Embossing Tutorial for Raised Designs on Fabric
While working on this year’s AN costume, I found a raised design. Applique might have worked, with a thicker fabric, but it seemed more embossed, so here’s my solution for adding some depth!
- Take your pattern, and sketch the design you’d like to emboss on it. Trace the new design onto a new template.
- Transfer your design to a piece of foam. One layer is probably enough, but if you need more height, cut more layers.
- Check your foam layer against your garment to make sure it fits as you’d like.
- Sandwich that foam between two layers of fabric. I’ve cut two layers of the original pattern piece for this, but you could probably make patches if your design is small and far from seams. Pin it in place so it doesn’t shift while you sew.
- Start sewing the two pieces of fabric around your foam. Try and be snug. You’re probably going to want to hand-stitch this if your design is more complex than straight lines. Here’s my design in-progress, with the holes still open.
- The effect will look different on different fabrics. I’d recommend at least one fabric be with out stretch, because the foam will not stretch. Also, the thicker your fabric, or more textured, the less noticeable your foam layer will be, and may need bulking up to compensate.
This sort of embossing hasn’t come up often for me, but hopefully this will help someone else!
also called trapunto or trapunto quilting. I used this for my Ganondorf with great success, but I used felt cut outs rather then foam because I needed the movement.
Sorry for all the pics, but it was really hard to get a decent shot of my new business card design, but I’m pretty happy with it and wanted to share! I looove messing with Spot UV gloss, but next time I think I’ll definitely do a wider font and a less busy illustration.
