Step into Sheri Jung’s embroidery shop and be stunned at her innovative craft.Jung, originally from Wisconsin, is the owner of A Matter of Stitches – a custom embroidery and screen printing shop on Commercial Way in Spring Hill. She is an embroidery artist and has totally revitalized the craft of embroidery in today’s fashion.
Mention embroidery to some people and a vision of grandma’s tablecloth springs to mind or embroidered squares stuck in a frame on the wall.
Not so with Sheri Jung’s unique embroidery designs.
“I’ve been embroidering for 41 years now and I can turn anything ordinary into something special,” she said.
Jung can reproduce intricate logos, pictures, or text onto any textile in a matter of hours. Everything she produces is unique and custom-made.
“My customers bring in all sorts of items to have embroidered,” she said. “Sometimes it’s a baby’s blanket, sometimes a jacket or maybe a favorite scarf, but it’s patches that are my biggest sellers.”
Embroidered patches have not always been considered fashionable and, once upon a time, were only used to cover up threadbare garments at the elbows or to identify people wearing company uniforms. Today though, patches are tiny fashion icons that are greatly in demand and symbolize many different things to many different people.
A large number of Jung’s customers include Veterans and bikers who come to Jung to have special patches made for holiday celebrations like Memorial Day or weekend festivals.
Jung stocks all shapes and sizes for patches or she can custom design a shape to accommodate her customer’s needs.
Using computer technology, Jung hand-digitizes her customers’ designs or they can simply describe their dream logo to her and she will create original artwork to suit. The digitizing takes place when the original artwork is scanned in to the computer using special software. Once scanned in, the artwork has be manipulated to tell the sewing machines what threads and what colors to stitch.
“I use high-end Melco Amaya sewing machines that can stitch up to 16 different threads at once,” she said. “And depending on the intricacy of the design, one logo can take up to 30 minutes to stitch.”
A skilled operator, Jung added she has to know how the thread behaves as it is stitched and how specific threads, needles, and fabrics react when used with each other. She also has to know how different materials can withstand the stresses of embroidery and how tension can affect a design.
‘Pieces of embroidery aren’t meant to be stuck in a picture frame on a wall anymore,” said Jung. “My embroidery is created so it can be worn constantly, and put them in the washing machine when needed. I make sure I use only the highest quality threads and colors that don’t fade in the Florida sun.”
What is clear is that Jung is highly creative. This morning, she is stitching an emblem on a biker’s leather jacket. When she has finished doing that, she will use a heat press to customize a T-shirt with rhinestones.
“Each item is different,” she smiled. “Many of my customers are women who want tank tops with lots of bling added.”
Custom embroidery can work on so many styles added Jung. On display in her shop are headbands scarves, gloves, bandanas, T-shirts and hats each one unique.
“My work is also sold internationally,” she said. “I get orders from Europe and as far away as Indonesia.”
Jung said she is very close to the motorbike and Veterans community in the county and she donates her time and work regularly to various groups and charities locally.
“They are very important to me,” she said.
IF YOU GO
A Matter of Stitches is located at 5236 Commercial Way
Spring Hill, Florida
Phone:
(352) 397-6423
Hours:
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday;
Saturday by appointment
Message @aMatterOfStitches
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/aMatterOfStitches