Category: Equipment

➜ If you are unfamiliar with machine sewing, please check out the machine sewing tutorials for help operating a standard sewing machine (setup, threading machine, filling and loading bobbin, replacing needle, etc.).

➜ The embroidery machines is for embroidery only and should not be used for regular sewing.

➜ If you have never sewn using an electric sewing machine, it is highly recommended to that you start with the standard machine before moving on to operating the embroidery machine. See our tutorials on machine sewing

DO NOT LEAVE THE MACHINE UNATTENDED WHEN STITCHING! The needle may break and, if not caught by the machine’s software, could damage both the machine and your fabric. If you need to step away while in the middle of a project, press the START/STOP key on the front of the machine to PAUSE the job.

DO NOT LEAVE UNFINISHED PROJECTS IN THE MACHINE! If a project is left in the machine and someone else has booked time, your project will be removed from the machine and its hoop.

Tandon MakerSpace: Embroidery Machine

Students are welcome to use the Tandon MakerSpace’s Brother SE400 embroidery machine. Training is required to use.

👉 More Info on the Tandon MakerSpace website

👉 Training Sign-up

Supplies

Check out from shop staff

When you are ready to stitch your design, you will need to check out the following from the shop staff:

• PC Laptop with power cord and USB cable
• Embroidery Hoop (Large or Small)
• Embroidery Thread

Purchase your own

It is recommended that you provide your own embroidery needles as those can break and are difficult to find on short notice. You may also need to provide the specific embroidery thread you desire plus any specific stabilizers that are required for the project.

• Sheets of tearaway paper stabilizers are available in the blue bins. These will fit the small embroidery hoop.
• See the Supply List for additional information and links to specific items.

Tutorials

Getting Started

To get started with machine embroidery, it is recommended to start with the following:

👉 Hello World: Machine embroidery

Once comfortable with operating the embroidery machine, the following will support you as you move forward with Machine Embroidery.

General

🟢 Embroidery Work Flow – A typical workflow for machine embroidery.

🟢 FAQ and Trouble Shooting

Embroidery Design

🟠 Ink/Stitch Beginner Tutorials – Learn to create your own designs with Ink/Stitch(Inkscape)

🟠 Import and Open Singer Hoop Templates – Download and import Inkscape templates to use when designing your own embroidery files.

Machine Operation

🟣 Threading the machine – Learn to thread the bobbing and top threads

🟣 Embroidery Machine Controls – Learn how to step back and go forward using the machine’s button.

Materials and Fabric Setup

🔵 Securing Fabric and Loading Hoop (Fabric, Stabilizer and Hoop) – Learn to prepare the fabric, secure it in the hoop then load the hoop into the machine.

🔵 Multi-hoop Designs – Learn how to stitch designs that are larger than the large hoop.

🔵 Needles, Thread and Stabilizers – Learn about stabilizers as well as view chart for matching the appropriate materials.

Additional notes

Unfinished Work

Please do not leave unfinished work in the machine. If you need to, please purchase another hoop if you plan to continue working.

Putting Machine Back

The embroidery machine goes back on one of the two bottom shelves as it is heavy. Please grab the machine with the handle and your other hand supporting the body of the machine when doing so.

Navigating Machine

On the front of the machine, just above the “Start” button (red/green light) is the “Return Arrow” button. In embroidery mode, this will back up stitches while depressed.

The “Needle Down” button (sewing mode) will forward a stitch at a time when depressed.

Needle Breakage

Be sure to eliminate large jumps as much as possible. These jumps can pull on the needle which will cause it to hit the metal casing when it goes to run the stitch, breaking the needle. Having extra needles will be a great help.

👉 Juki MP-644D Manual

Juki MO-644D – Serger Instructional Videos

Serger Training Video Series

👉 Serging with Sue Green-Baker

Typical Workflow

1. Create or download image.
   1. Hand drawn and all non-vector images will need to be turned into vector files.
2. Convert non-vector images into editable vector files.
3. Import into design software.
   1. Inkstitch (Inkscape) is the shop’s preferred software for digitizing images.
   2. If you have an image that has already been digitized for stitching, you may proceed to the importing the file into the Singer Futura software.
4. Edit image for embroidery by removing fine details and reducing the number of colors.
   1. Considering the size of the final embroidery as well as the time allotted to complete the project, this will determine just how much is eliminated.
   2. Try to eliminate large jumps in the stitch paths as this will help prevent needle breakage.
5. Convert to embroidery objects.
6. Run preview/stitch path simulation to identify any problems.
7. Adjust and troubleshoot any problems that are identified.
8. Convert to embroidery file.
9. Transfer file into Singer Futura software for final adjustments.
10. Prepare Machine
    1. Load thread and bobbin
    2. Place fabric with stabilizers in hoop
11. Stitch the Design
12. Evaluate how stitches turned out the adjust file and restitch.