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Multi Needle Machine Tension Issues

3/27/2018

Recently I made the decision to upgrade my embroidery machine.
I have actually been researching different machines for about two years. Although I love my single needle machine, I have been fascinated with the thought of putting a design on and not having to sit to change the colors. Also, the idea of having a much larger sewing area is a great option to have.

So I made the decision to purchase the Happy 12 needle machine. It was based on a lot of good comments from the online forums as well as looking at how the machines are made and a lot of investigating at stores and conventions. The only concern I had was could I maintain a commercial machine. There is so much more to them than what I am used to with a home machine.

It has been a learning experience even with all of my research and my prior embroidery experience. I ordered the machine sight unseen and didn't have much trouble setting it up once it arrived in the crate. I can say the instructions that come with it are cumbersome and if you want to start embroidering right away, you may have better luck going to the location where you are purchasing and getting a crash course.

I put the machine on a cabinet from the hardware store so it would be nice and stable. If you are considering purchasing one, keep in mind that they are much taller than the home based machines.

This cabinet holds all of the hoops I have purchased so far really well and it is very sturdy although the machine does not move around as much as I thought it would.

There are a lot of tools to keep up with and maintenance procedures so make sure you really look into it before you make your final decision. As with most things in my studio, I want to know how they work so I don't have to depend on anyone unless I absolutely have to. With this machine, I did have problems getting the tensions set up right. I just could not get it together. Then one day it clicked after I had just about given up. If you are interested in seeing what I did to figure it out, I have uploaded a video to my youtube channel here.

I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you have learned and are generous with what you make. Someone will appreciate your hard work. If you are in the market for a multi needle machine, they are wonderful to sew on. Once you do your research, go for it. Happy sewing!

French Bulldog Pillow Wraps

3/14/2018

My latest project has truly been a labor of love. I brought two things together that make me very happy: sewing and French Bulldogs. If you have read any of my previous posts, you know that I am learning how to digitize in my embroidery software. Although it has been a journey, I think I am starting to see some success.

For these projects, I started with a picture of a French bulldog that I got from the internet. I made sure I used one that was free for use from the public domain. I pulled it into my software and hand digitized the image. If you have done any digitizing you know that any design can be challenging, but animals are unique because of their fur.

I did a second French bulldog that resembles Jean Luc. Once I had both dog images the way I liked them, I added other elements and text around.

I decided to embroider both designs on duck fabric. I was really pleased with how they turned out. In the digitizing, I wanted to see if I could reduce the amount of jump stitches and keep the density down so the sewn out designs would stay soft. It has become kind of like a game to see if you can retain the best qualities of the design while reducing stiches and time to complete.

I had some beautiful decorator weight fabric and ribbon that helped complete the pillow wraps. These are a really great way to change the look of a pillow for seasons.

I cut the decorator fabric about 2 inches larger than the embroidered front, tacked the ribbons to the front with a basting stitch and then wrapped the decorator fabric toward the front with a 1/2 inch bound edge mitering the corners. Then I sewed an overcast stitch all around the perimeter of the wrapped edge.

For a 14 inch square finished pillow wrap, the decorator fabric was cut 16 inches square. I also made sure that my ribbons would be long enough to go around larger pillows so each one of them was cut to 24 inches. That means the pillow wraps could also be used on a chair back.

This picture shows one of them on my sewing chair. This would be a great gift for someone in an office that wanted to have a little personalization. You could also use something like these on your dining chairs.

These pillow wraps were not difficult to put together and the possibilities are endless. With the decorator fabric on the back and the way the ribbons are sewn into the seams, they are completely reversible. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you have learned and are generous with what you make. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

Multi Needle Machine Tension Issues

French Bulldog Pillow Wraps

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