Follow our in-depth walkthrough for setting both bobbin and upper thread tension on your Barudan embroidery machine. Learn the shake test, adjustment techniques, and troubleshooting methods to achieve flawless stitch quality every time.
Table of Contents
Understanding Bobbin Tension on Your Barudan Machine
Perfect tension starts below the surface. The bobbin provides the foundation that balances every upper thread movement. Think of it as the quiet partner keeping your stitches flat, smooth, and evenly spaced.
A proper setup ensures that neither thread dominates the stitch. While Barudan’s method uses tactile cues, you can integrate additional checks if you have advanced tools such as compatible accessories like barudan mighty hoops. They help stabilize fabric placement and make observing tension effects easier on test swatches.
How to Insert and Thread Your Bobbin Case Correctly
Start by inserting the bobbin into the case in the correct direction. Thread should unwind according to the manufacturer’s visual cue printed inside the case diagram in the video. Pull the thread through the side slit, passing it under the thin steel tension spring—this ensures control during embroidery.
If the thread slips freely with no resistance, the spring isn’t engaging fully. Re-thread carefully so it pops neatly below the spring. You’ll feel a faint but consistent pull when correct.
The 'Shake Test' for Optimal Bobbin Tension
Hold the thread tail and allow the bobbin case to dangle in the air. Give a small shake: a short length of thread should drop, then stop. That’s the hallmark of proper bobbin tension. Too loose and the case unrolls freely; too tight and nothing budges.
Many embroidery pros keep a spare case calibrated for lighter materials. Rotating clean cases also saves time when switching between setups. As another professional convenience, pairing this with barudan embroidery machine hoops gives a steadier platform when testing multiple threads.
Adjusting Your Bobbin Tension Screw
For corrections, find the small slotted screw on the side of the case. Turn clockwise to tighten, counterclockwise to loosen—but move in tiny increments. One-eighth turns can shift tension significantly.
After every tweak, repeat the shake test. Patience here will yield crisp outlines and reliable fills once you’re on production fabric.
Troubleshooting Common Bobbin Tension Issues
If the thread behaves unpredictably—too loose even after tightening—the case could be dirty or worn. Remove it and wipe gently with a clean tissue to clear debris or lint that may be trapped under the tension spring.
A clean mechanical path restores stable pull. The video also notes that certain pre-wound bobbins vary slightly in density, which can change feel. Rotate through a few to locate consistent ones.
When to Clean or Replace Your Bobbin Case
Persistent inconsistency after cleaning means the internal spring has weakened—swap in a spare. Think of this as preventive maintenance rather than repair.
Tips for Using Pre-Wound Bobbins
Always test new bobbins before stitching production pieces. Insert and perform the shake test to make sure factory tension levels align with your machine setup. The guide specifically reminds: “Always check bobbin tension when inserting a new bobbin, especially pre-wound types.”
Pairing properly tensioned bobbin cases with steady frames, such as barudan magnetic embroidery hoop, ensures fabric remains taut for consistent stitch draws.
Mastering Upper Thread Tension on Your Barudan Machine
Before touching the top dials, confirm that your bobbin tension is ready. The upper system depends on this balance. Barudan machines feature two adjustable areas: the top tension assembly (major change) and the dial tension assembly (fine adjustment).
Running a test pattern is mandatory; the instructor recommends the simple “H” or “L” design stitched on scrap fabric.
This gives a quick visual of how top and bottom threads interlock.
When observing the back of the satin stitch, pay special attention to thread proportion. The perfect sample will show a narrow column of bobbin thread exactly centered and equal to the width of both upper rows.
Step-by-Step Upper Tension Adjustment
If the bobbin band looks too wide, your top thread tension is too tight. Gently turn both top and dial assemblies counterclockwise to loosen.
Follow up by re-stitching the test design. Always work symmetrically on both dials for multi-needle heads.
For cases where the bobbin line nearly disappears, tension is too loose. Increase by turning clockwise until balanced.
A quick pro tip for multi-machine environments: record adjustment turns per head. This habit saves time when maintaining consistent results across production.
Some operators complement the tension procedure with stable hooping systems like mighty hoops for barudan to minimize fabric bounce during repeat testing.
Final Checks and Troubleshooting Upper Tension
If a thread suddenly pulls tight or slack, don’t rush to twist dials again—check the threading path from cone to needle. A strand might have popped out of a guide or caught under a cone rim.
Do a quick manual test: gently pull the upper thread by hand after rethreading. Proper tension should feel steady—no sticking or jerking. If resistance changes, re-thread step by step following your machine diagram.
For complex jobs with many color changes, keeping multiple stabilized frames (for instance, barudan magnetic embroidery frame) ensures that each sample runs under identical tension, easing troubleshooting between colors.
When in doubt, take the safe route—pause the job and review both bobbin and upper assemblies before resuming.
Achieving Consistent Stitch Quality
After fine-tuning both systems, run another short sample design. Examine edges of fills and outlines—clean transitions mean balanced tension.
Establish a routine maintenance checklist:
- Dust or vacuum around tension assemblies weekly
- Replace worn bobbin springs as soon as thread feel changes
- Keep spare clean bobbin cases labeled per thread weight
- Store used tension tests for quick reference next session
When these habits come together, your embroidery looks professional from front and back. Perfect tension is less about luck, more about disciplined practice—and a bit of machine empathy.
A sturdily hooped fabric, especially when secured with barudan hoops, can greatly reduce distortion that mimics tension issues. Combine that stability with precise tuning and you’ll see that symmetrical satin back the video showcases.
To streamline bigger designs, advanced users might explore barudan magnetic hoops, allowing faster hoop swap-outs and uniform fabric pressure across heads.
From the comments
Viewers praised this Barudan America tutorial for its clarity. Several operators thanked the brand for dependable refreshers. Two questions stood out: one asked about meters for quantifying tension—Barudan’s clip doesn’t mention any specific gauge—and another sought help for persistent thread breaks even after replacing parts. Both underline why systematic checks of both thread path and bobbin balance matter most before moving to hardware swaps.
Quick check
A well-adjusted system produces smooth, even stitching that lies flat on both sides. If threads vary between heads, repeat the shake test and a short tension sample until uniform.
Good tension isn’t glamorous, but it’s the secret ingredient behind flawless logos and lettering—an elegant dance between bobbin precision and top-thread finesse.
