Hello dear Cuties, as you can see in this picture, I am having trouble with the outline of this design. I'm using Embird 2015 studio, can anyone offer tips for getting this to look better? Or do you think it's the thread? Many thanks for any help!!! hugs, Dolly

Hello Cuties, after playing around with my logo we decided on shrinking it to the first part only. This stitch out is all black using Sulky thread and I only had two breaks during stitching. I guess we didn't solve the black thread outline issue but I did come to a solution for this logo..... Thanks all

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I had trouble with black thread on & off for the last 3 months ,which sewed out perfectly before.I had cleaned out the bobbin case,changed the needle etc ,it was the hot humid weather & last month 13 inches of rain,seemed to be the cause.
Of the 4 different brands of black thread ,I have, 2 did similar things to your picture & the other 2 Isacord & Sulky were perfect.
I don't think you have the high humidity that we have had , but the weather conditions maybe a factor or a different brand of thread is needed.

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by dollygk 01 Apr 2017

Thank you Killie, we do have the humidity issues in Jeddah!! but my windows stay closed and the a/c on when needed. I will be using Sulky black thread in a test stitching so hope this will help... I'll check the bobbin and needle too!!

Very informative comments. I try to avoid black outline stitches for the exact problems you are having. Instead I use a dark charcoal and have been quite pleased.

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by pennyhal2 01 Apr 2017

Great solution!

by dollygk 02 Apr 2017

I'll give this some thought... Thanks!

I can see you already have been given some good suggestions. I suspect it is a process of elimination to work it out.
I have had something similar to this happen when I am try to use up the last of some thread in a bobbin. Sometimes it may still be half full. It is almost like there is not enough weight in thread on the bobbin for some embroidery elements to stitch well and hold onto the top thread. I would try a fuller bobbin if others suggestions don't work.
Also for the border you could try a slightly larger needle or a top stitch one with a larger eye as I will make it easier for the border thread to finds its correct path.

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by dollygk 02 Apr 2017

Thank you Sewmum... I'll try the larger needle!!

As mops has said black thread gives more problems and I have been told that it is due to the dying process. The outline appears to be more pronounced in some places than others and with the fuzzy edges as it cuts it has given a messy look. Some interesting answers already been given

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by dollygk 01 Apr 2017

Thank you asterix... love that!! So all black threads will be inferior no matter what company? All the technology and advancements but like the cold, black thread is week too...

by pennyhal2 01 Apr 2017

I'd certainly try different brand of thread. Some machines dislike some brands, and sometimes only dislikes a certain color in that brand. Doesn't make sense, but I've had that happen to me. Unfortunately, you don't know if the machine will like a thread until after you've bought it!

Is this a stitch out, or a computer rendering....If it is a stitch out, I would think it could be a tension problem. More likely the bobbin thread. I had one do that yesterday, after sewing out most of the wording perfectly. The bobbin thread jumped out of the tension groove. and was running wild!

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by dollygk 01 Apr 2017

Thank you and I will definitely keep this in mind with the new testing...

It might be just the black thread - black seems to give more problems than other colours for some reason.
What does the outline look like in Embird? Is it a simple outline or are some parts thicker, like a narrow satin, to suggest some shading.
In Studio you could try to make a new outline. Just select the yellow, use "convert outline from fill" and choose your parameters as single or treble, remove the old outline and save under a new name and then convert to stitches. It is a speedy process, literally takes a few mouse clicks and you could even try just the worst letter. Then test and you'll know whether it was the digitising or the needle/thread combination that caused the problem.

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by dollygk 01 Apr 2017

Thank you mops, I've always blamed the black too... I am re designing the logo and using different brands of black threads will do test stitch outs. I have used the convert outline in Embird, it's easy... I hope this works... he he

The thread looks a bit suspicious! I'd also do what Penny below suggests. Love Chris

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by dollygk 01 Apr 2017

Thanks Chris

What kind of thread are you using? The black threads looks wooly and different from your other threads. Have you tried using a new needle? You might have damazed the needle point that will cause shredding. You might try a topstitch needle. It's a little rounded at the tip so it doesn't cut through thread. If you have software, I'd look at what the stitched look like. The stitches don't seem evenly spaced.

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by dollygk 01 Apr 2017

Thanks Penny, I'm suspicious about the thread too... I brought three different black threads with me from the states and will use them in a new test stitch... wish me luck he he