Embroidery Machine Tips?

I got a Brother 770ii embroidery machine about 6 months ago and love it.  I use it mostly for applique and monogramming for my kids.  I'm getting a little frustrated with the monogramming on their shirts though. It is turning out ok, and they can still wear it, but it isn't great.  I've looked up info online and am doing all I know to do, but wondering if anyone has any little known tips for me.  I use the ball point needles for jersey, I hoop a tear away stabilizer and then iron on a tear away to the back of the shirt.  The shirts don't have holes really, but I feel like you can tell if you look closely that the shirt threads around the lettering are wearing thin.  I don't see that on shirts I've taken to someone professional.  Maybe it's just a difference of machines?  I'd appreciate any tips anyone can offer.  Thank you!!!!

I am a big fan of using a lot of stabilizer.  For a ligthweight shirt like a T-shirt I will usually put a layer of Vilene washaway on the bottom, folowed by cutaway (not tearaway) right under the garment, and then I add Vilene and Solvy (both washaway) on top. I think it comes out much better that way.  If it puckers, turn inside out and put a washcloth or something on the back the hit it with a blast of steam from your iron.

My mom just gave me a very nice Bernina, I will have to look at the model. It is an embroidery machine, and I really want to use it.  She also gave me a ton of stabilizer, a hoop and some really expensive bernina embroidery software.  Any tips on where to start or begin.  I really want to learn as I was also given the software to make these beautiful ornaments I know my mom would love.  I have a moderate sewer and beginner quilter.  I learn quickly, but this embroidery is a foreign language to me which I think is beautiful.  Thank you ladies in advance.

I am fairly new at emrbroidery myself (have a Babylock Ellegante that I got last Sept). I don't know anything about the Bernina software, I use Janome Digitizer Pro.

A great site is http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/default.aspx; I was recommended to them through Janome's embroidery forum.  Not only do they have a lot of beautiful designs, they have a lot of tips and how to advice.  As for their designs, every single one I have purchased has sewn out beautifully.

For supplies, also based on recommendations from the Janome forum, try allstitch.com or threadart.com.

I also bought the Embroiderer's Friend, it's a hooping aid, makes it much easier to get your hooping frame straight and where you want it. http://www.allstitch.net/product/embroiderers-friend-hooping-board-adult-hooping-system-1477.cfm

Have fun, you'll really enjoy it

For t shirts I used a tricot fusible type stabilizer. If you attempt to stretch it turn it to the side that won't stretch, this is stabilizer, you want the design to be stable not stretchy. This type of stablizer must be ironed on to the article to be embroidered. I hoop tear away and then use basting stitches to hold the article to the hooped tear away, prior to stitching the actual embroidery design, I take a piece of thin water soluable and float it between the shirt and the presser foot, once a few stitches occur I will let go of the water soluable, just making sure that it does not get worked lose or get jammed somehow. Murphy's law prevails when I sew. Anything and or everything can/will go wrong.