Embroidery Machine
About the Equipment
Personalize your sewn items or turn your digital designs into stitched artwork using our Baby Lock Flare embroidery machine. Whether you're customizing clothes, making patches or adding art to home decor, this machine makes it easy to get started with embroidery.
Reserve Equipment
- Reserve up to four hours per week
- Reserving more than one piece of equipment is not permitted
- Equipment that is not reserved is available for same day reservations
Using the Equipment
What's Provided
- 4" x 4" and 5" x 7" embroidery hoops
- Black and white embroidery thread
- Basic tools such as scissors, tweezers, thread snips, and medium tearaway stabilizer
- Computers with the embroidery design software Ink/Stitch
- A quick start guide
What To Bring
- Fabric or item to embroider
- This machine works best with flat, stable fabric. Round, stretchy items like hats and socks require a different machine.
- Other colors of embroidery thread beyond black and white. We recommend 40-weight polyester or rayon thread.
- Additional stabilizer, if your project requires a specific type (e.g., cut-away, water-soluble, or sticky-back)
- A storage device with your .PES embroidery file
- Don't have a design? The Makers can assist you in converting a .svg design into the .PES file that the Baby Lock Flare uses through software called Ink/Stitch.
Inspiration
From the Makers
Tutorials and Resources
New MakerSpace Equipment — Embroidery Machine!
Resources
- Baby Lock's instruction and reference guide (PDF)
- Baby Lock's quick reference guide (PDF)
- Baby Lock's embroidery design guide (PDF)
Tips for Success
Do:
- Use tightly woven, stable fabrics (e.g. cotton, canvas, twill)
- Always use stabilizer—cut-away or tear-away depending on the project
- Try a test stitch on scrap material before committing to your final piece
Don't:
- Stretch the fabric too tightly in the hoop
- Create designs with excessive small details
- Use incompatible thread types (e.g., cotton or metallic may cause thread breaks)
Embroidery FAQs
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Yes. There are several documents from Baby Lock:
- Baby Lock Flare Instruction and Reference Guide
- Baby Lock Flare Quick Reference Guide
- Baby Lock Flare Embroidery Design Guide
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Do:
- Use tightly woven, stable fabrics (e.g. cotton, canvas, twill)
- Always use stabilizer—cut-away or tear-away depending on the project
- Try a test stitch on scrap material before committing to your final piece
Don't:
- Stretch the fabric too tightly in the hoop
- Create designs with excessive small details
- Use incompatible thread types (e.g., cotton or metallic may cause thread breaks)
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Not easily. This machine works best with flat, stable fabric. Items like hats or tubular garments require a different type of machine or specialty hoop, which we do not currently offer.
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- Fabric or item to embroider
- Embroidery thread, especially if you want colors other than black and white. (40-weight polyester or rayon)
- Additional stabilizer if your project needs something other than medium tearaway. (e.g., cut-away, water-soluble, sticky back)
- We also recommend bringing a USB drive if you're transferring designs that way.
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Absolutely! Just make sure your design is in the .PES format.
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Yes! You can use Ink/Stitch, a free, open-source embroidery extension for the design program Inkscape. It allows you to convert SVG designs into embroidery files like .PES which is needed for the Baby Lock Flare. Requires some setup, but good for DIY design customization.
MakerSpace FAQs
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The Black & Veatch MakerSpace hours are slightly different than the Central Resource Library open hours. For up to date information about the MakerSpace, please visit the main MakerSpace page.
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The Black and Veatch MakerSpace is located at the Central Resource branch.
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You cannot create anything designed for or capable of causing harm, such as firearms, knives, swords, and other items that could be used to inflict injury or intimidate. If you’re unsure whether your project might fall under this rule, please ask a Maker staff member before starting. Library staff reserve the right to stop any print or job at their discretion if it is deemed unsafe, violates library policies, or is otherwise inappropriate.
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Questions? We're here for you.