Searching for the right thread and outlines-Machine Embroidery

How many times we think we have the correct shade of thread for our embroidery project only to find that what we thought would look good is actually just so so or just blah….Well, the past several days I’ve been trying to find the right shade of white for the AEC logos which I hope to finish soon. I didn’t know that there were that many shades of white….there is the white white which looks sort of blue white, there is that soft white which can turn into yellow or there is that offwhite white which can turn beige. Have I confused you yet? LOL. Years ago when I was working on the Magnolia collection I had the same problem. A dear friend who lived in Atlanta finally helped me out. She took her color palette outside where she had a magnolia tree and picking a bloom and matched each of the colors. It was then I discovered Sylko threads. Sylko is a Coats and Clark product, however it is not to be confused with the Coats and Clark thread that we can purchase at Wal-mart or Jo-Ann. Sylko thread mainly is for the commercial machines but one can find it also in the 1000m spools. It is definitely the most color fast and strong polyester thread.

One of my main “stay away from” techniques is outlines. I’m not an outline person, do not like it in designs. However, there are ways that one can create outlines yet they are not really outlines.  Sometimes sketchy type outlines using only one thread (no return paths please) can result in giving that special “oomph” to the design. I was to discover that this week. In digitizing one is always learning. Dianne Pomeroy, the organizer of the AEC had asked me to do the logos for the Conference. Hastily I had sketched out the design tweeking it as she wanted until it was perfect. Now, when I’m sketching, it is on the screen and not on paper and without any of the finesse (no connections etc just basic fills to show case the design). And when I’m sketching there are chances that outlines will appear to showcase the objects. In my original drawing presented to Dianne I had an outline around each of the dogwood flowers. When I finally started work on the designs, I omitted the outlines and used sketchy type lines….Sharp lady, that Dianne. She insisted I had changed the design or done something…..LOL. Well, I finally agreed to try out a thin outline (sketchy still) around each of the dogwood petals….What a difference! The flowers popped out immediately. Then started the search for that perfect shade of white for the flowers. I think I may have them as I ordered them today but meanwhile notice the difference of just a single outline in the two images, amazing isn’t it. And yes I think I’ve learned a bit about outlines. The designs are about finished…three logos in all, 4×4 hoop, 5×7 hoop and the 6×10 hoop. And the registrants are the first to get them…yes they will be part of a collection which will be released at the AEC.