If you are new to machine embroidery and you have purchased a design, you will get the design files, instructions plus a COLOR ANALYSIS DOCUMENT. You may be confused about how you use this document, but it’s very simple. Since 99% of our designs are In The Hoop Projects, you will have this Color Analysis as well as a tutorial in PDF format. PDF is a standard readable document used across most browsers and operating systems. Most computers come with a copy already installed. If not, click the link  https://get.adobe.com/reader/ to download it free from the Adobe website.

After opening a color analysis doc, you will see numbered sequences. These are the steps your machine will take to create that beautiful embroidery you bought! Keep in mind that You do not have to use the colors shown on the sheet. Those new to machine embroidery usually think that they have to follow the thread colors exactly. That isn’t true. You can use any color you want and any brand of thread that you want. Each color change will cause your machine to stop. This allows you to change the thread color if so desired. Sometimes changing the color is not required, but we have added the color stop to give you the option of changing thread colors. 

When creating In The Hoop Projects, it’s necessary to have the machine stop more often than if it’s just a basic embroidery design. There will be placement lines, tack down lines, and of course, the embroidery itself. Placement and tack down lines will show color changes, but it typically isn’t necessary to change the thread color. The change of color is just making the machine stop due to batting needing to be place or fabric needing to be placed. Sometimes it’s so that the machine will stop allowing you to trim excess fabric from around an appliqué that was just stitched down.

Now, if you’ve been around the block a few times, you may be asking yourself why we don’t just add a manual color stop. Well…glad you asked! Some machines don’t recognize the manual color stops and just keep stitching going from placement line to tack down and not giving you the chance to add the batting, fabric, or to trim an applique. By changing the thread color, we are forcing the machine to stop.

Below is an example of the color stops or changes in one of our mug mats. This particular Mug Mat is our Happy Crayons Drink Mat. A fun way to teach preschool children their primary colors. Sequence 1 is showing the placement line for all 6 crayon appliqués. Each of the color sequences 2-7 are tack down lines. making the machine stop in order to lay the felt on top of the placement line. In this instance the color changes are the primary crayon colors, but if you wanted to use another color instead of one of these colors you would be able to do that. You just substitute that color in your machine. You could even make each of them the same thread color and would not then change the thread. Sequences 8 – 10 are a continuation of the project with Seq. 8 being the facial features, Seq 9 being the addition of the back, so therefore, the machine needs to stop in order for you to remove the hoop, add the back and return the hoop to the machine. Seq. 10 has the machine stop so that you can trim the back fabric and then when you start the machine again, it will stitch the border around the crayons. All of our projects also include a written tutorial with all the instructions and some of the more complicated In The Hoop Projects also include a video tutorial. The Color Analysis Doc is simply to help you see what the machine will actually be doing.

We hope this helps you better understand the Color Analysis Documents & how to use them. Please leave feedback so we can know if this has helped!

Embroidery by EdytheAnne

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