The Embroidery Machine and Designs

Home embroidery machines have all the features of a standard sewing machine, (which may include built-in decorative stitches), plus embroidery capabilities. A few non-commercial, embroidery-only machines are also available.

Simply being able to create decorative stitches does not make a sewing machine able to use embroidery software. Embroidery machines have an embroidery unit which holds a hoop. The hoop holds the fabric in place while part of the embroidery unit moves to allow the machine to place the stitches that create the design.

Machine embroidery designs are sold by format and size. Each embroidery machine manufacturer has its own formats and every machine has a specific format it recognizes. However, some machines can use more than one format. A design that is in the wrong format can often be changed into the correct format using embroidery conversion software.

The hoop size of a design indicates the smallest hoop that can be used to stitch it out. The most common hoop sizes are 4×4” (100x100mm) and 5×7” (130x180mm). Manaufacturers often round hoop measurements in inches, so the metric measurement is the more accurate of the two. Sometimes only a measurement is listed for a design. As long as the design’s measurement is smaller than your machine hoop’s lengthwise and crosswise measurements, it can be stitched on your machine.

Most machines come with more than one hoop, and may have others that can be purchased separately.

Getting the Design to the Embroidery Machine

In order to use a stitch file, you need a way to get the file into your embroidery machine. The method of doing this is varied and depends on the machine and its age. Older machines often require an embroidery card or even a floppy drive. Machines that use embroidery cards need a reader/writer box and software to be able to use designs other than the ones that come on programmed cards for their machine brand (or designs downloaded from the internet). These accessories may be included with the machine, or may have to be purchased separately. Newer machines generally have a connection to either a USB drive or computer (or both!) but may still require the use of embroidery software specific to the embroidery machine to transfer the design to the embroidery machine. Even if the machine can connect directly to a computer, it may also be able to use embroidery cards, CDs, floppy disks or USB drives.

Stitching Designs

To stitch out a machine embroidery design, the fabric or garment you are embroidering needs to be placed in the machine’s embroidery hoop, along with the correct stabilizer. The hoop is then attached to the embroidery unit. After loading the design into the machine, stitching can begin.

The machine will guide you through the process. Some machines will display a picture of the design and the area being stitched out on their screens. Others will simply display a number, which represents the color stop. At each color stop, the machine will stop stitching, allowing you to change colors and perform other activities which are needed to complete the design. If a design requires anything more complex than changing threads at a color stop (as in the case of appliques or in the hoop designs), the designer will usually include a written instruction file along with the design file providing additional information.

Before you put an unfamiliar design on a finished garment it is always a good idea to do a test sew-out on a piece of scrap fabric. Doing this will help you to decide if any changes need to be made to make it stitch out better. Use something similar to what the finished design will be sewn out on. This may seem like a time-consuming, unnecessary step, but will save you from lots of frustration in the long run.