embroidery machines used

Nothing commemorates a special occasion as well as an embroidered memento. And it’s difficult to imagine a less price-conscious customer than one who is shopping for just the right remembrance of a special occasion. Do you have the right designs and samples to capture your share of the special occasion market?

Cause For Celebration

Moments in our lives that are cause for celebration include birth, graduation, marriage, anniversaries, holidays, religious events, housewarming and retirement. There are many other special days that deserve a permanent token, and the gift of embroidery is a perfect fit. What could be more personal than an embroidered item, customized with a name, initials or date? Special occasion embroidery is one of the easiest sales to make, if you are prepared with the appropriate recommendations and samples.

Lettering

One of the most important ingredients in fulfilling special occasion requests if samples of suitable lettering styles and designs. Lettering is paramount, and it is important to have several styles that are reliable and appealing. In your font selections, you will need stitched samples of your recommended lettering styles and sizes. You will need at least two script styles, two block styles and one or more specialty fonts.

Script #1 – Handwriting Style

One of your script styles should be italicized, flowing and graceful. It should work well in small to medium sizes. To be suitable for heirloom embroidery, the openings in lower case letters must remain open when stitched in a small size. Test any proposed font in sizes down to 3/8-inch. Examine the entire font, both upper and lower case, checking for unacceptable characters. For example, in many scripts the upper case “S” is unrecognizable, and the upper case “J” and “I” are almost indistinguishable from each other. In lower case, check out the letters “r”, “u” and “v” for a pleasing and readily identifiable formation. I prefer for an heirloom script font to have a lower case letter “l” formed with a loop rather than a single straight line. As much as possible, the heirloom script that you will use for names and dates should mimic handwriting. This style is ideal for names and dates, as well as embroidered renditions of verses, poems and scriptures.

Script #2 â Traditional Monogram Script

This script should be more vertical, without a noticeable slant. A vertical font works best for initials, regardless of the combination of letters. In traditional monograms, the larger center letter represents the surname. When a three-letter monogram is created for a wedding gift, it is customary for the man’s first initial be placed to the left of center, and the bride’s first initial be placed to the right of the center letter.

Block #1 â Plain Block

Block letters are frequently favored for embroidery for men or boys. One style should be plain, having no serifs. This basic style is wonderful used in upper and lower case for personalizations. Its simplicity makes it ideal for very small lettering sizes, and you can recommend it for use on items for toddlers and children who are just learning to read. What a thrill to read your name in embroidery for the first time!

Block # 2 â Serif Block

Serifs are the small feet and extensions that appear on lettering styles such as Times or Century. This style has a more formal appearance than plain block, and is a popular choice for names and dates.

Specialty Fonts

Some fonts evoke a casual mood, some are dressy and upright while others are flowing and graceful. Choose one or more fonts to broaden your selection beyond the basics listed above. One of the perennial favorites for personalizations on baby blankets to Christmas stocking is a font called Zapf or Apple Chancery. This unique font, a clever cross between block and script, creates just the right mix of fun and formality. This font or a similar one will help make your special occasion font selection complete. View Example

Designs

When designs are used in special occasion embroidery, they are frequently simple and elegant, used for accent purposes. You may present some elaborate pieces in your sample book as well, such a floral border frames or large centerpiece embroideries. However, the primary focus should be on a good selection of accent designs for the most popular special occasion requests. See the list below for designs to consider for your stitched “suggestion” book. Simple motifs stitched along with individual names and dates are the biggest selling selections.

Stitched Suggestion Book

Each time that you make a special occasion embroidery that you particularly like, stitch another for your suggestion book. Place the swatches in a binder, making sure to keep the look upscale. For a finished look, frame each embroidered swatch with colored paper frames available in the scrapbook department at your local craft store.

Embroiderable Items

Consider keeping a selection of gift items suitable for special occasions to maximize your profits. For example, even a small inventory of woven afghans, fleece throws, white and ecru bath sets will make you a one-stop solution for last minute shower gifts. You may also be surprised how well these items sell during holiday season. Laundry bags, oversized towels and bath wraps are perennial favorites for graduates. In fact, many people order them because they still have the ones that they received when they graduated!

Memory books are also very popular gifts for graduates. You will be sure to get orders if you display samples, but be sure to start showing them early and encourage your customers to place their orders four to six weeks in advance. This will allow assembly time for the embroidered cover to be applied to the book. You will get more sales on this item if you offer the completed books, but you may choose to simply refer this pportion of the work to a craftsperson in your area. You can build a nice repeat business around high-quality receiving blankets, Lovies character blankets and eyelet diaper covers, because these popular items can be hard to find. Once the word gets out that you have unique baby items, you may find that spring is a very busy season, with some customers coming in with birth announcements by the handful.
What is Pulled Thread Embroidery?

Pulled Thread, also known as Drawn Fabric embroidery (and not to be confused with Drawn Thread work), is a form of whitework. Whitework is a general term for monochromatic embroidery in which the ground fabric and thread are the same color; traditionally both were white or cream colored. The emphasis of whitework is on the contrast of texture created by the stitches on the ground fabric. In Pulled Thread embroidery this contrast of texture is achieved by stitching the patterns with a very tight tension. The tight tension distorts the ground fabric so that the resulting lacy, open areas create the design. The stitches themselves are often not very attractive but their effect on the ground fabric creates lovely patterns.
Pulled Thread is considered to have originated in the 17th century and early samplers of the period contain bands of Pulled Thread work. In the 18th century, Pulled Thread became an important fashion technique and was called âfabric embroidered laceâ. The authentic (and new to the period) lace from Germany, France and the Low Countries was too expensive for anyone other than the very rich, so lacy embroidery was done on fine linen handkerchiefs, collars, cuffs and petticoats to create an imitation lace. This lacy embroidery allowed the lower classes to embellish their clothing in much the same way the upper classes did. Lacy embroidery of the 18th century has evolved to become the present day Pulled Thread Embroidery.

Crazy quilts are built upon a ground fabric, usually muslin. Your choice of fancy fabric pieces and their placement is limited only by your imagination. The one thing a crazy quilt is NOT is an organized and geometric placement of regularly shaped pieces of fabric. Once the fabric pieces are stitched to the ground fabric, decorative threads including overdyes, rayons, metallics, silks and cottons are used to embellish the seams with virtually any embroidery stitch that you know. Indeed, the surface embroidery is the focal point of crazy quilting. In addition, silk ribbon embroidery, calligraphy, fabric painting, and photo transfers can personalize a crazy quilt. Finally, laces, ribbons, buttons and appliquÃ©s can also be applied.

Crazy quilts are backed with a decorative fabric but are not stuffed with batting. They were frequently used as throws over the back of a sofa or on a piano and were meant as decoration and to show off the parlor to its best advantage with the needlework prowess of the Victorian woman. Today crazy quilts are still decorative and are stitched as wall hangings, pillows, jewelry, Christmas stockings and wearable art. And since this is The Sharp Needle column, crazy quilts are stitched with a sharp needle.
Application Tip: For best results, use a light ball point needle on golf styles made from knitted fabric, while a sharp needle will give better clarity on small lettering and details on woven twill styles. Water-soluble topping may be needed on either fabric type to attain clean, crisp small letters.

LycraÂ® content in garments
Some blank shirts contain a small amount of LycraÂ® for comfort, a blend that is also presently popular in retail settings. Because this fabric stretches, some embroiderers find it challenging to embroider. One method to tame the stretchy stuff is to adhere a piece of lightweight, fusible cutaway stabilizer. Because of the Lycra content, the fusible should bond at low temperatures to prevent damage to the fabric. The cutaway stabilizer will prevent stretching and shifting of the fabric during the embroidery process.

Programming
Proper interpretation and programming of logos is possibly the most important avenues to success in corporate embroidery.
Lettering
Small lettering is a common element in corporate logos, and at times, it may be necessary to set down guidelines for your customers. To make lettering readable in embroidery, there may be changes that must be made from print versions. Lettering with very narrow columns may need to be thickened, long lines of lettering may need to be abbreviated or stacked on multiple lines, and lettering styles may need to be simplified to be more readable in very small sizes. If you arenât well-experienced with digitizing small lettering, rely on the recommendations of a professional digitizer and pass the recommendations along to your customers. Small lettering has relatively few stitches, so donât try to economize by using stock lettering when it would stitch more cleanly and crisply if it were specially digitized.

Application Tip: When applying very small or narrow lettering to a pique knit or other highly textured garment, always use a water or heat soluble topping to provide smooth surface, giving better clarity to the lettering. Very open knits or very deep mesh knits may require a midweight rather than a lightweight topping to keep it from breaking down before the lettering is completed.
Simplification
Because printing can achieve finer lines than embroidery, some logos must be translated into embroidery. Color blending and fine lines may require modification to present the best embroidered representation of the logo. The guideline to remember here is to simplify only as much as necessary. Oversimplification that changes the fundamental appearance of the logo affects the recognition factor.
Top Tips for Successful Special Occasion Embroidery

You will be pleasantly surprised at how much special occasion business you can cultivate. Here are some ideas for making this segment a success for your company.
This month we travel to Japan to investigate Sashiko and Kogin embroidery. I have been fascinated by the Sashiko technique (pronounced sahsh-ko) ever since Grace Townsend, a former Santa Clara Valley EGA member, taught us a small program on Sashiko. Sashiko is a classic Japanese quilting technique that is traditionally done with white thread on an indigo ground. As with much embroidery from around the world, most sashiko patterns are representations of motifs found in nature and are very stylized patterns of plants (particularly flowers and pine trees), animals, and natural phenomenon such as clouds and waves. Sashiko is a very old form of hand sewing using a simple running stitch sewn in repeating or interlocking patterns, with 5-8 evenly spaced stitches to the inch. Kogin (pronounced ko-geen) embroidery is a variation of sashiko in which the stitches are uneven in length and are only stitched horizontally, or along the weft of the ground fabric. The Kogin designs are usually diamond shaped geometric patterns whereas sashiko can incorporate beautiful swirls into its patterns.

â¢ Check all spelling and all dates twice, and then check them again. Have the customer sign the order.
â¢ Make commemorative anniversary afghans with the names and birthdates of all family members around the edge. Put the names and marriage date of the couple larger in the center.
â¢ Work with a local quilter to produce memory quilts for weddings, going-away, retirement and more. As the embroiderer, you will work with each relative or aquaintance to embroider a square using a stock design and lettering to represent their own special memory. When all of the squares are returned to the quilter, the quilt is assembled and presented to the lucky recipient.
â¢ Price keepsake work according to the extra care, creativity and technique that goes into each piece. Don’t feel you must price according to the same scale as logo work.
â¢ Keep samples of your special occasion work. When it isn’t possible to keep a sample, take a photograph for your suggestion book.

Wedding or Anniversary â Dove, Rings, Bride and Groom Bears, Candles, Bells, Toasting Flutes, Cake, two hearts
Embroider on Guest book cover, photo album cover, reception napkin favors (see Fig. X), bridesmaid gift bags, ring pillow, handkerchiefs for mother of bride and groom.
Birth â Simple bow, lamb, teddy, chick, booties, rattle, blocks, rocking horse
Embroider on Receiving blanket, LovieÃ character blanket, hooded towel
First Communion â Cross, Chalice & bread symbol, grapes
Embroider on handkerchief, bible cover, first communion felt banner
Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah â Star of David,Yud
Embroider on yamika, girl’s headcover or prayer book cover
Bon Voyage â Ship or plane
Embroider on fabric Champage bag, paperback book cover
Retirement â fishing pole, rocking chair, “happy dance” figure, golf clubs
Embroider on headwear, such as ball cap or bucket hat, fleece throw, cooking apron
Housewarming â heart inside a house, cozy cottage
Embroider on cooking apron, kitchen towels, bread cover, afghan or fleece throw. Napkins or towels with initials make a wonderful housewarming gift.
Graduation â diploma, cap, graduation teddy bear
Embroider on autograph pillow, framed fabric with transfer of graduation announcement, memory book cover.
Identity apparel for corporations has changed in recent years, and smaller businesses have followed their lead, much like high schools athletic departments mimic the trends of college athletics. Corporate users have led the way with updated garments, embroidery placements and color treatments. Embroiderers who apply the latest corporate looks to small business customers gain more business and a reputation as the embroiderer of choice for among business users.

Garments
There is an entire universe of apparel blanks, ranging from budget selections to premium signature goods. Manufacturers have expanded apparel offerings to include more high-end goods that appeal to corporate users. These additions benefit all sizes of businesses that use embroidered identity apparel.

Licensed garments available for customizing include household names such as NikeÂ®, Bill BlassÂ®, Arnold Palmer and other brands associated with an upscale image. These garments feature signature embroidery on a sleeve, cuff or other location that leaves the chest area available for a company logo.

The entry of new licensed names and the expansion of other high-end product lines is testimony to the attention manufacturers are giving the business of customizing garments for the identity apparel market. This interest is also shown by their attention to garment details. For example, some jacket makers now include hidden access zippers that allow embroiderers to place a hoop on the jacket and embroider without stitching through the lining. Some offer this for front embroidery only, while others allow embroidery on a full back location.

Sizing
In companies of all sizes, women are prominent in todayâs business world. It should come as no surprise that they donât want to wear menâs clothing to work. Ladies sizes are now in most mid- to high-end wearable lines. As compared to menâs versions, the ladiesâ counterpart in a particular style may differ in styling as well as sizing. For instance, a manâs twill shirt often features a button-down collar, while the ladiesâ style has an open spread collar. Similarly, the manâs version may have a straight back yoke, and the ladiesâ shirt a back locker patch treatment.
Application Tip: Women like their embroidery placements slightly higher than placements that men find acceptable on the front of pocketless shirts. When both menâs and ladiesâ shirts will be used for an account, use a placement that is suitable for ladies, and match the menâs placement to the ladies. It is acceptable for menâs garments to have the higher ladiesâ placement, yet the reverse is not acceptable.

Specialty sizing has also become more available. Recently, tall sizes and plus sizes have taken a more visible position, with some distributors specializing in big and tall sizes. Having a good working knowledge of the products available and a few sizing samples is an irreplaceable asset on a sales call. After all, if the owner wears a size four extra large, imagine his reaction to, âLet me check whether that color is available in your size,â

Embroidery Tip: Pin a swatch or actual size printout of the logo in the location of proposed placement on unusual sized garments to assure a pleasing appearance that is appropriate to the scale and proportion of the garment.

Colors
Many corporations have modified the guidelines regarding the use of color in their logos. This relaxing of the rules provides garment decorators more freedom to create pleasing color combinations that coordinate with garment colors.
Fig. 1 shows the traditional colors of the Farmers Insurance Company. While it looks good on the printed page, the red white and blue color scheme can appear dated, and limits garment color choices.

Fig. 2 shows the same logo following the companyâs new color guidelines. The new guidelines allow the logo to be rendered in two colors, with one color creating a negative space effect, by matching the garment color. The second color can be any color, often matching contrasting trim on the garment.

This simple modification may also be recommended to your smaller business customers. Philosophies vary on this point, but many companies find it acceptable and even desirable to vary the color schemes in their business identity apparel.

If you work for companies that participate in trade shows, the change of colors can be an effective attention-getting tactic. Suggest that the company buy each member of the show staff a variety of shirt colors. Then, each staff member wears matching shirts in a different color each day. Itâs easy for customers in the booth to spot a staff member who can answer questions or take an order.

Placements
Another recommendation that you can make to companies, particularly those that use trade show apparel, is regarding a popular new embroidery placement. On twill, denim or other woven shirts, the back yoke is a perfect showcase for a companyâs web address. Similarly, the locker patch of knit shirts can be used for a web address or company slogan.

If you want to make your customers think you are a genius, suggest the smartest new embroidered logo placement in years â the right shirt cuff. This effective location is highly visible whenever the wearer extends his arm for a handshake.

Fabrics
This is possibly the most innovative and exciting area of wearables, with a couple of notable developments.
TeflonÂ®-coated Fabrics
Recently introduced garments made with TeflonÂ®-coated fabrics are gaining popularity. Their resistance to liquid and other stains makes them a favorite among service industries such as restaurants. The coating doesnât affect the application of embroidery, and normal application methods may be used. Garments made of the coated fabrics include golf style knit shirts as well as twill styles.

AUGUSTINE NORED, SHIRBOURNE, QLD

More articles on commercial embroidery machines can be found here.
AMS Embroidery Machines http://EMBROIDERYMACHINESSALE.INFO

Block Embroid #1 â Plain Block

Block letters are frequently favored for embroidery for men or boys. If you arenât well-experienced with digitizing small lettering, rely on the recommendations of a professional digitizer and pass the recommendations along to your customers. Similarly, the manâs version may have a straight back yoke, and the ladiesâ shirt a back locker patch treatment. Lettering with very narrow columns may need to be thickened, long lines of lettering may need to be abbreviated or stacked on multiple lines, and lettering styles may need to be simplified to be more readable in very small sizes. On twill, denim or other woven shirts, the back yoke is a perfect showcase for a companyâs web address. And it’s difficult to imagine a less price-conscious customer than one who is shopping for just the right remembrance of a special occasion. For a finished look, Commercial Embroidery frame each embroidered swatch with colored paper frames available in the scrapbook department at your local craft store. X), bridesmaid gift bags, ring pillow, handkerchiefs for mother of bride and groom. Corporate users have led the way with updated garments, embroidery placements and color treatments. Small lettering has relatively few stitches, so donât try to economize by using stock lettering when it would stitch more cleanly and crisply if it were specially digitized. One style should be plain, having no serifs. â¢ Keep samples of your special occasion work. Color blending and fine lines may require modification to present the best embroidered representation of the logo. If you want to make your customers think you are a genius, Clothes Printing suggest the smartest new embroidered logo placement in years â the right shirt cuff. Application Tip: For best results, use a light ball point needle on golf styles made from knitted fabric, while a sharp needle will give better clarity on small lettering and details on woven twill styles. This will allow assembly time for the embroidered cover to be applied to the book. I have been fascinated by the Sashiko technique (pronounced sahsh-ko) ever since Grace Townsend, a former Santa Clara Valley EGA member, taught us a small program on Sashiko.

WELDON CORMIER, MAROLA, SA

More articles on Brother Embroidery Machines Prices can be found here.
AMS Embroidery Machines http://EMBROIDERYMACHINESSALE.INFO

What is Pulled Thread Embroidery?

Pulled Thread, also known as Drawn Fabric embroidery (and not to be confused with Drawn Thread work), is a form of whitework. Whitework is a general term for monochromatic embroidery in which the ground fabric and thread are the same color; traditionally both were white or cream colored. The emphasis of whitework is on the contrast of texture created by the stitches on the ground fabric. In Pulled Thread embroidery this contrast of texture is achieved by stitching the patterns with a very tight tension. The tight tension distorts the ground fabric so that the resulting lacy, open areas create the design. The stitches themselves are often not very attractive but their effect on the ground fabric creates lovely patterns.
Pulled Thread is considered to have originated in the 17th century and early samplers of the period contain bands of Pulled Thread work. In the 18th century, Pulled Thread became an important fashion technique and was called âfabric embroidered laceâ. The authentic (and new to the period) lace from Germany, France and the Low Countries was too expensive for anyone other than the very rich, so lacy embroidery was done on fine linen handkerchiefs, collars, cuffs and petticoats to create an imitation lace. This lacy embroidery allowed the lower classes to embellish their clothing in much the same way the upper classes did. Lacy embroidery of the 18th century has evolved to become the present day Pulled Thread Embroidery.

Crazy quilts are built upon a ground fabric, usually muslin. Your choice of fancy fabric pieces and their placement is limited only by your imagination. The one thing a crazy quilt is NOT is an organized and geometric placement of regularly shaped pieces of fabric. Once the fabric pieces are stitched to the ground fabric, decorative threads including overdyes, rayons, metallics, silks and cottons are used to embellish the seams with virtually any embroidery stitch that you know. Indeed, the surface embroidery is the focal point of crazy quilting. In addition, silk ribbon embroidery, calligraphy, fabric painting, and photo transfers can personalize a crazy quilt. Finally, laces, ribbons, buttons and appliquÃ©s can also be applied.

Crazy quilts are backed with a decorative fabric but are not stuffed with batting. They were frequently used as throws over the back of a sofa or on a piano and were meant as decoration and to show off the parlor to its best advantage with the needlework prowess of the Victorian woman. Today crazy quilts are still decorative and are stitched as wall hangings, pillows, jewelry, Christmas stockings and wearable art. And since this is The Sharp Needle column, crazy quilts are stitched with a sharp needle.
Top Tips for Successful Special Occasion Embroidery

You will be pleasantly surprised at how much special occasion business you can cultivate. Here are some ideas for making this segment a success for your company.
This month we travel to Japan to investigate Sashiko and Kogin embroidery. I have been fascinated by the Sashiko technique (pronounced sahsh-ko) ever since Grace Townsend, a former Santa Clara Valley EGA member, taught us a small program on Sashiko. Sashiko is a classic Japanese quilting technique that is traditionally done with white thread on an indigo ground. As with much embroidery from around the world, most sashiko patterns are representations of motifs found in nature and are very stylized patterns of plants (particularly flowers and pine trees), animals, and natural phenomenon such as clouds and waves. Sashiko is a very old form of hand sewing using a simple running stitch sewn in repeating or interlocking patterns, with 5-8 evenly spaced stitches to the inch. Kogin (pronounced ko-geen) embroidery is a variation of sashiko in which the stitches are uneven in length and are only stitched horizontally, or along the weft of the ground fabric. The Kogin designs are usually diamond shaped geometric patterns whereas sashiko can incorporate beautiful swirls into its patterns.

â¢ Check all spelling and all dates twice, and then check them again. Have the customer sign the order.
â¢ Make commemorative anniversary afghans with the names and birthdates of all family members around the edge. Put the names and marriage date of the couple larger in the center.
â¢ Work with a local quilter to produce memory quilts for weddings, going-away, retirement and more. As the embroiderer, you will work with each relative or aquaintance to embroider a square using a stock design and lettering to represent their own special memory. When all of the squares are returned to the quilter, the quilt is assembled and presented to the lucky recipient.
â¢ Price keepsake work according to the extra care, creativity and technique that goes into each piece. Don’t feel you must price according to the same scale as logo work.
â¢ Keep samples of your special occasion work. When it isn’t possible to keep a sample, take a photograph for your suggestion book.

Wedding or Anniversary â Dove, Rings, Bride and Groom Bears, Candles, Bells, Toasting Flutes, Cake, two hearts
Embroider on Guest book cover, photo album cover, reception napkin favors (see Fig. X), bridesmaid gift bags, ring pillow, handkerchiefs for mother of bride and groom.
Birth â Simple bow, lamb, teddy, chick, booties, rattle, blocks, rocking horse
Embroider on Receiving blanket, LovieÃ character blanket, hooded towel
First Communion â Cross, Chalice & bread symbol, grapes
Embroider on handkerchief, bible cover, first communion felt banner
Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah â Star of David,Yud
Embroider on yamika, girl’s headcover or prayer book cover
Bon Voyage â Ship or plane
Embroider on fabric Champage bag, paperback book cover
Retirement â fishing pole, rocking chair, “happy dance” figure, golf clubs
Embroider on headwear, such as ball cap or bucket hat, fleece throw, cooking apron
Housewarming â heart inside a house, cozy cottage
Embroider on cooking apron, kitchen towels, bread cover, afghan or fleece throw. Napkins or towels with initials make a wonderful housewarming gift.
Graduation â diploma, cap, graduation teddy bear
Embroider on autograph pillow, framed fabric with transfer of graduation announcement, memory book cover.
Nothing commemorates a special occasion as well as an embroidered memento. And it’s difficult to imagine a less price-conscious customer than one who is shopping for just the right remembrance of a special occasion. Do you have the right designs and samples to capture your share of the special occasion market?

Cause For Celebration

Moments in our lives that are cause for celebration include birth, graduation, marriage, anniversaries, holidays, religious events, housewarming and retirement. There are many other special days that deserve a permanent token, and the gift of embroidery is a perfect fit. What could be more personal than an embroidered item, customized with a name, initials or date? Special occasion embroidery is one of the easiest sales to make, if you are prepared with the appropriate recommendations and samples.

Lettering

One of the most important ingredients in fulfilling special occasion requests if samples of suitable lettering styles and designs. Lettering is paramount, and it is important to have several styles that are reliable and appealing. In your font selections, you will need stitched samples of your recommended lettering styles and sizes. You will need at least two script styles, two block styles and one or more specialty fonts.

Script #1 – Handwriting Style

One of your script styles should be italicized, flowing and graceful. It should work well in small to medium sizes. To be suitable for heirloom embroidery, the openings in lower case letters must remain open when stitched in a small size. Test any proposed font in sizes down to 3/8-inch. Examine the entire font, both upper and lower case, checking for unacceptable characters. For example, in many scripts the upper case “S” is unrecognizable, and the upper case “J” and “I” are almost indistinguishable from each other. In lower case, check out the letters “r”, “u” and “v” for a pleasing and readily identifiable formation. I prefer for an heirloom script font to have a lower case letter “l” formed with a loop rather than a single straight line. As much as possible, the heirloom script that you will use for names and dates should mimic handwriting. This style is ideal for names and dates, as well as embroidered renditions of verses, poems and scriptures.

Script #2 â Traditional Monogram Script

This script should be more vertical, without a noticeable slant. A vertical font works best for initials, regardless of the combination of letters. In traditional monograms, the larger center letter represents the surname. When a three-letter monogram is created for a wedding gift, it is customary for the man’s first initial be placed to the left of center, and the bride’s first initial be placed to the right of the center letter.

Block #1 â Plain Block

Block letters are frequently favored for embroidery for men or boys. One style should be plain, having no serifs. This basic style is wonderful used in upper and lower case for personalizations. Its simplicity makes it ideal for very small lettering sizes, and you can recommend it for use on items for toddlers and children who are just learning to read. What a thrill to read your name in embroidery for the first time!

Block # 2 â Serif Block

Serifs are the small feet and extensions that appear on lettering styles such as Times or Century. This style has a more formal appearance than plain block, and is a popular choice for names and dates.

Specialty Fonts

Some fonts evoke a casual mood, some are dressy and upright while others are flowing and graceful. Choose one or more fonts to broaden your selection beyond the basics listed above. One of the perennial favorites for personalizations on baby blankets to Christmas stocking is a font called Zapf or Apple Chancery. This unique font, a clever cross between block and script, creates just the right mix of fun and formality. This font or a similar one will help make your special occasion font selection complete. View Example

Designs

When designs are used in special occasion embroidery, they are frequently simple and elegant, used for accent purposes. You may present some elaborate pieces in your sample book as well, such a floral border frames or large centerpiece embroideries. However, the primary focus should be on a good selection of accent designs for the most popular special occasion requests. See the list below for designs to consider for your stitched “suggestion” book. Simple motifs stitched along with individual names and dates are the biggest selling selections.

Stitched Suggestion Book

Each time that you make a special occasion embroidery that you particularly like, stitch another for your suggestion book. Place the swatches in a binder, making sure to keep the look upscale. For a finished look, frame each embroidered swatch with colored paper frames available in the scrapbook department at your local craft store.

Embroiderable Items

Consider keeping a selection of gift items suitable for special occasions to maximize your profits. For example, even a small inventory of woven afghans, fleece throws, white and ecru bath sets will make you a one-stop solution for last minute shower gifts. You may also be surprised how well these items sell during holiday season. Laundry bags, oversized towels and bath wraps are perennial favorites for graduates. In fact, many people order them because they still have the ones that they received when they graduated!

Memory books are also very popular gifts for graduates. You will be sure to get orders if you display samples, but be sure to start showing them early and encourage your customers to place their orders four to six weeks in advance. This will allow assembly time for the embroidered cover to be applied to the book. You will get more sales on this item if you offer the completed books, but you may choose to simply refer this pportion of the work to a craftsperson in your area. You can build a nice repeat business around high-quality receiving blankets, Lovies character blankets and eyelet diaper covers, because these popular items can be hard to find. Once the word gets out that you have unique baby items, you may find that spring is a very busy season, with some customers coming in with birth announcements by the handful.
Identity apparel for corporations has changed in recent years, and smaller businesses have followed their lead, much like high schools athletic departments mimic the trends of college athletics. Corporate users have led the way with updated garments, embroidery placements and color treatments. Embroiderers who apply the latest corporate looks to small business customers gain more business and a reputation as the embroiderer of choice for among business users.