Embroidering Preparation
Hooping the fabric in the embroidery frame
CAUTION
• Use fabrics with a thickness of less than 2 mm
(1/16 inch). Using fabrics thicker than 2 mm
(1/16 inch) may cause the needle to break.
• Always use a stabilizer material for embroidery
when embroidering stretch fabrics, lightweight
fabrics, fabrics with a coarse weave, or fabrics
which cause pattern shrinkage. Otherwise, the
needle may break and cause injury.
■ Attaching iron-on stabilizers (backing) to the
fabric
For best results in your embroidery projects, always use
stabilizer material for embroidery.
a
Press the iron-on stabilizer material to the wrong side
of the fabric.
• Use a piece of stabilizer which is larger than the
embroidery frame being used.
60
1 Fusible side of
stabilizer
2 Fabric (wrong side)
3 Size of the
embroidery frame
c
a
b
Memo
• When embroidering small pieces of fabric that cannot
be hooped on an embroidery frame, use stabilizer
material as a base. After lightly ironing the fabric to the
stabilizer material, hoop it in the embroidery frame. If
stabilizer material cannot be ironed onto the fabric,
attach it with a basting stitch. After completing the
embroidery, remove the stabilizer material carefully.
a
• When embroidering on thin fabrics such as organdy or
lawn, or on napped fabrics such as terry cloth or
corduroy, use water soluble stabilizer (sold separately)
for best results. The water soluble stabilizer material will
dissolve completely in water, giving the project a more
attractive finish.
• In the case of thick terry cloth towels we recommend
that you place a piece of water soluble stabilizer on the
top surface of the towel. This will help to reduce the nap
of the toweling and result in more attractive embroidery.
• When using fabrics that cannot be ironed (such as terry
cloth or fabrics that have loops which expand when
ironed) or in places where ironing is difficult, position the
stabilizer material under the fabric without fusing it, then
position the fabric and stabilizer in the embroidery
frame, or check with your authorized Brother dealer for
the correct stabilizer to use.
■ Inserting the Fabric
CAUTION
• If you use a frame that is too small, the presser
foot may strike the frame during embroidering
and cause injury or may damage your
machine.
Note
• If the fabric is not securely held in the embroidery frame,
the embroidery pattern will embroider out poorly. Insert
the fabric on a level surface, and gently pull the fabric
taut in the frame, being careful not to distort hooped
fabric.
1 Fabric
2 Stabilizer
3 Basting
c