Free motion embroidery?

Free motion is normally only done with sewing machines. Embroidery machines could not make use of that technique used for sewing (embroidering) quilts, etc..

I may be mistaken about this....anybody else?

Essentially what John said; except that with an embroidery machine you don't use the embroidery function at all, using it as a "regular" sewing machine, and a non-attached hoop. You have to be able to lower the feed dogs, disable any automatic walking foot, etc. With practice, you can use plain stitches, zigzags, and double-needles.

There are any number of good websites that will give you better and more detailed information. Just google for

freemotion embroidery and/or free motion embroidery

and maybe even freemotion quilting!

- Herb

Hi John,

Sorry, I wasn't really clear. I just wondered if anyone out there on this ng does this? I'd like to try this with my machine as it looks like a challenge and fun. Thx! JJ

Hi Herb!

I just have a regular sewing machine. It does have the ability to drop the feed dogs and such for "darning"...So, I think I can do this with my machine! I already have hoops I can use, now just have to go for it and practice on some scraps!

Thanks for the Google tips. JJ

Probably break your needle. Tensions may need to be set differently or not be settable. Tension is dependant on how hard you pull the fabric.

Some machines (like Brother) know what hoop you have installed and will not even start without one.

Are you thinking of doing quilting style free sewing or embroidery? I think if you make too thick a pile of thread you will have trouble as in machine controlled patterns do.

This is how many quilting adapters work, with a sewing machine with the feed dogs down and a plotting table attached. The excess material rolls up under the arm in an attempt to handle bigger sheets of material.

Check your library for books on "free-motion embroidery" and "thread painting." Having feed dogs that drop is good, but not essential. You can also set the stitch length to "0" so that they don't move the fabric, or cover them with a bit of cardstock.

You use a hoop, with the fabric on the bottom. There are hoops available that are thinner so that they go under the needle more easily. You can use a darning foot, or no foot at all. It's a bit easier to "paint" using a zig-zag stitch, but you can do free-motion work with a straight-stitch machine.

Start by drawing on your fabric, or on some organza that you will lay over the fabric, so that you have the outline of what you want. Most people start with things like writing their name, to get used to this kind of stitching.

It's loads of fun. It's much like digitizing, in that you're doing it one stitch at a time, but ending up with a picture or words.

Those are big machines. It's easier with a household type. There is a learning curve, but it's a lot easier than I thought it would be. The more practice, the better it comes out, though.

Hi John,

OK, I'll watch for that.

I just have a regular sewing machine. There is no hoop to "install"...I'll just be holding a regular hoop like for hand stitching.

Just embroidery and monogramming. Only one layer of fabric with perhaps stabilizer as needed. I've sewn through some pretty thick stuff with my machine before. I needed to repair a leather backpack's clip. While I wouldn't make a habit of doing that (it was pretty much the limit of what my machine could handle), I at least know it can handle some pretty tough sewing. ;-)

But I don't intend to be doing anything that will be hard on the machine itself. More a matter of my own abilities.

Thx! JJ

Oh, interesting. Thanks! JJ

Thanks...will do. I can do either with this machine. Drop the feed dogs (who came up with that name anyway? ) or set to "0"...

I think my machine has a darning foot or I can go without a foot. And the machine does zig-zag and straight and even some (very few) fancier variations on the zig-zag...

Thanks very much! This is exactly what I'd like to play with on my machine. And just see what I can do! Much appreciated, JJ

If you don't drop the feed dogs they may catch on the fabric even though they are not actively feeding the fabric.

I heartily recommend using the darning foot as it means you know where NOT to put your fingers (don't ask me how I know this), also the foot helps to hold the fabric down as the needle lifts out. You must still lower your presser foot lever even if you are sewing with a bare needle as that engages the tension mechanism, I know it seems obvious but it very easy to forget to do it.

This is a nice little video showing (deceptively?) simple technique

Lizzy

Hi Lizzy,

Good point!

DOH! I won't ask! ;-) And thanks for the suggestion with the darning foot. And the lever. *I* would be one of those people wondering why it wasn't working!! :-\

I think I will be! Take care, JJ

Stabilizer only keeps the material from parallelogramming and shouldn't be required for following a line most likely.

Not necessarily so. Stabilizers will keep the stitches of embroidery from being lost in a fabric with deep knap, terry cloth, fleece, some velvets, etc. and keeps delicate fabrics from disintegrating from repetitive stitching. It's not just for stabilizing anymore ;)

Val

I remember watching a show on PBS about "paint with thread" doing just what you have been talking about. I've been wracking my brain trying to remember which one it was, perhaps Sewing with Nancy. It was a 3 or 4 part series. Been awhile back. I know they had videos available. Beautiful things were done using just a straight stitch and regular hand embroidery hoop.

Val

Turn your tension down and don't use it for free motion.