 Be sure to test-stitch designs before starting a project. This way you can determine if you are using the correct:
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Design for the fabric
- Thread type for the fabric
- Thread weight for the design
- Stabilizer for the fabric and design
- Hoop size and method
By test-stitching designs prior to stitching on the actual product, you are preventing potential mishaps. Yes, test-stitching takes more time, but it also saves projects. You can always save your successful test-stitch samples for future projects such as greeting cards, patchwork pillows and so much more.
Check out Creative Machine Embroidery magazine for easy-to-stitch up ideas (www.cmemag.com). Back to the top Not every design will work on every fabric. Just because you have an embroidery design, some
fabric and thread does not mean that these items will automatically work together. It is extremely important to evaluate your design collection and the project in which you would like to embroider. A large dense design is inappropriate for embroidery on a t-shirt, but would be perfect on a denim jacket. An open weave airy design would be inappropriate for polar fleece fabric but super on a button-down shirt. Back to the top Never copy or share designs with your friends -- it is illegal. Just like songs on a CD, which are copyrighted by the artist, any embroidery design is owned and copyrighted by the company, which digitizes the design for free or for sale. Therefore, you do not have the right to share or copy the designs
- it is for your own personal use. If you are caught you will be prosecuted. Check out www.embroideryprotection.com for more details. The Embroidery Protection Coalition has hired a detective to search out violators of the copyright law. This is my warning to you - obey the copyright law for your own protection! If two or more of you purchase a design or design pack and share it - this action is also illegal. One design or design pack per person keeps you legal. Back to the top Only use quality products designed for use with an embroidery machine. Inferior products such as plastic bags, copy paper and non-embroidery products could ultimately damage your embroidery
project. Additional costs of are necessary when owning an embroidery machine -- usable supplies are needed for successful results. Relate this hint to the purchase of a household appliance such as a bread-making machine. Once you purchase the appliance then you'll need to purchase the bread flour, yeast, butter and extra goodies to make fresh baked bread. There are products made specifically for
embroidery such as an assortment of stabilizers, threads and needles - these items are a necessity for successful embroidery results. Commercial embroidery companies use the same embroidery products (in larger quantities) for each embroidered project - these items are considered the 'cost of doing business' and necessities. These same supplies are necessities when purchasing an embroidery machine. Back to the top Always preshrink your fabric or garment before stitching. This is an extremely important step. If an item made of 100% cotton fabric is embroidered before it is washed, the fabric will shrink around the design during the washing process and in turn warps and ruins your embroidered item. EEEKKKK!
Therefore, wash before embroidering to prevent possible problems after the embroidery process. Back to the top Use the smallest hoop possible for your design. If your design is 4" square use the size hoop
closest to the size of the design. Using a too large of a hoop could distort the fabric during the embroidery process. Then, when you unhoop the fabric you will experience puckering around the design. It is important to hoop your fabric tightly - not taut. Too taut of fabric could result in the stretching of the fabric and will cause the same result - puckering of the fabric around the design. It is also important to set
the size of the hoop before the final hooping. First, set the screw on your hoop approximately where you think it should be for the layers of stabilizer and fabric. Then, try to hoop your fabric - continue hooping and unhooping until you have the perfect tension. Never adjust the screw on the hoop after hooping your fabric with the stabilizer. This action will cause the fabric to shift in the hoop and ultimately cause puckering of the fabric around designs. Back to the top Do not use your home embroidery machine for commercial use. Home embroidery machines are designed for individual embroidery or light-duty embroidery projects. It is very easy for a home embroidery machine to overheat and cause the inner workings of the machine to stop working properly
when used continuously for a business. There are commercial machines available for heavy-duty embroidery projects and should be considered when home machines are being used continuously for larger projects. Commercial machines run faster, saving you time, and payment plans are available for the purchase of such equipment. Back to the top Have your machine tuned-up at least once a year. To keep your embroidery equipment in tip-top shape, have it serviced at least once a year. Just like a teeth cleaning to keep our gums in good shape, it is important to keep our embroidery machine tension and bobbin case clean and in good shape to prevent future problems. Your local dealer where you purchased your equipment will help keep your
machinery in good working order for a nominal fee. It is well worth the added expense. Back to the top Purchase more than one standard size hoop for various uses. Standard home embroidery hoops
are made of a high-grade plastic. Plastic over time will stretch out of shape and may not be as taut as a new hoop. Therefore, if you are experiencing difficulty with fabric puckering around the edges of designs and your hoop is older than 1 year of light-duty embroidery, you may need to purchase a new hoop. Keep the older hoop for heavier projects, such as polar fleece fabric or denim. It might be a good hoop for using
with adhesive stabilizers (tighten the inner and outer hoops together, then place the adhesive stabilizer on the back of both hoops). Be sure to mark the older hoop with permanent marker so you can tell the new hoop from the old hoop! For more hints and tips, be sure to check out my book Embroidery Machine Essentials! Back to the top |
