Embroidery-thread covered by bobbin-thread

http://madeirausa.com/embroidery-troubleshooting

Balanced Embroidery Thread Tension Must For High Production And Quality...

Tutorials Urban Threads Unique and Awesome Embroidery Designs

Machine Embroidery Tips

Most machines have a stitch counter, stitch forward and step back features. Check your manual and embroidery machine's screens for this.

IN case you have misplaced your manual I found this one for you. It's big so allow time to download.
http://www.itsastitchonline.com/mastery_on_the_web/Mastery_170_180_1-10-02.pdf

With the embroidering, some of the bobbin thread is SUPPOSED to show on the top of your embroidery-the machine isn't doing anything incorrectly. You'll need to thread your bobbin with the same thread as you are using with the top. I had the same "problem" when I first got the machine and took it to a wonderful local technician whose helped me with a lot of things who informed me that this is perfectly normal on embroidery machines.

Just an FYI-the bobbin thread needs to match your top thread. The majority of the thread that appears in the top of your embroidery actually IS the bobbin thread. The machine is working correctly. Don't use a bobbin full of white thread-instead, thread a bobbin with the color your doing the embroidery work in to match and you will have a perfectly beautiful embroidery.

It's okay - it's supposed to do that! The Needle Down button has a different function when you are in Embroidery mode i.e. you have the emb. unit attached.
It moves the emb. arm forward for two reasons: so you can cut top-side jump stitches more easily between colour changes (you touch the button again and the emb. arm returns to under the needle so you can finish the design); and secondly so you can "park" the embroidery unit when you are finished. You can then turn the machine off, remove the emb. unit and replace it in the carry case. If you DON'T do this, the emb. arm is not in the right position to fit into the moulded carry case properly.

The Broken Thread message usually means that it has started the colour, but the thread has been pulled down underneath instead of making nice locked stitches. Hold onto the thread end until the machine has stopped and beeped for you to cut the thread. This usually solves that problem. Sometimes the thread gets pulled out of your hand so just back up the stitches a few and start over, holding the thread more tightly. Don't tug on the thread - just keep a firm grip.

Designer 1s often cut the bobbin thread too short so that it can't make those nice locked stitches when it starts. You need to take off the hoop, open up the bobbin cover and use your stylus, the tip of a pair of scissors, tweezers (whatever is to hand) to pull the bobbin thread out a little. Instead of cutting it on the bobbin thread cutter, just let it hang outside by 1/8" or so. That way you can be sure there is enough bobbin thread available for the stitch to lock. Don't use the scissors button on the machine after every colour change. Sure, it makes for a tidier back of the embroidery with less work for you afterwards, but if it means you are taking the hoop and bobbin cover off after every colour change then it is not worth it in time-saving.
If your machine is doing this - cutting the bobbin thread too short - mention it to your tech. when you machine goes in for its next service. He may be able to tweak the bobbin cutter so it does not cut so close.

Hi, and welcome to FixYa. If I understand your problem, the needle goes in and out of your fabric, and the embroidery hoop moves, but the machine does not actually start embroidering your design right away....did I get it right? If have time to answer a few questions, I can give more accurate instructions.

1. How long have you had your machine?
2. How long have you been doing machine embroidery?
3. Do you have a manual for your machine?
4. Look at the back side of your design - do you see lots of bobbin thread, or hardly any?
5. Have you taken lessons for your machine or for embroidery?
6. When your design is finished, can you where the machine skipped stitches?
   

Here a couple of things you can try (if you have already):

• Make sure you use an embroidery needle, not a universal. In most cases, you should use a size 90. Change your needle after each project. A blunt need can cause your machine to skip embroidery stitches anywhere in the design.
  
• Rewind or replace your bobbin. Make sure you use bobbin thread in your bobbin when you embroider - it is thinner and gives you better tension. If pre-wound embroidery bobbins are compatible with your machine, I recommend that you try one and compare the result with designs sewn using the bobbin thread you've been using.
  
• Normally, you should loosen your tension a little bit when you embroider. When you look at the back side of your embroidery, you should see more bobbin thread than embroidery thread.

I owned an embroidery business for several years, and I have six different embroidery machines of my own - so with a little more info from you, I think I can help.

YIKES - what a nightmare! We can approach your problem two ways, but to determine whether the problem is your machine or your design, I need to know if you have been using one design, or if you've tried to embroidery several different designs and are getting threadbreaks about every 10,000 stitches, no matter what design, needle, thread, and bobbin you use.

Here are some rules you should following whenever you embroider on your machine:

• Change your needle and insert a newly wound bobbin every time you start a new project
  
• Use a size Embroidery Needle - size 90 for most projects
  
• Check the backside of your design - you should see alot more bobbin thread than embroidery thread. If you don't see enough bobbin thread, loosen your top tension. If the tension is set automatically, change it manually.
• Your design might be the problem. Some designs have WAY to many stitches. If you haven't already, choose several different designs with different styles - for example, a monogram, a design that is mostly satin stitches, a design that is mostly straight stitches, and so on. Sew one or all over and over so you determine whether your thread will continue to break about every 10,000 stitches.

I hope this helps. Machine embroidery is so much fun once you've learned and practiced. I hope to hear from you - machine embroidery is not hard to learn, but there is a lot to learn. Thanks.







If you want to get right to work, skip the troubleshooting and answer as many questions as you can or have time for. It is possible that your problem is the design and not the machine. Try one suggestion at time so you what helps and what doesn't. Questions first:

1. Is the machine brand new, or new to you?
2. Do you have your manual?
   
3. Do you been embroidering by machine for a while, or are you just learning?
4. Does this problem occur with every design you sew, or is it one particular design that you are having trouble with?
5. How many total stitches are in the design you are trying ot sew?
6. What kind of thread are you using (rayon, poly, sewing?)
   
7. Did you buy the machine from a dealer, and if so, does it have a warranty?
   
8. Have you taken lessons on how to use your machine for both sewing and embroidery?
9. Are you familiar with embroidery backings, needles, and threads and how to choose which to use for a particular project?

Could the little hook that is stuck over the bobbin area be the thread cutter? My thread cutter gets stuck there and I have to turn my machine off and then try to use the cutter to reset it to its "resting" position.

It sounds like the machine needs to be timed, seek out a sewing machine repair shop for this service.

For embroidery, and zig-zag, and because the needle makes side movements, it needs more needle thread.
So try to keep you needle thread not very tight,
and tight up your bobbin case tension more, so that the two threads meet under the meterial.