Three-Dimensional Embroidery Designs Add Fluffy Fun To Childrenswear

July 1, 2008

If you're wondering exactly how the monogram letter "E" was created on the shirt featured on Impressions' cover this month, it was sewn by a patented process called Fuwari 3-D Embroidery. This unique process involves embroidering a design using a special adhesive bobbin thread along with a special topping. The design also must be digitized specifically for this process. The design is sewn as usual and then heat is applied to melt the adhesive on the bobbin thread. This locks the threads in place.

Once the design has been heat sealed, it is run through a special cutter, which literally shaves off the tops of the embroidery threads and the result is a wonderfully soft, fluffy 3-D design.

The Fuwari system, which is sold exclusively by RNK Distributing, Knoxville, Tenn., includes the special embroidery supplies needed, the cutter and predigitized designs. You also can digitize your own designs and the training to do this is included with the system.

DJ Anderson, Bulldog Embroidery, Houston, who purchased one of the first systems on the market, has had great success using it not only for kidswear, but also logos, team mascots and much more. He has been marketing it to schools as an alternative to chenille with solid success. The possibilities are endless, he notes. "With the Fuwari 3-D system, you can highlight certain features that would not normally stand out," he says. "One example would be to embroider a lion's head and only do the mane in Fuwari. It creates a lot more dimension." — Steve Coakley, Fuwari Division Manager

Anderson has a gallery of Fuwari embroidery designs on his Web site, which you can visit at bulldogemb.com. For more information about the system itself, visit RNK Distributing; e-mail info@RNKDistributing.com or call (865) 549-5115. For a video demonstration, go to youtube.com/rnkdistributing.

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