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Watch the video: “How to Embroider a Built-in Design on Husqvarna Viking Ruby Royale” by Sewing Mastery
If you’ve just unboxed your Ruby Royale or you’re returning to embroidery after a break, this tutorial shows exactly how to select a built-in design, choose the right hoop on screen, test placement with needle positioning, and stitch with confidence. No guesswork—just a clear, calm walkthrough using the machine’s own tools.
What you’ll learn
- How to browse the built-in design library and read stitch count, size, and colors using the help pop-up
- How to match the on-screen hoop to the hoop on your machine for accurate placement
- How to trace placement with the needle positioning tool and center the design precisely
- How to start stitching cleanly, watch underlay, and correct bobbin thread show-through
- How to use Auto Smart Save and finish your design, ready for the next project
Understanding Your Embroidery Screen
Browsing Built-in Designs The Ruby Royale’s embroidery screen makes exploration simple. Tap the small flower icon in the top corner to open the built-in designs menu; then slide through the categories or drag the on-screen bubble to skim quickly. You’ll find a wide assortment—many exclusive to this model—ready to stitch without external files.
As you scroll, the interface flips from page to page with a smooth swipe. This is a perfect time to “audition” designs and note which motifs you want to test-stitch later. It’s worth creating a personal short list of fast designs with small stitch counts for practice sessions.
Interpreting Design Information Need specifics before you stitch? Tap the question-mark help icon, then tap any design thumbnail. A pop-up reveals the design name, size, total stitch count, and number of colors. If you’re in a hurry, a design around a few thousand stitches will sew quickly, making it ideal for learning the flow of your machine without a long commitment.
Pro tip: Keep a notepad of favorites. Jot down the stitch count and color count from the pop-up so you can plan thread changes and total time at a glance.
Quick check: If you don’t see the design info pop-up immediately, make sure you tapped the question-mark first, then the design.
Setting Up Your Embroidery Project
Selecting and Loading a Design To load a design, just tap it. In the video, the instructor selects a whimsical frog. The machine immediately indicates the hoop size the design will fit, so you know whether your current hoop is compatible.
Watch out: Clearing a design from your work area by tapping the trash can removes only the on-screen instance—it does not delete it from the machine. That means you can experiment freely without fear of losing originals.
Choosing the Correct Hoop Size If the hoop on your machine is larger than the design’s suggested size, update the screen to match your actual hoop. Tap the hoop area, scroll to the top of the list, and select the largest hoop (as shown in the tutorial). The on-screen workspace updates, giving you a bigger “playground” to combine elements or add lettering later.
You’ll see the design sitting proportionally within the larger hoop outline, which helps you visualize placement options and spacing for add-ons. This clarity up front saves time once you move to positioning.
Precision Design Positioning From the embroidery edit screen, bring in a new motif if you’d like a different example—such as a simple heart—and use pinch-in/out zoom (or the +/- controls) for precise viewing. Tap a design to place a selection box around it; with the box visible, touch-and-drag to move the design side-to-side or anywhere within the hoop field.
Zooming tight reveals clean edges and details, making it easier to nudge elements into perfect alignment before you stitch. Think of this as your “paper pattern stage”: adjust now and you’ll have less to correct later.
Pro tip: If a design won’t move, it likely isn’t selected. Tap it once to re-activate the selection box, then drag.
Embroidery: From Start to Finish
Initiating the Stitching Process When you’re ready, enter the embroidery screen and use the design positioning tool—the flower with four arrows—to “trace” your design. Tap to move the needle to the top-left, top-right, bottom-right, and bottom-left corners, then back to center. This real-time needle movement mirrors your on-screen edits, so you can confirm you won’t stitch over seams or edges.
After that final check, start cleanly: hold the top thread gently in your left hand, press the start/stop button, and count “one, two, three.” The machine will cut and secure the tail; you can then remove it and let the design continue. This small habit prevents thread nests at the start.
A few stitches in, gently pull away the trimmed top thread as shown in the video. You’re looking for smooth, even formation while the first lines of underlay secure the fabric to the stabilizer. Underlay isn’t just technical—it’s the quiet foundation that gives your motif body and coverage.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting Thread Tension As stitching progresses, keep your eyes on the surface. If white (bobbin) thread peeks through the top—especially noticeable on darker fabrics—reduce the thread portioning number slightly. On this machine, a smaller number pulls more thread to the back, helping eliminate show-through. The video demonstrates this adjustment in real time for a quick fix.
Stay by the machine while it sews. Beyond safety, this helps you catch tangles early and learn the rhythm of underlay versus top stitching. You’ll also see how the design builds section by section, which makes future troubleshooting faster.
Watch out: Don’t walk away mid-stitch. If you must pause, press start/stop to halt exactly where you are. The machine will remember the spot if you have Auto Smart Save turned on.
Smart Save and Power Considerations The Ruby Royale includes Auto Smart Save. With the option checked in Tools, the machine remembers where embroidery stopped—even after a power interruption—so you can resume without guesswork. The instructor also recommends plugging into at least a surge protector or, better yet, a battery backup to guard against power dips.
From the comments: One viewer using a related model noted their screen icons look different from the video. Interfaces can vary by model or software version; if you don’t see the flower icon exactly as shown, consult your machine’s on-board help or manual for the equivalent “built-in designs” entry point.
Pro tip: Make a short test stitch-out when you change fabric, stabilizer, or bobbin weight. It’s the fastest way to confirm tension and coverage before committing to the full design.
Completing Your Embroidery
Finalizing the Design As the last stitches land, the machine displays a “Design is finished” message and plays a short chime. Tap OK to acknowledge completion, then use the return arrow to go from the embroidery screen back to the edit screen. This returns you to the workspace without affecting the finished stitching.
Quick check: The design should look full and even, with no bobbin thread showing on the top. If you spot small jump tails, you can trim them from the right side before removing the hoop.
Clearing the Workspace To prep for your next project, select the on-screen design (or use Select All) and tap the trash can to clear the work area. This action doesn’t remove the design from your machine’s internal library—it only clears it from the current editing canvas. Remove the hoop from the machine and unhoop your fabric when you’re ready.
Watch out: Resist tugging fabric while it’s still hooped on the machine head. Always remove the hoop first to avoid jarring the mechanism.
A quick tour by timestamp
- 00:05 Access built-in designs from the flower icon
- 01:08 Open the help pop-up for name, size, stitches, colors
- 01:46 See which hoop a design requires
- 02:04 Change the on-screen hoop to match your attached hoop
- 02:25 Clear a design from the work area with the trash can
- 03:19 Use the design positioning tool to trace corners
- 04:25 Start cleanly by holding the top thread and counting to three
- 05:11 Reduce the thread portioning number if bobbin shows on top
- 06:23 Confirm Auto Smart Save is enabled for protection
- 06:50 Finish, tap OK, and return to the edit screen
Troubleshooting checklist
- Design won’t move? Tap it to reveal the selection box, then drag.
- Bobbin thread on top? Lower the thread portioning number a bit and test again.
- Unsure of fit? Change the on-screen hoop to match your attached hoop for an accurate preview.
- Need to pause? Press start/stop. With Auto Smart Save on, you can resume reliably.
Planning notes and practical extras
- Stabilizer and fabric: The video shows the machine workflow rather than specific stabilizer recipes. Choose stabilizer types based on your fabric and design density, and test when in doubt.
- Time budgeting: Use stitch count from the help pop-up to estimate how long the design will take.
- Library exploration: Stitch a few small designs first to learn how underlay, fill, and borders look on your preferred fabric.
From the comments: common questions, clarified
- “My icons don’t match exactly.” Interface elements can differ between related models or software versions. If you can’t find the flower icon, use the on-board help to locate the built-in designs menu on your specific model.
- “Thanks!” The community feedback underscores how a simple, repeatable workflow builds confidence—tap help for details, match the hoop, trace corners, start cleanly, and monitor tension.
Glossary
- Underlay: Foundational stitches that secure fabric to stabilizer and support top stitching.
- Thread portioning number: The on-screen value you can reduce to pull more thread to the back side when bobbin shows on top.
- Work area vs. library: Deleting from the work area clears only your current canvas, not the internal design library.
Looking beyond this project If you plan to expand your repertoire, it helps to understand the wider world of hoops and accessories—even if you stick with the native options on your machine. Many embroiderers explore alternative systems for specialized projects, but availability and compatibility vary by brand and model. When researching, focus on whether an accessory is designed for your exact machine.
- In the Husqvarna ecosystem, you’ll encounter terms like larger format and specialty hoops; enthusiasts sometimes mention third-party or accessory options in forums. If you search, you may run across general terms such as magnetic hoop for husqvarna viking. Always verify compatibility with your exact model before purchasing.
- New to machine embroidery altogether? Many learners start with easy motifs and short stitch-outs, which is why this guided process on the Ruby Royale makes a great first project for anyone evaluating an embroidery machine for beginners.
- If you read about cross-brand accessories, remember that not all systems translate between machines. For example, the idea of a magnetic embroidery hoop is common in discussions, but that doesn’t mean a given frame is suitable for your machine.
- As you build skills, you’ll notice how different formats affect design placement. Understanding your base toolkit—your on-screen hoop choices and positioning tools—matters more than chasing every accessory. When in doubt, start with brand-approved husqvarna embroidery hoops and branch out only after confirming fit and function.
- Planning larger compositions? Explore your machine’s supported hoop list first. Many users talk about extended formats in general terms (you may see phrases like mega hoop husqvarna in communities), but your on-screen hoop menu is the authoritative source for what your machine can use.
- As you organize tools, keep your hardware tidy and labeled. A small case for embroidery machine hoops makes it faster to match the right frame to the right project.
- Finally, if you are comparing accessory categories, it’s fine to make a list of pros and cons. Just make sure any embroidery magnetic hoop you consider is explicitly supported for your exact model.
Wrap-up With the Ruby Royale, embroidering a built-in design is a calm, repeatable rhythm: choose, confirm hoop, position precisely, start cleanly, monitor, and finish. Use the help pop-up for planning, needle positioning for confidence, and Auto Smart Save for peace of mind. The more you practice this simple sequence, the more effortlessly your projects will flow.