An example method includes determining, by a computing system, a dry thickness of a fabric preform. The method also includes determining, by the computing system, a debulked thickness of the fabric preform using the dry thickness of the fabric preform. In addition, the method includes determining, by the computing system, a stitch tension using the dry thickness of the fabric preform and the debulked thickness of the fabric preform. And the method includes causing, by the computing system, a stitching machine to apply a through-the-thickness stitch having the stitch tension to the fabric preform.

A sewing machine includes a first image acquisition unit, a second image acquisition unit, and a display unit. In the sewing machine, the first image acquisition performs image acquisition from the front face side of a cloth for a stitching pattern formed in the cloth. The second image acquisition unit performs image acquisition from the back face side of the cloth such that the center position of the acquired image matches the center position of the image of the stitching pattern acquired by the first image acquisition unit. The display unit displays, on the same screen, a first stitching pattern video image thus acquired by the first image acquisition unit and a second stitching pattern video image thus acquired by the second image acquisition unit.

A sewing machine includes a first image acquisition unit, a second image acquisition unit, and a display unit. In the sewing machine, the first image acquisition performs image acquisition from the front face side of a cloth for a stitching pattern formed in the cloth. The second image acquisition unit performs image acquisition from the back face side of the cloth such that the center position of the acquired image matches the center position of the image of the stitching pattern acquired by the first image acquisition unit. The display unit displays, on the same screen, a first stitching pattern video image thus acquired by the first image acquisition unit and a second stitching pattern video image thus acquired by the second image acquisition unit.

A thread tension apparatus and method consists of a thread cone holder configured to hold thread where the thread cone holder is connected to a motor. A thread guide is provided where the thread guide includes a thread channel such that the thread guide directs thread to a machine where the machine draws thread in first direction. A motor controller is connected with the motor, where the motor controller operates the motor to turn the thread cone holder such that thread is drawn in a second direction opposite from the machine first direction such that tension is applied to the thread as thread is drawn to the machine.

A thread tension apparatus and method consists of a thread cone holder configured to hold thread where the thread cone holder is connected to a motor. A thread guide is provided where the thread guide includes a thread channel such that the thread guide directs thread to a machine where the machine draws thread in first direction. A motor controller is connected with the motor, where the motor controller operates the motor to turn the thread cone holder such that thread is drawn in a second direction opposite from the machine first direction such that tension is applied to the thread as thread is drawn to the machine.

In a method for controlling sewing operation of a sewing machine, a stitch needle completes an in-and-out movement on a fabric with a first tension applied to an upper thread when the stitch needle, with respect to a fabric-feeding mechanism, is at a first relative position corresponding to a first pattern part of a predetermined stitch pattern. Afterward, the stitch needle is moved, with respect to the fabric-feeding mechanism, to a second relative position corresponding to a second pattern part of the predetermined stitch pattern, and completes an in-and-out movement on the fabric at the second relative position with a second tension, which is greater than the first tension, applied to the upper thread.

In a method for controlling sewing operation of a sewing machine, a stitch needle completes an in-and-out movement on a fabric with a first tension applied to an upper thread when the stitch needle, with respect to a fabric-feeding mechanism, is at a first relative position corresponding to a first pattern part of a predetermined stitch pattern. Afterward, the stitch needle is moved, with respect to the fabric-feeding mechanism, to a second relative position corresponding to a second pattern part of the predetermined stitch pattern, and completes an in-and-out movement on the fabric at the second relative position with a second tension, which is greater than the first tension, applied to the upper thread.

A low-cost sewing machine capable of achieving a desired balance between needle thread consumption and bobbin thread consumption is described. A memory section stores needle thread requirement data having precorrected needle thread requirement and postcorrected needle thread requirement. In a torque control zone, rotating force is imparted to a turning arm so as to impart a tension on the needle thread according to a torque value, while closing an upstream grip section main body and while opening a downstream grip section main body. In a first position control zone, the needle thread is drawn according to the postcorrected needle thread requirement, while opening the upstream grip section main body and while closing the downstream grip section. In a second position control zone, the turning arm is returned to an initial position, while closing the upstream grip section main body and while opening the downstream grip section main body.

A low-cost sewing machine capable of achieving a desired balance between needle thread consumption and bobbin thread consumption is described. A memory section stores needle thread requirement data having precorrected needle thread requirement and postcorrected needle thread requirement. In a torque control zone, rotating force is imparted to a turning arm so as to impart a tension on the needle thread according to a torque value, while closing an upstream grip section main body and while opening a downstream grip section main body. In a first position control zone, the needle thread is drawn according to the postcorrected needle thread requirement, while opening the upstream grip section main body and while closing the downstream grip section. In a second position control zone, the turning arm is returned to an initial position, while closing the upstream grip section main body and while opening the downstream grip section main body.

An embroidery apparatus is configured to perform an embroidery operation according to embroidery data. The embroidery apparatus includes a thread assumed consumption amount calculator configured to calculate an assumed consumption amount of a thread in the embroidery operation, based on initial embroidery data input in advance; a thread consumption amount detection mechanism configured to detect an actual consumption amount of the thread; and a thread consumption amount adjuster configured to adjust the actual consumption amount of the thread in the embroidery operation by adjusting output embroidery data to be output, based on a difference between the calculated assumed consumption amount of the thread and the detected actual consumption amount of the thread.