How to Quilt using a Brother SE400 Embroidery Machine
I got a great deal on a Brother SE400 Embroidery machine on Facebook marketplace. I saw a video on YouTube where a woman used her embroidery machine to quilt, so I taught myself. Here is how to quilt using a Brother SE400 Embroidery machine.
Supplies needed:
- Embroidery thread (Hobby Lobby puts it on sale every 2 weeks)
- Small pair of scissors
- Tape measure (flexible kind)
- Extra bobbins
- Magnetic Hoop
- Run stitch file
Win a Fat quarter bundle of fabric on our giveaway page.
Video Tutorial
Step 1:
I am assuming you have your bobbins and magnetic hoop. You can do it on a regular hoop but LORD it is a pain. You want to use the same thread for your top and bottom so wind 3-4 bobbins (crib size quilt) so you are ready.
Go on to Etsy and find your run stitch. You will see in the video how to do that. Download the file from Etsy and attach your USB cord from your computer to sewing machine and move the PES file to your machine.
When you save it to your machine, it will be there if you need to come back to it. It’s under your saved file. It looks like a pocket on your machine.
Practice… Practice… Practice…
Do a test run on a fake quilt piece and measure your design, divide that in half so that you can measure from the end of your design to the next stop so you have no overlaps and your pieces are super close. If you choose a design that must match exactly you will want to practice a few times before doing it on your quilt. I marked where my needle needed to go using a washable fabric marker.
Stitching using the Brother SE400
Start in 1 section, attach your magnetic hoop to your material and quilt that section. You will then continue to move it throughout the sections until you are finished.
Make sure and check your bobbin every 3-4 squares depending on the size to make sure you have enough bobbin. IF you run out of bobbin, mark the spot using your fabric marker and put a new bobbin in. The machine will simply start where it started.
Helpful Hints:
- A pattern that doesn’t need to be connected is so much easier like this one.
- Wind 3-4 bobbins if doing a crib/throw size. You will need them and it’s such a pain to stop and wind
- Put in a fresh needle before you begin.
- Fabric markers make it so easy to mark the next stop for your needle.
- You can shift the fabric slightly while it’s in the hoop.
- Use your muscles if the hoop top won’t come off. It can be hard to separate.
- Practice…practice…practice (don’t start on a quilt you are giving as a gift)
Congrats you just learned to how to quilt using a Brother SE400 embroidery machine. I would love to see your finished quilt. Feel free to come over to Facebook and share it with me.
