Trevor-Palooza 2.0 (Nov 13–15, 2025): What You’ll Learn, What to Bring, and How to Get Better Results Faster

Who is Trevor Conquergood?

If you have spent any time in the machine embroidery ecosystem, you have likely encountered the "Plateau of Frustration." This is the phase where you own a capable machine, but your results remain inconsistent. The users who break through this plateau aren't necessarily the ones with the most expensive equipment—they are the ones who treat embroidery as an engineered process rather than a guessing game.

Trevor Conquergood is a figure who embodies this engineering mindset. With over 40 years of industry experience, he doesn't just teach "how to click a button"; he teaches the fundamental physics of stitch formation. In this guide, we analyze the curriculum he is presenting at the "Trevor-Palooza 2.0" event at Mulqueen Sewing in Tempe, Arizona, and translate it into a practical, repeatable standard operating procedure (SOP) for your own studio.

Primer: From "Event Announcement" to "Industry White Paper"

While the source video serves are an announcement, this guide is designed to be your field manual. We will bridge the gap between "knowing a technique exists" and "executing it without breaking needles."

1. Technique Deconstruction: We break down the specific physics of yarn, mylar, and dimensional embroidery.
2. Sensory Calibration: We teach you what success sounds and feels like.
3. Workflow Architecture: If you are transitioning from hobbyist to professional, we will identify where friction enters your process—specifically in hooping—and how tools like a machine embroidery hooping station can stabilize your production line.

The Curriculum: Deconstructing Trevor-Palooza 2.0

Trevor’s curriculum is deceptively simple. It focuses on techniques that often scare beginners because they involve "foreign objects" entering the stitch path. The agenda includes:

• Yarn Embroidery: Couching thick fibers for texture.
• Mylar & Mesh: Using reflective film with lightweight netting.
• Freestanding Lace (FSL): Creating structure without fabric.
• Dimensional Effects: Fringe, "Thread Velvet," and Cutwork.
• Layered Applique: Building depth with multiple fabrics.

The "Fear Factor" in Specialty Embroidery

Why do these techniques cause anxiety? Because they reduce your Margin of Error. Stitching on cotton is forgiving; stitching on Mylar or trying to cut velvet loops requires precise tension and timing.

Most failures here are not machine failures; they are Preparation Failures.

• Physics: The fabric moves because the hoop grip is insufficient.
• Chemistry: The stabilizer dissolves too fast or is too rigid for the drape.
• Geometry: The needle enters at an angle that deflects off the yarn/bulk.

Decision Tree: The "Material Recipe" Selector

Before you load a design, you must select your "sandwich" (Fabric + Stabilizer). Use this logic flow to eliminate guesswork.

START: What is the primary structural challenge?

1. "I need the object to stand alone." (e.g., Lace, Ornaments)
   • Physics: You need a scaffold that disappears.
   • Recipe: Heavyweight Water Soluble (vilene-type) x 2 layers. Do not use heat-away for lace unless specified.
2. "I am cutting holes in the fabric." (e.g., Cutwork, Reverse Applique)
   • Physics: The fabric integrity will be compromised; the stabilizer must become the new "fabric."
   • Recipe: Heavy Duty Cut-Away (Mesh or Polymesh is often too weak here; use standard 2.5oz Cut-Away).
3. "I am stitching on a reflective slippery surface." (e.g., Mylar)
   • Physics: The needle perforations will act like a "tear strip" on stamps.
   • Recipe: Medium Cut-Away (base) + Mylar + Lightweight Water Soluble Topping (to prevent the foot from snagging the film).
4. "I am building 3D texture." (e.g., Yarn, Fringe)
   • Physics: High friction and drag.
   • Recipe: Firm Tear-Away (for woven) or Cut-Away (for knit) + Top Tension lowered by 10-15%.

Technical Deep Dive: Yarn, Mylar, and Thread Velvet

Trevor highlights these distinct skills. Here is how to execute them with an industrial mindset.

Yarn & Couching: Managing the "Thump"

When embroidery machines couch yarn, they are sewing over a thick cord.

• The Risk: If the foot is too low, it drags the yarn, distorting the pattern.
• The Fix: Raise your presser foot height (if your machine allows) by 1-2mm.
• Speed Limit: Do not run these designs at 1000 SPM (Stitches Per Minute). The Sweet Spot is 400-600 SPM.
• Sensory Check: Listen for a rhythmic thump-thump. A sharp snap or grinding noise means the yarn is catching on the thread path.

If you are doing this for production (e.g., 20+ hoodies), manual hooping becomes a bottleneck. This is where a standardized workflow using hooping stations ensures that the yarn design lands exactly 3 inches below the collar every single time.

Mylar & Mesh: The "Drift" Problem

Mylar is slippery. If you simply lay it on top, it will shift during the underlay stitching (the "crinkle drift").

• The Fix: Use a "basting box" (a loose running stitch around the perimeter) before the main design starts.
• Hidden Item: Use temporary spray adhesive (505) or medical-grade paper tape to secure the corners of the Mylar to the stabilizer, not the hoop.

Dimensional Effects: Fringe and Velvet

For "Thread Velvet," you stitch satin columns and then slice the bobbin thread to release loops.

• The Critical Error: Trimming too early.
• The Pro Tip: Use a drop of seam sealant (Fray Check) on the back of the locking stitches (the anchors) before you cut the front loops. This prevents the entire design from unraveling in the wash.

Exclusive Bonuses: Managing Digital Assets

Attendees receive a Stitchitize collection and Arizona-themed designs.

The "Digital Hoarding" Trap

Do not let these files sit in a folder.

1. Audit: Open the files in your software. Check the Stitch Count and Density.
2. Test: Creating a "stitch-out" book is valuable. Run the design on felt or denim scrap. Write the date, needle used, and stabilizer on the back of the scrap with a permanent marker. This becomes your personal reference library.

Event Logistics & Registration

Trevor offers two paths:

• November 13th (1-Day): The "Sampler Platter." Best for hobbyists seeking inspiration.
• November 14th-15th (2-Day): The "Deep Dive." Best for those looking to master the physics of the craft.

The Commercial Assessment

If you are considering the 2-day event, you are likely hitting the limits of your current workflow. Ask yourself:

• "Am I spending more time hooping than stitching?"
• "Do I dread multi-color designs because of the thread changes?"

If the answer is yes, you are ready for a mindset shift. The techniques Trevor teaches are best executed when you aren't fighting your equipment. Tools like a SEWTECH multi-needle machine solve the thread-change bottleneck, while an ergonomic embroidery hooping station solves the alignment fatigue.

Prep Phase: The "Flight Check"

Amateurs hope for the best; professionals check their gear. Before attempting any complex technique (Lace, Yarn, Cutwork), you must clear the runway.

Hidden Consumables & The "Invisible" Toolkit

You likely have thread and fabric. Do you have these?

• Medical Paper Tape: For holding Mylar/Applque without leaving residue.
• Curved Trimming Scissors: Essential for Cutwork. Straight scissors will snip your fabric.
• Isopropyl Alcohol: To clean adhesive buildup off your needle.
• New Needles: Specific sizes matter.
  • Standard: 75/11 Sharp.
  • Yarn/Metallic: 90/14 Topstitch (Correction: Larger eye reduces friction).

Warning: Mechanical & Personal Safety
When working with "Cutwork" or "Fringe" techniques, your hands are often near the needle to trim threads mid-process. ALWAYS perform a "Hard Stop" (remove foot from pedal or press Stop) before bringing scissors near the needle bar. A machine activation during trimming can result in severe finger injury or a shattered needle flying at eye level.

Prep Checklist

• Needle Audit: Is the needle fresh? (If it has run >8 hours, change it). Is it the right size (90/14 for Yarn, 75/11 for Mylar)?
• Bobbin Check: Is the bobbin at least 50% full? (Running out mid-lace is catastrophic).
• Throat Plate: Remove the plate and blow out lint. "Fringe" designs create massive amounts of lint that can clog sensors.
• Consumables: Is your water-soluble stabilizer "crisp" (good) or "floppy/humid" (hard to hoop)? Dry it with a hair dryer if needed.

Setup Phase: The Physics of Hooping

The syllabus explicitly mentions hooping. This is the #1 variable in embroidery quality.

The "Drum Skin" Fallacy

Many beginners are told to hoop "tight as a drum." This is dangerous.

• The Reality: If you stretch knit fabric (T-shirt) until it is a drum, you have stretched the fibers. When you un-hoop, the fabric relaxes, shrinking back to its original state, but the stitches do not. Result: Puckering.
• The Correct Feel: The fabric should be "neutral taut." It should result in no wrinkles, but the weave should not be distorted.

The Problem with Traditional Hoops (and the Solution)

Traditional screw-tighten hoops rely on wrist strength and friction. This leads to:

1. "Hoop Burn": Crushed velvet/pile that never recovers.
2. Wrist Fatigue: Limiting how many items you can make.
3. Inconsistency: The screw loosens during high-speed stitching.

The Upgrade Path: If you encounter these issues, investigate Magnetic Hoops.

• For Home Machines: They protect delicate fabrics from "burn."
• For Production: They snap fabrics into place instantly, increasing throughput.

Search for terms like hoop master embroidery hooping station or simply high-quality magnetic frames compatible with your machine to see how much faster "snap-and-go" is compared to "screw-and-pray."

Warning: Magnetic Force Safety
Industrial-grade magnetic hoops are incredibly powerful.
* Pinch Hazard: They can crush fingers instantly if handled carelessly.
* Medical Device Safety: Keep strong magnets at least 6 inches away from pacemakers or insulin pumps.
* Electronics: Keep away from credit cards and screens.

Setup Checklist

• Align: Center marks on fabric match hoop center marks.
• Tension: Fabric is flat but not stretched (check grainline for distortion).
• Clearance: Verify the hoop fits the machine arm without hitting the back wall.
• Upgrade Check: If using embroidery hoops magnetic, ensure the magnets are fully seated and not trapping any excess fabric bulk.

Operation Phase: Execution & Sensory Monitoring

You are now ready to stitch.

The Step-by-Step Execution Loop

Step 1: The "Trace" (Pre-Flight)

Always run the "Trace" or "Design Outline" function. Watch the needle position relative to your plastic hoop edge.

• Why: To ensure you don't break a needle hitting the frame.

Step 2: The First 500 Stitches (The Danger Zone)

Do not walk away. The most failures (birdnesting, stabilizer shift) happen here.

• Visual: Watch the thread flowing off the spool. It should not jerk.
• Auditory: Listen for the smooth "purr." Any "clacking" requires an immediate stop.

Step 3: Mid-Run Maintenance (Trim & Clean)

For Applique or Cutwork:

1. Machine stops.
2. Trim the fabric. Keep scissors flat. Angle the tips up slightly to avoid cutting the stabilizer.
3. Start machine.

Step 4: Post-Run Inspection

Before un-hooping:

1. Check registration (did the outline meet the fill?).
2. Check for missed stitches.

• Note: If you un-hoop, you cannot fix it. Check twice, un-hoop once.

If you are running a small business, consistency is your currency. Using a dedicated embroidery hoop machine setup (referring to a multi-needle machine with tubular hoops) allows you to leave a project on the hoop while prepping the next one, drastically cutting downtime.

Operation Checklist

• Speed Check: Is the machine set to a Safe Speed (e.g., 600 SPM) rather than Max Speed?
• Sensory Check: Does the machine sound rhythmic?
• Vision Check: Is the white bobbin thread showing about 1/3 width on the back of the satin column? (This is perfect tension).
• Safety: Hands are clear of the needle bar during operation.

Troubleshooting: Structured Diagnosis

When things go wrong, do not panic. Use this logic path.

Results & Growth Path

Participating in events like Trevor-Palooza is excellent for learning the possibility of embroidery. But mastering the reality of embroidery happens in your studio, through controlled repetition and proper tooling.

If you find yourself enjoying the output but hating the process (due to re-threading, hand pain from hooping, or ruined garments), listen to that friction. It is usually a signal to upgrade your infrastructure:

1. Struggle: Hoop Marks / Wrist Pain. -> Solution: Magnetic Hoops.
2. Struggle: Positioning errors / Crooked Logos. -> Solution: machine embroidery hoops combined with a station like the HoopMaster.
3. Struggle: Thread changes / Low Volume. -> Solution: SEWTECH Layout / Multi-Needle Machine.

Master the variables—Stabilizer, Hoop, Needle—and the machine will do the rest.