Whilst we were pattern cutting Mandy showed each of us how to use her multi head embroidery machine. This amazing machine has six needles and can stitch out very complex images as directed by a computer program. She demonstrated how to use a photo or a drawing as a starting point and generate a motif made up of stitches. The computer program then controls the sewing machine while it stitches out the design.
The software plans the type of stitch, the colour, the order it will all be stiched in and drives the sewing machine.
This six threaded machine follows the instructions from the computer program.
Gemma translated a drawing into a series of stitch instructions, this was then stitched out by the machine. The frame keeps the fabric taught whilst it is stitched out.
The beetle you can see on the computer screen as stitched out on some green fabric, using metalic thread.
