Tips on improving quality

[u/Brave-Mess3809]

I have been using a Melco Bravo at work to embroider name patches using Inkscape/Inkstitch default fonts and that’s basically it.

Today I attempted to digitize a file from scratch of a logo I am familiar with. I used “Circular Fill” for the red portion. And satin for all of the lettering.

What can I do to get a smoother more full fill? All of those black lines/specks in the fill section is my black bobbin showing through. Also, it bunched up in the middle because of the dense fill.

I used 2 layers of tear away backing, I had a 2% pull compensation on all of the objects and the fill, I had a 1mm inset on the fill underlay and a 1mm outset on the fill itself.

Thank you for your time and expertise.

[u/suedburger]

Ditch the circle fill and go with a regular fill.....fairly obviously lower your density if that is an issue. Widen the satin out a bit maybe so when it pulls in it evens out. Quick fix get white bobbin thread....I generally do red with my reds as well.....you can address tension issues at a later point if they persist.

[u/Brave-Mess3809 → u/suedburger]

Thank you. I’ll make those changes. I do have a set of white bobbin thread ready to go too.

[u/suedburger → u/Brave-Mess3809]

That can be a short term fix if it keeps happening but it sounds like it isn't your machine so they might not want you tweaking the machine. If it works, it works!

[u/Brave-Mess3809 → u/suedburger]

Here’s the deal with the machine.

I am active duty US Navy. My command is a land based support command that services all of the sea going submarine commands in my region.

Someone had the great idea that instead of paying the local embroidery shops to make all of our fabric nametags that they could buy an embroidery machine and have someone in our command do it.

How I imagine that went was “What’s our budget? $15,000? I just looked up ‘best embroidery machines’ and this Melco came up that we can get for $13,000.”

Then they bought it, put it in my office unannounced, and then said “figure this out. Gemini said that you should be able to figure out how to use it and be operational within 2 months”.

Well I don’t have internet access in my office because the security department won’t route me a lowside Ethernet. So whenever I have troubles I either need to step outside of the secure building I work in to go use my cellphone, or go home after work and research as much as I can.

They also will not pay for any software, so I have been using solely free software that I can find online.

I have been having such a difficult time trying to properly use this machine and make good products. I finally have a lull at work so I was trying to become better at digitizing.

Long story short (and the point I meant to make but somehow completely avoided), they bought me the machine, told me it is 100% my responsibility and I can do anything with it as long as the nametags get made. I have to go through the Navy supply system to purchase anything (unless I spend my own money which I refuse to do).

[u/suedburger → u/Brave-Mess3809]

Oh shit.....that is a lot to unpack. Embroidery alone can be tedious to learn...much less digitizing. but without youtube!....god bless you.

But anyway I also use inkstitch. it can do everything you want it to....you just have to play.

[u/Brave-Mess3809 → u/suedburger]

Yeah and it’s not like I have any background in anything like this either haha.

I was a nuclear reactor operator for the last 6 years of my career.

[u/Constant_Put_5510 → u/Brave-Mess3809]

Oh wow. If there is any way you can get online and buy a marrow crest, do it. It's easy to plunk names into it once you have that part made as a separate file.

[u/GingerStitches]

Use cut away stabilizer on knit fabrics.

[u/Cpt_Obvious11]

2x cutaway might help, but red background is too much for that stretchy fabric. If red fill must stay make it less dense. Even with right stabilizer(s), after few washings, red area will take form of Pringles.

[u/Lanky-Setting-5288]

Ah, the Ford logo. An old favourite.

The main problem is that you used the wrong backing. Tearaway cannot be used with stretch fabric. Although it feels stiff and structured, its only paper and stitches make holes that perforate the backing and the fabric will shift as it stitches, creating this less than desirable result. Whereas cutaway backing is a non-woven synthetic stabaliser that you cannot tear and therefore, when hooped with the fabric (don't 'float it), it creates a structured surface for the embroidery being sewn onto the fabric.

Study other embroidery of this logo.

The Ford logo is not quite the right shape and be bolder with the satin stitch of the boarder and 'Ford'. Don't fiddle with pull compensation until you restitch with cutaway backing.

You want to make a design that can potentially have the background removed and still stitch out great.

For this type of fabric, hoop with two layers of heavyweight cutaway backing.

[u/Constant_Put_5510]

Im not going to help as we worked hard to get licensed on that logo.

[u/Brave-Mess3809 → u/Constant_Put_5510]

I have no intention of selling, distributing, or manufacturing products with this logo.

I am simply trying to learn how to digitize and this logo was one I am familiar with and had enough different objects while remaining simple enough to try and recreate.

Thanks for your input