Brother Innov-is 4750D: Creating Bobbin Work

8

Creating Bobbin Work

Positioning the Fabric and Sewing

a

Place a lightweight tear-away stabilizer on 

top (wrong side) of the fabric.

b

Using an awl, punch a hole in the fabric at the 

beginning of stitching so the bobbin thread 

can be fed through the fabric.

c

Use the presser foot lever to raise the presser 

foot.

d

With the wrong side facing up, place the 

fabric with stabilizer under the presser foot.

a

Wrong side of fabric

b

Stabilizer on wrong side of fabric

e

Turn the handwheel toward you 

(counterclockwise) to feed the needle into the 

punched hole. Position the upper thread over 

the presser foot and lightly hold then, lower 

the presser foot.

a

Punched hole

b

Upper thread over the presser foot

f

Pulling the upper thread gently, turn the 

handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) 

until the mark on the handwheel aligns with 

the center top of machine.



A loop of the bobbin thread comes up through the 

hole in the fabric.

g

Raise the presser foot lever, and then use 

tweezers to pull up the bobbin thread and 

bring the end of the thread to the top of the 

fabric.

Note

• Be sure to sew trial stitches using same fabric and 

threads as your project in order to check the sewing 

results.

• The bobbin thread may become tangled due to the 

type of pattern and thread that are being used. Since 

this may cause the needle to break, immediately 

stop sewing if this occurs. Turn off the machine and 

cut out the tangled thread with scissors. Then, clean 

the race and bobbin case as described in see 

“Preparing the Bobbin Thread” on page 4.

Note

• Pull the thread while holding down the fabric so it 

does not move out of place.

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h

Align the upper thread and bobbin thread, 

and then pass them under the presser foot 

toward the rear of the machine.

i

Turn on the machine.

j

Select a stitch.

k

Adjust the upper thread tension.

For details on adjusting the upper thread tension, 

refer to the machine’s Operation Manual.

l

If your machine is equipped with the 

automatic thread cutting function and 

automatic reinforcement/reverse stitching 

function, make sure the automatic thread 

cutting and automatic reinforcement/reverse 

stitching have been turned off.

m

While gently holding threads at the rear of the 

machine, turn the handwheel to feed the 

needle into the punched hole again, and then 

lower the presser foot lever.

n

Select a low speed, gently hold the threads 

behind the presser foot and start sewing. 

Threads can be released after several stitches 

have been made.

o

When you have reached the end of the 

stitching area, stop the machine.

p

Raise the needle and presser foot.

Memo

• For best results, select a longer stitch length and a 

wider stitch width. Depending on the selected stitch, 

it may not be possible to change the stitch length 

and stitch width settings. For details on adjusting the 

stitch length and stitch width, refer to the machine’s 

Operation Manual.

• Depending on the fabric, bunched stitches may 

result. We recommend selecting a simple stitch and 

sewing trial stitches to check the sewing results.

Examples of simple stitches:

, 

, 

Memo

We recommend an upper thread tension that is higher 

than the standard setting.

 CAUTION

• Before sewing, make sure the automatic thread 

cutting has been turned off. If sewing is started with 

automatic thread cutting turned on, the thread may 

become tangled or the machine may be damaged.

Note

• Before sewing, check that there is enough thread in 

the bobbin.

Note

• Do not sew reinforcement/reverse stitches at the 

end of the stitching, otherwise the threads may 

become tangled or the needle may break. In 

addition, it will be difficult to pull the bobbin thread 

up to the wrong side of the fabric.

10

q

Leaving about 10 cm (approx. 4 inches) of 

thread at the ends, use scissors to cut the 

threads.

a

10 cm (approx. 4 inches) 

Finishing the Thread Ends

a

At the end of the stitching, pull the end of the 

bobbin thread up to the wrong side of the 

fabric.

a

Wrong side of fabric

b

Bobbin thread

b

From the wrong side of the fabric, tie the 

bobbin thread and the upper thread together 

by hand, and then cut off excess threads with 

scissors.

a

Wrong side of fabric

b

Surface of fabric

c

If the desired results could not be achieved, 

adjust the tension of the bobbin thread and of 

the upper thread, and then try sewing the 

stitching again.

For more details, refer to see “Adjusting the 

Thread Tension” on page 11.

Bobbin Work Free-Motion Sewing

If so desired, use a template or draw your design on the 

stabilizer to allow for ease of stitching. Remember, your 

stitches with your decorative thread will be on the 

underneath side of your fabric and the stabilizer will be 

on the top of the wrong side of your fabric.

a

Print the desired template.

Note

• Do not sew reinforcement/reverse stitches or use a 

“Thread Cutter” button (if so equipped) at the end of 

the stitching; otherwise it will be difficult to pull the 

bobbin thread up to the wrong side of the fabric. In 

addition the threads may become tangled or the 

needle may break possibly causing machine 

damage.

Note

• If it is difficult to pull up the bobbin thread, use a 

ribbon embroidery needle to pull the thread up to the 

wrong side of the fabric. Otherwise, use an awl to 

pull up the bobbin thread.

Note

• To ensure threads do not come undone after being 

tied place a drop of fabric glue on knots.

Note

• For bobbin work free motion sewing use the 

instructions for “Creating Bobbin Work” beginning on 

page 8.

• Use the quilting foot provided with your machine. If 

you do not have a quilting foot, contact your nearest 

authorized dealer to purchase. For details on using 

the quilting foot, refer to the Operation Manual 

provided with your machine or with the presser foot.

Note

• Print the template in its original dimensions. If an 

enlarged template is used, the bobbin thread may 

run out during sewing.

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b

Affix the stabilizer to the wrong side of the 

fabric.

c

Place commercially available transfer paper 

on the stabilizer, then the paper printed with 

the template on top, and then trace the design 

with a pencil.

a

Template

b

Transfer paper

c

Stabilizer on wrong side of fabric

d

Once the design is transferred to the stabilizer, 

position the fabric under the free-motion 

presser foot on the machine, and then use free-

motion sewing to sew the design.

Adjusting the Thread Tension

After sewing trial stitches and checking the sewing 

results, adjust the thread tensions if necessary. After 

adjusting the tensions, be sure to sew trial stitches again 

in order to check the sewing results.

■

Adjusting the Upper Thread Tension

We recommend an upper thread tension that is higher 

than the standard setting.

Refer to the machine’s Operation Manual for detailed 

instruction.

■

Adjusting the Tension of the Bobbin Thread

If the desired stitching cannot be achieved after 

adjusting the upper thread tension, adjust the tension of 

the bobbin thread. The tension of the bobbin thread can 

be adjusted by turning the slotted-head (–) screw on the 

bobbin case (gray) for bobbin work.

a

Do not turn the phillips screw (+).

b

Adjust with the small screwdriver.

To increase the tension of the bobbin thread, turn the 

slotted-head (–) screw 30° to 45° clockwise.

To decrease the tension of the bobbin thread, turn the 

slotted-head (–) screw 30° to 45° counterclockwise.

Note

• Some templates have the arrows to show you the 

sewing direction. Trace the arrows with design.

Note

• Turning the screw on the bobbin case (gray) may 

push up the spring plate, as shown below.

If this occurs, gently press down the spring plate 

with a screwdriver so it is lower than the top surface 

of the bobbin case (gray), and then insert the bobbin 

case into the machine.

a

Spring plate

12

Troubleshooting

Several solutions for minor problems are described 

below. If the problem persists, contact your nearest 

authorized dealer.

■

The Thread was Accidentally Cut 

Automatically and the Bobbin Thread is 

Caught inside the Machine (Only for 

Machines Equipped with the Automatic 

Thread Cutting Function)

a

Cut the thread near the fabric above the 

needle plate, and then remove the fabric.

a

Thread

b

Remove the bobbin, and then hold it out 

toward the left side of the machine.

c

Lower the presser foot.

d

Press the “Thread Cutter” button again, and 

then pull the thread out to the left while the 

thread cutter is operating.

■

The Pattern is Misaligned

Refer to “Adjusting the Thread Tension” and increase 

the upper thread tension. If the pattern is still 

misaligned, reduce the tension of the bobbin thread.

Example: Decorative Stitch

a

Correct tension

b

The upper thread tension is too loose, or the bobbin 

thread tension is too tight.

■

The Bobbin Thread Catches on the Tension 

Spring of the Bobbin Case

Sew with no tension applied to the bobbin thread. 

(Refer to see “When Tension is Not Applied to the 

Bobbin Thread” on page 6.)

 CAUTION

• DO NOT adjust the position of the phillips (+) 

screw on the bobbin case (gray) as this may result in 

damage to the bobbin case, rendering it useless.

• If the slotted screw (-) is difficult to turn, do not use 

force. Turning the screw too much or providing 

force in either (rotational) direction may cause 

damage to the bobbin case. Should damage occur, 

the bobbin case may not maintain proper tension.

Note

• If the bobbin thread tension is tight, the thread 

cannot be passed through the tension spring when 

the bobbin is installed in the bobbin case. (Refer to 

see “When Tension is Not Applied to the Bobbin 

Thread” on page 6.)

 CAUTION

• Do not pull on the thread with excessive force, 

otherwise the machine may be damaged.