Placing an embroidery design

Placing an embroidery design

Nine top tips

How do you place an embroidery design exactly where you want it to be? These nine tips show different methods of achieving precise results with the help of templates and functions such as 4-Point Placement.

1. Use the embroidery template

1. Use the embroidery template

You may have wondered what the transparent template that comes with every embroidery hoop is for. This embroidery template is used to hoop the fabric straight. It indicates the center and the outer limit of the embroidery area. The video instructions demonstrate exactly how to use the template.

On machines with the 2-Point or 4-Point Placement function, it is not as important to hoop the fabric exactly, as this can be compensated for by these two functions. For all machines without these functions, the straighter and more accurately the fabric is hooped, the easier the placement will be.

Note

The functions in tips 2-5 are available on all embroidery-capable BERNINA machines.
 

2. Activate motif center

2. Activate motif center

Once the fabric is hooped and the hoop is attached to the machine, there are various options for checking and changing the position of the design. In the hoop selection you can activate the motif center. The cursor jumps from the beginning of the design to the center of the design. This is helpful if the center of the design is marked on your project.

The embroidery design can now be moved using the multifunction knobs and repositioned to the desired place. If both points are aligned, the embroidery design is placed exactly in the center.

The motif center is then deactivated, as otherwise the individual points of an embroidery design can no longer be selected in the editing screen (see tip 4).
 
Another function in the hoop selection is the grid: If this function is activated, a large pink cursor appears first, indicating the center of the hoop. If the function is activated a second time, a grid appears. The grid helps you to precisely move a design (with multifunction knobs).

3. Check design size

3. Check design size

Another very helpful function can be found on the information window ( i ): The "check" symbol. Here, you can also select the motif center (same symbol as in the hoop selection) and move the center using the multifunction knobs.

The arrows in the top right-hand area can be used to trace the outline of the design in a straight line (provided the design is within the embroidery area) in order to check the size and position. Do not be alarmed if the embroidery arm starts to move.

4. Absolute check

4. Absolute check

With Absolute Check, any point of the design can be picked. The hoop then positions itself so that the needle is exactly above this point.

Assuming you want to check the position of the top snowflake in the middle, select this spot on the screen. However, as you can see in the picture, the cursor covers the area somewhat, so that it is not exactly clear which stitch is active...

5. Zoom view

5. Zoom view

... This is where the magnifying glass comes into play! You can magnify the design 5 times so that you can select the exact stitch you want. If another stitch is to be selected that is not currently visible due to the high magnification, the screen view can be moved to the corresponding position or the view can be reduced using the minus magnifying glass. If the symbol with the hand (above the minus magnifying glass) is active, only the view is moved, but not the embroidery design. If the cross is activated, the embroidery design is moved.

Note

The functions in tips 6-9 are only available on certain embroidery-capable BERNINA machines.
 

6. The 2-Point Placement (or Pinpoint Placement)

6. The 2-Point Placement (or Pinpoint Placement)

This function can be used to align and rotate the embroidery design, which is perfect if you have not hooped precisely. The video tutorial demonstrates how to use the 2-Point Placement. Depending on the model, the screen display may differ from the one shown.

7. The 4-Point Placement

7. The 4-Point Placement

This function not only allows you to precisely align and rotate an embroidery design, but also to adjust the shape of the embroidery design to the project should the corners not exactly fit with your project. There is also a useful video tutorial on this helpful function.

8. Laser

8. Laser

The laser makes it easy and convenient to check where the stitch is placed. No more tedious turning of the handwheel to lower the needle and see where the stitch is! And because the laser is so precise and fine, it has rightly earned the name BERNINA Pinpoint Laser.

9. Endless embroidery

9. Endless embroidery

Endless embroidery allows you to precisely align the embroidery design repeat using reference points. For embroidering borders, we recommend the BERNINA Mega Hoop, which was developed for this purpose. It is particularly long and has an embroidery area of 150 x 400 mm, so you don't have to hoop as often. To ensure that the border is straight, it is advisable to draw guide lines on the fabric that make it easier to hoop the project straight. The use of the embroidery template is recommended for hooping (see tip 1).

 

After selecting the desired embroidery design, the endless embroidery function (icon with the three butterflies) is activated on the information window ( i ).

The machine automatically calculates how many repeats of the embroidery design have room in the selected hoop and inserts them. It also adds reference points, which are embroidered last and serve as a placement reference (yellow arrows).

The first part of the border and reference points are now embroidered with the machine. A the end, press the endless embroidery symbol instead of the checkered flag.

The project must now be rehooped so that the reference points are still in the upper embroidery area of the hoop. Confirm with the green checkmark.

Once the project is rehooped and the hoop reattached, the needle (or laser) can be positioned precisely over the reference points. Watch the video tutorial on endless embroidery for more detailed information.

Looking for even more inspiration?

Then sign up for the inspiration newsletter free of charge and don't miss a new pattern!

Go to newsletter subscription