Tips
See the highlighted words for new tips
These are tips that I have found out through trial and error. If you have any tips you would like to share
please don't hesitate to contact me or send me the tip via mailto:bizzib@telkomsa.net & I will add them & mention who they came from
Best results when sewing small embroidery's & Fonts
1. Reduce the thread tension on your machine to less than what is used when embroidering normal size designs .
2. Sew at a speed slower than what is used when embroidering normal designs
3.(check your machine manual on how to adjust your speed and tension on the machine)
Very Important:
Your Backing grain must always run opposite to your fabric grain, this way your embroidery will not go out of shape.(to see which way the grain is running, pull the fabric in different directions and the direction that does not stretch is the right grain)
Backing
Try and use medium thickness backing. If you are using a very soft Fabric use 2 sheets of backing - again all 3 grains must run in different directions
New Tip - To have to hoop your garment or fabric & backing all together in your hoop is such a Shlep!! I first tried by just hooping the garment absolutely alone then cut the size of backing just to fit the sewing area I sprayed little glue onto the Backing and stuck on the back of hoop, but sometimes the backing shifted which was a real disaster, and the spray glue is not cheap. Now I have found a way that works every time - Cut your backing just a little bigger than the embroidery area, buy yourself a roll of masking tape (the one they use when spray painting cars etc;) you can get different widths , just cut small pieces to stick onto the backing and fabric or frame on each side and the top & bottom, and whats more you can use the pieces over and over, they don't stick as much as double sided tape or glue, but works very well - so you are saving on backing and glue & time Try it.
Framing/hooping
Always use a frame closest to the size of your embroidery, the firmer the better.
New Tip - when finished screwing your frame as tight as you can, with the front facing you push the front of the hoop thru the back of the hoop until they are level, you will see how nice and taught your fabric is.
Outlines
Dark outlines can sometimes make your embroidery look harsh, instead of using black I use , Pewter, Dark Grey or Medium Grey, depending on the colors of the image. Sometimes using a color that's in the image works very well.
New Tip - When digitizing your embroidery always make sure the directions 0f each section of stitches run at different angles - this will definitely keep your embroidery from going out of shape and your outlines will be in place.
How to hoop a T Shirt
T Shirts are always difficult because there is no definite grain and very flexible - this is what I do, & I find it works every time. I iron onto the shirt 2 thin iron on backings in different directions then the T shirt does not stretch either way too much, quite a thick backing if you have not got a thick backing pin 2 pieces - remember all the grains must run in different directions which also helps your embroidery from going out of shape when sewing.
How to centre and mark your embroidery
If you can print a picture of the embroidery you want to embroider. fold the picture into a four fold and mark the centre point with a pen - then open it out and place it onto the garment exactly where you want to put the embroidery and mark the centre point on the garment or fabric - that will be your centre point of your embroidery - when you hoop it altogether try and get the centre mark on the garment in the centre of the hoop. Put the frame into your machine, switch the machine on and go to your layout section of your settings on the machine and set your needle right on the centre mark, . then start embroidering .
Jump Stitches
There are usually Jump stitches in embroidery's which are mostly unavoidable, I find it easier to trim them after embroidering each color. Of course if you have a motif where there are lots of spots to avoid having to cut all the little jump stitches embroider them first then the jump stitches will be covered by the next area of sewing, but be careful because if the next color used in that area may be a lighter color otherwise rather trim them first. Also When outlines are not continuous there tends to be more jump stitches, and when there is a lot of detail in the embroidery you will also find more jump stitches, I usually trim as I go along, it may take a little longer but your end result is always good.
I have found trimming jump stitches at the back of the designs helps in that your designs tends to lie better,and keeps it tidy.