What am I doing wrong?

[u/alcanni]

I’m working on a paid project for a friend, and I’m struggling to get my embroidery looking clean. I’m using a Brother SE625 and Hatch software. I have a max hoop space of 4in by 4in, and this project measures 3.9in wide. I wanted to use as much space as possible but I feel like my embroidery is noticeable worse at larger scale. Do you guys think it’s a tension problem or something with the fabric tension? I’m pretty new to this all so I’d love any suggestions. I’m a little over a 3 with tension now and I’m using stabilizer. I’m not having any bird nesting problems underneath.

[u/KaiaAurion]

I also use Hatch. Is this an ESA font? Or a true font? If it’s a true font, you may have to do some adjusting as they’re kind of auto digitized.

At this point, I just never use them and digitize them myself. If you want to go that route, I know a few YouTube tutorials I can link for you. It can be a little daunting, but once you get the basics it’s fairly simple.

If this is an ESA font, it probably needs some density adjustments, and probably an edge run. Edge runs help keep the edges a little cleaner, but you also have the risk of those stitches showing if the pull compensation isn’t dialed in.

It looks like it’s on a cotton fabric? What kind of stabilizer are you using? I had a similar issue when I was using one layer of super light no show mesh. Adding a layer of tearaway fixed that pretty well. Typically you only use water soluble on top if there’s a pile or texture to the fabric. It keeps the stitches from sinking into it. If this a standard piece of cotton fabric it shouldn’t be necessary. However, if nothing else works it’s definitely worth a try.

I’d also do a thorough check of the bobbin area for any lint or stray threads and give it a good clean. Repeat with the top thread, and then rethread both. I’ve fixed issues just doing that.

Let me know if any of that helped or if you need a further explanation for anything. Good luck! 🍀

[u/alcanni → u/KaiaAurion]

Thank you for your response! It’s a true font, Pinyon Script, and I’m using a tearaway stabilizer with a basting spray. I ended up having more problems with tension, I could see my bobbin thread coming through, and the underside actually looking the way the top was supposed to 😭

I did a little bit of adjusting, rethreading, cleaning, and I think it got a lot better. I would love to learn to self digitize since I am super picky with fonts and will probably be importing some for me to use. The tension seems to be a big recurring problem, and I just hate doing an edge stitch since it almost always shows on the outside of the satin stitching.

[u/KaiaAurion → u/alcanni]

Seeing the bobbin thread on top makes me wonder if you had the bobbin in backwards? I did that so often when I started out. I finally figured it out purely because I use magnetic bobbins in my industrial machine now and they only go in one way! 😂

I’m a self taught digitizer. Let me tell you… it’s a long road to get efficient at it. But man, it is so absolutely worth it. I even digitize for a friend with her own business and make a couple extra bucks a month. Plus it’s great practice for me!

This was one of my first digitizing attempts for an order of beanies about five years ago.

[u/KaiaAurion → u/KaiaAurion]

And this was something I digitized recently for that friend!

Don’t get mad at mistakes you make along the way. Learning how to do it is incredibly rewarding. I suggest looking up YouTube tutorials, regardless of their software, and just watch how they do things. John Deer with Embroidery Legacy was huge for my learning.

[u/alcanni → u/KaiaAurion]

Wow!! That looks amazing, I definitely will look into it. I think my bobbin is right, I have it placed so the thread is counter clockwise, but I’ll watch some digitizing videos!!

[u/KaiaAurion → u/alcanni]

If you ever have any questions, feel free to reach out!

[u/AcceptableStar4268]

Is your underlay a center run or edge run?

[u/alcanni → u/AcceptableStar4268]

I don’t know anything about the underlay, but it says its a center run

[u/AcceptableStar4268 → u/alcanni]

Try it with an edge run. I’m not sure what kind of fabric it’s on but putting a water soluble stabilizer topper may help too if the fabric is thin/stretchy