Machine Embroidery on a solid color knit top is a great way to turn plain into pretty! Embroidery near the neckline is especially attractive and this Brother Free Design of the Month design is ideal with it’s open and airy style of stitches. Preparation is the key to success and this project includes lots of tips for embroidering your knit top.

Materials and Supplies

• Brother Embroidery Machine
  

• Brother Embroidery Thread
  and Bobbin Thread
  
• SA5931 Pacesetter® Medium Weight Fusible Cut-Away Stabilizer
  
• SA520 Brother Light Weight Water soluble Stabilizer
  
• SA530 Centering ruler for marking and alignment
  
• Brother Embellishment and Lettering software Program
  
• Plain knit top suitable for embroidering
• Wash out marking pen for marking fabric
• April 2017 Brother Free Design of the Month - Heirloom (4X4 Flower) Click Here to Download
  

Brother Free Design of the Month

Original Design 5 Colors









Modified Design 3 Colors

Steps to Embroider Neckline

1. Please read through all instructions and review the options presented here before beginning. Decide on a color scheme for your knit top. Borrowing ideas from a fabric print that you admire is often a good place to start. See Figure #1.

[caption id="attachment_6461" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Figure #1[/caption] Follow these basic guidelines and tips for embroidering:

• Lightly fuse an oversized piece of cut-away stabilizer to wrong side, having it extend well beyond the neckline. When you hoop your top you can get close to the neck with part of the hoop extending beyond the fabric.

• Set the hoop screw for the proper depth of the fabric layers by doing a trial hooping of your top with the added stabilizer as follows: Loosen the hoop screw, hoop the top without regard for specific placement, and tighten the screw until it is snug. Remove fabric from hoop. Your hoop screw will now require little to no adjustment when you hoop for actual stitching. In addition, this helps prevent overstretching the fabric. When you hoop it for the actual embroidery process your fabric and stabilizer will be smooth on both top and bottom. See Figure #2A
  
  and #2B.

[caption id="attachment_6390" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Figure #2A[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6391" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Figure #2B[/caption]

• Use a printed template or measure and mark carefully for precise placement along a neckline. Mark dots where each center mark ends and then connect the dots to mark intersecting lines for precise center. See Figure #3.

[caption id="attachment_6393" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Figure #3[/caption]

• Turn the garment wrong side out when you hoop for actual stitching. Use fabric clips or ballpoint pins to gather up excess fabric and keep it from falling into the path of the stitching. Before embroidering always check to make sure fabric is not caught underneath the hoop. Watch the fabric as you stitch so excess fabric does not fall into stitching area.
• Add water-soluble stabilizer to the top before embroidering. Hoop it with fabric or tape it in place. See Figure #4.

[caption id="attachment_6395" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Figure #4[/caption]

2. Consider your hoop size and software options when deciding on placement for your shirt. See Figures #5A-5C for a few different ideas.

[caption id="attachment_6397" align="aligncenter" width="480"]
Figure #5A[/caption]

• Design combination from software using a 5” X 7” hoop and a printed template. Other designs are possible using one or more designs hooped one at a time in a 4” hoop.

[caption id="attachment_6446" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #5B and #5C[/caption] Two different options for marking and placement layout are presented here:

• Option #1 – Without software to print templates and create larger layouts you will need to mark the center of each design for stitching in the 4-inch hoop. You can measure and mark where you want the center of your design. You can also make a plain paper template 3 ¼” wide X 3 ¾” high to approximate the size of this design and more precisely mark the position.

• Option #2 – Use software to arrange designs and then print a template with center marks to represent the exact size of the design. Matching centers, use this template for marking your neckline.

• For option #2, open free design and then use the software features described below to help with your design layout by selecting options from the menu. Decide on placement and prepare your knit top with stabilizer for embroidering. The layout and number of designs for your top will depend on your garment style. Broader necklines and larger sizes allow for stitching more designs in the neckline area. For a neckline design on a soft knit garment a 5” X 7” inch hoop is a good average size. A combination design is featured in this example, with two face-to-face floral designs stitched in the center of the neckline. To create this featured design in the software, click on the drop down arrow below the hoop icon and choose the 5” X 7” hoop. See Figure #7.

[caption id="attachment_6442" align="aligncenter" width="394"]
Figure #7[/caption]

• Select design and click on the rotation handle and rotate design 10 degrees to the left. See Figure #8.

[caption id="attachment_6443" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #8[/caption]

• Next, copy and paste the selected design, and then use the flip Horizontal tool from the Arrange tab to mirror image the design. Select each design and move into place until designs are evenly aligned and fit within the hoop. See Figure #9.

[caption id="attachment_6444" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #9[/caption]

• Choose a garment template, from Home tab and re-size so it is similar to your top. See Figure #10A.

[caption id="attachment_6450" align="aligncenter" width="558"]
Figure #10A[/caption]

• Select the Garment Template, then click and drag moving it so the hoop is near the neckline. Remember that the Garment Template is only there as a visual guide. It does not represent the actual garment. See Figure #10B.

[caption id="attachment_6451" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #10B[/caption]

3. There are many options available within the software. This project uses just a few. Be sure to review the manual for more details. Change thread colors in the software if you choose. When you are satisfied with your design, click on the Hoop icon to de-select it. Use print option and print a template with center markings, using your desired printer options for full color or grey scale.

4. Use the template to mark the fabric and hoop with center markings aligned with the grid. Save and transfer design to your machine. Before stitching make certain the design will stitch with top of design facing top of neckline. Don't skip this step. You don't want to embroider your design upside down! In this example the design is rotated to keep the bulk of the fabric to the left when hooping. See Figure #11A
   
   through #11D.

[caption id="attachment_6456" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #11A[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6457" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #11B[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6454" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #11C[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6455" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Figure #11D[/caption]

5. Remove markings from pen as per manufacturer’s instructions. Remove the added water-soluble stabilizer by tearing excess and then thoroughly laundering the shirt. Carefully trim excess cut-away from the back of the shirt, leaving a margin of approximately ½” all around outer edges. Press to thoroughly fuse the stabilizer in place.

You are finished! Enjoy!

Options and Ideas:

These instructions will work for a wide variety of Brother machines with a 4” X 4” or 5” X 7” hoop capability. Many Brother machine models have specialized built-in features for precise alignment of designs. Review your options and decide what works best for you.