|
Simple Machine Embroidery InstructionsBasic machine embroidery instructions can be given for any type of machine. As I said in my intro to machine embroidery, it’s actually a very simple process.
If you are still wondering “how do I get the designs, put them into my machine, select my thread, prepare my fabric and finish my project”, this is where you want to be. I’ll give you some simple embroidery instructions that will apply no matter what brand of embroidery machine you own. Step-by-Step Get an embroidery file onto your computer. (By download or disc purchase.) Search the internet, find and download your desired embroidery design in the proper file format. Or, purchase a disk of designs from a store (make sure your proper file format is included). Click here to learn more about embroidery files and file formats. Follow the embroidery instructions that came with your machine to upload or download your design or designs onto your computer, and open them into your design reader program. (You have to have a design reading program of some sort to be able to look at the designs on your computer. Most embroidery machines will come with some sort of basic viewing program.) Some design programs let you not only look at, but edit, resize and adjust your embroidery files. Most of these types of programs will have to be purchased separately from your machine. If you have a program that allows you to edit your design, you will want to do that now. (Be careful that by editing the design you are not violating the designer’s copyright.) You can change colors of different sections to see what the completed design will look like. If you only have a reader program, it should still allow you to look at the design and see colors and sizing. Most of these programs will allow you to print out a color stop sheet, and the basic information about the design. Upload that file to your embroidery machine. (By wireless set up, card reader, magic box, or direct USB transfer.) Once you have edited, adjusted and re-sized your design the way you want it, it’s time to put it on your embroidery machine. You should have received some sort of transfer system with your machine. Whether it’s a card reader, magic box or a USB removable memory stick. You can also purchase wireless transfer systems for some of the newer machines. No matter what it is, it is your transfer system for your machine. Follow the specific embroidery instructions that came with your system to understand your transfer process. The basics of the transfer process will be copying the design from your computer into your mode of transfer. Then take the design, on the card or stick, air waves etc..., to the computer and install it. Prepare and hoop your fabric. (Use stabilizers, spray adhesive (for applique), etc...) I usually do this step before I turn my machine on and select my design, saves on energy, and light bulbs! You will need to prepare and hoop your fabric. (Make sure to follow whatever embroidery instructions come with the design.) You want to make sure you fabric is properly hooped and positioned. Measure out the dimensions of the design and decide on your placement on the fabric. Mark it out so that the center of the design is as close to the center of your hoop as possible. Make sure the fabric is straight in the hoop, if that will make a difference in your finished design. Also, make sure that the fabric has enough tension so it doesn’t pucker or move during stitching, but not so tight that it stretches the fabric out of shape. Once your stitching is in place, if you fabric has been stretched too tight, it will not lay right. The design will pucker and fold unnaturally. This is especially important with really stretchy fabrics like knits. You want your design to look like it belongs there. Click here for more detailed step by step embroidery instructions on hooping your fabric. Some designs, especially “in the hoop” and applique designs will call for all sorts of preparation. Such as cutting out a layers of fabric, and sometimes batting, then using spray adhesives to keep the fabric or batting in place while the pieces are tacked down. Check the embroidery instructions that usually come with those kinds of designs. (Most designers will include a text file with downloaded designs that give you and specialty embroidery instructions on completing their specialty designs. Disks usually have an instruction section in them as well. If not, you can research the basic embroidery instructions on the internet.) This is also the step that stabilizer becomes important. Stabilizer does just that, it “stabilizes” your stitches. It helps so they don’t pull too tightly, or all the way through thinner fabrics. The type of stabilizer will depend on the type of project you are doing. For more detailed information on stabilizers, click here. Load the first thread color and bobbin thread. This is a step that is very distinct to each machine. Read the embroidery instructions for your machine to properly load your thread and bobbins to prepare to embroider. Thread selection, however, is universal. The types of threads can create different results within your finished design. Different brands have different colors, types and amounts of threads available. I think thread choice is a personal preference. Color stops. What are they? When a designer creates the design, they tell the machine to “stop” so that you can change colors. As your machine goes along, when it gets to a point where it requires a new color, the machine will stop so that you can load a new color of thread. Once the new color is loaded, you simple press your “start” button again, and the machine resumes sewing where it left off. Note: When I am sewing, and my machine stops for a color change, I like to skip forward so that the needle moves into the new starting position before re-starting my machine. That makes less little strings that I need to trim when my project is complete. Install your hooped fabric onto your machine. This is another step that can be different from machine to machine. For my machine, and other Viking embroidery machines I have seen, the hoops have portion on one side that sticks out and slides into a catch on my embroidery arm. It locks into place, and I have to press a release lever to unlock it to remove the hoop. Once again, read your embroidery instructions that came with your machine to see how exactly your hoops attaches. Make sure your hoop is securely attached and all loose fabric is out from under the hoop before beginning to sew. Select the design on your embroidery machine. When you turn on your machine, you should be able to open and choose the embroidery design from there. Some machines you will select the design from an on-screen menu (like you would see on your computer), others will have you select from a numbered card that you inserted, and some will only allow you to load one design at a time. Whatever the method, select the desired design. Press “start/go”. This one is pretty self explanatory! You should have a “start” or “go” button on the front of your machine. Once you press it, the machine will start sewing. Keep an eye on the machine while it is sewing so that you can immediately fix any problems and change thread color at the color stops. I also have a “fix” button on mine. If I press this, before I press “start”, the machine will, sew a basting stitch around the design area before it sews out the desired design. This also helps keep the fabric from moving during stitching. I don’t use this if the fabric I am sewing on will show extra needle marks, such as with vinyl and leather. I simply remove these stitches when my design is complete. Remove your hoop and cut the extra threads. Once your design is completely stitched out, your machine will stop. One of my machines returns the needle to whatever point the designer began the design, ties a final knot, and resets my design to the beginning color. The other machine does the same thing, but instead of re-setting the design, will ask me if it should re-set it or clear it from the working design area. If I say I’m not done with the design, it will re-set it to the first color. If I say I am done with the design, it will clear it from my stitching area so I can choose another one. Carefully remove your hoop from your machine. Clip any tails and “jump” stitches left on the top of your design. (A jump stitch is where the machine will move from one place to another dragging a thread across the top of your design. If the design is a well digitized one, there should be a knot before and after the jump stitch so that cutting it will not cause the design to eventually unravel.) Most people leave all the jump stitches on the back of the design. I am a perfectionist, so I like my back to look almost as good as my front. I don’t cut all of them, but anything very long, I definitely cut. I do leave tails on the back threads, though. This makes it harder for it to unravel if the knot fails. You just have to be really careful not to cut any of the knots. If you do, your stitching will eventually unravel. I usually clip all the jump stitches I can while the fabric is still hooped. The tension makes it easier for me to get to the base of the stitches. (Like I said, I’m a perfectionist. Anyone who has seen me cutting stitches just laughs and teases me. They say I look like I’m performing surgery. I use a pair a tweezers to grab the thread and hold it so I can cut it really close to the base. My nose is usually only about 2" from the project and I’m always deep in concentration. I guess it’s a comical site...) Remove hoop from project, remove excess stabilizer and check for missed threads to cut. Carefully remove the fabric from your hoop. Check again for any missed threads. Remove your stabilizer. You are done!! Your project is done. Pat yourself on the back. (Then, if you’re anything like me, take a picture with your cell phone and send it to all your friends so they can see how awesome it is, too!!) I told you they were easy to follow embroidery instructions!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Want to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Return to Embroidered Gifts
|
