Pfaff creative 2140 Owner's Manual - Page 128

6-2 Embroidery techniques Freehand embroidery requires practice, but with the right tips and hints, it is easy to achieve beautiful embroidery results. Presser feet Embroidery without unit - freehand: Presser feet No. 2A and No. 8 are recommended. Never engage the top feed for embroidery work, as this could cause a displacement in the embroidery design. Embroidery with embroidery unit: Attach the embroidery foot (Creative Fantasy). Correction systems If you don't use the embroidery unit: Each stitch is pre-programmed in the machine with its optimum length and width settings. If you are sewing on difficult materials such as jersey, silk or heavy woolens, you should (if necessary) adjust your stitch with the balance function. Use a sewn sample for reference when adjusting the stitch. Stabilizing the fabric When embroidering, with or without the embroidery unit, each piece of fabric to be embroidered should be reinforced with stabilizer. A variety of materials for supporting machine embroidery have been developed in recent years. There are adhesive and non-adhesive stabilizers, as well as stabilizers for placing beneath and on top of the fabric to be embroidered. These stabilizers make it possible to work precisely and neatly, and assure optimum embroidery results. The range of individual design options is thus greatly increased. Vlieseline H200 is a fine iron-on backing in white or black, for permanently reinforcing lightweight fabrics. Vlieseline H250 is a very strong, dimensionally stable iron-on backing in black or white, for reinforcing fabrics. Bulk stabilizers are available in a variety of thicknesses, for ironing on, underlaying or inserting. They enhance the threedimensional appearance of the embroidered design. They are suitable for appliqué designs and Richelieu designs. When using them, hoop a backing fabric, the bulk stabilizer and the fabric to be embroidered. Tear-Away stabilizer is a non-adhesive stabilizer which strengthens the fabric to be embroidered and ensures that it remains free of creases. The embroidery becomes more even and three-dimensional. The stabilizer can be removed by tearing it off carefully. Place the stabilizer beneath each piece of fabric to be embroidered and hoop both layers in the embroidery hoop. This gives the fabric additional support in the hoop. If you are embroidering without a hoop, tack on the stabilizer. This will prevent distortion of your embroidery. 6. Embroidery Assistant Water-soluble stabilizer is a transparent, water-soluble film, which is used to stabilize thin, stretchable, elastic fabrics, laces, knitwear and loop fabric. It has proven particularly effective on terry cloth and velvet, as it covers the pile of the fabric's face side, preventing the individual loops from being pushed through the embroidered design. Place the water-soluble stabilizer loosely on the fabric to be embroidered, or hoop the fabric with the water-soluble stabilizer on both sides. The stabilizer can be removed very quickly simply by tearing it off. After embroidering, the surplus stabilizer can be dissolved in water. Adhesive-backed paper is an adhesive reinforcement for distortion-free embroidery; it consists of a layer of paper and a thin adhesive stabilizer. This adhesive layer prevents the fabric from slipping. The stabilizer is suitable to stabilize all types of fabric. It is, above all used, for very thick, hard materials (including leather) which cannot be hooped, and for parts which are too small to fit in the embroidery hoop. Adhesive-backed paper likewise makes it easy to embroider knitwear. thin jersey and fine silk, as the fabric is prevented from becoming distorted. Hoop the Adhesive-backed paper with the smooth paper side facing upwards. Gently score a cross in the paper's surface and pull off the paper. You can now position the fabric to be embroidered on the stabilizer and gently smooth it out, without actually hooping it. Spray-on temporary adhesive For fixing stabilizer temporarily onto a fabric to be embroidered, in order to avoid distortion. The spray-on temporary adhesive is suitable for all materials. Spray the fabric that is to be embroidered and secure the stabilizer to it. After 2 - 5 days, the adhesive effect of the spray disappears without leaving any residue. If the material is of a very fine grade (silk), you are recommended to spray the stabilizer, to avoid causing blemishes to the face fabric.