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Posts Tagged ‘Embroidery Machine’

What is a good web site to buy cheap embroidery fonts?

November 13th, 2012 4 comments

I’m looking for a cute script or something.
Embroidery fonts are for a embroidery machine, not just my computer I don’t have th eprogram that uses my computer font to make them embroidery design.

these are som free sites

http://www.annthegran.com/

http://www.embroiderydesigns.com/

Can I find an embroidery thread number and corresponding color chart anywhere?

November 13th, 2012 5 comments

I am doing a complex design and can’t seem to find which color thread that correspond with the numbers my embroidery machine is giving me even though I have looked through the manual and read. I will read it again. Model is Brother SE 270D. Meanwhile, Any ideas?

there is a computer program specifically for cross matching thread numbers. right now the site <a href="http://www.designsbysick.com/amember/go.php?r=5647&i=l0">Designs by SiCK Embroidery Library</a>
is running a good sale and doing a group buy for the program. go take a look it’s a great program if you want to use specific colors.

good luck,
deb

What type of accessories do I need with a new embroidery machine?

November 13th, 2012 3 comments

I am going to get a brother pe700II and I need to know what kind of things I need to get in addition to the machine. Do I need a speical backing when embroidering, etc. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!

You will need stabilizer and depending on what you are embroidering on, will depend on the thickness and they type you will need.
a good pair of embroidery scissors, machine embroidery thread (this is different than normal thread) embroidery bobbin thread (again different than regular thread)
that should get you started, although i would invest in some cheap fabric or felt to do test stitching on because you will always want to test stitch designs, especially if they are free.
Go through your closet and find old clothing you don’t want or need any more and do some testing on those, or go to good will to get some cheap stuff to use.

there are several forums and yahoo groups you can join.
and you don’t have to join a brother specific group because a lot of the stuff is the same for any machine.
I have two brother 8200’s and a Happy commercial machine.
this is a very addicting hobby!

What is a good sewing & embroidery machine for a beginner?

November 11th, 2012 7 comments

I would also like to know what embroidery software I can use for different sewing machines as well.
Well, I do not want to spend over $1000.00. My husband might have a heart attack if he knew that I said that, but I really want a good one that will sew and embroider.
It is so hard for me to choose a Best Answer because you have all been so helpful.

I have the Brother 270d. It is a little work horse. It does bother embroidery and sewing. It comes with a set of built in designs, including some Disney patterns. You will want to get the PE Basic so you can embroidery patterns that you download offline. You can find some sites with nice free ones – they are samples to entice you to buy their sets. I really like www.bunnycup.com (sorry for the tangent).

You do not need embroidery software to use the Brother 270d. You can begin embroidering and sewing right away.

You will want to get other necessities (stabilizer, thread, and maybe some more needles). The machine comes with a set of needles to get you going though.

The types of stabilizer and thread you use does not matter, though some are easier to work with than others. Do not let the price shock you – I use discount coupons from Jo Ann’s and Hobby Lobby to get mine. The spending in this department will be high initially! Again, this is why for a beginner I recommend the Brother 270d.

Costco has it on sale for $389.99 and it comes with the PE Basic. Wal-Mart sells this machine for $350. I got mine from my local Brother dealer for $500, but they threw in 1 year in store maintenance and free classes for life.

I hope this helps. True the other machines can do more, but you are paying more than double to price (and some of them do not sew). For a beginner, this is the best machine at the best price! Good luck!

How do you digitize embroidery?

November 11th, 2012 1 comment

I have a Brothers embroidery machine, and im trying to figure out how to digitize images. I have no idea where to start, which program do i need? where do i get it from? Is there a easy to read manual for digitizing? im not experienced, any help will be great!

to answer your first question, in order to make a quality design that’s worth your thread, stabilizer, fabric and time you will need to do what is called manual punch digitizing.
If you are an artist you are a step ahead as you can use your own pictures, but if not you will have to find clipart that the aritist allows to be used OR you can subcribe to many different clipart sites to get your images.

Think of digitizing as kind of like tracing a picture only a lot more steps and a lot harder! That’s the best I can describe it.
It takes a lot of patience and trial and error and MANY test stitching sessions of a design to make sure there is nothing that needs to be adjusted.

Now for the best programs-well that’s a loaded question.
Most of this decision depends on what you want the software for. None of them are "easy" at first, but again with a lot of patience and persisitance anyone can accomplish great designs.
Prices range from free to thousands of dollars, of course the cheaper the program the more frustrated you are probably going to get with using it.

I personally use Embird. This is a great program because you buy the "basic" package, and then add plug ins that you want. For digitizing you will need the Studio plug in, and if you are wanting to do quick and simple lettering from any TTF you will want their Font Engine plug in too.

I suggest if you are wanting to play around with digitizing, Sophie Sews is a free software. Of course not the best, but it’s free and will give you a feel for what digitizing is all about.
I have to warn you that the last I heard they were still in the building/testing phase so there are are glitches and bugs but nothing that will cause your computer to go *poof*

I would also suggest a sewing/embroidery forum
I belong to a few, but my favorite is sewforum provided by allbrands
there are thousands of very helpful members there and a lot of free designs.
i post a lot of my work there as free samples from our website.

If you do a search for Sophie Sews and Sew Forum you should be able to find links to both.

Hope this isn’t info overload and that it helps!

flipflopsindecember

How do I do embroidery with a sewing machine? Is it possible?

November 11th, 2012 7 comments

I have a ton of excess denim from making a purse out of my friends never woren jeans she got rid of. Now I decided to make a bracelet with embroidery… how do I do it with a sewing machine? Also, have any other ideas on what to do with the scraps?

Sure, you can do free-motion embroidery with any machine. You need to drop the feed dogs or cover them in order to do it, but that’s easily accomplished. Best beginning book I know of is Robbie and Tony Fanning’s Complete Book of Machine Embroidery — you’ll probably have to get it from your library, as I believe it’s now out of print. Want to knock your socks off? Check to see if your library has a copy of Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery — everything in the book was done on a straight stitch treadle machine, and it’s gorgeous.

Here’s a professional free-motion embroiderer at work:
http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/tvt032.asp

where can I find free machine embroider software?

November 11th, 2012 1 comment

I would like to re-size designs and catalog and more.

The only freebie is Pulse Ambassador and it is for format conversion.

Embrilliance Thumbnailer is around $40 and it is a catalog that you can use with Mac or Windows. No machine embroidery program is needed – http://www.britonleap.com/

As for re-sizing, you do need a software program for this that will add or subtract stitches.

Re-sizing can be done in small % with the embroidery machine, but the stitch count remains the same.

To much enlarging and you get thin/open areas in the design.

Too much reducing and you get "bulletproof" embroidery, which is stitching on top of stitching that makes the design stiff.

Embird is a very popular brand and is the least expensive machine embroidery software.

You start with the basic program for $131.00 and then add other programs as you become more proficient or have the need.

As with most machine embroidery software programs, this one can only be used with Windows – http://www.secretsof.com/content/1853

Where can I find embroidery designs for a Viking Rose embroidery Machine?

November 11th, 2012 2 comments

I only have a 4-inch embroidery field, thanks!
does anyone know? C’mon!!

The Rose uses the HUS format *NOT* PES format but if you have editing software then you can convert from other formats such as PES. You will need to have hardware to save your designs to Viking cards (usually known as #1+ & Rose Viking Embroidery Card). You can find many sites that offer free designs such as Secrets of Embroidery, Viking site, Brother site, etc. If you don’t have the Viking card reader/writer, then you need another Reader/Writer so that you can write your designs to a Viking Card or a Magic Card that is designed for Viking Rose machines.

You can also use VIP formats as well as the HUS format but you still need to convert those designs to your embroidery card. Editing Software to check out is Embird.com and Buzz Tools as well as the Viking software.

There are many designs that fit in a 4×4 inch field available. In addition to downloading designs and outputting to the Rose Card, you can buy cards that the Rose Machine accepts. These you get at your Viking dealer, or from OESD and Amazing Designs. The cards are very expensive, about $100-$150 each. So, your best bet is to have Reader/Writer Hardware that saves designs to a Viking Rose #1+ Card. The Boxes that are available are Viking Card Reader/Writer Box, PES2 Reader/Writer, Amazing Designs or Magic Box Reader/Writer to name a few. Today’s boxes use USB ports. If you buy Embroidery Software, some higher end brands such as Viking require a Security device called a USB Dongle to run the software. if you lose the dongle, you lose your investment in the software. NO Dongle=Embroidery Program won’t run and the Manuafacturer won’t help you. So, never lose the dongle and if you buy used software, if there is no dongle, then you’ve lost your money. Embroidery software often costs over $1000. The Reader/Writer boxes cost about $300. Try Allbrands.com for Amazing Box.

Is it easy to learn how to use an embroidery machine?

November 9th, 2012 2 comments

I would like to invest in an embroidery machine because I have really good ideas on what to use it for. However, I have never used one. In fact I barely know how to use a sewing machine.
I am clueless on how an embroidery machine even works. I want to use it to do different fonts, number designs, polka dots, and things of that nature. Can anyone maybe give me the basics I need to know? Perhaps direct me to a website? Thanks.

An embroidery machine is very easy to use. Easier than learning to use a sewing machine.

You can teach yourself to do this buy reading and testing the different designs. I did and it is quick and easy to learn.

This was my first book – http://books.google.com/books?id=j6e847_n3MUC&dq=embroidery+machine+essentials&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=gH4ESu2GD5WstgfxluCKBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPP1,M1

Embroidery machines have built-in fonts and a few designs.

To expand on what comes already built-in you will need to be able to transfer machine embroidery designs from your PC to the machine. Most designs are downloaded from the Internet – you can find many that are free.

The less expensive machines require additional software (reader box and rewritable card for machine embroidery). This software is around $200.

The Brother sold at Walmart would be a good machine to start with and you can get the additional software (mentioned above) for $119, here – http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp01060-0165.html

Several years ago, I bought my first embroidery machine at Walmart and the reader/card software at Allbrands.

You will also need machine embroidery thread, machine embroidery bobbin thread and stabilizer – all sold in fabric stores. Watch for sales and stock up on staple/favorite colors of thread. There will be extra needles & bobbins with the machine.

I get a lot of my machine embroidery supplies here – http://www.shoppersrule.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=sr

Opportunity to purchase Janome 300E but need to ask a couple of questions first.?

November 9th, 2012 4 comments

What I really need to know from you guys is if I bought designs off the internet can I transfer them to this machine. I realise I would have to purchase some software, but basically is it limited to what it can download?. Am looking to update my embroidery machine but not fork out too much as I would not be using it on an everyday basis, but would like the capability of getting designs off the computer.

Download to your hearts content!

The Janome 300e uses a Compact Flash card (used in some digital cameras) to transfer designs from your computer to the 300e. You will also need a Compact Flash card adapter (pcmcia card) in order to load the CF card into the 300e. You will also need either CF card slot in your computer or a card reader to transfer designs from the computer to the 300e (f your computer is a laptop with a pcmcia card slot, you will not need a card reader, just the CF card and the card adapter).

The 300e uses JEF format. (If you download the older SEW format you will need a program to convert to JEF–most on-line digitizers offer their designs in JEF).

The 300e comes with 4"x4" and a 5"x7" hoops.

If you download JEF format, you will not need any software. You will format the CFcard/adaptor in your 300e by putting it in the slot then turning the machine on. When you want to add designs to it, you put it in either the CF slot on your computer or in a card reader and drag or copy the designs to the EMBF5 folder that was put on the CF card when it was formatted.

You can find the CF cards and pcmcia card adaptors on ebay; they are inexpensive . I have used cards as big as 512mb without a problem, but I only put the designs that I will be using at the time on the card. I have several cards from old cameras that are as small as 16 mb.

If you are looking for software to change formats, you can use Wilcom Truesizer. If you want software that will let you adjust size, thread color, etc., Embird is a great way to go–it is not free but is a bargain for all that it will do (and you can purchase add=ons if you want to try digitizing for yourself in the future). Just download the JEF format designs onto the CF card and load them into the 300e. It is very easy. The 300e is a wonderful machine, you won’t be sorry if you get it!

Just be careful when you download designs that they are "legal" designs! Stay away from ebay as although there are legitimate digitizers that sell on ebay, there are also pirates who will sell you hundreds of designs for a few dollars that they pirated off places like Disney and other digitizers that they have no legal right to sell.

I hope this is clearer than mud 🙂