Week 15: Wild Card
May 8, 2024
Project Document - Embroidery
1. Introduction
This week, I worked with the Brother PR680W embroidery machine available at the Fablab. My goal was to experience two different projects. First, I created an embroidery of the logo I designed for my ToGo project on an apron. Second, I conducted research on “computational embroidery” and created a piece using the block-based Turtlestitch program.
The Brother PR680W is a versatile embroidery machine known for its precision and ease of use. It offers multiple features such as color management, design editing, and advanced needle threading, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced users.
Design Logo
Using DALL-E, one of the GA tools, I generated a logo with the prompt: “A playful and colorful logo design for a children’s project named ‘ToGo’, written as a single word without space between ‘To’ and ‘Go’.” The process involved experimenting with various designs until the final one was selected.
PE-Design11
I prepared this image for the embroidery machine using the PE-Design11 software. This software is highly recommended for its robust features that allow intricate design adjustments and color management. Key aspects to consider are adjusting the transitions between patterns and manually setting the colors.
- Transitions between patterns
- I manually adjusted all transitions layer by layer.
Brother PR680W Setup
The machine setup can be broken down into three stages. First, regular maintenance such as oiling should be done before use.
Machine Oiling
Bobbin Thread Winding
Hoop Adjustment
Place the area where the print will be on the fabric inside the hoop. Ensure that the fabric is tightly secured to avoid any misalignment during the embroidery process.
Attaching the Hoop to the Machine
Thread Adjustment
Color Control
Embroidery Process
Once the setup is complete, the embroidery process can begin. Here are some key steps and considerations:
- Starting the Machine: Ensure all settings are correct before starting the machine.
- Monitoring the Progress: Continuously monitor the machine to address any issues promptly.
- Error Handling: Be prepared to pause and fix any errors that occur during the process.
Errors and Methodology
The embroidery started giving errors at certain intervals.
To fix this, I used the method of going back 10 steps and redoing them. In case of errors, I check the bobbin thread and ensure none of the threads have broken. If these are not the issue, the 10-step back method usually works.
Final Steps
The final steps involve removing the fabric from the hoop, trimming any excess threads, and performing a final inspection to ensure quality.
It took approximately 51 minutes with 14,461 stitches.
Computational Embroidery with Turtlestitch
Through my research, I read papers about Turtlestitch, especially from the University of Washington and the University of Warwick. Turtlestitch is a free open-source web platform for creating block-based patterns, targeting a constructionist approach.
I created a sample pattern using Turtlestitch, experimenting with different shapes and designs to understand its capabilities and limitations.
Here is an example I created:
