Embroidery Project

Project Requirements

Complete both online and in-person training
Complete the training for Fab Lab North
1x Blanket, towel or other polyester blend item of choice
1x Design file
Colored Bobbins

Click on each section below to learn about this project. Happy building!

Step 1: Gathering Materials

Gather your build components from the LF Staff. You are responsible for keeping your parts together and bringing them back with you if you plan on completing the build through multiple days. You should receive the following Items:

(1x) Blanket, towel or other polyester blend item of choice

Step 2: Baby Lock Alliance

You will be using the Baby Lock Alliance Embroidery machine, located between the laser cutting room and the storage cage. The machine will load a file of your choice and embroider up to four different colored threads in one design.

The video above gives a good introduction to what the machine can accomplish. There will be several other videos you will have to watch in order to get a grasp of the machine.

The Baby Lock Alliance has a help menu that can guide you through the necessary steps to use the machine. Please use these instructions and the help menu to assist you in completing this project first. If after using these resources, you truly cannot figure it out, please ask a TA.

https://youtu.be/36Rv-UGZT7Y

Step 3: Baby Lock Alliance Cont.

If you wish to make a custom design, you can use the Baby Lock Palette software.

Ask a TA for the USB containing the software. There is only one software key that connects to one of the computers in the LF. This is the computer all the way in the back of the lobby. Look back at the map for its location. If you don’t want to wait for the software, you can use some of the preloaded images on the Baby Lock Alliance Machine. Using the Baby Lock Alliance directly, you can create text to create a monogram, decorate using borders, and load hundreds of images without having to use the software. This is a great way to get started quickly.

Step 4: Custom Designs

Using this software you can create a custom design for your item either using an existing template or an image you find online. You can use Adobe Creative Cloud or Corel to make your own unique design and then import that image into Palette as an .svg. Use the video above to assist you in getting started. You may want to continue the series of tutorials this Youtuber offers to learn some advanced options.

Step 5: 3D Securing Materials

Use this video to learn how to use the hoops and how to properly secure the material. The video uses another Baby Lock Alliance machine, but the principles are the same. Just in keep in mind that the hoop will be mounted on both sides of the Baby Lock Alliance machine.

Step 6: Stabilizing Materials

The previous video mentioned a stabilizing material. The stabilizer gives the needle a better surface to grasp on. The needle stitches both through your material and through the stabilizer, leaving the stabilizer on the back. You can trim it down close to your design when you are finished embroidering. The image above shows two types of stabilizers, one being the tear-away(backing) and the other being water-soluble. As the name suggests, the water-soluble stabilizer is used when you want a removable stabilizer. The material will dissolve after being washed. It also better stabilizes high-pile materials such as towels and blankets.

Step 7: Turn On Machine

Turn on the machine! The power switch is located on the left back side when facing the machine.

Step 8: Begin Piece

Once the machine loads, use the touchscreen to click on the ? at the top, next to the home page. Then, click on Basic Operation and go through each of the items. This basic training will get you ready to begin your embroidery piece. If issues arise as you are progressing, you can always return to the ? menu and click on Troubleshooting to find solutions for some common issues.