Tidbits 6/11/2007

Are  you legitimate?

What kind of a question is that?? LOL, are you legitimate? Or better still, to showcase  you are a legitimate business carry this particular logo on your website as that will prove to the world that you are a legitimate business and not one doing anything shady. Well….in that case…may I ask a question…is the logo legitimate or is the business hosting and producing the logo legitimate?

Don’t be confused friends. This is in response to an amazing email I had from a dear digitizer friend who asked if I would like to belong to an organization online which portrays legitimate machine embroidery businesses by handing out a special logo which lets everyone in the machine embroidery world know that you are a legitimate business. Moreover, the organization is like an advertising business which lets its members be aware of your promotions, sales etc. Intrigued, I asked my friend to let me know more about it. After reading it all, I didn’t know whether to laugh or shake my head…laughter won over. I guess if I paid someone a certain amount on a monthly basis they would guarantee that I am a legitimate business online….ROFLOL….ROFLOL. Well…I knew there were sales pitches everywhere but this one topped them all for me. And if that is not all…I saw absolutely legitimate businesses being part of the group. Please do not think that I am making a joke of it. Actually I’m rather saddened by this. More power to the business that thought this up and more power to those who believe this is a way to wade through the problem of illegitimate businesses that crop up overnight. But I find it rather difficult to believe that I have to pay to prove that I am a legitimate business. Perhaps that is all what our world has finally come to…a dollar sign and amount. What ever happened to integrity, honour and truth?

 

Stabilizers/interlinings etc:

For quite a while now I have had emails from friends asking about types of stabilizers and their differences. An exhausting research via the internet/emails/phone etc I was finally able to get to some degree of understanding about the one item that is so very important in machine embroidery…stabilizers. Which stabilizer to use with what fabric and why? What brand of stabilizer is better than the other and why? To also find out from consumers what they thought of this, I put together a survey and posted on various groups.

The simple answer to the question of what stabilizer to use is “whatever you prefer”. If you like to use paper towel, go for it. If you like to use some major name brand, go for it. The end result is your preference. The truth about all stabilizers in the market…they literally all come from a handful of suppliers. (I have heard to the contrary on this but that only came from one concern and I have yet to determine where their particular plant in the US is located.)

Coatings, weight etc that are particular to a certain brand and the name tag makes for the price of the stabilizer. I can purchase a stabilizer at Wal-mart for $2.00 a yard and the same type of stabilizer I can purchase from a well known name brand supplier for five times the amount…it is my choice. They are both the same, coming from the same manufacturer. It makes no difference that the stabilizer is made in the US or abroad…they are all intermingled. If I want I can purchase stabilizers in bulk from any production company, label it with my tag, cut it to the specifications that I prefer and market it under my name choosing any price I want.

The bottom line is that it is the choice of the consumer. All the stabilizers are excellent and if used properly(matched to the fabric with the type of the stabilizer) will yield the same results.

Some good readings on stabilizers can be found here:

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00128.asp

http://www.secretsof.com/content/619

http://www.stirlingembroidery.com/stabilizers.htm#hydro

http://www.terradonunlimited.com/stabilizer_help.htm

Guides to usage of what stabilizer and fabric:

http://www.embroiderybacking.com/stabilizer_guide.html?gclid=CNuRo9u104wCFRrnPgodEFjpuw

http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?SelectingtheRightStabilizer.htm

I’m sure that there are tons more useful links out there. If you have one please do post in the comments. Happy embroidering.