Free Embroidery Designs

Okay….so I have a stupid question. I really want to try cross stitching/embroidery but I have no idea what that material is called or where to get it. Not aida cloth, but that plain white fabric you always see people use in embroidery hoops.

Any ideas?

Take a look at this fabric… it’s plain old muslin, and you can get it at any fabric store, or even the Walmarts that haven’t thrown every bolt of fabric out.
Probably in the range of $2-5/yard for 45" wide fabric.
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21784677
That’s about a 10" wide piece shown there… here’s what the fabric looks like up close:
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/22521551
the machine stitches here are 3 mm long.

This is what I typically give to beginners for surface embroidery, or for doing stamped cross stitch. It’s cheap, easy to work with and holds up well.

The real secret of embroidery is that once you know what you’re doing, you can embroider on anything you can get a needle through, from the most delicate silk organza like the wings of this dragonfly: http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/stumpwork-dragonfly?context=user
to heavy velvets http://www.hchc.edu/hellenic/campus_life/library/archbishop_iakovos_collection/gallery.html?pic=15 and even leather: http://natural-history.uoregon.edu/metis_textiles13

If you want to do counted cross stitch, then a fabric where you can really see the holes, like aida or evenweave linen, is easier to start with. I usually start beginners at about 10 stitches per inch.

My fiance and I run a screen printing business and came across a non-working BAS-416 machine. We have fixed it! Now we want to learn how to digitize images. Any insight and/or links to resources would be greatly appreciated!

I was going to give my usual answer in that you need a software program for creating your own designs and that it takes quite a bit of time to learn to digitize a professional quality product.

However, after viewing the manual for this model, I am beginning to think the machine is as equality difficult to learn. I cannot tell what machine embroidery format it requires.

http://www.brothercom.ro/docs/2-Partsbook%20-%20carti%20piese%20de%20schimb/Masini%20de%20brodat%20BROTHER/BES-1210BC%20BAS-401,412A,416A/BES-1210-BAS-416A%20Instruction%20Manual.pdf

Most owners of professional embroidery machines, have a company rep help them set-up and learn to use the machine.

The format appears to be .dst (Tajima). Finding a software program is not difficult. Most, if not all will save in the format of all embroidery machines.

Machine embroidery software requires a Windows OS.

If you do a search of free machine embroidery software or free machine embroidery trials you will get a sampling how to create your own designs.

Good luck in your adventures into machine embroidery.

I have two beautiful 3 feet by 4 feet fabric panels that have a very pretty horse design on them I want to make my first quilt out of it. I thought I would take a matching colored solid fabric and use that for the edges and the back. I just would like to know what kind of batting to use and where the best place to purchase it is. Thanks! 🙂

Sorry to make it even more complicated, but loft isn’t the only consideration. You also need to decide if you want to use polyester batting, natural fiber batting (cotton and bamboo are the most readily available, but there are wool and silk as well), or a cotton/poly blend. Once you decide that, you may eliminate the loft question entirely.

I prefer cotton batting because I like a flat quilt, and I like that it is an all season batting. Natural fibers allow air to pass through (referred to by quilters as "breathing"), while polyester traps the the air under the quilt. This means polyester is a very warm batting, and is best used in a winter quilt. I also like the drape of cotton batting, although there are some higher end polyester battings that are made to mimic the look of cotton batting. They are very thin and drapey.

Another thing to consider is how you are going to fasten the layers together. There are two methods – sewing (either by hand or machine) and tying. You can sew straight lines through all of the layers (or get adventurous and do free motion quilting using a darning foot). For a quilt the size you’re talking about, straight line quilting would not be difficult. Tying is when you use a large needle and embroidery floss or pearl cotton (don’t do yarn – it’s just too difficult) and stitch down and up in the same location, then tie a square knot. (Look up the proper way to tie a square knot – most people do what’s called a granny knot, and it isn’t as secure). You can tie the knots on either the front or the back depending on where you want the tails to be visible. Cut the tails to about 1/2" – 1" after the knots are secure. Repeat this every few inches.

Your decision to tie or sew affects the batting you choose. Most importantly, check the batting instructions to find out how closely you need to quilt it. Some batting must be quilted every 2", while others are only every 10". If it has to be quilted every 2", that’s an awful lot of tying. Also check how easy it is to "needle" – that means how difficult it is to hand sew through. If you are going to tie your quilt and you want it to be very puffy, then you need a high loft batting. If you want it to be thinner, a lower loft is good, and natural fibers are also very good.

As for where to buy it, if you have a JoAnn Fabrics they can help you out. You can also find prepackaged batting online, including
JoAnn Fabrics
http://www.joann.com/joann/search/search_results.jsp;jsessionid=UZ1AU2TIVD5JCP4SY5KVAFR50LD3OUPU?CATID=cat1110&keywords=batting&_requestid=1733926

Hancock’s of Paducah
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/ItemList–Batting–m-20

and even Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1246280047/ref=sr_nr_n_0?ie=UTF8&rs=1055398&keywords=batting&bbn=1063498&rnid=1063498&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abatting%2Ci%3Agarden%2Cn%3A1055398%2Cn%3A!1063498%2Cn%3A12890711

Here’s an excellent page that explains batting in greater detail:
http://www.quiltersbee.com/qbfabtip.htm

I am looking for a simple sewing machine that has an applique and embroidery feature. Nothing too fancy. thanks

I have a Brother 8500 and I love it!! It does a great job at doing machine applique and it’s great for embroidery too! And these days, that machine runs a fraction of the cost that it did when I bought mine back in 1999! You can usually pick up a used one for around $1,000. I know that sounds high, but originally it cost $4400! And most of the newer machines that do both sewing and embroidery will run between $4,000 and $6,000! The fact that I have been able to get FREE embroidery designs for it online for all these years helps a lot!
Now if this is way too high for your pockets, you may consider getting a Elna I think it’s called, or maybe it’s Quilters Dream? Look in a quilt magazine and see what machine it is that Ellenor Burns is pictured with. Hers is for doing applique and all great quilting stitches. And then you could consider buying separately a Brother 150? I think that’s the number, but it’s a BASIC embroidery ONLY machine and it runs around $200. I don’t know what the Ellenor Burns machine costs, probably close to $500 or more since she’s endorsing it. Hope that helps!

I was watching this video on youtube where a woman is using a sewing machine and it is connect to her laptop and she is able to design her cloth with her computer. The one thing that I would like to know is what kind of software does she use to design her work. Can somebody please help?

What she is using in Wilcom and it is very expensive.

Here is another brand that has the basics and is free – http://www.swfeast.com/en/free_digiziting_software.asp

If you find this is what you want to do, you can upgrade to more expensive products.

Hi you need to look for embroidery format JEF.
There are a lot of beautiful designs for kids on Internet !.
Also I found a lot in free site , mostly are in pes (brother format) but you can convert with any
software easily to jef .Free embroidery software are available like my editor , and free website like
www.embroiderybyus.com or embroideryfreeweb.com .
I hope you find a lot !

I bought the USB flash drive and when I download files off the internet, it says it can’t work (or something.) Is there a step I’m missing in order to get my machine to recognize the files?

what is the extension on the file? most embroidery designs are in zip format when you download them. the file format you need is either sew or jef, i’m not sure because i haven’t worked with a janome machine for awhile. you need to unzip the file before you use it. here are a few embroidery groups i belong to. the people on them are great and you will get so much information from them.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClassicEmbroideries/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EmbracingMachineEmbroidery/
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/AmericanEmbroideryConference/?yguid=102878935

here is my favorite site for embroidery designs. they give away 49 free designs a day and are running a sale on their site right now.
http://www.designsbysick.com/amember/go.php?r=5647&i=l0">Designs by SiCK Embroidery Library

feel free to e-mail me if you need a futher explaination of how to un-zip files or if you have any other questions.

have fun.

I basically am looking to use the fonts I have on my computer to create embroidered names, monograms, etc…

Is this machine embroidery? Or are you sending it to a commercial company? If its a commercial company, they can tell you what format they’ll accept. Usually its eps format and you can use something like PhotoShop or PaintShopPro, or a free program like Gimp (I think it works on Macs)

If this is for hand embroidery, you can use your word processor to make the letters big and print them on good graph paper. (this is what I do).

If this is your sewing machine and you want to convert the fonts to something it can use, check the manufacturers website and see if they have a conversion software.

I am looking to buy a embroidery and sewing machine and i am not sure which one to get as there are many out there. I have never worked on a sewing machine and really don’t do that much sewing however i would like to be able to make a quilt also. I do the hand embroidery and cross stitches and while i love it i would like to be able to do different patterns of like my pictures and things like that without it takeing me two years to finish a project. Does anyone have any suggestions?

This is akin to asking for a car, when you really want is a Bat-mobile that can travel on the air, road and water. Nevertheless, there are a few things you could look for to make your dream come true.

There are many reviews and buying guides on the web:
Embroidery machines: http://www.galttech.com/research/household-DIY-tools/best-embroidery-machine.php
Sewing Machines and Patterns Review: http://sewing.patternreview.com/news

Whichever machine you select, get the machine’s manual. There is a common assumption that machines are all the same, but it’s not true. Used machines can be wonderful, if they’ve been well cared for. But it does you no good to assume all machines need oil (not true), or to miss out on the machine full creative ability.
Sewing Machine Manuals: http://www.mastersewusa.com/

You can make Couture-level garments on a straight-sew machine, but most modern sewing machines offer more than one stitch. It’s creative use of these that make them powerful. I’m speaking of ordinary sewing machines that adjust stitch length, have a Zigzag or other cover stitches, plus whatever geometric or floral designs. For truly giving these options a workout on ordinary sewing machines, I suggest the public library. Seek out books on Decorative Machine Stitching
Fine Machine Stitching http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Machine-Sewing-Revised-Embellishing/dp/1561585866/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257164512&sr=8-2

And consider Bobbin Work. Many an artist has used a simple machine to create amazing works. If the thread, fiber, or ribbon is too thick to go through the needle, why not run it through the bobbin?
Bobbin work: http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/5025/bobbin-work-when-threads-are-too-thick-for-the-needle

On any machine you’re considering, ask if the Feed Dogs can be lowered. Fabric is advanced under the sewing machine’s foot by way of a moving metal assembly that pulls the fabric through in one direction only. If you can lower the feed dogs, you can move in any direction opening an entire world of creativity. Seek out web articles and books on Free-Motion Embroidery or Free-Motion Quilting it’s a world of hoops and stabilizers – but the work can be done on ordinary sewing machines that have the option of lowering the feed dogs.
Anatomy of a sewing machine: http://www.a1sewingmachine.com/image/basic%20sewing%20machine%20parts.jpg
Watch a video on free motion technique: http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3833/video-manuels-free-motion-embroidery-technique
Be advised: Manuel is working on an extraordinarily FAST manual machine. But it you note the hoop, the rotation of it, the turning of the work, it will make other Free Motion Embroidery directions make sense.
How to do free-motion embroidery http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_c/C-213.pdf

Machine quilting can be done on any straight sew machine. Some are just better at it than others because they have greater torque, or a larger arm. And these are great when you want to throw money at it. But artists can get a lot out of simple machinery if you learn the concepts of what you want to do. You do not need thousands of dollars to start.

Embroidery machines are quite amazing and you’ll be deciding between a bunch of Disney or the ability to digitize your own designs. Give some thought about the size of your work, what parts you need done for you, what magic you expect of the machine – and I greatly encourage researching what other artists have done with machine embroidery. You might just find they use a less expensive model (than what the dealer is telling you) to achieve their work.

The Art isn’t just in the machine, it’s in you.

I am looking for embroidery about Alaska from the 30′-60’s….they use to make pillows and calendars with Alaskan things on them…now they are vintage and I would like photos so I can make embroidery from them.

try ebay. or your local public library. or the web.