Stitching

Re: problems with free motion embroidery

Kathleen M Tenpas — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:07:45 GMT

All good advice. One thing that I invested in that help immensely was a pair of quilting gloves - cotton gloves with little rubber dots on the palm. They hold the fabric better than your bare hands and take some of the stress out of the movement. Also, if you have your sewing machine at a level so that your arms are bent at a 90 degree angle it is much easier on your shoulders - when you are relaxed, your free motion becomes more relaxed.

Re: problems with free motion embroidery

fatcal — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:18:04 GMT

I would like to add that I have a Phaff, not an expression 2, but on my machine you can lower the pressure foot to only half way. Just have to gently push back as you lower it. Hope this helps.

Re: problems with free motion embroidery

arlijohn — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:21:25 GMT

Beverley gave you great advice. One thing relax! Remeber feed dogs down, presser foot bar down. It's nerve racking when first trying to learn. Make some quilt sandwiches to practice with. Most people don't move their fabric enough or the machine fast enough. It does get better.

Re: problems with free motion embroidery

Pippin5 — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:29:42 GMT

I would also add that cotton thread is much better for free motion embroidery than polyester asit stretches far less.

Re: problems with free motion embroidery

FibreReaction — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:58:59 GMT

In order to free machine, you need to drop the feed dogs on the machine, as its the operator who controls how and where the fabric moves. I would also put an embroidery foot on the machine, or a darning foot. This protects fingers from the needle and also serves as a reminder to drop the presser foot lever. These type of feet do not touch the fabric, they are not meant to. Now, forgive me, have you put your fabric in the hoop the right way round? For hand sewing, embroidery tends to be done so the fabric is flush to the edge of the hoop, for machine embroidery its the other way around, so the fabric will sit flush to the plate of the machine, and you have the "walls" of the hoop to hold on to, (by putting your fingers on the top edge so you don't lift the hoop at all), and I'd say you need the fabric tight, drum tight.

To start stitching, put fabric under the needle, and then turn the flywheel by hand, or a quick tap on the foot pedal, so that your bobbin thread comes through to the top surface. Put both the bobbin and top thread ends under your fingers holding the hoop, very important to remember, lower the presser foot lever, and start. Having both thread ends on the top and held in place by you, stops the fouling up underneath. Once you've done a little sewing you can let go and/or snip them off. The trick is to run the machine fast, possibly a lot faster than you are used to, the size of the stitches, the direction of the stitch is controlled by you moving the fabric, which you hold flush to the machine. It is a matter of practice. Have fun!!!

problems with free motion embroidery

princesspeach — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:30:53 GMT

Hi,

I'm new to quilting and machine embroidery. For many years have been a hand embroiderer /weaver using paper and now want to change direction slightly by using fabric. In particular I want to free motion embroidery. Have had several goes - boy what a problem!

I am using a new Pfaff expression 2. Have done everything the instruction book says but moving the fabric is like trying to move a brick wall and all the thread builds up underneath in a huge ball. Have tried using a hoop, using fabric with a stabiliser and no hoop, all sorts of fabric - all to no avail. What am I doing wrong? In every other aspect the machine is fine. Help please?

Thanks

Princess Peach