Machine Embroidery with the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby Royale

It’s time! Let’s discover machine embroidery with the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby Royale.

My sewing history tells me that I’m unlikely to become a frequent user of machine embroidery, but I would not be without the ability to do machine embroidery. What that means is that I need the machine embroidery to be pretty intuitive so I don’t have to relearn the process each time I decide to machine embroider something. 

After playing around with the Ruby Royale –  the embroidery component of the sewing machine is perfect. You can do some pretty amazing things with machine embroidery, yet it’s extremely easy to get started.

Today we’re just going to look at the physical features and things required to do machine embroidery with the Ruby Royale.

The embroidery unit is easy to put on. You simply remove the toolbox or the extension table. There’s a connection socket in the back of the sewing machine behind the arm. Slip the embroidery unit onto the free arm of the Ruby Royale and click the end into the socket. It’s that easy!

You can see from the picture above that the embroidery unit has legs to support the unit.

When you toggle between Sewing Mode and Embroidery Mode (more on that tomorrow), you’ll get a pop-up message reminding you to remove the hoop (if there’s one attached), clear the space around the embroidery arm (so it doesn’t hit something and get damaged) and to attach the Sensor Q-foot to use for machine embroidery.

Yes – we need to be reminded. If we don’t do these things  – especially remove the hoop and clear the area around the unit, you can badly damage the embroidery unit and/or sewing machine and that would not be a good thing.

When you toggle into the Embroidery Mode on the interactive touch screen, the feed teeth are automatically dropped.

You will need to install the Sensor Q foot for machine embroidery

Two hoops come with the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby Royale.

• DESIGNER Splendid Square Hoop (120 X 120)
• DESIGNER Royal Hoop (360 X 200)

There are a variety of other hoops that can be purchased through your Husqvarna Viking dealer. Check the link to see some of the other sizes and different styles such as an Endless Hoop.

These hoops are very easy to use. There’s a Quick Release on the lower right-hand corner as well as a screw. You simply open the Quick Release and loosen the screw. Hoop your fabric and stabilizer, close the Quick Release and tighten the screw. It’s that easy!

A very important component of the machine embroidery process is stabilizers. Without a layer or two of stablizer under and sometimes on top of your work, the project will be a mess. The embroidery stitches are very dense and without stabilizer, the stitches will pull up the fabric. Trust me – it isn’t pretty!

There are many different types of stabilizers. I’m not going to get into a discussion about the various types of stabilizers in this post, but if you’re going to get into machine embroidery, it’s imperative that you check them out. Here’s a link to the Inspira Stabilizer.

There’s also a brief description of general categories of stabilizers in the User’s Guide.

For the projects I worked on so far, I have been playing around with these two stabilizers  – one is a Black Tear-A-Way and the other is Fast and Easy Tear Away. I have been working with cotton fabrics only and both of these products performed quite nicely.

The stabilizers come in various colors (black and white) and in various widths (8″, 12″ and 20″). The 12″ roll is just the perfect width for the Designer Royal Hoop.

Don’t you just love how versatile we are? Our hoops are in millimeters, yet we buy stabilizers in inches. And don’t get me started on fabric buying. I just love when we do all our calculations in inches, then convert it to meters to buy! Someday – everything will be in the same numbering system, but for now – we make do!

It isn’t enough to have the stabilizers, but you must use them. In order to use them, you have to know which ones are which! Once the packaging is gone, it’s sometimes difficult to tell them apart. The stabilizers come with an instruction sheet inside the tube. Make sure those instructions stay with the stabilizer. It’ll make your life a whole lot easier.

Machine embroidery needles are also very important. They have a much larger eye than a regular sewing needle. If you think of the number of times the thread is going to pass through the eye, you don’t want fraying or breakage in the middle of an embroidery stitch out.

Last but not least is the thread. You’ll need embroidery thread which can be rayon, polyester, acrylic or metallic. These type of threads have a sheen to them so they provide a sheen to the stitching. These can also be used for machine applique or quilting. In this case, I’m using Robison-Anton threads – divine.

You’ll also need to use an embroidery weight bobbin thread in the bobbin. This finer thread will prevent a build-up under the embroidery stitches. I also use it in the bobbin for machine applique and I love them!

Although it doesn’t really look like it in this picture, the bobbin weight thread is much finer than the embroidery thread. That helps to reduce any build-up with the dense stitching.

To recap  – if you’re going to do machine embroidery you obviously need a sewing machine that has machine embroidery capabilities. You’ll also need a hoop, stabilizers, machine embroidery thread, machine embroidery bobbin thread, a foot for machine embroidery and machine embroidery needles.

Sounds like a lot of supplies, but you probably have a lot of them around anyway, especially if you do machine applique.

It may seem like there’s a lot to learn about machine embroidery with the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby Royale. Once you learn the basics, there’s no stopping what you can achieve with it with little effort.

Tomorrow we’re going to look at some of the software components on the Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby Royale regarding machine embroidery. I also have the challenge to tell you about.

On that note – have a great day!

Ciao!