Week 2 out of 3 for the CU FabLab!
This week, we worked on digital embroidery, which was cool and the key to so many things that I would like to work with when it comes to making patches!
^ The machine that we used.
While this process was seemingly straightforward, there are multiple steps that require delicate handling and work. To start off, first, find a picture that you would like to embroider. Next, upload it into a proprietary software, SewArt, and reduce the number of colors on it through the ‘Merge’ function as well as trim so that it is within 4in by 4in. Any larger than that the machine would not be able to print it.
^Back view of the machine in action.
Once all those were done, just upload the file to the machine and select the threads that you would like to use! Choose wisely if not your embroidery is going to come out weirdly colored!
^ The start of my Neko Atsume print
Since I’ve been crazy about Neko Atsume (a cat collecting game), I decided to print out one of the cats from the collection! It was a relatively simple print, with six colors.
The tricky thing with these machines is that they have a tendency to scramble your thread if it is not placed correctly, so keep an eye out while it’s working its way through!
It is important to cut away all the excess thread when the machine goes from one part to another since it might be overlapping another color’s area!
Final products! I had a bit of time left after finishing up the first one, so I did a Mr. Tubbs one as well~
Honestly, before this class, I have never thought of fabrications as something that can be digitalized. My impression of fabrics is always the traditional hand sewing or a person using the sewing machine. This embroidery machine works almost like a 3D printing machine, just with different materials and techniques. One good thing about these machines is that if an error was made, one can just lift up the needle and backtrack it so that the machine reembroiders that part. Maybe 3D printings might have this function one day too? A failsafe in case something happens!
Now that I’ve learned how to use this machine, I’m going to explore more into it and see if I could potentially add this to my project! Maybe one day I might be able to justify buying one of these machines to use on my fashion projects.
Your design was really cool! Suzanne had mentioned that your print looked better than hers because you paid so much attention to detail, and I agree. I had saved all of the trimming and editing of my print until the end, but you had done it between changing the threads which made it noticeably a lot cleaner looking! Great post Elaine 🙂
Thanks for all of the videos Elaine! I forgot to take a video of my embroidery from two weeks ago so I will show my friends your video to show them how I made it! Of the two things in the FabLab, which of them is your favorite so far? I’m very excited for our third week there coming up, can’t wait to see more videos!