When buying designs from a site, does it matter whether the person selling the designs uses a single needle machine or a multiple needle machine? I know that testers are used frequently, so it really shouldn't matter. I have a single needle machine. So why does it seem like designs from a site that uses a multi needle machine seem to have more tension issues?

In theory this shouldn't be an issue but digitizing aside(as that is another separate issue) in reality home multi needle machines, industrial embroidery machines(which have multiple heads) and domestic machines do have their own differences and capabilities resulting in differing stitchouts. If you take the exact same design and stitch it out on different machines you will get slight differences even if the same thread and stabiliser is used. At my workplace where I use a multihead industrial machine with 15 needles per head there will always be slight differences in the stitchout from each head. Most wouldnt notice the differences but when you have done it for a while you can tell. I have also stitched out designs on my own machines and the one at work with different results. Still good, just different as industrial machines are much better at what they do.
Multineedle machines may also have the option to have the hoops floating rather than resting on the bed of the machine as they stitch and I believe that makes a difference also. Some also have automatic tensions. Hooping techniques can also change a stitchout. If a digitiser doesn't allow for machines with lesser capabilities and forgiveness you may experience issues.
So always test a design on your machine with your threads and stabiliser before using the final garment! If you are still having issues contact the digitizer.

4 comments

by parkermom 05 May 2019

thanks for all that info. I learned quite a bit.

by jrob 05 May 2019

Oh, and use as close to the final garment material as you can get for your tests, too.

by Sewmum1 06 May 2019

Just realised how long that was. I tried to keep it short and to the point too! 😋

Yes definitely use fabric the same or as close as you can get to your actual fabric when testing.

by pennyhal2 08 May 2019

Thanks for the info...I learned a lot.

It is a good question. I think it depends upon the digitizer and the software and settings they are using more than the machine they use. I think many digitizers have their designs tested on both types of machines, especially these days when there are many more multi-needle machines used for non commercial use. Have you used any designs from this particular digitizer that you have not experienced problems with?

1 comment

by parkermom 07 May 2019

I think that I did use some designs with no problems. I am losing interest in this particular designer's website because I am not interested in making up stock to sell at craft shows.

Good question. I don't think there should be a problem.

3 comments

by parkermom 03 May 2019

That's what I believe too, but when the company has a multi needle machine as part of their Facebook photo, it makes me wonder since I struggled with a couple of patterns of this one person. They weren't particularly dense designs, but I had problems with them. Maybe it's my old machine (or the old operator!)

by mops 03 May 2019

Multi needle machine can stitch out denser designs.

Embird uses a default setting of 4.0, good for the industrial machines, to dense for household ones. I digitise at the less dense setting of 4.5. Those numbers might be confusing, higher density lower number, but it gives the distance between stitching lines in a fill, in 1/10 mm.
Some other programmes use 40, etc, in 1/100 mm.

by parkermom 03 May 2019

that explains it very well for me. thank you. Another reason why I am not going to learn to digitize!