Embroidery Tips 2

This is the second of a new series articles to help get additional use of your designs and how to view the real potential when adding new design sets to your library! There will be new articles each month.

~ Thinking Outside the "Box" ~ Vol. 2 I wish that I had a nickel for each time I've been asked for the "exact" colors I used in a design or for a conversion chart for specific thread brands - I would be a very wealthy woman! Everyone seems to think that someone is going to knock on their door with a search warrant if they don't use the exact colors a designer used in the test sew out or the color numbers used in the stitch directions. Not so - if you don't "think outside the box" and use colors that you enjoy, or just prefer, you are really missing the real fun of machine embroidery! Come to think of it, I don't believe that I've ever used the exact color on any design I've ever stitched in 6+ years-some because I didn't have the exact color & others due to a dislike of the colors used. Not only do you expand your design library, but you make each design a more personal experience & you sure won't see your embroidery friends wearing the same design! Following are some tips to help you to "think outside the box": 1] One misconception is that changing the colors of a design violates a designer's copyright. I don't think that any designer has a "color change" clause in their copyright terms. 2] If you like the colors the designer used, don't fret if you don't have the exact same color in the thread brand used or the brand you prefer. Colors do not have to be exact-a color shade lighter or darker, or even a different tone will not be noticeable when the design is finished. 3] Learn to adjust colors for different fabric colors! Have you ever finished stitching a design on denim & wondered why it didn't look like the image shown on white? All colors take on a different look each time they are stitched on a different color background. If you have the background color change feature in your embroidery software, use it to help you determine when you will need to make a color switch to help the design show up better. If you don't have this feature in your software, keep various colors of felt or fabric on hand to test stitch your designs before putting them on a project. There's nothing worse than having a disappointing finished project. 4] Try stitching some designs in one color instead of the numerous colors a designer used. There are many designs that would lend themselves to an outstanding tone-on-tone design by just using your imagination! Tone-on-tone motifs make any design more "classy" on any garment or project. The perfect example is a single pink rose with a green stem & leaves. Test that same rose using thread color/s in either lighter or darker shades of the fabric color. [If the design has shading, substitute darker shades of the same color for the shading.] 5] Look through your entire design library to see where you can change the look of a design by just changing the color! I doubt you have even one design that couldn't be given a "designer" look by a color change - even fruit or flowers! Remember, "think outside the box", or you are missing out on the enjoyment & ability to expand your creativity to optimize the use of your designs! To see what I mean, take a look at the photo of my finished wind jacket! I didn't look at the colors in my own stitch directions to sew these out-I just used the colors that I liked & would show up best on the jacket color. Click the link below to see the results: Happy Sewing this month! Sandy Carter copyright 2002 Have a great day-- Sandy, Thread Artist Copyright 2002 The contents of this article are copyrighted, and are intended only for the use of the group to which is has been sent. Please do not forward this message or copy it for use anywhere else without expressed written permission from Sandy Carter. See > embroidery tips 1

*********************************************************************
Thread Artist has the superior designs & supplies you need to make all your creations as spectacular as you imagine them. You've invested a lot in your equipment; don't compromise the projects you create with your equipment by using less than the very best supplies & designs available!

Home Page: http://www.ThreadArtist.com
http://www.threadartist.com/embroidery-designs-Specials.htm
Info & Support - 859 887-3168 ~ Inquiries
E-mail: Sandy@ThreadArtist.com