Issue link: https://docs.hic.us/i/403552
facing up. The garment is then pressed onto the adhesive backing. This is ideal for hard to hoop items, or products that can't be adequately stabilized by a standard embroidery hoop. Examples include patches (emblems), neckties, belts, CD cases, briefcases, dog collars, etc. Upon completion of the sewing, the backing tears off almost as easily as standard tearaways. Toppings Textured fabrics can greatly affect the quality of the embroidery. Textures surfaces are uneven, resulting in an uneven placement of stitches during the embroidery process. This is especially prevalent with terry-cloth towels, pique mesh golf shirts, and anything made of corduroy. The cure is to apply a lightweight topping (which looks like kitchen plastic wrap) to the surface of the garment prior to sewing. This creates a smooth surface for the stitches to rest upon. Such toppings are usually water-soluble, meaning any excess that can't be torn away, can be removed by wetting it. Proper backing and topping use is directly linked to consistent, high quality embroidery production. However, there is no single correct option, because each situation is different, resulting in production tradeoffs that can affect the end product. The solution is to experiment with different weights and combinations of backings, until you become comfortable with their use. For example, a stiff tear-away backing tends to produce crisp stitches in designs with low stitch count and fine details. However, it may not be stable enough to use with a knit fabric. One possible solution is to use a layer of cutaway hooped with the garment. Then slip a layer of stiff tear-away between the hooped garment and the machine sewing surface. Since this is the layer upon which the under-stitches rest, it will have the most effect on the quality of the topstitches. Meanwhile, the cut-away layer will stabilize the garment. Take the time to experiment and learn about proper backing use and how it affects the quality of sewing. www.hsi.us care@hsi.us 185