Embroidery FAQ
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Q:
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Why do I need to use a stabilizer?
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A:
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It is very important to use some type of stabilizer with the fabric you are embroidering because it helps relieve stress placed on the fabric while it supports the stitching. Stabilizers reduce or eliminate tunneling, puckering and other fabric distortions. |
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Q:
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The thread keeps breaking while I am embroidering.
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A:
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- Raise the presser foot and carefully rethread the machine.
- Make sure it is feeding evenly off the spool of thread.
- An embroidery needle size 11 or 14 works better because of it's larger eye.
- Use bobbin or lingerie thread wound on the plastic bobbin included with your accessories and make sure it has been threaded in the shuttle properly.
- Some thread spools are not very long and wrap around the horizontal spool pin, which breaks the thread. To prevent this, you can first put on a spool cap, then your spool cushion, then the spool of thread itself, then another spool cap. By putting the extra spool cap on the back, it moves the thread a little closer to the end, therefore, not giving it much room to "wrap" around the spindle and break.
- Some threads, when new, are wound tigher at each end.Also, when most of the thread is gone, it becomes tight also. As it unwinds, the tight end breaks the thread and sometimes the needle. Since this is a thread mfgr issue, the best you can do it keep an eye on it. Some embroiders use their vertical spool spindle instead of their horizontal. (Most embroidery machines some with a vertical spool pin that attaches to the bobbin winder). When using the vertical spool pin, you may have to loosen your tension. Another solution would be to use a separate spool stand, which usually sits behind the machines. There are variations, and testing what works best for you is the key.
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Q:
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Why does my needle keep breaking?
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A:
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The reason the needle breaks is sometimes the same reason the thread breaks. See "thread breaking" on the above question. Another reason a needle breaks is the design could be too dense for the size of needle you are using. With a dense design, if you are using a size 14 needle, you should be using a size 11, in order for it to be small enough to penetrate the dense threads. Also check your stabilizer. For heavy designs, you may want to use a lighter stabilizer, in order for the needle to go through. |
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Q:
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The design did not stitch out properly.
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A:
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- If you have determined that your needle is not damaged then the problem may be the result of the wrong type of stabilizer used on a particular fabric. There are many types of stabilizers available. Refer to your Instruction Book for more information on fabrics and stabilizers.
- Try an alternate method to hooping the fabric. Hoop the stabilizer only and spray with an adhesive. Press the fabric to be embroidered onto the stabilizer and make sure it is smooth. Stitch your design.
- Always make sure that the embroidery arm of the machine is free to move to the various positions that it will need to in order to stitch the design. Place the excess fabric around the machine so that it does not get caught up in the machine.
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Q:
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Are there additional cards available for my machine?
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A:
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The Simplicity Embroidery System uses cards in the PES format. There are a variety of cards available that can be used in your machine. Refer to our Embroidery Card page for a description and picture of each card. |
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Q:
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I am embroidering on towels and sweatshirts, but my design "sinks" into the fabric.
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A:
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For soft fabrics, such as sweatshirts, towels, velvets, etc., you not only want to use stabilizer on the bottom, but you want to use a "wash away" stabilizer on top. The wash away will melt when washed, but under the threads, it hardens. This helps hold the design on top of the fabric. |
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