Embroidery Machine
Information
The Brother PE800 is an embroidery machine capable of creating a wide range of designs, including complex and multi-colored images. With a 5”x7” maximum embroidery field, users can take advantage of this unique machine to embroider shirts, bags, towels, and much more! The PE800 includes over 100 built in designs, including 11 built-in fonts. Designs can be customized using the editing features to rotate, scale, mirror on the color LCD display. The machine also has a USB port to upload custom designs (.pes files only).
Once set up, embroidering is as simple as pressing a button! The machine can be threaded by following the numbered guide and the AMS provides a wide range of thread colors.
Safety
When the machine is turned on, the carriage will move automatically. Please remain clear of the carriage.
Do not put hands or fingers near the needle while the machine is on and/or operating.
Do not touch the embroidery hoop while the machine is operating.
How to Embroider on the PE800
Ensure the machine is plugged in and moved to an area of the craft station that is relatively clear. There should be no objects around the machine or the embroidery hoop carriage.
Turn the machine on. As warned on the LCD display, the carriage will move automatically after the machine is powered on. Stay clear of the moving carriage. A side view of the machine shows the on/off switch near the bottom, the USB port to upload custom designs, and the handwheel which can be turned manually to raise and lower the needle.
Section I: Configuring a design
Please note the LCD display is a touch screen.
On the display, five categories will be shown first.
Top left (flower image) will direct you to embroidery patterns
Top right (butterfly image) will direct you to Brother exclusive embroidery patterns
Bottom left (flower font) will direct you to the floral alphabet pattern
Bottom middle (two A letters) will direct you to other fonts and character patterns
Bottom right (frame, heart image) will direct you to frame patterns
After selecting one of the above pages, several embroidery designs will be shown along with a basic grid. Select the hoop size you intend to use at the top left of the display. Note: certain patterns are limited by hoop size. Larger patterns cannot be embroidered on smaller hoop sizes. To see more designs, press the right arrow to go to the next page and the left arrow to return to the previous page. Tap on a design to view it on the grid and select “Set” to proceed.
If you are embroidering letters, the first screen will prompt you to choose a font. Then, you will enter in the desired letters/words.
On the bottom left of the text entry screen, the size of the lettering can be adjusted for L, M, and S.
The first two pages are uppercase letters. The second two pages are lowercase. Press the right/left arrows to access these pages.
Once a design is set, you can further customize it by moving, scaling, rotating, and mirroring the design. This page includes:
a. The chosen hoop size (note: in the example image, the small circular hoop is unavailable due to the size of the design).
b. Final design dimensions
c. Magnify key
d. Preview key to see sewn image
e. Move, Size, Rotate keys
f. Thread palette key to change the colors displayed of the pattern
g. Mirror key
h. Thread density key to adjust density for certain characters/frames
i. Font edit key (for characters only) j. Delete key to remove a design k. Add key to add another design to the current display l. Select key to select one of multiple patterns in the display for editing m. Memory key to save a pattern to USB or machine memory
After customizing the design to your preferences, select “Edit End”
The final editing screen allows you to change the position of the design within the hoop. Tap on the arrows to adjust or the middle dot to center. It is advised that the hoop and fabric are attached to the machine before proceeding. Refer to Section III.
The bottom left button (starting point key) moves the needle to the starting point of the pattern. Keep hands and objects clear of the needle.
The bottom middle button (trial key) moves the entire frame so you can check there is enough room to sew the pattern. Keep hands and objects clear of the carriage.
Once you are satisfied with the design, press the “Embroidery” key to proceed.
The embroidery screen provides several useful pieces of information. Most importantly, for multicolored designs, this screen shows you the order in which each thread color should be embroidered. The thread must be changed after each color is complete to achieve the desired pattern.
On the top purple bar, information about the total stitch count, total embroidering time, and total number of colors is displayed.
The scissor key refers to the upper thread tension. If the bobbin thread is visible while stitching, reduce the upper thread tension.
The -/+ key refers to skipping or returning to a certain stitch count. This can move the needle back by a certain number of stitches as needed.
Section II: Bobbin Thread
Bobbin thread is the thread used to catch the upper thread as the machine sews. Bobbin thread is hidden on the backside of the design and is not seen. It is generally advised to choose a color close to that of the fabric itself.
Winding the bobbin:
Select a color of thread for the bobbin.
Lift the purple cover of the top of the machine (this is where spools will go).
Place an empty bobbin onto the winder shaft circled below:
Remove the spool cap and slide the spool onto the spool pin. Replace the spool cap to hold the thread spool in place.
Take the thread and following the dotted line guide, wind the thread through the machine towards the bobbin. Wrap the thread clockwise around the bobbin five or six times to secure.
Push the entire bobbin to the right until it snaps in place. This will put the machine in bobbin winding mode and will show up on the LCD.
Once ready, press the start/stop button to begin automatically winding the bobbin.
Once the bobbin begins spinning slower, press the start/stop button again.
Push the bobbin to the left, pull it off the machine, and snip any excess thread.
Installing the bobbin:
Ensure the bobbin is tightly wound.
Press the needle position button to raise the needle, and the lock key to halt and lock any operation.
Raise the presser foot if not raised already.
Slide the bobbin cover latch to the right to release the cover and remove the cover.
Follow the guide on the machine, as you place the bobbin into the machine. Ensure the thread is unwinding on the left.
Hold the bobbin in place and guide the thread around the needle plate cover and through the slit as pictured. Cut the thread with the small blade at the end.
Reattach the bobbin cover.
Press the lock key again to release the hold.
Section III: Fabric and Hoops
Select the appropriate hoop for your design as chosen on the editing screen. Embroidery hoops are on the wall above the thread.
Prepare your fabric:
All fabrics require stabilizer unless they are stiff, such as canvas.
Cut a piece of stabilizer that is at least 1” larger than the embroidery hoop on all sides.
Iron the stabilizer to the wrong side of the fabric (on the opposite side of where your design will go).
Stabilizer can also be sandwiched into the hoop (follow below)
Loosen the adjustment screw to release the inner ring. Place the inner ring aside for later.
Place your fabric over the hoop. For t-shirts, place the hoop inside the shirt to ensure the shirt is not sewn together by the machine. As a general note, make sure any fabric that is used is bigger than the hoop by at least 1” on all sides.
Press the inner ring back into the hoop over the fabric. Line up the two triangles on the inner ring and hoop.
Tighten with the adjustment screw.
Attach the hoop to the embroidery machine carriage. Pull back on the tab and slide the hoop in until it snaps in.
Section IV: Thread the Machine
Make sure the presser foot is raised and turn the handwheel until the mark on the wheel is positioned at the top.
With the appropriate thread color chosen, load the spool onto the spool pin of the machine.
Follow the solid guide line to weave the thread through the machine. When passing the thread through the circled section, make sure the thread is caught in the hook inside the machine. This hook should be visible when looking into the slit.
Then, pass the thread behind the needle bar thread guide.
Carefully thread the needle from the front so the thread passes out the back of the needle. The automatic threader is broken on our machine, so this step will always have to be done by hand.
Cut excess thread with the cutter on the side of the machine once finished threading.
Section V: Begin Embroidering
Before embroidering, make sure the hoop is correctly installed, a wound bobbin is in the machine and the cover is in place, and the needle has been appropriately threaded.
Lower the presser foot with the lever behind the needle
Once the start/stop button lights up green, the machine is ready. Press the button to begin. Make sure there are no objects near the carriage/needle, keep hands out of the way.
The machine will embroider automatically. Please keep an eye on the machine in case a needle breaks, the thread tension looks incorrect, or other errors occur.
Once finished with the color/design, press the cut button next to the start/stop button to snip the thread.
If you are embroidering with more colors, do NOT remove the hoop. Change only the thread to the next color and begin again.
If you are finished embroidering, remove the hoop from the carriage and take the fabric out.
Last updated
Was this helpful?