Sewing Quality FAQ
Q. My machine breaks thread all the time, why?
A. The problem could be a result of many things.
Does it breaks on a variety of designs and lettering or just one?
If it’s just one design does it tend to break thread in the same place(s) each time
you run the design? It maybe the design has too many stitches in one spot and might need
to be edited or redigitized.
If it breaks on a variety of designs and it is a multiple needle
machine, does it break on all needles or just one? If it breaks on just one try a new
needle, check the upper thread tension, try a different cone of thread, and check the
thread path for sharp spots. It may be that the needle bar height needs to be adjusted.
When all the needles are in the stop or up position look at the other needles that are
sewing ok, does the needle that is creating the problem look higher or lower than the
others?
Does it break thread on all needles and a variety of designs? Are
you using the right backing and needle size for the work? Are you hooping so the goods to
be sewn are stable? Use a hoop size that fits the embroidery as closely as possible. Is
the hole in the needle plate damaged? Is the rotary hook damaged? (Take the needle plate
off, unplug the machine, and run your finger around the hook, feel any sharp spots?) If
all else fails you may need to be looking at mechanical settings. If you don’t know
the various mechanical settings of your machine call your machine technician.
Q. My embroidered design doesn’t line up like the
sample my digitizer sent.
A. Are you using the right backing (and topping if needed) for
the fabric? Check our guidelines for more information on backings. Was the design made for
the fabric or goods you are sewing it on? If you are taking a design made for left chest
and using it on a finished cap you might have trouble with the registration (lining up)
due to the curvature of the cap. If your digitizer made it to sew on a stable fabric like
denim and you are trying to sew it on a knit sweater the design may not have enough pull
compensation built into it. Check with your digitizer. It is important to communicate with
your digitizer, different fabrics often require different digitizing techniques to sew and
look good. Are you using a hoop that fits the embroidery closely? If you sew a 2"
design in an 8" hoop you may be experiencing flagging. Flagging is where the fabric
is moving around while the needle is going in and out. Try a hoop that fits the design
better.
