Brother ULT2003D owner's manual: Chapter 5 Embroidery

Chapter 5 Embroidery

PREPARING TO EMBROIDER

Before Beginning

■ Copyright Information The patterns stored in the sewing machine and embroidery cards are intended for private use only. Any public or commercial use of copylighted patterns is an infringement of copyright law and is strictly prohibited.

■ About the Embroidery Unit

CAUTION

• Do not move the machine with the embroidery unit attached. The embroidery unit could fall off and cause injury.
• Keep your hands and foreign objects away from the embroidery carriage and frame when the machine is embroidering. Otherwise, injury may result.

CAUTION

• Do not touch the inner connector of the embroidery unit. The pins on the embroidery unit connection may be damaged.
• Do not apply strong force to the embroidery unit carriage, or pick up the unit by the carriage. Otherwise, the embroidery unit may be damaged.
• Store the embroidery unit in the proper storage case.

■ About Embroidery Cards (Sold Separately)

• Use only embroidery cards manufactured for this machine. Using unauthorized cards may cause your machine to operate incorrectly.
• Embroidery cards sold in foreign countries can not be used with this machine.
• Only insert or remove embroidery cards when [icon] is displayed, or when the main power is off (see page 5-17).
• Store embroidery cards in the hard case.

Embroidery 5-1

About Floppy Disks

• If your machine did not come furnished with a built-in floppy disk drive, you can receive an upgrade service for your machine, so that it can use floppy disks at your authorized dealer.
• If floppy disks containing data other than those created for this machine, or patterns saved from your machine, are inserted into your machine, the machine may not operate correctly. (Only .pes, .phc and .dst pattern files can be used.)
• Only insert or remove floppy disks while [icon] or [icon] is displayed, or when prompted to change disks by the screen (see page 5-18).
• Data saved on floppy disks may be lost or sometimes corrupted. Always make a backup of any important data saved on floppy disks.
• If the head of the floppy disk becomes dirty, the data can not be read normally. Use a cleaning disk for floppy disks regularly to avoid problems (see page 8-4). Be sure to follow the drive cleaning instructions on the package.
• Do not leave floppy disks where bits of thread or lint are likely to collect. These things may damage the disks. Put the disks in the hard case when storing.
• Do not leave floppy disks near the TV, magnets, or other objects with magnetic properties. Otherwise, the data on the disk may become unreadable.
• Floppy disks are 2HD type. Be sure to use formatted disks.
• Move the write protect switch on the floppy disk to the unprotected position before using the disk.
• Only use letters and numbers for the file names of the embroidery data. Using special symbols may prevent the data from being saved.
• Do not create folders on the floppy disks. If a folder is created and a pattern is stored in the folder, the machine will not be able to display the pattern.
• PES files made with the embroidery design software system from this company that do not fit in the design page, or PES files that go over the limit for number of stitches or colors can not be displayed. Edit the data with the embroidery design software system so the pattern is within the regulations noted above, and then use the pattern.
• Regarding the Tajima file (.dst): The file name will be displayed on the pattern selection screen. Up to 8 alphanumeric characters will be displayed for the file name. In the Tajima format (.dst), there is no color information for the pattern, so the pattern will be displayed with this company's color order settings. If you want to check the finished pattern on the screen, change the colors on the display to your preferred colors.

5-2 Embroidery

BASIC EMBROIDERY

Attach the presser foot, embroidery unit, and follow the other steps below to prepare the machine for embroidery.

Embroidery 5-3

Attaching Embroidery Foot “Q”

CAUTION

• Always turn off the main power switch when attaching a presser foot. You may accidentally press the “Start/Stop” button, resulting in injury.
• Be sure to use embroidery foot Q when doing embroidery. The needle may strike the presser foot, causing the needle to bend or break and resulting in injury.

1. Press the “Needle Position” button to raise the needle, and then turn off the power.
2. Raise the presser foot lever.

3. Push the black button on the presser foot holder and remove the presser foot. ① Presser foot holder

4. Use the included screwdriver to loosen the screw of the presser foot holder, then remove the presser foot holder.

5. Set embroidery foot “Q” on the presser foot bar so that the arm of embroidery foot “Q” is in contact with the back of the needle holder, then use the included screwdriver to firmly tighten the screw.

CAUTION

Use the included screwdriver to firmly tighten the screw of the presser foot holder. If the screw is loose, the needle may strike the presser foot, resulting in injury.

Attaching the Embroidery Unit

CAUTION Be sure to turn off the power before installing the embroidery unit, otherwise, the machine may be damaged.

1. Turn off the power, and remove the flat-bed attachment.

2. Open the cover of the connection port, as shown in the illustration.

Note Be sure to replace the cover when the embroidery unit is not installed.

3. Insert the embroidery unit connection into the machine connection port. Push lightly until the unit clicks into place.

① Embroidery unit connection ② Machine connection port

CAUTION

• Be sure there is no gap between the embroidery unit and the sewing machine. If there is a gap, the embroidery patterns will not embroider with the correct registration.
• Do not push on the carriage when installing the embroidery unit onto machine. Moving the carriage may damage the embroidery unit.

4. Turn on the main power switch. The screen at left will display.

Embroidery 5-5

5. Press [OK button graphic]. The carriage will move to the initialization position.

CAUTION Keep your hands and foreign objects away from the carriage. Otherwise, injuries may result. Also, if the embroidery unit could not be initialized correctly, a buzzer will sound. If this happens, go through the initialization process again. This is not a malfunction.

5-6 Embroidery

■ Removing the Embroidery Unit

ALWAYS PRESS WHEN REMOVING EMBROIDERY UNIT

1. Remove the embroidery frame.

Press either Embroidery or Embroidery Edit, then press [icon]. The carriage will move to the removal position.

CAUTION Always remove the embroidery frame before pressing [icon]. Otherwise, the frame may strike the embroidery foot, resulting in injury.

CAUTION The embroidery unit will not fit in the storage case if this step is not done.

2. Turn off the main power switch. Hold the back left side of the embroidery unit. Hold down the release button, and pull the embroidery unit away from the machine as shown.

CAUTION Be sure to turn off the main power switch. Otherwise, the machine may be damaged.

Embroidery 5-7

SELECTING PATTERNS

There are many character and decorative embroidery patterns stored in the machine's computer memory. You can also use patterns from the embroidery cards (sold separately).

Once the machine has finished the initialization and the carriage has moved to the start position, the pattern type selection screen will display.

If another screen is displayed, press Embroidery to display the screen at left.

Note

If your machine did not come furnished with a built-in floppy disk drive, you can receive an upgrade service for your machine, so that it can use floppy disks at your authorized dealer.

5-8 Embroidery

One Point Patterns

1. Press [icon] to open the screen at left.
2. Press [icon] to see the next screen of pattern selections. Press [icon] to see the previous screen of pattern selections.

3. Press the key of the pattern you want to embroider.
4. The selected pattern is displayed in the top part of the screen.
   • Press [icon] to create a mirror image of the pattern.
   • If you make a mistake selecting the pattern, press the key of the pattern you want to sew.
5. After selecting the pattern, press [SEWING].

Embroidery 5-9

6. The sewing screen is displayed.

• To go to the next step, see page 5-19, “Viewing the Sewing Screen.”
• To return to the previous screen to select another pattern, press RETURN.

5-10 Embroidery

Character Patterns

1. Press AAA... to open the screen at the left.
2. The method for selecting character patterns is the same for each font. Press the key of the font you want to embroider.

3. Use the tag keys ABC abc 0~9 &?!... ÄÄä... to change the selection screen.
4. Press the key of the characters you want to embroider.

Embroidery 5-11

Example: Selecting “Bus”

① Press B.

• If you want to change the size of the characters, select the character and then press L M S to change the size. Every time pressing the key, the size changes from large, medium, then small.
• If you continue adding letters after changing the size, the new letters will be entered in the new size.

CAUTION You can not change the size of the entered characters after combining a character stitch pattern.

② Press abc. ③ Press u. ④ Press s.

• If you make a mistake, press DELETE to erase the mistake.
• If the pattern is too small to see clearly, you can use the CHECK key to check it.

6. When you finish selecting the characters, press SEWING.

7. The sewing screen is displayed.

• To go to the next step, see page 5-19, “Viewing the Sewing Screen.”
• To return to the previous screen to select another pattern, press RETURN.

5-12 Embroidery

Floral Alphabet Patterns

1. Press [ABC icon] to open the screen at left.

2. Press [up arrow icon] to see the next screen of pattern selections. Press [down arrow icon] to see the previous screen of pattern selections.

3. Press the key of the pattern you want to embroider.

4. The screen displays the pattern.

• Press [mirror image icon] to create a mirror image of the pattern.

5. After selecting the pattern, press [SEWING button].

Embroidery 5-13

6. The sewing screen is displayed.

• To go to the next step, see page 5-19, “Viewing the Sewing Screen.”
• To return to the previous screen to select another pattern, press RETURN.

5-14 Embroidery

Frame Patterns

1. Press [icon: circle, square, heart] to open the screen at left.
2. Press the key of the frame pattern shape you want to sew in the top part of the screen.
3. Various frame patterns display on the bottom part of the screen.
4. In the bottom part of the screen, press the key of the frame you want to sew.

Example: Selecting [icon: square with decorative border]

① Press [icon: plain square] to choose the frame’s shape. The lower display will show various square frames.

• If you make a mistake selecting the pattern, press the key of the pattern you want to sew.

② Press [icon: square with decorative border] to select the frame.

Embroidery 5-15

5. The selected pattern is displayed on the screen.
6. After selecting the pattern, press [SEWING].

7. The sewing screen is displayed.

• To go to the next step, see page 5-19, “Viewing the Sewing Screen.”
• To return to the previous screen to select another pattern, press [RETURN].

5-16 Embroidery

Selecting Patterns from an Embroidery Card

1. When the screen at left is displayed, you can insert the embroidery card.
   • If a different screen is showing, press Embroidery to display the screen at left.
   • Insert the card completely into the slot on the right side of the machine. Insert the embroidery card so that the end with a printed arrow is facing the front.

① Insert completely.

CAUTION

• Only insert or remove the embroidery card when [icon] is displayed, or when the machine is turned off.
• Do not insert the card in a direction other than that shown by the arrow on the card, and do not force the card into the slot strongly. Do not put any object except for the embroidery cards into the slot. Otherwise, your machine may be damaged.

2. Press [icon]. The patterns on the embroidery card are displayed on the selection screen.

3. The method for selecting patterns is the same as that described on pages 5-8 to 5-16.

CAUTION Use only embroidery cards intended for use with this machine. Using other cards may cause your machine to operate incorrectly.

Embroidery 5-17

Selecting a Pattern from a Floppy Disk (Only for Machines with Floppy Disk Drives)

1. When the screen at left is displayed, you can insert the floppy disk.
   • If a different screen is showing, press Embroidery to display the screen at left.
   • Insert the floppy disk completely into the slot on the right side of the machine.

① Insert completely.

CAUTION

• Only insert or remove floppy disks while [icon] or [icon] is displayed, or when prompted to change disks by the screen.
• Do not insert anything other than floppy disks into the floppy disk drive slot, otherwise the floppy disk drive may be damaged.

2. Press [icon]. The patterns on the floppy disk are displayed on the selection screen.

   • The time for loading from the floppy disk depends on a number of patterns. For example, it takes around 30 seconds for 20 patterns to display.

3. The method for selecting patterns is the same as that described on pages 5-8 to 5-16.

CAUTION Only use floppy disks containing data created by the sewing machine, or equipment intended for this machine. Otherwise, the machine may not operate correctly. (Only .pes, .phs and .dst pattern files can be used.)

VIEWING THE SEWING SCREEN

Example : One point pattern

① Bobbin thread sensor: Shows how much thread is left in the bobbin during sewing. The display turns yellow if there is little thread remaining.

CAUTION The bobbin thread sensor does not operate when the machine is not sewing.

② Presser foot code: Attach embroidery foot “Q” for all embroidery projects.

③ Shows the size of the selected pattern.

④ Shows the boundary for embroidering with the large frame (26 × 16 cm (10-1/4 × 6-1/4 inch)).

⑤ Shows a preview of the selected pattern.

⑥ Shows how far the sewing position is from the center (when you move the default sewing position).

⑦ Press this key to return to the pattern type selection screen.

⑧ Shows how many stitches in the selected pattern and how many stitches sewn so far.

⑨ Shows the time necessary to sew the pattern, and the time already spent sewing the pattern (not including time for changing the thread).

⑩ Shows the number of colors in the selected pattern, and the number of the color currently being sewn.

⑪ Press this key for a preview of the sewn image.

⑫ Shows the embroidery frames that can be used for the selected pattern. Be sure to use the proper frame (see page 5-21).

⑬ Shows the order the colors are sewn in.

⑭ Shows the degree of rotation of the pattern.

⑮ Pattern revision keys (see page 5-46).

⑯ Shows the part of the embroidery that will be sewn with the first thread color if Color separation display is set to “ON”. (For details on changing the Color separation display setting, see page 1-20.)

CAUTION Some operations or functions are not available for certain patterns. If the key display is light gray, you cannot use that function or operation with the selected pattern.

Embroidery 5-19

PREPARING THE EMBROIDERY FRAME

Attaching a Stabilizer Material to the Fabric

CAUTION Always use stabilizer material for embroidery when sewing embroidery projects, especially when embroidering on lightweight or stretch fabrics. Otherwise, the needle may break and cause injury. Not using a stabilizer material may result in a poor finish to your project.

For best results in your embroidery projects, always use stabilizer material for embroidery. To prevent shrinking or other problems, follow the advice below.

1. Always use a stabilizer material for embroidery when sewing stretch fabrics, lightweight fabrics, fabrics with a coarse weave, or fabrics which cause pattern shrinkage. Iron the stabilizer material to the back of the fabric.

• When using fabrics that can not be ironed (such as towel or fabrics that have loops which expand when ironed), or in places where ironing is difficult, place the stabilizer material under the fabric without attaching it, then set the fabric and stabilizer in the embroidery frame, or check with your authorized dealer for the correct selection of stabilizer. ① Attached surface ② Fabric (reverse side)

2. Use a piece of stabilizer material which is larger than the embroidery frame. Make sure that the stabilizer material is clamped all the way around the frame to prevent the fabric from loosening. ① Size of the embroidery frame ② Stabilizer material

Note

• For best results, we recommend you use stabilizer material for embroidery. Embroidery stabilizer material removes easily after embroidery. Follow stabilizer package instructions.
• When embroidering on thin fabrics such as organdy or lawn, or on shaggy fabrics such as towel or corduroy, use water soluble stabilizer material (sold separately) for best results. The water soluble stabilizer material will dissolve completely in water, giving the project a more attractive finish.

Setting the Fabric in the Embroidery Frame

Types of Embroidery Frames

Select a frame that matches the pattern size. Frame options are displayed on the LCD.

Frames that can be used are highlighted.
Frames that can not be used are light gray.

CAUTION

If you use a frame that is too small, the presser foot may strike the frame during sewing and cause injury.

Embroidery 5-21

■ Inserting the Fabric

CAUTION If the fabric is placed loose in the embroidery frame the embroidery design will sew out poorly. Insert the fabric on a level surface, and gently stretch the fabric tight in the frame. Follow the steps below to insert the fabric correctly.

1. Loosen the adjustment screw on the outer embroidery frame. Lay the fabric on the outer frame, then insert the inner frame, clamping the fabric between the frames.

• Be sure to align the inner frame’s \triangle with the outer frame’s \nabla. ① Inner frame ② Outer frame ③ Adjustment screw

2. Slightly tighten the adjustment screw, then remove the slack of fabric by pulling on edges and corners. Do not loosen the screw.

• When using the large frame, tighten the adjustment screws at the top and bottom of the frame, so that the spaces at the top and bottom of the frame are equal.

3. Gently stretch the fabric tight, and tighten the frame adjustment screw. This keeps the fabric from loosening after stretching.

• After stretching the fabric, make sure the fabric is taut.
• Make sure the inside and outside frames are even before you start embroidering.

① Outer frame ② Inner frame ③ Surface of fabric

Note Stretch the fabric by all four corners and all four edges. While stretching the fabric, tighten the frame adjustment screw.

5-22 Embroidery

■ Using the Embroidery Sheet

When you want to embroider the pattern in a particular place, use the embroidery sheet with the frame.

1. With a chalk pen, mark the area of the fabric you want to embroider.

2. Place the embroidery sheet on the inner frame. Align the guide lines on the embroidery sheet with the mark you made on the fabric. ① Inner frame ② Guide line

3. Gently stretch the fabric, so there are no folds or wrinkles.

4. Remove the embroidery sheet.

Attaching the Embroidery Frame

CAUTION Wind and set the bobbin before attaching the embroidery frame. Use embroidery thread in the bobbin.

1. Raise the presser foot lever.

2. Align the embroidery frame guide with the right edge of the embroidery frame holder.

① Embroidery frame holder ② Embroidery frame guide

3. While pressing the embroidery frame holder to the left, slide the embroidery frame into the holder.

4. Align the projection on the embroidery frame holder with the groove in the embroidery frame, and return the embroidery frame holder to the original position.

① Projection ② Groove

CAUTION If the embroidery frame is set in the frame holder incorrectly, the frame may strike the presser foot, resulting in injury.

5-24 Embroidery

■ Removing the Embroidery Frame

While pressing the embroidery frame holder to the left, pull the embroidery frame toward you.

Embroidery 5-25