The pucker factor is not a good thing when it comes to embroidery. While it’s a lot of fun to design your own embroidered artwork, one small detail can make or break your finished piece. In this article, we’ll go through a guide on how to keep the machine embroidery from puckering and how you can make easy & smooth your embroidery experience.
Factors Causing Puckering in Machine Embroidery
Below are several factors that can contribute to puckering in an embroidery machine.
Under-Stabilized Fabric
If you’re not using the proper stabilizer for your fabric, it can cause the material to pucker during the embroidery process. Make sure you’re using a water-soluble or tear-away stabilizer on lightweight fabrics and a cutaway stabilizer on heavier fabrics.
Under-Tensioned Threads
When the stitching thread is not tensioned correctly, it can create slack or looseness in the fabric, leading to puckering.
Insufficient Hoop Time
If you’re not using a tight enough stitching tension, the fabric can slip and bunch up during the embroidery process, leading to puckering.
Damaged Needle
One common cause of puckering in machine embroidery is damage to the needle itself. This can occur if you are using a dull or wrongly sized needle.
Poor Digitizing
Poor digitizing is often the root cause of puckering in an embroidery machine. If the design isn’t digitized adequately for the fabric and stabilizer you’re using, it can cause the material to pucker during the embroidery process.
How to Keep Machine Embroidery From Puckering – Quick Tips
Now that we know some of the leading causes of puckering, let’s look at how to prevent it.
Choose The Correct Stabilizer
The type of stabilizer you choose for your project can make a big difference in how well your finished product looks. For lightweight fabrics, use a water-soluble or tear-away stabilizer. For heavier projects, like denim, choose a cutaway stabilizer that will hold the fabric in place while strong enough to prevent puckering.
Check Your Tensions
Ensure that you check and adjust your sewing machine’s tensions before starting each project. This is one of the essential steps in preventing puckering, as uneven tension can cause the fabric to bunch up and pucker.
Set Proper Hoop Time
Allow enough time for the hoop to do its job! If you’re in a hurry, your fabric may not have time to stabilize correctly, leading to puckering.
Use Spray Adhesive
A light mist of temporary adhesive can help to keep your fabric from shifting during the embroidery process. It is always good to check the spray on the useless piece of fabric before applying it to our project.
Use A Sticky Mat
A sticky mat is a great way to keep your fabric in place while working. Stick the mat to your work surface and place your fabric on top. The adhesive will keep the fabric from shifting, which can help prevent puckering.
Reduce Density
If you find that your design is puckering, try reducing the density. This will reduce the amount of stitching in your design, and can help to prevent puckering.
Use a sharp needle
One of the best ways to prevent puckering in machine embroidery is to use a sharp needle when stitching. A sharp needle will help pierce the fabric more quickly, reducing drag and ensuring that your finished product looks great. Additionally, change your needles regularly, as dull needles can cause additional puckering.
Fabrics That Most Likely Causes Puckering
A few types of fabrics are more likely to pucker than others. These include:
Lightweight(slippy) Fabrics
Lightweight fabrics are more likely to pucker than heavier fabrics like silk and cotton. They are less stable and can shift during the embroidery process.
Damask Fabrics
Damask fabrics are made of two different types of threads, one that is rougher and one that is silky. This can cause the fabric to pucker during embroidery, especially if the stitches aren’t balanced properly.
Knit Fabrics(tight)
Knit fabrics are another type of fabric that is more likely to pucker during the embroidery process, as they can stretch and move more quickly than other types of materials. Keep this in mind when choosing a stabilizer for knit projects, as you’ll need something that can hold the fabric in place without causing puckering.
How to Prevent Puckering on Slippy Fabric
One of the best ways to prevent puckering in machine embroidery is to use a hooping technique that helps keep the fabric firmly in place. Depending on what works best for your project, you can either hoop the fabric or attach it to a sticky mat. Moreover, reducing the density of your embroidery designs can also help prevent puckering when working with slippy fabrics.
How to Prevent Puckering on Tight Fabrics
- If you are working with a tight, One of the most important is using a fusible poly mesh on the wrong side of the fabric underneath your design. This will keep the fabric from shifting during embroidery. Then use a tear-away stabilizer as this will help to keep the fabric from stretching and moving too much.
- You may also consider using a temporary adhesive spray or self-adhesive tear-away stabilizer to secure the knit fabric further. You can use a water-soluble as a topper over the design area to provide additional stability.
- Additionally, be sure to use a sharp needle when stitching. A sharp needle will help pierce the fabric more efficiently, reducing drag and ensuring that your finished product looks great.
Conclusion
You can use several different strategies to keep prevent machine embroidery from puckering. These include using a sharp needle, reducing the density of your design, and choosing the right type of fabric for your project. With these tips in mind, you can create beautiful embroidery projects that look great every time.
