EMBROIDERY BASICS
11
Tension
Bobbin Tension
To test the bobbin tension, take the bobbin thread out of the pigtail. Hold the bobbin case in your left hand
and pinch the thread near the case with your right thumb and index nger. With your right hand, give the bob-
bin a quick jerk. The thread should unwind and be pulled out of the bobbin by its own weight. There should
be about an inch and a half drop from the ngers to the bobbin. The drop may vary depending on the amount
of force applied by the wrist action. The key is consistency. If your bobbin drop is four inches and sews out
with the correct tension then use four inches as your guide. The bobbin thread should fall smoothly, without
resistance. If the bobbin case hardly moves the tension is too tight, if it drops a lot, the tension is too loose. If
the bobbin pops out of the case, the adjustment may be too loose or your bobbin drop too violent. The bobbin
tension test technique may take some practice to master.
Machine Tension
To check the proper tension on your machine, embroider any column ll design that uti-
lizes all the needles on your machine. When nished, turn the embroidery over and look
at the underside. In the column ll areas, you should see one-third top thread on the side,
one-third bobbin thread in the middle and one-third top thread on the other side. If the
design doesn’t t this formula, the tension needs to be adjusted.
Factors Inuencing Thread Tension
Thread Color The different color dyes affect the texture of the thread which affects how
smoothly it glides through the machine.
Thread Weight Changing the thread weight will require adjusting the tension.
Machine Speed The varying speed of the machine may affect the tension, adjust the
tension according to the speed most commonly used.
Needle Size Thread friction from smaller eye needles need its tension adjusted.
Dust & Lint Excess dust and lint along the thread path can affect the thread tension.
Checking Tension on
GS1501 Machines
To check for proper thread ten-
sion, perform the “GS1501.dst”
that is loaded in your embroidery
machine.
Check your bobbin case every
couple of months to see if there
is any damage to the pigtail or
tension screw. If the bobbin case
has been dropped on the floor, the
pigtail could be bent which could
affect the sew out. Also if the ten-
sion is too loose and tightening the
screw doesn’t work, then you need
to replace the bobbin case.
Note: Improper thread path is the most common cause of sudden changes in thread tension.
Correct
Incorrect
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