I don't do a lot of embroidery, but hubby bought me a fabulous machine so I feel I should at least try to use it to it's capacity. I'm doing some redwork teddy bears & no matter what I do, there's always a wee bit of puckering. It's not really bad or anything, but is it possible to have 100% no puckering???

You just need to make sure your fabric and/or stabelizer are tight. I do get some puckering at times, just a little, but with some ironing it comes out or at least looks that way to me.
The secret is...practice, practice, practice

Ditto what Teri said AND...If you are embroidering onto cotton quilting fabric, try using a fusible tear away stabilizer.

You want to use the correct stabilizer for the fabric and the design.This includes taking into account for the number of stitches in the design. I usually use a med weight tear away on this type of design if I am using cotton fabric (quilt weight). When you hoop the fabric and stabilizer, once it is hooped, do not pull the fabric to get it tighter as this will distort the fabric.Hope this helps abit!

http://www.rnkdistributing.com/reference.htm

Here is a good reference site as well.
Kirsten

I've done redwork teddies and other redwork designs very successfully using one layer of polyester batting instead of tear away stabiliser. It doesn't have to be removed, and can act just as it was intended, and is ready quilted too. When sewn together, I back the blocks, then quilt round them Hawaian style.

It is so tempting to tug on hooped fabric...but it will cause distortion. It is better to rehoop several times until you get it taut :D:D:D

This is so helpful. I'm still trying to learn how to use my machine.

check in with cutebuns. She has machines for embroidery and I bet she could give you some tips.

It depends on what you are embroiding and your stabilizer. Add another piece of stabilizer , say on a cotton piece. You also dont have to put your extra piece of stabilizer in your hoop with the other. When you get you hoop attached, just slide another piece of stabilizer under the hoop. This will prevent a lot of puckering.. go to secretsof embroidery.com and embroiderylibrary.com and you will learn a lot. I had to do this. I didnt have anyone to teach me, I just had to google for info. Good luck.

Lots of great advice. Thanks, I haven't used mind for a long time. Have to learn all over again!