Darlene’s Thread: Sewer’s Dozen Singer Futura Quartet Embroidery Tips
Hi Sewing Super Friends,
Thank you all for your support of our last-minute, unexpected Today’s Special on Oct. 21st. The Singer Futura Quartet made its world launch and was wildly popular (it even sold out)! HSN has the privilege of acquiring all the world launches of Singer’s latest and greatest cutting edge sewing machines. This Futura is unlike any of the others with its new snap on extra large hoop, the brand new 126 built-in design library, speed control, multi-hooping capability, and an independent bobbin winding motor. » Shop more: Singer sewing machines at hsn.com
Bobby, a representative in Singer’s customer service department says that, “whenever you purchase a new machine, it’s like buying a new car. It has all the same bells and whistles as your old model, but all the buttons and gizmos are in different locations. Take the time to get to know the new personality of your machine. Some of the features may have a bit of a different temperament than the ones you’re used to.” I couldn’t agree with her more!
Learning the new Quartet was not without a few hiccups in the beginning, but with gentle coaxing and a little patience, I’m confident that you will have the strongest embroidery partnership in a Singer machine yet!
Following are the challenges I encountered that I wanted to share them with you, so you can avoid any hiccups of your own!
Darlene’s Sewer’s Dozen Singer Futura Quartet Embroidery Tips
1. Hold both top and bottom threads towards the back of the foot before embroidering. Make sure that the top thread goes through the hole in the embroidery foot.
2. When re-sizing a design, use the stitch processor. Click DESIGN/CHANGE SIZE, then check the percentage box. NEVER go beyond 149% at a time!
3. Hold the Embroidery Arm with your left hand while sliding the hoop on with your right. Listen for the ‘click’ in place. This will prevent the hoop from shifting out of alignment in the middle of a design run if you have a bobbin change.
4. When you complete the stitching of a design, close out the transmit to machine window before removing the hoop.
5. When you are stitching a dense design or photo stitch,or using metallic threads slow down the speed of the machine using the speed control on the front panel. You may use this in tandem with the stitch limiter that is inside the digitizing program.
6. If you notice that the embroidery threads are twisting a lot coming off the spool, try using a thread net to ensure a more even thread feed.
7. To make multi-hooping easier, hoop only the project lining up your X & Y lines with the hoop’s notches and then slip the heavy cut away or tear away stabilizer under the hoop just before starting to sew. The stitches will keep the stabilizer in place.
8. If you find that you have missed some stitches (bobbin runs out or top thread shreds/breaks) you may use your needle down button to advance forward in a design and conversely use the reverse stitch to go back.
9. Use only Singer needles. Other brands are different lengths that are not always noticeable to the naked eye. A difference in length as fine as a frog hair can hit the bobbin casing causing tension problems and missed stitches.
10. You must use a professional “L” square or “T” square when marking the “X” and “Y” axis. The angles must be exactly 90* for the best results in multi-hooping.
11. Always start with a full 15J size bobbin and use embroidery bobbin fill thread for best results.
12. Your design may not cover the marks when multi-hooping so be sure to invest in a removable marker. There are heat and water dissolving markers for under $5.00 and are a must have in your embroidery arsenal.
13. If you ambitiously multi-hoop a photostitch as one of your first Quartet embroideries and one or two ‘holes’ are in the final design, don’t worry! You can always convert your Quartet to sewing and do a little free-motion thread-painting to fill in any gaps, add more color or thicken the stitches in any given area. At any rate, it will be your one-of-a-kind masterpiece!
More Sewing Tips from Darlene Cahill:
» Top 10 Sewing Tips to Always Remember
» Choosing the Right Scissors to Make the Cut
» Which Sewing Machine is Right for You
» Sewing Ideas & Tips: How to Get the Look for Less
How to Resolve Troubleshooting Problems with the Singer Futura Quartet
1) Always start in the tools menu and select which hoop size you are going to use.
2) Choose designs according to hoop sizes from the library menu.
3) After all software is installed, turn on your computer. Plug in USB cable from computer to machine.
4) Now Turn on sewing machine as a sewing machine. Open the rolling door (backside left) and slide on the embroidery arm. Hoop arm should adjust itself.
5) Now attach the embroidery foot making sure that it is seated in place. (NOT the jumping jack foot with the spring. Use only the all metal embroidery foot for embroidering)
More Sewing and Crafts from HSN.com:
» Shop Sewing New Arrivals
» Stay steady and organized with a great sewing table
» Shop all crafts and sewing supplies
Dear Darlene,
I purchased my futura Dec of 2011-haven’t used it yet-because of health issues with my husband and myself, but was very interested in also getting the whimsical -fairies, dragonflies etc. designs that you said were also available. Where would I be able to purchase them? Thank you so much-love to watch your sewing on HSN-you are such an expert !
Sincerely,
Kathleen
JUST RECIEVED MY FUTURA QUARTET TODAY. I COULD INSTALL THE FIRST CD TO MY LAPTOP BUT I AM REALLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SECOND ONE…I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EXTRA SUCH AS PHOTO STITCH..HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME..THANKS RACHEL
Hi Rachel,
I had a similar problem myself. I tried to install the extra’s disk and it kept telling me that the software wasn’t installed. Once you install the main software restart your computer and plug in your futura machine and allow the driver software to install for the sewing machine itself. Once you have done that the second disk should install flawlessly. Hope this helped.
I am having a problem it keeps telling me I need the bigger hoop and I’m using the bigger hoop help please!!!
Hi Snuffyanne,
I am sure you have sorted out your problem by now. This section is rarely monitored by anyone. Looking at your date of this question it has been a while.
I find that when I have the same problem that my hoop is not locked in. It might look like it is, but it is not. If you look to the left where you place your hoop in you will see a lever. Give your hoop a push and it should lock it in. The lever will move and it will lock in your hoop. Then try your design again.
cuppatea
To anyone reading this blog,
I want to mention about cleaning your futura Quartet 4n1. I have been sewing on mine for some time now. It will need a good cleaning especially if you are use terry cloth. clean out the feed dogs and the bobbin case hook. To my surprise the bobbin case just lifts out. Dust all around the bobbin hook page 51 of your book you will be surprised of the lint trapped there. Change out your needle per thread and fabric. I was using the #14 and changed to the #11 singer.
can some one please help me with this 01 error message i cant get it to work
Hi steresam5,
I just pulled my futura book to see what a 01 is. Says your machine is locked up. thread entagled with boobin case. Have you tried dusting out the bobbin case and feed dogs? I find that lint from sewing builds up quickly on this machine that could be your problem.
Is your machine turning on? If not there is a reset button. Post back and let me know once you have cleaned the machine. If you are by chance not getting power you will have to ingage the reset button.
I was having the same problems I called the help line and found it was the teeth inside the arm, was staying out or in cant remember,after playing with them for a while it quit complaining and then i took it in for a checkup, all better now
Where is the reset button located? Just got mine and already power malfunction. I was out of the room looking for thread to put on the bobbin. My daughter was in the room and heard a loud pop. Now the power will not come on.
I have searched all of the manuals and cannot locate the reset button.
i need hlp with quartet
Darlene,
I too am not a face book user would love the link for the 4000 fonts you have downloaded. Love your presentation of the singer machines. I have your email will contact you. Thank you so much for your presentations. Somewhere I read someone say you should make your own tuturials. I agree with that as you are so very good at what you do. Love your blog found it very informative. Sorry about all the comments only why to do that here.
Read my first then this last one.
Thanks again,
Cupatea
Cont.
What I would like for this FQ is the circle foot, The fringe foot and a ruffler foot. I would also like to see it come with the other surger cut foot as well as the cut and hem. I have not used that one yet but have used several of the feet that come with this machine. The price that I got this for was well worth it with all the attachments.
I have a 26 year old singer basic machine and it still works great. I bought this because of its new features.
cont. The main idea is to let the computer and the software read your futura machine. It all works hand in hand. I love the fact of using my laptop to sew with. Get to Know your futura software does work with windows 7. You will have to download and install Quick time. Will not work with windows media file. Says for Ce-150,250,350. This cd is for the hyperfont photo stitch etc software so yes you can use it for the FQ 6000. Just wanted to come back on that as I think of things to say.
Cont. I too was having the hoop is to small or to large when I wanted to use either of the hoops. I found that by placing the hoops on then turning on the machine that it corrected it. You can install the hoop then turn on the machine and if you get the to small or to big shut the sewing machine off again and turn it back on then the computer will read your machine. You can also select a hoop size in the design tab. I played around with a few of the installed designs and once I did good to go.
Cont. I find it worked much better with the nets. I had the big knot when I first tried out the emboridery. I had to start all over again and used the net and it made a big difference all went very well for first time embroidery. One big hint always place your spool of thread with the notch to the pack on the spool holder. This will really allow for the thread to move smoothly along. I was getting beeps found out my biggest problem was my machine was not threaded correctly. All is fine now.
Cont. I also bought the Ready set sew. Again great tutorial for showing you all of what the pressure feet do. Plus some easy sewing projects from Martha Stewart. Lots of how to’s very nicely done cd.
The futura quartet sews very nicely. I have made a rob 2 widows worth of Lace curtains. Embroidered with names on 5 bath towels. I used the futura software only for those not the hyperfont. I will now be using the hyperfont on another project. Use the spool nets for covering the embroidery thead
continued, might have to do this in several comments as not enough characters to say what I want to say. When I installed the cd with the added software hyperfont etc I was at a miss as to where this was. I saw that it installed into the main futura4 software the icon that does sit on the desk top. Click on that then click create and it is all listed there very nicely done. Go into the manuels of the futura soft ware and copy and print all 6 of them. These are very helpful.
Hello Darlene,
I purchased my Futura Quartet back in December of 2011. I would like to say that this is an awesome singer machine. I am brand new to embroidery machines. First off an advanced machine like this we are bound to have some issues. Yes it does work with windows 7 very nicely. No even at this time there are still no patch updates for the machine firm ware or the software.
All installed software can be found in the futura software. Click on create and you will find them listed.
Darlene,
My wife and I have noticed that we are having a looping problem on the top thread. We have adjusted the thread to the E position but the problem still persists. Any help will be appreciated. We also would like to purchase more hoops a 5X7 and another 6X10. Are they available?
I have the singer futura quartet
i’m getting the massage con control panell “01″
when i look it up it says “machine is locked up due to thread entangled with bobbin case or rotation interrupted forcily”
i have checked the bobbin and there is no thread tangled, and the machine will only sew a few stiches at a time,
my question is is there a reset button, how can I fix this problem
thanks
(i’m only trying to straight stich
Hello,
Did you get any responses for your problem with the 01 message?
thanks!
I never got a response to my question, for the 01 message, I hope you did, if so please post it
thanks
Ozzysmom
it would be nice for the customers if
Singer would help with some of the troubleshooting questions
DID ANTONE REPLY TO THIS ISSUE DRIVING ME CRAZZZZYYY CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME 01 ERROR MEESAGE
I recently bought the Futura 250 to do a simple logo embroidery on some prototypes, unfortunately I also experienced error codes, components not functioning as described in the set up guide, and a lot of frustration! We even had our programmer who designs products and runs computerized manufacturing equipment in the shop take a look at it. Thank goodness he found a solution that solved all of our error codes and eased our frustrations – take it fishing and use it for a boat anchor because that is all its good for! We’ll we didn’t do that because the machine was brand new but it did go back to the store – Singer will not be on the list of brands for our replacement machine.
I am having trouble with the top thread being very very loose and loopy I adjust everything I can think of anyone else having this problem? thanks
We have a Singer Futura CE-250 Embroidery Machine and I was working with hyper fonts and got it to work one time, now all I get is E6 and E9? and I can not get the Windows 7 patch? I need help Thanks Art
Darlene showed a GIANT snowflake on the HSN presentation and I wish to have the info on how to make it please? Thank you
There was a comment that said that the Quartet was coming out in January. Is this true? My concern with this machine is that I have a ce350 Futura machine that uses the same software. Will I have trouble using the same computer for both machines?
Darlene,
I saw a comment that the Quartet was due to be back in January.Is that true? I am very interested in this machine, But I have some concerns. I have a laptop that has my Futura CE350 software on it. I was wondering if I will have problems using the same laptop for this machine’s software. I am assuming it uses the same but with additional options for the multi-hoop.
I also purchased this machine from HSN. I have not used it for embroidery yet. I made 3 poodle skirts for Halloween on it and as a sewing machine it worked well. But I didn’t need another sewing machine. (I have 4 Pfaff’s at home.) I am going to try to start using the embroidery feature soon as I am retiring. I hope I don’t have the problems some of the people have had. I proably will loose my mind. If I do I will be back and on the phone to Singer.
Recently purchased the Futura Quartet but did not recieve the auto punch software although your presentation stated it would come with my machine. When I called Customer Service I was told I would have to purchased separate. So now my machine can only embroider letters and the few graphic designs included in the installation CD. Am I missing something? For the price that I paid I do hope the Futura is capable of doing advance embroidery as shown in your presentation. Thanks for responding.
I must admit that I have successfully sewn a few projects but still couldn’t connect the embroidery software toPC(Windows Vista)Singer informed me that the Acer computers have a program that prevents the software from downloading & suggested that I remove it.( My tower is Gateway-monitor is Acer)Now,the program they are talking about has something to do with security of my PC & honestly,I don’t think I’m going to remove that!I’ve never had a problem installing other software,so…by,by Quartet!