A good way for beginners (or those who knew and forgot) to check their tensions is to look at the back of the embroidery. About 1/3 of the thread - the center third -should be bobbin. If the bobbin thread spreads to the edge, then either your top tension is too tight, or your bobbin tension is too loose. Conversely, if not very much bobbin shows, your top tension is too loose or your bobbin tension is too tight.

If you have more than one needle per head, here is how you can determine which ten...
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The small tubes of rayon, and even some of the older cones as well, can be a bit tricky to work with. The thread has a tendency to want to come off the tube in one large pile. As a result the thread gets caught underneath the remaining thread on the tube, causing thread breaks.

One technique to avoid this problem is to use a thread coaster or create your own. Similar to a beverage coaster, a thread coaster provides a surface for the thread on the tube to sit on, preventing it from getting tra...
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At some point everyone has experienced poor design registration. Often, one has a large fill edged with a column or satin stitch, and the fill and its outline do not meet. The first thing you need to determine is, was the design digitized correctly for the material you are working on. An experienced puncher positions the column stitches more inside or outside the fill. This is called pull compensation, and it makes the column sew exactly where it should when running on the specific fabric it ...
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Avoid switching thread types on your machine if you can possibly help it. An example would be to use polyester thread in black on one job and rayon thread in black for another job. The machine tensioners actually get used to one type of thread and like a child, it has fits when you make a change in its habits!

It is better to stick to one thread type. Your tension requirement for polyester is much tighter than for rayon and if you are constantly changing thread types; so is your tension and i...
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How you store your extra cones of thread is very important. The thread that is not on your embroidery machine should be stored covered and away from dust and sunlight. Cones should always be stored standing in their upright position with the end of the thread attached to the bottom of the cone. If you do not have a holder on your thread cone for the end of the thread to fit into, wind up the thread and attach the end with a piece of masking tape to the bottom plastic portion of your cone. Nev...
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When you change a needle on your embroidery machine, do you remember what needle bar you changed? Do you remember what size or type of needle you used? When was the last time you changed your needles? Do you have to change your needle more often on one needle bar or on one needle bar on one head?

Having a system in place is very important for keeping track of your needle changes.

If you have a single head, this is simple and very easy to do. You can design a form called a Needle Replacement She...
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•    Thread Breaks - Causes:  incorrect needle, burrs in needle eye, hook or throat plate, machine threaded incorrectly, incorrect needle bar height, tension adjustment needed, bent needle, machine needs lubrication, lint buildup, incorrect digitizing causing design to be too dense in an area, need for a silicon spray due to friction caused by thick fabrics or fabrics with treatments, pooling of thread which causes portions of the spool to wind off improperly.
•    Needle Breakage - Causes...
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Once you have completed your project, you may want to make some fastening cords or ties. Here is a simple way to create your own cords, using your sewing machine.
instructions
 
Gather a selection of fine knitting yarn, cord, crochet cotton, etc.

Cut threads and yarns to desired length. Knot one end and gently twist the lengths together.

Set the machine to a wide zig-zag stitch.
Thread top and bottom threads with toning shades as both will be visible.

Place the knot of the threads behind the lowere...
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Liven Up Your Animals
Your animal designs can either look flat and boring, or alive and ready to run. Learn how to digitize realistic fur over muscle structure.
Digitizing an animal so it looks nearly pet-able might seem impossible, but there are a few tricks that can bring those furry friends to life. It’s not something that you can do with automatic scanning, because it requires adding details that aren’t always obvious in the artwork or the photo. Some automatic features can be used, suc...
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 Confused by all the new jargon associated with machine embroidery? Here's an alphabetical glossary of basic definitions to help you "come to terms" with this exciting and evolving technology.

Appliqué: Decoration or trimming cut from one fabric piece and stitched to another to add dimension.
Back Appliqué: A fabric piece used behind a design, where the front fabric will be cut away to reveal the fabric beneath it.
Backing/Stabilizer: Woven or nonwoven material used beneath the embroidered fa...
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A sewing machine depends on the smallest, most replaceable part to form perfect stitches. The needle!

The needle in turn depends on all the other parts of the sewing machine to be able to create those perfect stitches. What you may not realize that YOU, the machine operator, have to allow the parts of the sewing machine to do their job. Most of us do not realize we are forcing the fabric through the machine and creating our own problems in the process.

One of the most common culprits is that ...
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