Machine embroidery writing! What am I doing wrong?
 

I have a new Janome machine and am trying to write a label for my quilt with not much success. The fabric is slightly puckered and the stitching looks as though one of the tensions are wrong. I was using the auto top tension setting, a 10 needle and variegated embroidery quilting thread. Any advice would be most gratefully accepted!

Did you use stabilizer? Also did you use an embroidery needle and correct size for the thread?

Try rethreading also, and proper stabelizer(backing) can make all the diff in the world. If all else fails, try a 14 needle. And if that dosnt work, I'll send you my address, i could use an embroidery machine (lol)!!!!

Stabilizing would be my answer also. Like the suggestion to starch your fabric!

I slide a scrap of a second stabilizer under the hooped stabilizer.

Make your letters a touch larger.

Are you using tearaway stabilizer, that puckers like crazy, use cutaway. I ruined a lot of cotton using tearaway. Also prewash, starch, and either baste or use 505 to stabilize the fabric to your stabilzer. Also dont pull the fabric tight as you hoop.

Great advice!!!!!!

Don't hoop too tightly, when you remove the fabric from the hoop it will relax and pucker. Fabric needs to be smooth, but not drum tight. Also try using an additional piece of stablizer under the hoop.