryonline.com
One piece swimsuit: Oklahoma Embroidery Design
& Supply (OESD), Glitz Garden, #12151, designs
FQ119_48 & FQ118_48; embroideryonline.com
Two-piece swimsuit: Oklahoma Embroidery Design
& Supply (OESD), Delicate Floral, #12172, designs
FQ274_48 & FQ286_48; embroideryonline.com
SOURCES
Amann USA provided the Isacord embroidery
thread: (888) 654-7522, amannusa.com.
Oklahoma Embroidery Supply and Design (OESD)
provided the AquaMesh Plus stabilizer:
embroideryonline.com.
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