Computerized Machine Embroidery Resources and Supplies

Supplies

Depending on your project’s needs, the supplies required will vary. Below is a list of resources that will be stable for most projects:

Bobbins

Singer Futura Bobbins
- Class 15J (Singer, Amazon)

Needles

Embroidery Needles Size 75/11 (Amazon)
Nonstick Needles Size 80/12 (Amazon)

Thread

Polyester Embroidery Thread (40 Colors from Amazon)

Stabilizers

Water Soluble
- Water Soluble Non-woven (12in x 10in 100 Sheets Amazon)
- Sulky Water Soluble Stabilizer (9 yrd Roll Amazon)
  - Clear, plastic like film great for placing over fabrics with a pile or in combination with Non-woven Water Soluble
Tear Away
- Medium Weight (1.8oz) Tear Away (12in x 50 yard Roll Amazon)
- Sulky Self-Adhesive Tear-Away Stabilizer (8.25in x 6 rd Roll Amazon)
Spray
- Sulky 4.23-Ounce Temporary Spray Adhesive (Amazon)
  - Recommended to use in combination with Tear Away Stabilizer

General Resources

Machine Embroidery Edutech Wiki: https://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Machine_embroidery
Concepts of Computerized Embroidery: https://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Concepts_of_computerized_embroidery

Software

Some embroidery machines will come with software to digitize images for stitching. The Singer Futura XL-400 does not currently have that capability.

Image Digitization

If you have an image that you would like to stitch, you will first need to digitize it prior to bringing it into the Singer Futura embroidery software. As the Singer XL-400 software does not digitize images, you will need to do so using InkStitch.

InkStitch – open-source machine embroidery design extension for Inkscape

Inkscape must first be installed prior to InkStitch installation.
Resources:
- Project Anonymous Tutorials
  - Inkscape and InkStitch Install Tutorial
- InkStitch EduTech Wiki
- Inkscape Beginners Guide
- Ink/Stitch Beginner Tutorials: Version 1.22.0
- Ink/Stitch TroubleShooting:
  - FAQ: https://inkstitch.org/docs/faq/
  - Error Messages: https://inkstitch.org/docs/error-messages/

Notes

SVG files will allow for an easier process of digitizing.
If your original image is hand-drawn or a raster file, you must convert it to vector before creating the stitch paths.
Adobe Illustrator can be used to create the file but be sure to save your image as an SVG and not a .ai file.
Applicable Ink/Stitch File Exports for Singer Futura: PEC, PES, JEF, EXP, DST

Coded (Generative) Embroidery

The following are just two examples of software that will allow you to generate images for embroidery using code.

Note: Singer Futura XL-400 reads XXX, PSW, HUS, DST, CHE, EXP, PCS, PEC, SHV, PES, VIP, SEW, and JEF. The first 4 formats listed are the preferred formats of Futura embroidery machines.

PEmbroidery – open library for computational embroidery with Processing

Libraries available for Processing 3 and 4
PEmbroidery Examples
Instructions for Getting Started with PEmbroidery

Turtlestitch – Coded Embroidery

Browser-based embroidery design tool based on Snap!
About Turtlestitch (Video)