Spotlight on a Finalist - Liz Ball’s Raygun Kangaroo Spirit
Table of Contents
Spotlight on a Finalist - Liz Ball’s Raygun Kangaroo Spirit
Wilcom’s World Digitizing Showcase 2024
Congratulations to Liz Ball from Newcastle Workwear Specialists! Wilcom is thrilled to celebrate this digitizing masterpiece: “Raygun Kangaroo Spirit” by Liz, a standout finalist in Wilcom’s World Digitizing Showcase 2024. Read on for our Spotlight on a Finalist - Liz Ball’s Raygun Kangaroo Spirit.
The Inspiration Behind “Raygun Kangaroo Spirit”
Liz Ball’s design, inspired by Raygun’s (Rachael Gunn) performance during the 2024 Paris Olympics, captures the essence of the Australian spirit through a unique blend of movement and symbolism.
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!
Her performance was polarizing worldwide, but her effort was undeniable, and her ‘Kangaroo Spirit’ was endearing. When Liz saw the iconic photo of Raygun in a kangaroo-like pose, she instantly visualized the design. The concept of merging Raygun’s dynamic energy with the spirit of the kangaroo – a symbol of resilience and strength—formed the core of this compelling piece.
Fueled by plenty of coffee, powered by Wilcom software, and guided by Liz’s embroidery expertise and creativity, this masterpiece came to life!Creating “Raygun Kangaroo Spirit” was no small feat. Liz dedicated countless hours outside of her busy work schedule at Newcastle Workwear Specialists to bring her vision to life. The design process took approximately 10 hours of intricate digitizing, utilizing the full spectrum of Wilcom’s powerful tools.
DIGITIZING TIME
10
HOURS
DESIGN
116,000
STITCH COUNT
EMBROIDERY TIME
4
HOURS
Embroidery Techniques
A special thank you to Liz’s skilled colleague, Lea who embroidered the ‘Raygun Kangarooo Spirit’ onto a green acid wash denim jacket and a black hoodie.
✔Auto-Digitizing
It started with auto-digitizing a sketch of the kangaroo, which was carefully edited to refine the design.
✔Stem Stitch
Tripled at 4.5mm, it was used to create the vibrant green and gold energy radiating from the figure.
✔ Back Stitch
2.5mm with 3 strokes and 50% overlap to outline Raygun’s shoes, ensuring definition.
✔ Branching
Applied to the smaller objects throughout the design.
✅ Satin Stitch
The satin stitch adds movement to the design, enhancing the overall dynamism of the piece.
✅ Tatami Fills
Assorted random stitches add texture and interest to the design. Plus, high pull comp and global laydown stitch for stability.
What else does Liz like about EmbroideryStudio?
Liz particularly appreciates the inclusion of CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite in the Wilcom package, which she uses extensively to create mock-up samples for clients. The “Capture Virtual Decoration” feature allows her to scale and overlay embroidery designs onto garments, providing a clear visual representation of the final product.
About Liz Ball
Liz’s journey began after graduating from Newcastle University with a Graphic Design degree.
Reflecting on her education, she notes a missed opportunity: embroidery was never introduced as a creative medium in her studies, nor was the potential crossover between graphic design and embroidery explored. Like many in the industry, embroidery eventually found her, and she’s never looked back.
“In mid-2000, embroidery found—and saved—me!
I began my career in the embroidery industry as an embroidery machine operator with a sportswear manufacturer in Newcastle, occasionally stepping in to digitize designs when needed.
Six years later, in 2006, the amazing Russ family offered me the opportunity to help start and run a brand-new in-house embroidery and design department for NWWS. With their support and trust (and fueled by copious amounts of black coffee), I essentially taught myself how to digitize embroidery designs using Wilcom EmbroideryStudio.
Now, over 18 years later I am fortunate enough to teach my extremely creative, talented crew all that I have learned.” Liz Ball
“I’ve found it advantageous to teach someone to digitize if they have embroidery machine and production experience first. It’s not just pretty pictures!”Congratulations Liz Ball
A finalist in
Wilcom’s World Digitizing Showcase 2024
At Newcastle Workwear Specialists, Liz plays a pivotal role in the bustling in-house design department, which boasts 36 embroidery heads across six machines, two digital printers, and two vinyl cutters. Liz and her team specialize in creating and recreating logos for print and embroidery. The company sells brand uniforms serving a diverse clientele, including small businesses and large corporations. They stock caps, shirts, jackets, pants, beanies and create custom designs as required.
Get in touch with Newcastle Workwear Specialists. All Embroidery Produced & Designed IN-HOUSE
Embroidery Excellence Starts Here
Ask about EmbroideryStudio
Wilcom EmbroideryStudio Designing
$3,999.00
.lion-image { position: absolute; max-width: 900px; z-index: 1; left:50%; top: 10%; } html, body { max-width:100%; overflow-x:hidden; } EmbroideryStudio 2025 Designing { "__shgImageElements": { "uuid":...… read more
Looking to trade in non-Wilcom software
Got questions? We’re here to help.
