In addition to reading your manual, this tip will help you learn more than you can imagine! One of the things we encourage is reading your manual, not only when you first get your machine but also every so often as a review. Many times, you will learn something new. Others, you reinforce as good practice.
In addition, there are a number of great videos online that are specific to particular brands of sewing and embroidery machines. Some of these just are as valuable, if not more so, than reading through the manual. At the very least, they often make machine processes much easier to understand.
I have had my current machine for more years than I’d like to admit. It was from the same manufacturer as my first machine which I had been using for more than 10 years.
A couple of weeks ago, I started watching a series of short, and to-the-point, how-to videos that were made for my “new” embroidery machine. Imagine my surprise (and embarrassment) at discovering that I was not winding my bobbins correctly!
The machine threading and bobbin winding setup for both machines look exactly the same but the newer machine included running thread through the pre-tension guide in addition to the thread tension disc used for bobbin winding. No wonder my bobbins frequently looked asymmetrical. So much so that I eventually went to pre-wound bobbins.
Pre-wound bobbins are convenient and, as it turns out, more economical as they can hold more thread than you can wind on your machine. I also found that I had better stitching tension results than I did with bobbins that I would myself.
Even those of us who have been embroidering for a couple of decades can learn something when we look!
What is your most embarrassing machine embroidery blunder? (Asking for a friend, hahaha!)
Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie
Debbie Henry - January 25, 2023
Every machine is different, Marie, and these computerized embroidery machines are quite sophisticated. Sometimes, they are smarter than I am!
Marie Findlay - January 24, 2023
Most embarrassing moment, or actual ignorance. I have been sewing since I was 13 and I am now 73 and it wasn’t till I got my first Embroidery machine about 20 or so years ago that I found out you had to have the presser foot up when threading or that there was a right and wrong way to insert your bobbin. I have no idea how I managed to sew & make cloths etc without great hicups. must have had a Guardian Angel holding my hand.
Bonnie Welsh - January 23, 2023
Kaye—Well this blog post was from my partner in crime Debbie, but I’ve done plenty of embarrassing moments in my sewing/embroidery life. The biggest one that comes to mind was pushing down my threading lever on my serger while serging. Still don’t know why I did that. That was sooooooooooooo not me to do. But it entailed a trip to the repairman after the fact.
Kaye Fullerton - January 23, 2023
Bonnie don’t be embarrassed. All your post are very helpful. Thank you