KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL 3D FOAM EMBROIDERY
1. PROPER DIGITIZING 2. QUALITY MATERIALS 3. CORRECT TOOLS 4. PROPER CLEAN UP
MATERIALS/TOOLS
1. HIGH DENSITY FOAM-made for embroidery use -same or similar color to top stitching; 3-4 mm Thickness; 40wt Poly Thread
2. NON SHARP POKING TOOL (I recommend the 3D PuffPro Tool: www.3DPuffProTools.com )
3. TWEEZERS
4. Needles-best suited for material (75/11 Titanium Sharp work well for most hats)
5. HEAT GUN
HOLD FOAM IN PLACE
Before embroidering the puff elements in your design, secure the foam to your hat using tape or a strong rubber band. I prefer the rubber band. Make sure to keep tape or rubber band out of the sewing area.
CLEAN UP
-1st tear away excess foam from around the sewn design. Use 3D PuffPro/tweezers to remove the segments that are within the sewn elements of the design
-POKING: You will have small exposed pieces of foam throughout the design that you will have to manually poke back under the top stitching. Use the 3D PuffPro to push these areas under the stitching. DO NOT use scissors they can cut the the foam and stitches & may damage your garment.
-HEAT: Using a heat gun, apply indirect heat to the entire design. Do not hold the heat on the embroidery for a long period of time - pass back and forth slowly over the foam areas - about 3-4 inches from the embroidery.
NOW GO HAVE FUN CREATING THOSE AWESOME 3D PUFF PROJECTS!