Easy Machine Embroidery Tensions with a Tajima Thread Tension Gauge

[@michellenaranjo4340]

I just watched this video and almost didn't watch till the end, but I'm glad I did! The Tajima brand gauge was 74.99 on Amazon (off brand 47.99). I found one of the dynamometer scales for 9.99 and it measures in newtons and grams (and can be calibrated!). It has a different hook type, but I will either make an adapter, or tie on the thread. I've always wanted one of these, but I was put off by the price. I got the one that goes up to 250g like the Tajima. Thanks so much for the video!

[@BallyhooCreations]

Wow! I can't believe how expensive they are now. Thanks for sharing your solution. I'll ❤️ your comment so maybe more people will see it. 😁

[@leopowercruz]

I find your videos more informative than big brand sellers and tutorials😅, keep up the good work ✌👍

[@smartalix5295]

You're an angel from the tension heavens!

[@laurab8547]

Just found your channel tonight while looking for information about buying multineedle machines. Keep up the great work. I look forward to what you have next!

[@Cmakoman]

Thank you for your video. I just bought the gauge and I am really happy that I found your video.

[@BallyhooCreations]

Glad it helped. Once you figure out the tool, your tensions become easier to adjust!

[@sleeplesscrafter]

Thank you so much for this! I’ve been having so many issues with my embroidery machine and I’ve cleaned and rethreaded a million times. I’m going to buy this now and let you know what it says.

[@ShaynaKrause]

Luci, Thank you SO much for explaining these tools. I just received mine and I did not understand the minimal instructions that came with it.

[@BallyhooCreations]

hope the tool helps you! I love mine. But the instructions are junk - especially the part about calibrating it. Mine was already properly calibrated so I didn't need to waste all that time taking it apart. :-(

[@swot773]

Thanks for sharing the thread tension gauge. I have purchased one and hopefully will have it tomorrow. I have a Memory Craft 9850 and I have managed to totally mess up the tension so I can’t wait to get this gauge. Your videos are great. You have a good teaching style and in my opinion your embroidery designs are some of the highest quality I have purchased so thank you for that. I do have a question kind of unrelated but I can’t remember which video you posted this. On one of your other videos, you recommended putting a USB dongle on the machine to reduce the number of times you are pulling and pushing on the machine USB port which makes total sense to me. I purchased a couple from amazon that appear to be high quality and both work fine on my iMac. However, when I attempt to use it on the sewing machine I have to jiggle it to work and even when it does it won’t read any files on the stick. Do you have a recommendation on a USB dongle that might work? I just wonder if anyone else has this issue and how they resolved it.

[@BallyhooCreations]

That was in the USB video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3rVhn2goJqLpK8 and from what you describe, the problem could be your USB stick, not the little cable. Or it could be your cable is too long. Another possibility is the cable has a loose connection. You could either replace it, or you might be able to wedge something very tiny in there so you don't need to wiggle it. But if the wiggle still won't read from your USB - I would get a new USB stick using the info from the video linked above.

[@tammysoutherland1405]

Cool tool 🤗

[@msabarez]

I was so happy to find your video. I just got mine today and testing it right now. Am I supposed to hold the other end of the thread as I am pulling the gauge? If I don't hold it, the thread just slip right through the gauge hook and not moving the indicator. Please help a newbie here. Thanks in advance.

[@BallyhooCreations]

I was lucky that the hook on my gauge is tight enough to hold the thread. But it sounds like yours is looser. So tie a knot and hook the knot onto the gauge hook. That should fix it. Now that you have the gauge you can learn what proper tension "feels" like when you pull a thread and eventually you won't need the gauge at all. (It's like training wheels.)

[@deveeda56]

Very informative

[@BallyhooCreations]

Thanks!!

[@papabless632]

i just bought a baby lock alliance, do you have any advice or tips on starting embroidering on this machine? thanks

[@BallyhooCreations]

Congrats! It's a nice machine but no different than learning on any other. I've got a beginner series of videos I'm working on now but you can learn by reading your manual and watching KZbin videos for that machine.

[@tstolich]

Do you leave the needle threaded and thru the foot on a multi needle

[@BallyhooCreations]

Yes all the needles remain threaded and through the presser foot. There's a wiper that secures the thread to a Velcro bar after each thread cutting so everything stays threaded.

[@tammysoutherland1405]

Say that name a dozen times Dyna whatcha 🤣 whatcha call it 🤣🤣

[@BallyhooCreations]

dynomometer? I had to practice just to say it one time! 😂😂😂

[@viggob4816]

A thread tension gauge like that is called a spring dynamometer. You can get general purpose spring dynamometers for a wide range of uses for about $2 each. They are mostly sold for physics classes in schools. So I think paying $30 for this is way off.

[@BallyhooCreations]

Thanks Viggo. I respectfully disagree. Did you watch the whole video? I made a joke trying to pronounce dynomometer. I have a degree in Physics and taught labs at 2 Universities as a TA. Trying to find a gauge that is ALREADY calibrated for our thread tensions is absolutely worth the $30. And I have yet to find any dynomometer for $2 at a source where a sewist would shop, including Amazon. It's not like the old days where we would order $1000s of equipment from Edmund or Fisher. I appreciate you trying to add good advice to the discussion, but we need to consider the machine embroidery audience and what THEY have access to. If you have a good source for such a thing - please post your video and I'll even break with youtube tradition and allow you to post the link to your video here in these comments. I'm glad Tajima makes this tension gauge and wish it were more easily available. It's better than paying $300 for service on a multi-needle machine!

[@viggob4816]

@@BallyhooCreations First - don't get me wrong. I think you do the right thing promoting such gauges for sewing machine users. To many users got problems with thread tension, and spring dynamometers are easy instruments, and I think they can help a lot. The dynamometer that you use is for 250g or 2.5 N, and they are very common from more manufacturers (mostly in China). But the scale value becomes very low for a bobbin tension of 0.2 N to se the tension at a 2.5 N dynamometer. Then a 1 N dynamometer is better for bobbin thread tension, and you can have one more for needle thread tension. These two video provide links to 6 suppliers of these cheaper dynamometers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnK4e2SZi694o6M and this video is more specific on bobbin thread tension: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXqxg5qgaZd6pKs

[@BallyhooCreations]

Thanks for the links. I'll "heart" your comment so it should float to the top of the comments where people can see these alternatives for measuring thread tension.

[@lindsayjunge6853]

Are you suppose to keep the thread in the needle on a multi needle when testing the tension?

[@BallyhooCreations]

I haven't found that it makes a difference, as long as the angle of thread through the needle isn't making it drag through the eye. You're really testing the tension disks. But if it's a hassle to unthread and re-thread the needle, you can leave it threaded and test that way.

[@mr.f.i.p4780]

@@BallyhooCreations Do you need to hold the eye open when you pull through?

[@LuciAyyat]

@@mr.f.i.p4780 the tension on the thread will pull the hook/eye away from the handle as you pull it, and the amount of pull is what determines the tension reading. So don't let anything but the thread pull on it, otherwise, you'll get a false reading.

[@mr.f.i.p4780]

@@LuciAyyat Thank you that makes sense.