The Sewing Place

HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?

Iminei

HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« on: May 23, 2019, 14:06:29 PM »
Hi Embroidery Wizzes, Im hoping you can help me out here

Im having to embroider a label for a swap Im on and Im not happy with the result.

Firstly I tried a Madeira Metallic but it broke before it finished the first letter,
so I changed to a Madeira embroidery with a lovely sheen on the reel
but Im not too happy with the quality of the stitching and there seems to be more coloured thread on the reverse than on the front ... well the same amount at least.

Details ....

Hoop size 100mm x 100mm
Font number 17, (PES lite)
Size 8mm,
White brother bobbin thread,
Pale gold coloured Madeira embroidery thread (from my cabinet)
Embroidery speed ... least of the two available on machine
Stabilizer .. Tear away ? (the cut squares @Celia )

front

back

Im sure it me but the brother manual despite being printed in 52 languages offers no help whatesover.

Please, Please, Please can you help ???

@Celia @Acorn @Morgan @Bodgeitandscarper and @ anyone else out there that knows how to help me

Thank you

« Last Edit: May 23, 2019, 14:25:51 PM by Iminei »
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Lachica

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2019, 14:16:07 PM »
Sounds like the top tension is too loose.
1)  unthread the whole thread path and re thread
2) make sure the thread is coming off the reel anticlockwise.
3) double up the stabiliser if you're using a big hoop
If all these fail, use the Madeira as bobbin thread then it will look fine on the front!

My Pfaff sometimes does this with small fonts &  it's usually down to threading.
Mary
2020 stash: not gonna count, not gonna feel guilty.

Iminei

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2019, 14:24:49 PM »
Anticlockwise??? Its coming off from under the reel rather than over the reel if you see what I mean?!

So Im right then and the coloured thread shouldnt be on the back of the stabilizer?

I did re-thread but I'll try anything ....
how do I know the tension has engaged ? On The Splurgess I can hear a sort of click (not exactly a click but you know what I mean)

Addendum, looking at the thread coming off the bobbin, It WAS coming off clockwise so I have rethreaded so it comes off the other way .... it will be interesting to see if it made a difference.


NOPE ... same amount of thread on the reverse

Any other ideas???
« Last Edit: May 23, 2019, 14:37:04 PM by Iminei »
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Lachica

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2019, 14:34:57 PM »
You should have a small amount of top thread visible on the WS  around the edges of your design. Not a lot though! Is it forming loops on the underside? It shouldn't. I'm not an expert but my machine can do this with some threads if I've put them on the spool pin the wrong way round. I think it's to do with the thread twist.

I've heard that Brother machines can be picky about thread. Is yours a Brother? Maybe try a Brother thread on top if so.
I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly.
Mary
2020 stash: not gonna count, not gonna feel guilty.

Iminei

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2019, 14:38:27 PM »
As you can see from the pics, the amount of colour is the same as on the top.

Should I switch it off and on again ????
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Celia

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2019, 14:48:23 PM »
This does often happen with Brother machines and small fonts, you can often not see hardly any bobbin thread on the underside.  I agree a second piece of stabiliser might be advantageous, I think your machine has manual tensioning so you could increase the top tension a little, I also might use the same thread top and bottom with a small font.

Have you used this font before? Because some are much better behaved than others

Lachica

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2019, 14:49:19 PM »
AHH, I've just seen the photos. Looks good to me, no loops & the front is fine. I'd be happy with that.
Mary
2020 stash: not gonna count, not gonna feel guilty.

Iminei

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2019, 15:00:56 PM »
Yes, I have used this font for Acorns runner (I think)

Why would additional stabilizer help?

I cant see a way to alter the tension, He is a 750E.

I could try enlarge the font to 10mm ... the mini is 18" x 20

There is something under sewing attributes ... called region sew/undersew

Those settings are ...

Satin stitch

Zigzag icon ... 5.0 line /mm
and undersew is not ticked

WHY is Brother SO crap with tutorials on how to use their (not inexpensive) machines??
Apart from the Welcome to Brother, heres how to thread your machine ... there is NOTHING out there! Grrrr
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Acorn

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2019, 15:31:15 PM »
I'm sitting in a car park, so just a quick reply.

If this was my Husqvarna I would tighten the top tension, put in a new needle and change to a different brand of thread.
I might look as though I'm talking to you, but inside my head I'm sewing.

Celia

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2019, 15:51:23 PM »
Hi @Iminei  You can change your tension it is on page 22 of the instruction book, I have added a screen shot of the page. 

In the photos I have to say it does not look bad, maybe try a different font.
Good luck

Iminei

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2019, 16:00:03 PM »
Update ...

I have changed the font size to 10, changed the colour of the thread and changed the font.

I like the new colour better, like the first font better but think I can get away with 10 instead of 8.

Pics ....

Front

Reverse

Top, same font and colour as before but 10 instead of 8.
Middle, 10. same font new colour
Bottom, 10. different font new colour

as you can see the coloured thread is still totally present on the back ... D'oh!

Cant change the thread type Im afraid as Ive got a whole cabinet of Marvellous Madeira threads  (tho' I might try a Marathon thread tomorrow as an experiment, but I havent the right colour, but I do have a light blue ??? mmmmnnn)

Im going to pack away for today and hope things are better tomorrow and Ive had some more replies.
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Iminei

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2019, 16:02:05 PM »
OOh @Celia  ... let me have a looksee ...
OK I see that,  my tension is set to 00, what would I set it to ????
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Bodgeitandscarper

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #12 on: May 23, 2019, 16:03:27 PM »
On a narrow letter, you will see almost all top thread.  Sorry, I'm not at home to help much more  but if there's no loops or tangles, then it's fine.

Iminei

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2019, 16:48:28 PM »
Is there such a thing as stitch density which you can alter or does the font size alter this ????
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Ohsewsimple

Re: HELP ... Is Elvis acting up or is it operator error?
« Reply #14 on: May 23, 2019, 18:48:22 PM »
@Iminei your tension should never be on 0.  That means there is no tension at all!
It should be around 3.  Using more stabiliser won’t make any difference in this instance and if you have to use more than one piece at a time, you’re using the wrong stabiliser for the job. 
Madeira are perfectly good threads.  If you want to use metallics, try using a metallic needle which has a larger eye and helps stop shredding.  And slow speed if possible.  Sometimes the metallics can curl as they come off the reel and we found at work that if the reel is placed upright instead of horizontally it winds off better.