Interthread Embroidery Stitches The Perfect Design

By Janee Law

jlaw@longislandergroup.com

Interthread Embroidery owner Maryann DeSimone said that applying the perfect stitch to a piece a fabric is like art.

When asked what the most important part of customizing a piece of clothing is, Maryann DeSimone will say that it’s to hoop the fabric properly and straight before starting to embroider.

She would know, considering she’s operated Interthread Embroidery since 1996.

“You have to look at it as a blank canvas, and you’re starting it almost like a painting and building from the bottom up,” DeSimone 57, of Huntington, said. “It’s definitely art. It starts with the art of someone’s logo, which they’ve taken the time to create and have it be a part of their business.”

For each letter she embroiders, DeSimone must manage over 100 stitches. She focuses on getting the stitches nice and crisp in order to develop a clear picture while avoiding over-stitching.

Using a single-head Tajima stitch machine or a silk screening machine, Interthread can customize items like shirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, scarves, blankets, beach towels, bags.

“Whatever the customer wants, I work it out,”DeSimone said, adding that Interthread can embroider for weddings, baby gifts, corporate gifts, sport teams and more. “I know enough about what a logo looks like, how it’s going to sew out to be able to maybe tweak it just a little bit so that it will work.”

There’s no quantity limit for an order, DeSimone said, noting that she’s produced 16,000 pieces every year for a bus company. Prices are based on quantity, the type of garment and size of the monogram. And Interthread does test runs before applying the final piece.

“I’ll sew it out on a scrap fabric and show it to you before I actually put it on a finished garment to make sure that you’re happy with how the logo looks,” DeSimone said. “If you’re not happy with it we’ll redo it.”

After starting Interthread out of her home 20 years ago, DeSimone moved the small business to a 400-square-foot space at 11 Lake Place in Huntington last March.

With the new space, DeSimone has also began promoting local businesses in her shop by selling their products, such as bows from Bows For Your Bellas and chocolates from Sweeties Candy Cottage. DeSimone also sells cards made by artist Melissa Hyatt, her sister-in-law.

DeSimone is aided by her two employees, Susie Callahan and Terry Ehrman, who she said have assisted her with the business, and taken on leadership roles.

Together with Callahan and Ehrman, DeSimone said she has plans to conquer the social media world by developing an Instagram account for Interthread, and growing Interthread’s current followings on Facebook and Twitter.

She said, “I think the marketing and the social media is going to be key in order to grow it to the next level.”