Complete Guide of Sequin Embroidery Digitizing

Sequin embroidery is a great way to embroider your home décor or clothing apparel for fashion items like embroidery on dresses, tops, and others. Sequins are small pieces of plastic that is mostly to customize fashion accessories like jackets, bags, skirts, and others.

This article helps you to understand the basics of sequin embroidery and how to digitize sequin embroidery designs. It explains which embroidery machine is capable of as well as what are the file formats of sequin embroidery. It also covers the sequin fixing as well as the sequin run.

With efficient embroidery software, such as Wilcom you can easily create sequin runs manually or automatically with customizable spacing. We recommend to use the initial fixing stitch before the sequin drop to avoid damage to the embroidery material, needle, or needle plates. You can select sequins before or after digitizing. Similarly, you can preset fixing stitches or change them at any stage.

To apply sequin fixing stitches…

• To change fixing stitches, double-click to access object properties.
• Click the Chooser button in the Fixing field. The Docker expands to reveal a library of fixing stitch types.
• Select the preferred type.

To change the size of the fixing stitch, you have two options:

This automatically sets a margin around the sequin to prevent the fixing stitches from being too close.

This enables you to adjust the fixing stitch size independently of the sequin size. If you choose this option, you can enter a value from 2.50mm to 3.00mm in the Size field.

• For manual sizing, measure from the sequin center, with automatic matching, and set the margin in the Margin field (0.2mm to 2mm) to secure the fixing stitches from close punching.
• To use complex sequin shapes like an ellipse, use fixing stitches that automatically adjust. Choose the fixing orientation by selecting a preset option.
• To secure sequins better, create a sequin run and overlay it with a plain run, or use backtracking to avoid jump stitches.
• Use the Backtrack/Repeat tool for sequin-run objects. Ensure your machine format supports sequin output and set up a dedicated sequin palette.

To create sequin runs, you can place the sequins manually or let the software generate placement positions based on your settings. You can choose between exact spacing for open shapes and even spacing for closed shapes, and can preset the sequin type or change it at any time.

• To create a string of sequins along a digitized line, use Sequin> Sequin Run Auto.
• If you prefer to digitize the Sequin drops manually, use Sequin> Sequin Run Manual.

There are many embroidery machines that supports sequin embroidery with the combination of chenille, cording, beading etc.

The capabilities of embroidery machines can vary significantly. Such as, some machines support only one sequin per device and can only feed one sequin at a time. Other machines can support one or two devices per machine head, usually on the first or last needles. Some machines can support twin-sequin devices without stack feedings, such as the Barudan FDR-II Twin Sequin, Tajima TBF, and SWF Twin Sequin. Some machines can help twin-sequin or double twin-sequin devices with stack feeding, like the Dahao.

Additionally, some machines can support multiple sequins per device, ranging from four to possibly more, with or without stack feeding.

To create sequin embroidery with ease, it's important to select the appropriate machine format when using Sequin tools. If your machine format does not support sequins, you can still view the sequin palette, but you will only be able to digitize fixing stitches and not sequin drops.

Luckily, with Wilcom, you can choose from a variety of machine formats that support sequins such as:

1. Dahao (with multiple sequin compatibility supporting DST).
2. Schiffli (with single sequin compatibility supporting ESS).
3. SWF (with single sequin compatibility supporting DST).
4. SWF Twin Sequin (with twin sequin compatibility supporting EBD).
5. Tajima (with single sequin compatibility supporting DST).
6. Tajima TBF (with twin sequin compatibility supporting TBF).
7. ZSK (with single sequin compatibility supporting ZSK).

Digitizing sequin embroidery designs for embroidery machines can be efficiently achieved with Wilcom embroidery digitizing software. However, it is important to note that not all embroidery machines are compatible with sequin embroidery designs, as this requires specialized equipment. Nevertheless, for those machines that are equipped for it, Wilcom software can help create stunning sequin embroidery designs on garments.

Wilcom embroidery digitizing software efficiently allows you to digitize the sequin embroidery designs for those embroidery machines that are compatible to do it because some embroidery machines are fully equipped with efficient devices that can embroider sequin embroidery designs onto the garment.