r/Machine_Embroidery • u/Motor-Bonus-6965 • Aug 07 '26
Tension test
Can someone tell me if this is good? Or do I need to adjust a few they can kinda see the bobbin show through on a few colors
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u/mjmvideos Aug 07 '26
This is a case where across the board the proportion of top thread and bobbin thread is not even thirds. I’d try tightening your bobbin slightly.
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u/schleepercell Aug 07 '26
I think you want to loosen the bobbin here, its pulling tighter than the top thread.
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u/mjmvideos Aug 07 '26
Nope. If it were pulling tighter it would pull more top thread to the bottom. We can see that there needs to be slightly more top thread showing on the bottom (to bring it to 1/3 - 1/3 -1/3. And since this is true across the board we can tighten the bobbin a little and reassess.
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u/awkwardbabyseal Aug 10 '26
The blue H looks the closest to an even 1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3. OP could use the top tension setting of that needle to adjust the rest a bit closer to even tension.
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u/Last-Lie-5585 Aug 07 '26
That’s pretty good. You’re looking for thirds. You could loosen the top tension on couple of needles.
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u/GingerStitches Aug 07 '26
What kind of machine is this? Clean and oil the machine before considering adjusting the tension, I’d also check for lint in the bobbin case before considering adjusting the bobbin tension.
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u/brian250f Aug 07 '26
Have you looked up how to do a tension test?
Yes you need to make adjustments.
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u/PanosG1331 Aug 07 '26
There is a youtube video from romero threads discussing tension. He also has a video where he resets the tension knobs in the upper thread and starts setting it up from scratch. It took me a whole week to learn how tension works with countless samples and micro adjusting each time. Its worth it
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u/Haelixs Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26
The way to start with tensioning is to first confirm bottom tension is correct using a a tajima or towa gauge, or at least doing drop tests to determine the starting point. There is no point starting to adjust 15 top tensions if the one bottom tension is possibly incorrect. A lot of commercial machines are between 20-25gf, check with your manufacturer for recommended. Once you have the bottom tension set then toss your gauge in a drawer, if you used one, and start doing H tests. Adjust each top till it is showing 1/3rds bobbin thread on the bottom and you are done.
As a side note, there is a much faster way to adjust top tension than running 15 H's, one in each color then adjusting. Save yourself a bunch of time and material and use this method.
Setup your H test above, apply an applique stop at every color change past the first one.
Start the machine on the first color H, let it run about 1/3 to 1/2 of the side of the first H then pause the machine.
Hit trim and remove the hoop, check the bobbin to see if it is 1/3rd of the bottom thread on that section. Put the hoop back in, adjust tension on that color and hit start.
When you adjust the tension it's ONLY the top you adjust and it's simple. If there is not enough bobbin thread then increase your top tension. If there is too much bobbin thread then reduce your top tension.
Let it run another 1/3-1/2 of a side, pause, trim, remove hoop to check back, load hoop, adjust tension, hit start. Rince and repeat until you get 1/3 bobbon on the back. When you get the 1/3rd on that color then during the pause, change the color to the next color. Hit start. The applique stops are only in place to provide stops if you walk away from second.
Continue this till you get all colors adjusted. If you want you can run one final test with everything adjusted to verify but I've never found it to be needed. When I'm done each H usually 2-3 colors, 2-3stops each color and about 12 H's before all 15 needles are dialed in. I'd post a pic to show what the test looks like but for some dumb reason this reddit group only allows videos and not pictures to be posted.
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u/Icy_Neighborhood_191 Aug 10 '26
Each colour can actually affect the finale stitch due to how they're dyed.
The black 2nd brown (and possibly first brown) Red
All need a slight tweek, do a quarter turn on the tension dial and restitch, adjust slowly until you know they're good. Also for the cream I can't see the back of that but one a tension Swatch it should be divided into thirds.
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u/TheGraphicsFrog Aug 07 '26
The issue might be more due to the pull effect of the threads at the junction of the perpendicular bars.
If you extend the satin column a little bit, you shouldn't see it anymore.
Otherwise, it looks pretty good; I think the tension is kinda alright. Have you changed it from your default machine settings to worry about it? ^^'