I have a question for all of you, what type of needle do you use for embroidering on felt? I own Bernina Chicago 7. I also use 90/14 original Organ Needles but i still have problem. I am new at embroidery, really enthusiastic and i want to learn, but now i am becoming desperate because bobbin thread is showing on design. :( .

I read below where you were using regular sewing machine thread in your embroidery machine. You can use it to embroidery, it just doesn't have the sheen that embroidery thread does. Glad you fixed your problem. Hang in there, It will all work out.

Welcome to our not so little family, there is always someone here who can give you the advise you need. Marian/Sydney Australia

I am a Bernina girl also. I use a 75 large eye or emb needle on most things. I do prefer the organ needles, but other brands work also. If you have problems go to an 80 emb needle which are sometimes hard to find. A lot of suppliers jump from a 75 to a 90., but there are 80 large eye needles out there. I think felt is my all time favorite fabric to stitch on but it is tricky. I did do many toilet paper covers on felt. Good luck! Kay

Maybe you will have to try a few different combinations. I personally like the 80/12 universal needles. they are sort of in the middle of the range and are okay for the majority of fabrics. If the fabric is really thick, I use a 14, and really thin I use an 11. Bobbins are often the hardest to regulate, so try all different types and even the pre-wound one to see what is best. good luck.

The problem could be the design. Shortly after purchasing my new HV Designer Ruby I attempted to stitch a design so many times while making various adjustments that I decided there must be something wrong with the machine. I ended up spending time with the shop owner/technician to discover that the problem was a poorly digitized design.

Thank you all for such great and helpful advices. In one way i think i solved the problem, i believe that upper thread was not for embroidery-it was for regular sewing machine - it was so stupid when i didn't think of that. :(.
later today I have tried one design with this Madeira no.200 - both as upper and bobbin thread and it stitched nicely thanks God. Tomorrow i will order Madeira polyester thread and i think everything will be fine :).
Here in Serbia (where I live), almost no one even knows anything about domestic embroidery machines(even dealers), so there is no one I can ask for advice accept you wonderful people. I will not give up, I'm so in love with embroidery, last night I only slept 4 hours because i couldn't wait to get up and try again to figure out this problem. Thank you so much, hugs and kisses :*

3 comments

by spendlove 19 Jan 2016

Hugs to you too - there is always someone here when you need us!

by airyfairy 20 Jan 2016

Sounds if you have caught the embroidery bug.

by pennifold 20 Jan 2016

I know how you feel, love Chris

I use that same size as you and i had to increase my tension from 2.8 to 3.2 and slowed my machine to med,, speed .works perfect .go see my words Matachewan i just did on felt ,liner and backing ok??hugs

I sometimes use same color thread in the bobbin , especially if it is going to show on back of the felt. It doesn't seem to make much difference what needle, I usually use 90/14 embroidery needle. I don't have a Janome, Good luck!

You really need to make friends with your machine and find out what it likes best! Each Janome machine I've had has been finicky about bobbin thread. They have hated the very thin thread and really prefer the Janome brand (which is very expensive.) By experimenting, I've found that overlocking thread works brilliantly. As to needle size, I use a 75/11 for just about everything because that is what my machine tells me it likes best.
Good luck and welcome to Cute.

Hi and Welcome!! I have a Bernina and a Melco and whenever I have bobbin thread showing on top, it was the bobbin tension was too loose and I had to tighten it........if you go this route, just tighten the screw 1/4 turn until your machine is stitching correctly.........good luck......

I wish I could help, but I have a BabyLock Ellisimo...I use mostly Metro Thread and the Metro pre-wound bobbins...I do not have a problem with either of them...perhaps your very thin bobbin thread is too thin (?) as most bobbin threads for standard embroidery are 60weight...and usually if you see your bobbin thread on the top, it is actually your top thread that is causing the problem....have you tried to reduce the top tension? Also, I usually use 80/12 Embroidery needles as they have a larger eye than the standard 80/12 sewing needle..either Schmetz, Janome or Organ...good luck and big welcome to Cute...if all else fails, take it to the dealer and embroidery something out while you are there...also have you tried a built in design and does it do the same thing...

I have a Bernina and I use Madeira pre-wound bobbins. Many times problems with bottom thread is the way the bobbin is wound. If your machine doesn't wind thread evenly onto the bobbin it can give you problems. Mine is an Aurora 440 and it does not do a good job winding evenly, that's why I went with the pre-wound. Try winding another and notice if it's winding evenly.
Embroidery designs are not all created equal either, but that's a small book discussion.
Looking at your pictures, let me ask you this; when you put your top thread through the needle, do you then take the end of the thread down through the eye of the embroidery foot and hold it semi-taunt for the first 4-5 stitches? Try that to correct part of what I'm seeing.
Keep fiddling with it- that's usually how we figure out what's going on. Oh, and look in your machine's manual if no one here has the Chicago and can really help pin it down.

Have you tried using a different brand of bobbin thread? I have Babylock machines so have no experience with Berninas. But I use pre-wound bobbins called NEBS in my single needle machine and have never had a problem. Have you talked to your dealer for advice? They would know the machine far better than I do. Let us know if you find out the answer and a warm welcome to the Cute family. Don't give up. There is an answer.

1 comment

by hightechgrammy 19 Jan 2016

Hi Karen, I've heard the NEBS pre wound are the best. I've been using the Metro pre-wound bobbins and they work great for me in my Brothers, all sizes. Hugs, Jan

I also sew a lot of felt. I do not think that needle size is so important, it seems that you are not catching the bobbin thread when you first start off. When starting a new bobbin I always turn the hand wheel towards me and hold the needle thread taught. That should bring up the bobbin thread so you can cut it off. Tension is trial and error I am afraid. I also have a Bernina, both sewing and embroidery. Good luck and hope to see more of you here on Cute.

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Welcome to Cute. Glad you found us! Have a flower.

I do a lot of felt and just use a 75/11 ( I use this for most embroidering) on my babylock. The only bobbin thread we can use is finishing touch. Good luck, welcome.

1 comment

by lildoll2 19 Jan 2016

just read your comment i was using finishing touch and spending a lot of money . i went back to my dealer and told him i need to use a cheaper brand or give him back the babylock, i now use thread art bobbin thread, what they don't tell us is they can addjust the tension so we can use other thread, they sell the finishing touch too make a profit for them, i am so glad i have an honest dealer. try it. doris

I do a lot of felt embroidery, using 90/14 embroidery needles on my elna8600. On my janome 500e use also 90/14 Titanium or Gold, and either Klasse, Schmetz or Organ brand needles.Have never had any problems with any of the brands. Welcome to cute, where you will find many answers for your questions, from veyr knowledgeable people always willing to help out. Sandra.

1 comment

by Alzex 19 Jan 2016

Thank you Sandra

Domestic needles have a shank that's flat on one side, so you can make no mistake when inserting them. Industrial needles have a round shank. The semi-industrial embroidery machines, like the Janome and Brother, use round shanked needles too.

As for the size I use 80/12 for my home machine as well as my 4-needle when embroidering felt.

I use a size 12/80 Titanium in either Organ, Schmetz or Klasse. Some felt can be thick so it's up to you to choose either a stronger needle say a 14/90. Just make sure you use a good sharp needle. I change back to a 11/75 for FSL. I hope many other ladies will come on here and say what they use. Good luck, and welcome to Cute. Love Chris, Newcastle, Australia.