Embroidery Machine

Machine Embroidery & Free Motion Embroidery

With an embroidery machine, you can personalize clothing, experiment with conductive thread and smart textiles, or try your hand at free motion embroidery using one of our sewing machines.

Our Embroidery Machine

We use the Janome Memory Craft 550E, which is a:

• Single needle
• One thread
• Can only embroidery (not sew)

Design Options

You can use:

• Built-in designs and lettering - find it on the machine menu

• Your own designs created with Inkscape and the Inkstitch extension. For tutorials, visit Inkstitch Beginner Video Tutorials.

Exporting Your Design:

1. Export your design as a .jef file.
2. Save it to a USB drive.

Stabilizers

Its a good idea to use a stabilizer when embroidering. Choose the right stabilizer for your fabric:

• Cut-away stabilizer: Ideal for knitted, stretchy fabrics, silk, and satin.
• Tear-away stabilizer: Suitable for woven fabrics with minimal stretch, such as jeans and cotton.
• Wash-away stabilizer: Dissolves in water; perfect for fluffy, pile, or textured fabrics like terry cloth, fleece, and chunky knits.
• Iron-on and adhesive stabilizer: Use when the material cannot be hooped; iron or glue directly onto the fabric.

Sewing Applications

For appliqué work:

1. Felt is a preferred material, but other fabrics do as well.
2. Embroidery into the application material and cut it our using the applique scissor.
3. Pin it onto the fabric.
4. Sew around the edges using a zigzag or satin stitch to secure it. If done manually use the Needle Turn Applique technique.

Free Motion Embroidery Setup

1. Remove the presser foot or use a free embroidery foot.
2. Attach the darning plate.
3. Stretch the fabric on a hoop.
4. Adjust the machine settings.

Examples of free embroidery

Tips and Tricks

Automatic Needle Threading: If the needle doesn't thread automatically:

1. Ensure the machine is locked.
2. Lower the presser foot.
3. Raise the needle.
4. An "OK" sign will appear on the screen once these steps are correctly followed.

Selecting the Correct Hoop:

• Make sure you have chosen the appropriate hoop size for your project.

Finding Files on USB: If your file doesn't appear:

• Navigate back to the previous folder using the back arrow in the top right corner of the USB menu.
• Use the next page button on the screen.

The instruction manual that follows with the machine is an excellent resource for any additional questions you might have.