JULY TIP OF THE MONTH

MAKING A BACKUP COPY OF DESIGNS
When ever you order a custom or stock design from FROLIC, you should always make a backup copy for yourself and keep a copy of it off premises. This will save you from losing any crucial designs in case of an emergency. To make a copy of a Meistergram design you must first format a DD disk in your Machine.  Insert disk into machine, Press F3 floppy disk, then Press F7 disk manager, then press format, then select Y for yes and enter to format.
To copy the design to the formatted disk you first insert the disk with the design you want copied, then Press F3 floppy disk, then Press F7 disk manager, then Press F2 transfer font, choose the design from your disk, (select the F key or enter for F1) when prompted remove disk and insert the formatted disk, Press enter, your design is now copied to the other disk.  Repeat transfer font for additional designs.  Several designs will fit on 1 disk.

* REMEMBER THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO COPY DESIGNS FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE OR BACKUP *

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JUNE TIP OF THE MONTH

SMALL TEXT WITH CUSTOM LOGOS
When you order a design that has small text above or below the logo. Try having  the letters digitized separately.  At FROLIC we will set them up as two different design.  This will give you much more flexibility in the design.  You can then move the text anywhere you want, sew it separate, resize it, and most of all it allows you to change the width and density on the small text.  This will make your embroidery better and give you a much happier customer.

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MARCH TIP OF THE MONTH

INCREASE YOUR DENSITY
When you have a design that has a fill area that doesn't fill properly.  There is a simple solution,  use double thread.  At FROLIC we simply place two cones of the same thread, place them beside each other and run them through all your thread tensions together and through the needle together.  You will be surprised that it works, no adjustments are necessary.  FROLIC also uses two different color threads for a very unique look.

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DECEMBER TIP OF THE MONTH

WHAT BACKING
FROLIC always uses a heavy cut-away backing on our Meistergrams when possible.  This helps to stabilize the material that is bringing pulled by the zig zag motion of the Meistergram.  A good cut-away for the Meistergram should not rip easily in either direction.  If your backing only rips easily in only one direction, make sure that this side is hooped up down and not side to side where your pull will come from.  This is especially important on any solid filled designs with detail.   Any design that has no fill and little detail (or no color registration) could be sewn on a lighter backing depending on the type of material.

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NOVEMBER TIP OF THE MONTH

CHOOSING YOUR THREADS
There are many colors, types and brands of good embroidery threads these days.  FROLIC suggests that you use a rayon thread or a good polyester thread with your Meistergram.  When the Meistergram first started there was not a large selection of threads.  The Meistergram does require a strong thread, but FROLIC also discovered that it requires a smooth thread because of its high speeds and constant zig zag motions.  Therefore stay away from the recommended cotton threads.  They are strong, but very brittle and will fray a lot.  This will gum up your machine and bobbin case and cause several thread breaks, wear and tear on your machine parts, defeating the purpose of the strong thread.  Most of all it creates a lot of unnecessary lint clean up time around the bobbin case and the rest of you machine.  Cotton threads also have a very dull and unsmooth finish.  Any rayon thread will work well with your machine.  Just remember that embroidery threads also require a regular embroidery needle which all work well on your Meistergrams.  FROLIC uses Gunold & Stickma rayon Sulky 40 thread along with their Polyester thread and Gunold needles.  The new rayon and polyester threads are strong, but more importantly much smoother, allowing the thread to pass through your machine tensions and needle eye easier with no fray or lint and less thread breaks.

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OCTOBER TIP OF THE MONTH

WHEN TO CHANGE THE NEEDLE
Knowing when to change the needle will save you valuable time.   Most people like to change the needle when it breaks, but FROLIC has some other ways to know when it's time to change the needle.  If you are running FROLIC designs you shouldn't be having thread breaks.  Therefore, if you notice that after doing several garments with no thread breaks and then the next one or two garments have a break or two, this is a good indication that the needle needs to be changed.  When a design is running well on one fabric and you then switch to another fabric and you then have thread breaks, this in another indication that the needle, needle size, or also in this case the type of thread could or should be changed.  Another way FROLIC suggests solving the needle change, is to have a chart by your machines.  List things on your chart like; job name, where the break occurred, what color was being run, what size needle is in the machine, what is the width of the stitch and density being sewn.  This information will help you understand, when and why your thread is breaking. You may then decide to change the needle before the threads start to break.   Remember a few seconds changing a needle and the few cents the needles cost, can save you a lot of time during the day.  A whole in your garment from a needle break can be very costly or time consuming to repair.

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SEPTEMBER TIP OF THE MONTH

SEWING WITH SPEED
Did you know that your Meistergram can sew 2 to 3 times faster than other embroidery machines.  If you are using FROLIC designs, there is no reason why you can't sew at the full speed.   The default settings on your Meistergram for stitch count and speed ( 50-75 ) is there for a reason.  Your Meistergram should not only sew at this speed, but faster if you venture to try.  All FROLIC designs are test sewn at a stitch count and speed of 50-75 with out thread breaks before they are sent out.  If you use FROLIC designs or not here are a few tips from FROLIC to help you achieve these speeds.  Use heavy cutaway backing to help prevent pulling; use any rayon thread or a good polyester;  try not to use any cotton or cotton blend threads (cotton thread frays quickly and gums up your bobbin case and hook assembly, which will cause thread breaks;  use regular embroidery needles, not Meistergram specified needles (Meistergram needles are good for cotton blend threads only);  also read below, dealing with the zig zag for other important speed tips.  Using these tips from FROLIC  should help get you running faster.  Remember the main benefit of the Meistergram is the speed, so try our suggestions and start making more money by sewing faster.

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AUGUST TIP OF THE MONTH

Dealing with the zig zag
When hooping with your Meistergram it is important to know that your machine is a zig zag machine.  The stress on your fabrics is much greater then
with other embroidery machines.  The one thing to remember is that all this stress is in a horizontal (left to right) motion not top to bottom,  therefore, when hooping you must remember to have excess backing and your fabric covering both sides of the hoop fully.  Also make sure the backing is very tight to give the extra support needed.  Having extra backing and fabric on the top and bottom is not as important.  Tap the backing with your finger to ensure it is firm.  For best results FROLIC will always recommend the strongest cutaway backing available (preferably one that doesn't rip or stretch easily in either direction).  When placing the hoop into the machine make sure the entire hoop is firmly against the table.  Push the inside hoop down until the whole garment is touching the table completely.  Again use your finger to rub inside the hoop to double check that there is absolutely no bounce to the fabric.  Any air between the fabric and the table will result in pulling of your garment.

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JULY TIP OF THE MONTH

USING SCALES WITH older MEISTERGRAMS
Many people are confused when Meistergram designs have a scale. The Meistergram digitizing system gives us 100 points from the top to the bottom for a design.  In order to have small lettering and lots of detail we need more points.  When we use a scale of 2.5, this gives us 250 points from the top to bottom. When you are using a scaled design, it will sew at the size you enter times the scale.   Remember on older Meistergrams your display for the height will be without the scale, however, the length of your line will always be correct on your display.  On the newer Meistergrams (900 and 2000) the height and length are usually correct.