Not a man to rest on his laurels, Roy set about trying to redress the balance by introducing a training program aimed at technicians and machine users alike.

The idea is to separate the two as the depth of knowledge required by the machine users for instance would fall well short of that needed by a technician. Well known in the industry for breaking new ground Roy has approached this subject in a non-partisan way as the course(s) will be open to all embroiderers whether or not they are a SWF customer. The idea is to reintroduce the basic knowledge that was second nature only a few years ago and the time to starting is now and Roy was keen to point out that much of the training will be about embroidery and not about how a specific machine or model works.

By the time you read this the first of the planned courses may well have taken place but don't worry because there will be plenty more to choose from. In this article though we thought we would look at the reasoning behind the decision.

‘If a thing is worth doing then it is worth doing well' as the old saying goes but you can only achieve that if you know what you are doing in the first place. In this age of automation there is a tendency to think that everything is simpler than it was and very often that is true but there is always going to be a greater depth of knowledge needed if you want to go that extra step. There is no doubt whatsoever that modern embroidery machines are simpler and easier to use than past models and it would be fair to say that many of the previously arduous tasks have been de-skilled to the point where just about anyone can tackle them with little or no training but that is only as it appears on the surface. In truth there are still many areas of embroidery that demand skill and expertise and by acquiring these you can save valuable time and product. We asked Roy to give us a heads-up on a few of the skills that have become either lost or hidden.

Framing: Because there are devices in today's market that make this task easier many embroiderers no longer take the time to perfect this skill but it is one that all should have as it can make the difference between good and bad embroidery. "It used to be something that was a standard part of training" said Roy "but, unfortunately, that is not always the case now". But why is it so essential? To understand this you must first understand what happens to the fabric as it is embroidered and, in this instance, we will concentrate on knitwear as that still constitutes the bulk of embroidery media. Knitwear, because it stretches, is unstable when it comes to embroidery and correct framing is one of the techniques used to combat this. If the garment and the backing are correctly framed then the pattern will be sewn as the digitiser intended. If, however, this task has not been carried out correctly then the fabric is liable to flex and the design will, seemingly, move off pattern. When embroiderers see this for the first time they are inclined to blame the design or the machine but all too often the cause is faulty or incorrect framing. Learning how to do this properly will stop this problem from occurring.

Backing: This comes from a variety of sources in an equal variety of types but, wherever it comes from and whatever it is like, it all has one main aim which is to help stabilise the area being embroidered. You would think that adding a piece of non-woven backing to the process would be easy but, believe it or not, there is a technique to this and this can vary depending on the type of backing used. Learning how to adjust the way you use your backing can save numerous problems further down the production line. For instance do you need one piece or two? When is it better to use heavier weight backing? Should you always use easy tear or is there sometime a case for using cut away? The answers to these and many other questions will determine your success and it is far better to be taught about them than have to rely on your own mistakes to learn more productive and efficient methods.

Tensions: This is probably the most misunderstood subject of all and one of the most difficult to master. Tension comes in a variety of forms but here we are talking about how tight the thread runs on the machine and not how you feel at the end of a strenuous day. This is most definitely an area where skill is needed. Yes there are devices on the market that will help you set thread tensions correctly but they are, at the end of the day, an aid and not a solution. There really is no replacement for good old fashioned knowledge and experience where this one is concerned. Many mistakenly think that setting thread tensions only applies to the top thread whereas it is really a balance between top and bottom. Getting this wrong may result in an increase in downtime or simply untidy embroidery which your customer will not accept. Mistakes with tensions may still allow you to produce embroidery but it may not be good enough to encourage repeat orders from your customers.

Some will find a few of the above comments to be obvious and maybe even patronising but it is a sad fact that there are many embroiderers out there who do not understand the basics of their trade.

They say that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing but a little well informed knowledge can make the difference between continuing production and waiting for the technician to arrive. If you can handle some of the technical aspects of the machine then you may not even have to call out the tech' in the first place not only saving time but also the cost of the call out. Standard subjects that should be covered in training when a machine is purchased are often not covered to the right degree or sometimes even missed completely but this is not a blame game. Unfortunately the level of training within the industry is not what it used to be so the trainers themselves are very often working from a disadvantaged position.

It is this that set Roy to thinking about how it can be changed and hence his commitment to setting up training courses for both users and technicians.

Further information on the available courses this year can be found by contacting Your Embroidery Services Ltd. on 01623 863343 or e-mail sales@yesltd.co.uk

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