The Sewing Place
The Emporia => Embroidery and Embellishment => Topic started by: Iminei on May 23, 2019, 14:06:29 PM
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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 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/n4fAwTBTPSYR53Qx5)
back (https://photos.app.goo.gl/xCRZDPhcB7SURYBX6)
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
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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.
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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???
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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.
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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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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
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AHH, I've just seen the photos. Looks good to me, no loops & the front is fine. I'd be happy with that.
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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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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.
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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
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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 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/1emGXhiXFn9iKByP9)
Reverse (https://photos.app.goo.gl/M5eaVCAECpRstvKz8)
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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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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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.
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Is there such a thing as stitch density which you can alter or does the font size alter this ????
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@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.
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your tension should never be on 0. That means there is no tension at all!
Its just what its set at ???
Shall I play with 3 then ...is that +3 or -3 or just 3?
I really need taking by the hand and shown how to work this machine but I still insist Brother are C*** at tutorials at least the online kind.
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My tension is usually automatically set to 2.8 (for embroidery), but I often have to reduce this to 0 (or what my machine calls 0) in order to stop the bobbin thread from showing on top. I think you have to treat the stated tension as a relative thing rather than a definite number.
My machine likes Gutermann thread, but if it's variegated it reserves the right to throw it up. Madeira, too is usually great, but occasionally it takes a dislike to a specific reel. Metallics of either brand are better with a topstitch needle than a metallic one for some reason. It hates Sim threads, which is a shame because I have a lot of them. I sometimes try to sneak one in, but I never get away with it.
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@Iminei where did you buy your machine? If you buy from a shop they should show you how to use it. Not sure if you would have a -3 on your machine. :[. Just 3 or +3. Do a sample and see what happens.
@Acorn when you have the tension set at 0 can you pull the thread through? If so there is no tension and there should be. As regards Sim threads, I would advise you not to use them. I have seen several machines that have had to be repaired and parts replaced because of this thread. I worked for a Brother engineer.
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@Iminei on your machine 0 is normal it goes from +8 to -8 this is total span of tension, so to increase tension you go up to decrease you go down. As you know I work with Husqvarna and Pfaff machines usually and the brother is completely different.
I think we need a workshop at some time :loveit:
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@Celia that’s good to know. Obviously different to the others.
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Bring it on @Celia ....
Morning: The Darkside or Elvis ... Afternoon: Elvis or The Darkside
So if the top thread is showing on the reverse which do I need to do ?? + or - ???
@Ohsewsimple ... Ive never had a new, new machine in my life.
I've always bought from someone selling ... usually very lil used machines and in the case of The Splurge, she came with the lil piece of red sticky tape still in place over the swing out door which houses all the needle mechanics !!!
So completely unused ... there was something going on with that sale but it was legal as the vendor had the receipt and everything so I got the benefit!
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@Iminei I will see what I can do busy next week but after that.......
If you want to try loosening the top tension it is the minus numbers you need. In your instruction book there is a good example on page 64.
Don’t expect the back to look even some machines are better than others with this but even the top of the range machines struggle with some of the fonts.
Hope you day gets better, I am in the middle of having to get rid of a small wardrobe to give Missy (My Siamese cat) more room around her box, so a busy day trying to find homes for things before I can even find my sewing stuff
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So loosening top tension = -1,2,3 = only bobbin thread on bottom ???
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Sorry @Iminei I forgot which way you needed to change, to tighten the tension it is the opposite so go to the plus numbers, sometimes if you have too much thread on the bottom it can mean your tension on the top is too loose so try tightening, more often the problem people are trying to deal with is bobbin thread showing on the top.
Have you looked at the examples in the instruction book?
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You will always get top thread showing on the bottom, in fact my manual shows this is how it should be, and on a narrow letter, the underneath will be mostly top thread! If you want a neater look, then wind some of your top thread onto your bobbin.
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You will always get top thread showing on the bottom, in fact my manual shows this is how it should be, and on a narrow letter, the underneath will be mostly top thread! If you want a neater look, then wind some of your top thread onto your bobbin.
I agree, my Janome does exactly the same and according to the photo in the manual it's as expected. As long as the bobbin thread isn't 'baggy' you're fine. If it is then you have a tension problem.
PS when embroidering, according to the manual, I have to reduce the foot pressure slightly for best results. Not sure why but it works.
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It's a built in font, stitched as a small size and sewn with a satin stitch.
Frankly that's what that type and size of built in lettering tends to look like when it's stitched.
Also the amount of top thread showing on the back on the very narrow satin columns is probably about right - it's a photo so I can't say for sure.
Whenever I've used Brother machines, I've found the default tension settings tend to be appropriate for most things and rarely need adjusting.
For what it's worth, my opinion is - The top / bottom thread balance looks like I'd expect it to look with that type and size of lettering
There's always going to be a point of compromise with built in lettering sewn out at small sizes.
One of the tests of a good professional digitiser and embroiderer is to digitise and produce clear small lettering - usually they do it by using small size needles and very fine thread eg. 60wt rather than the standard 40wt embroidery thread. It's one of the hardest things to get right.
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Well its done and the binding is sewn, the sleeve and label attached!
linky (https://photos.app.goo.gl/FUcvFddtMQ65QmR9A)
Just a few small metallic stars to stitch and its complete!
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Looks great you have done a lovely job
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If it's any help the default tension on your machine is correct when it says 0. I had 1250 which is the sewing and embroidery version of your
machine. It doesn't mean you have no tension at it, it's the way Brother sets it.