Answering your Brother PE 800 Threading and Tension questions! 

Thank you for doing this ! No one has ever done a video this detailed and actually showing us how to work it .

Wow! I don't know how YOU figured out those little "SCISSORS" with the spool of thread meant "TENSION SETTING", BUT you just saved my sanity! My former Brother embroidery machine DZ820E was wonderful and very user friendly but MY PE800 was my "dream machine". I looked ALL OVER the manual for the "Tension Setting" and COULD NOT FIND IT! There should be IN BOLD PRINT a section entitled just THAT "How to Adjust Tension". THANK YOU SO MUCH! You are a LIFE SAVER!!!

You fixed it!!! Thanks so much for this video. I was on the verge of tears after working on the issue for several days

Thank you for taking the trouble to explain this - I'm struggling at the moment, so I'll give this a try and wanted to say I appreciate you taking the time to put the video together.

You are still helping others. I watched you video today, and you do not know how much of a help that you have been. I just want to say thank you!!!! Continue to do what you are doing!!!!

Your the Best. I was at it for hours and when you said make sure your bobbin is in correctly that was a game changer. Life saver! I wanted to send the machine back thought it was broken. Blessings

Thank you. Finally learned why the bobbin thread was always showing. Very helpful.

Thanks so much! Dropping tension down to 2.6 really helped a lot. I was getting a lot of puckering and bobbin thread showing on the top. Also the dropping of the foot just before you push down on the automatic threaded works every time now at threading the needle perfectly.

I just started using my machine and was having tension problems. Thanks for making this video! It's exactly what I needed

Thank you so much! I wasn't confident in lowering the tension until I saw how your examples came out. It very much improved my overall experience and project! Also, I totally forgot about the needed threader. Thank you for such a detailed step by step on the threading!

Thank you soooooo much!!! You made this so simple to fix when I was losing my mind trying! You are a God send!

Phenomenal Video! So glad I found you! Just took my 800 out of the box yesterday. I hope you did a "How to install the Bobbin" video... Going to look for that now! Thank you Keisha!

Thank you so much, i been trying to find somebody who can explain how to put the tension and bobbin right, i finally got it, yay, i even send a machine back thinking it was the machine, smh but it was me not doing the right thing, you are a life saver, i appreciate that!❤❤❤

This video was the only one that I could find that help me actually get my machine threaded thank you

Thank you Keisha! I am a woodworker that is learning a new hobby of Embroidery and I bought myself a new PE800 for XMAS! I finished shopping for the necessary tools and items today. I bought some white denim to begin my first practice design. My wife's a quilter and doesn't know much about embroidery so I'm counting on the internet to teach me the ins and outs of machine embroidery. Your video helped me better understand the tension issue. Being I'm using denim and it's a thicker and tougher material them the tension should be set about 3.0 or higher is the way I understand it! Wish me luck!

Thank you for explaining so clearly !! This is super helpful in regards to tension setting !!!1

Omg!!! Thank you so much for this video I'm new to embroidery and I just got the pe800 you've help me alot!!🙏

Thanks 🙏🏻 I’m learning little by little by watching your videos

I also discovered in the directions after having problems, that when you insert the bobbin, you need to PUSH the bobbin DOWN as you thread it. I hope that helps you too! Keep the videos coming!

Aaaaahhhhh!!! I’ve been desperate to find a video for my SE1900 tension! This is it!! (I never thought to turn it down to 2.4-2.6! That solved everything. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!!!)

Thanks for this! i have an SE-1900 and have been trying to figure out how to set the tension, and then i saw your youtube video. Helped a lot! Thanks again!

You're so great at explaining! I definitely see a difference in the pull with the change in tension. I just got my machine and I am having trouble with the upper thread not feeding into the machine, at all! The bottom thread is doing all of the work and is the only thread that ends up on my project. Thank you for sharing and please keep the videos coming, they are so helpful!

Thank you very much for sharing the solution for fixing the tension. ❤️

Thank you SO much for this, I appreciate you because I needed it!

Thank you i was wondering about tension, and was trying to figure out the problem,this was very helpful.

Thank you I was very frustrated with my machine damaging so many pieces because the threat from the bobbing was showing on the top and the embroidery threat was under the fabric I had to take it to a repair place and he adjust the bobbing tension so now is better

Thank you so much for the video. I have. I've been struggling with my tension and am looking forward to trying out what I e learned.

Would love to see more videos on the PE800! I just got my machine and found that there are very few videos on it. Would also love to see a video on hooping and how you hoop different products. Thanks so much!

i had this machine since November 2020 and did use it cause of the threading. I became so frustrated I just let the machine sit there all that time. I'm out of conventional job and I'm looking in my room at all the craft/DIYS items in my house like hold up ..... then I came across your video today girl thank you cause stop 4-5 is where my problem began ....i know that lil white thing moved back....im fin to get this brain of mines rolling again ...again thank you

This video solved my problem...I almost gave up on embroidery THANK YOU!!!

Thank you so much for this video, you solved my tension problems on embroidery!

Excellent tips! Learned a lot about 60 percent in the back...thanks again

Thank you so much for your video. My top thread kept breaking. Your video really helped me.

Thanks so much for this video. There is very little on this machine on you tube that discusses problems. I have had problems with the bobbin thread showing up on top. So I will try lowering the tension as you recommended and hope that helps. A Lot of the sewing shops won't talk about this machine they only want to deal with the 14k embroidery machines.

Hi, thank you for this video, I have a PE770 , I've had it for years in a box and never used it, and now I decided it was time. I think it's pretty much the same as your PE800 except your screen is in color. I am so happy that you made this video because it takes me forever to thread my machine and I was getting discouraged and frustrated. Now I see my mistake and it was the up and down of the footer. About the tension, in what tension do you put your machine in to embroider towels? I would like to embroider some towels in my machine. Again thank you for this lesson, it has been a great help to me.

Great video. You just helped up our experiences. Thanks!

Thank you. I will try your suggestions. I have done 10 table napkins successfully with same pattern. I started the 11th, the bobbin ran out. I followed the operation manual directions and was able to get back to right spot. But then the tension problems began. I had the tension set at 4. The fabric was a fairly heavy polyester, restaurant style napkins. I will lower tension and keep trying. I will double check the bobbin installation as well. Thanks again.

Thanks!! I hope this solves my needle breakage!!🤦🏽‍♀️

You explained it beautifully. Thank you ☺️

Thank you for the tension tips! Now I don’t have any puckering anymore. This is a game changer. How simple a fix for many projects that had puckering and tension problems. I just have to remember to change the default setting of 4.0 to 2.4 or 2.6 every time I turn on my machine. Is there a way to change the default setting so I don’t have to remember to change it every time? Thank you so much!

Very informative Thank you Keisha

Your video was the best continue making videos you have me as a subscriber and I will past it on thank you for sharing 😉 have a blessed day

Thanks. this was super helpful!

This was so helpful thank you so much ❤

love this!

This is awesome! This was SO helpful! Thanks for taking the time to make this video! Please make the video how to insert the bobbin correctly.

Hey i want to start an embroidery business and for that I'm subscribing you bcz going to order PE800.. hope you'll guide me with more informative videos like this✨

Thanks for a detail video💕

My bobbin thread was all on top until I redid the bobbin. Would love to see correct bobbin placement

Thanks for the help. Great video

Hi , I use a Babylock Fourish 2. My machine gets lots of use and works well however my problem is that my needle eventually gets stuck and gummed up from the glue with my stabilizer. Sometimes I use spray adhesive and sometimes I use stabilizer with peel away paper. Ie already has adhesive. I have to take my unit to shop to be cleaned out which 1 is expensive and 2 ties up my unit usually at the most inconvenient of times. Any suggestions? Do you clean the inners of your machine. I do clean under bobbin but this isn’t preventing this.

Keep the videos coming!😍

Maam you saved my life ;)) Thank you very much

I was using the 4.0 tension so I will try the 2.5 stitch!

Thank you very much. Very helpful video❤️🙏

thank you , your amazing!

Thank you so much for this informations... But can u tell me if i can choose tension with negative value for very light fabric

You are Amazing!! Thank you 💖 i would Like to make little labels for quilts do you have any videos on this? And I can't figure out how to change my display from millimetres to inches😫

Thank u so glad I found your video

Hi Keisha! What USB are you using? I am hoping it is one that hooks straight up to your computer? Do you know what brand/style name? Looking to get a new one so I dont have to keep changing it from computer to the machine every design I do. It takes up so much time! Thank you.

This answer my question thank you

Should I always trim the jump stitches from the back of the design, say it’s a towel?

Good morning, I am having problems with my tension. I am learning still about everything with embroidery. When you did the sweater and hat project what did you set your embroidery tension as and also the tension itself? I run a test and it's questionable. Please can you 🙏 help me.

You are a queen. I’m closer to where I need to be. I embroider karate belts. They are thick and I am breaking upper thread a lot

What cuases the stitching to jam up under the material and jam the machine up? Would it be the tension setting?

What do you do to fix the thread nest that comes up and jams the embrodering?

Haven’t had any problem with my tension until I did my first appliqué on a terry cloth bib. The white bobbin thread came totally up to the top. Any idea if the tension has to be real loose (lower) when working with thick fabric?

I followed your steps on how to thread and how to use the tension and I was able to do a letter. When I tried doing a monogram the upper thread would get stuck between the numbers 2 and 3. I noticed that when I would lift the lever on the back, the thread would release as soon and as I would bring it back down the thread would get tight. I checked the bobbin and changed the thread and no change. Any suggestions?

The best. Thanks.

Hello, what number count is your embroidery thread that you use for your projects

Thank you for the video why did u have to drop the foot? Isn't that for new bobbins? I just unboxed my pe800 trying to read the manual and check the machine.

For towels what would you have your tension at ? Love your video

Thank you!

Hi Keisha. Thank you for this video. I was wondering if the colors in the designs on the PE 800 could be changed to colors of our own choosing and how would I go about doing that if I didn't have all the colors as specified in the design. I would really appreciate your answer.

i haven’t had my machine for long but when i stitch my stitches i can still see my shirt through it and i’m not sure why i’d appreciate the help or if you had any tips or idea why this is happening

Instead of bonding spray I iron it, and quickly put it into the hoop. Once heated it will stick, but as soon as it cools down it will come a part. This is using non iron on stabilizer(tear away).

I am a newbie. I am so thankful for you showing how to adjust the tension. After a few ruined "tees" I finally was able to find out what the problem was. Thanks so much!

Hello thanks for your videos. I am new to sewing and embroidering. One of the issues I am having is every time I go to embroidering my thread and bobbin gets jammed in to machine. Do you have any idea what can cause this. I have a Brothers PE 1900. Thank you

Awesomeness! Ty!

What should the tension be when embroidering a onsie?

The tension problem is caused by several factors: 1) the bobbin, 2) the size of the needle, 3) material being used, 4) the top embroidery thread, 5) how often the machine is used and cleaned and 6) improper hooping. 1) Bobbin: The bobbin thread that comes with the machine is Brother white #90, 100% polyester. If you wind the bobbin thread using the machine, make sure it's wound tightly and the thread doesn't knot, loop or fray. The bobbin threading problem can be solved by purchasing pre-wound bobbins that come in a pack and your choice of colors too, if you like the thread colors to match. Also, make sure the bobbin is the correct size for the machine. I have several machines for sewing, quilting and embroidery. Each machine has a different bobbin, so make sure to use the correct size and height bobbin for the model of machine being used. If you use the machine a lot, I highly recommend cleaning the bobbin area daily, or at the very least every week. Embroidery machines stitch must faster than a sewing machine, which causes friction and heat that collects dust, lint and in your case, using a sticky spray to adhere the stabilizer to the fabric, causes the needle and the material to leave a sticky residue below the plate and in the bobbin area. Use the brush that came with the machine or a small vacuum cleaner to remove the debris. DO NOT use forced air cans or blow air down into the area or spray the sticky products near the machine!!! The needle will also need to be cleaned to remove build up from the sticky spray left after each project. Take a q-tip or cotton facial wipe with a little bit of rubbing alcohol on the needle to remove the "gunk". YES, the bobbin MUST be placed in the well correctly or else it will "bird nest" under the plate and it won't catch the top thread as it comes down, causing looping or flagging. Make sure to use the proper thread in your bobbin, too. I wouldn't use anything less than a #60 thread weight. Needle size: The correct size of needle makes a big difference. The material is the best way to gauge the size of the needle for the project. Embroidery needles puncture through the fabric along with the thread. If the needle is too wide, it can leave small holes in the finished project. I check my needles to make sure they aren't bent or damaged before any project. Also, change the needle to fit the fabric. If it's t-shirt or stretchy fabric, use a ballpoint tip needle instead of an embroidery needle. Material: Because of the number of stitches that are used to embroidery, using an incorrectly sized needle causes damage to the fabric, which is what you're referring to on the sides of your letter. Increasing the tension is pulling the stitches too tight, and the tight weave of cotton fabric, plus the sticky stabilizer on the back, doesn't have any "give" to it, so the material is actually starting to tear due to the number of times the needle and thread travel through it. The programmed patterns and letters are digitized with software for specific brands of sewing machines. Brother files end in .pes and what it's not displaying is the information on the original .EMD file, which it's written for all machines and then the manufacturer has that file format converted into a file that their brand of machine can read. It's like the difference in operating systems between an iPhone and Android. You can't go to Google Play store to get an app for an iPhone and vice-versa. Same concept applies to computer operating systems. IT people write computer codes for a living. It use to be all binary (0,1) but now there's many different computer languages and Microsoft OS isn't compatible with Apple or Dell. And if anyone's lost that's reading this, then you're having the same problem as the embroidery machine understanding what your project is suppose to look like in your mind and what it's programmed to stitch. There's a lot more to it than just hooping fabric and loading thread to achieve a nice and neat embroidery design. The computer is operating correctly. It's the user that's not understanding all the behind the scenes operations that go into digitized software. Hooping: If the fabric is properly secured in the hoop, most of the time a tear away or water soluble stabilizer is sufficient to get excellent results. The only time I use an adhesive stabilizer is when the area I want to embroider doesn't fit in the hoop. It's called "floating the fabric" because the stabilizer is hooped and the fabric isn't. It's stuck to the stabilizer and not hooped at all. One last thing, make sure to RAISE the foot pedal when threading the machine. If it's not raised, the tension rods are not opened and the upper thread tension will be too loose. To correct the problem, simply turn off the machine, cut the thread near the spool and pull the remaining thread down through the needle or the carriage area. Pulling thread back through the machine causes it to fray, and unlike older machines, these can't be opened to clean or remove broken needles. It has to be serviced by a dealer or local sewing store. Hopefully this information makes sense and is helpful. I know it's disappointing and frustrating trying to troubleshoot the tension but it is most often the other factors that are the problem. Figure out the best combination of the other things I mentioned and do a bit of research or ask someone to help you work through the process. The professionals' use the top of the line machines, supplies and have years of experience messing up their projects. Even then, the inherent nature of embroidery stitching will never look like sharp lines on text fonts. Once you understand all the variables in the equation, you'll get the correct answer 99.9% of the time.

What if the bobbin thread keeps coming out on top? I’ve adjusted the tension multiple times but I can’t figure it out. It also is making the pattern inside out because it’s using the bobbin thread instead

Any Idea for leather vinyl. My daughter is selling keychains and is having a little trouble with it. It is probably because of the "Tension"

Oh my goodness, I took out the machine and did a towel with embroidery it came out great. Then I did a digital download and tried Elsa. The thread broke so many times. I’m not new to sewing. I thought I threaded it correctly, but there are loops on the top and knotty thread on the bottom. 😫😤😖

Omg thank you soo much!

Thank you...super helpful vodeo

I am seriously NEW NEW NEW to embroidery and found your video very informative. It helped me alot. But I do have a question. When doing projects, do you have to have the same color thread in the bobbin like a sewing machine? I'd really hate to have 100's of bobbins and only need that certain color once. BTW. I bought a PE800 machine.

I JUST GOT MY MACHINE AND THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO USE IT IS SPARSE. I WAS LITERALLY READY TO SCREAM AND RETURN IT. THANK YOU FOR THE HELP ON THE TENSION... STARTING AT 4.0 WAS GOING TO BE A LONG TRIAL AND ERROR PERIOD.:) I'M SO HAPPY! I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF IT'S NECESSARY TO OUT THE KIND OF THREAD YOU'RE USING INTO THE MACHINE THREAD INFO SCREEN? AND IF I'M IMPORTING FROM USB DRIVE, IF I NEED TO PROGRAM THAT INTO THE FILE BEFORE I SAVE IT? OR IF I CAN DO IT ON THE MACHINE AFTER THE FACT? THANKS AGAIN, LIAH L.

I changed different settings to the top and the white is still noticeable, can the be the bobbin is too loose ?

What do I do if to fix if the thread is pulling out over the top of the bobbin and looping over itself? It creates a huge knot under the plate and starts pulling the t shirt under and rips a hole in it. What tension do you use for t-Shirts?

Hi, I really need help. I just started using my new PE800 Embroidery machine, never used any embroidery machine before. I threaded it correctly however it started to embroider and then thread a lot of thread was tangled under the material and inside machine. I cut thread out, took the silver metal up and made sure all thread was removed but when I put it back together it now won’t embroider. Can you help me please?

I just got the PE800 and one thing I dont understand is resizing designs and lettering. The one project I did was just a name and it came out very big. I want to be able to do much smaller wording and names. Can you please help?

What about tension for sweatshirt fabric?

Thank you so much

Hi! I have brother sewing machine XL 4030 and there are only two kinds of controls which is for upper tention and width control but everytime im using sewing foots i dont know which number is right and many times the fabric stuck and also the thread always cut. Please kindly help me to this☹ thank u❤

I just got my PE800 and want to register it but can't find the serial number. Can you tell me where it is? Your videos are great, thanks.

Hi Keisha can you tell me what the tension should be on the Teddy bear that came already in machine? Thanks

Hey, so I just got this same machine brand new and my needle is not threading , ive followed these steps exactly, as well as the brothers manual & website steps... i also replaced my needle and according to my knowledge, its also placed correctly... do you know why it could bge that my needle isnt threading ?

I started my first embroidery session and after embroidering for about 2 minutes/4 minutes, it stopped and keeps saying”check upper thread and rethread”. The needle is still threaded when I check it. What am I doing wrong? The line on the hand wheel is @the top, btw. Thanks!

THANK YOU!!!!!!