Editorial policy
The standards every Stitch Tuner guide, chart and tool is held to before it is published and every time it is updated.
Our principles
- Usefulness first. A page earns its place by solving a real problem better than what already exists. We do not publish pages that only restate other pages, and we merge or remove guides that overlap.
- Mechanism before instruction. We explain what is physically happening (thread path friction, hook timing, stabilizer support, push and pull of stitches) so readers can reason about situations a guide does not cover.
- Accuracy over certainty. When a fact depends on the machine, thread brand or fabric, we say so. Typical values are presented as starting points with their range, not as universal settings.
- Independence. We are not affiliated with any embroidery machine, thread, stabilizer or software company. We do not accept payment, free products or other consideration in exchange for coverage or favorable wording.
How a guide is researched
Each guide starts from the questions embroiderers actually ask and the symptoms they actually see. We then check the facts against primary sources wherever possible:
- Manufacturer manuals, technical bulletins and support pages for machines (for example error handling, oiling points and bobbin case adjustment).
- Needle manufacturers' technical guides for needle systems, sizes and point styles.
- Thread and stabilizer manufacturers' technical information for weights, fiber properties and recommended uses.
- File format and software documentation for compatibility claims.
Sources that informed a guide are listed at the end of the page under "Sources and further reading". We link to manufacturers' own sites rather than to secondary summaries where we can.
How settings advice is checked
Recommendations such as stabilizer combinations, needle sizes, density ranges and speed adjustments are checked on stitched test samples where practical, using the procedure described in how we test. Where a recommendation is a widely used industry rule of thumb rather than something with a single correct value, we label it that way.
Safety and machine care
Some fixes involve opening covers, adjusting a bobbin case screw or checking hook timing. We clearly separate what an owner can safely do from what should be left to a qualified technician, and we flag anything that can void a warranty or damage a machine. Always switch the machine off before cleaning, changing needles or clearing a jam.
Updates and review
Every guide displays the date it was last updated. Guides are reviewed when manufacturers change products or firmware, when readers report a problem, and on a regular schedule for the most-used pages. A change in date means the content was actually reviewed or changed, not just re-stamped.
Corrections
We correct errors promptly. Material corrections (anything that changes a recommendation, a number or a safety instruction) are logged on our corrections page. Typos and wording improvements are fixed without a log entry.
Advertising and independence
Advertising, where it appears, is kept visually separate from editorial content and never influences what we recommend. Editorial decisions are made without regard to any commercial relationship.