Thread OrderMore colors than needles
More colors than needles? Plan the re-threads.
When a design has more threads than your machine has needles, some needle must be re-threaded mid-run. Re-thread the needle whose thread comes back latest, or never, and you re-thread the fewest times.
Set your needle count below and open your DST: the run sheet marks each re-thread and which needle it is.
Run sheet
| Stop | Thread | Needle | Stitches | Before you start it |
|---|
Worked numbers
A design with 8 different threads on a 6-needle machine: the first 6 threads go on needles 1 to 6, and the 7th and 8th each need a re-thread, 2 in all. If a thread comes back later in the design, the plan keeps it loaded and re-threads a needle whose thread is finished.
Joining same-color stops first often lowers the count: fewer separate stops means fewer chances for a thread to come back after its needle was swapped.
Reading the run sheet
Each row says what to do before that stop: Thread needle 3, Re-thread needle 2, or Press start. The line above the table gives the total re-threads for the run.
Questions
Which needle should I re-thread?
The one whose thread is not needed again, or needed latest. The plan picks it for you.
Does joining colors reduce re-threads?
It can. Press Join same threads before you print the sheet, and compare the count.
Can I plan for a single-needle machine?
Yes. Choose 1 and the sheet counts every thread change instead.