Free Embroidery Designs

You cannot create original embroidery for a machine embroidery machine without using digitizing software. That being said, you can get digitizing software for anywhere from $99 to thousands of dollars. There are also TONS of free designs available. Just do a search for "free machine embroidery." The learning curve for digitizing software is quite high. I have found just about any kind of design that I want already made, and I’m not into digitizing. HTH

It looks like a slot for something like a compact flash card. Does anyone know what type of card this is? I can’t imagine I’d have to buy "special" cards. I know I’ll need software to digitize/convert images in PES format. I’d imagine the software also knows how to format the card so it can be read by the embroidery machine.

First, you have to have a card reader for machine embroidery and then you buy the card for your machine that is compatible with the card reader.

You use Brother memory cards or cards made for Brother machines. Again – these have to be compatible with the reader box.

You get these items from an embroidery machine dealer – preferable on-line.

Walk-in dealers don’t always have the cards in all formats, or any at all and have to order what you need.

They are more expensive than at online dealers.

To take advantage of downloading from the Internet, you need a card reader and a rewritable memory card.

You can get Brother’s PED Basic with a card for about $100 – On-line.

This is one dealer that I have bought from. They have a graphic showing how the card reader works. Note the PC requirements. http://www.sewingsupplywarehouse.com/pedbasic.html

Another dealer that I have bought from – http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp01060-0165.html

Digitizing is a horse of another color. This is software that allows you to create your own designs or digitize pictures and clip art. It is fairly expensive around $1,000.

You can download a free trial of Embird Embroidery Software here – http://www.secretsof.com/content/1853?PHPSESSID=f1d6a79654e8e476eaffaf7784b652a6 It is a very popular software and what you are downloading is the Basic program. It doesn’t digitize, but it is the base component for this software.

As you learn and want to expand, you buy plug-ins that allow you to digitize, among other things.

Free designs to download (I have used many of them) – http://www.brother-usa.com/HomeSewing/GetCreative/free-designs.aspx

When you buy or download designs, make sure they are no larger than 4 x 4. That is the maximum stitching area for the 350.

jef is the format you need.

If you find a design you like, but does not come in .jef format, there is a free conversion program that you can download and use. Pulse Ambassador is the software.

Designs that you download from the Internet will be zipped and you have to unzip or extract before they can be used. Windows is the support system for machine embroidery software and neither Windows, nor Mac can read a zipped file.

Another caveat, is the hoop size which normally indicates the limitation of the design that can be embroidered.

Create a folder on your hard drive for the downloads. As you find designs that you like, save to the folder, then unzip and use the new file.

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 a Janome 6600P can someone please help as to how I download the designs.
Thank you.,
Sorry everyone I should have said that I have a Janome 350E embroidery machine as well as 6600P.
I shall just put it down as a "Senior Moment"
Thanks
Marie

I cannot find any information on the 6600P being an embroidery machine.

A computer’s operating system does not recognize embroidery machine formats.

You can save the download to a folder, but cannot open it without machine embroidery software.

If you want to see the design, you can download this free software http://www.pulsemicro.com/ambassadordownload

It is not what you need, but at least you can view the design.

Embroidery machines use (1) a direct cable hook-up to the computer, that comes with the machine, or (2) a flash drive, or (3) a memory card, or (4) a cd.

Which of the above methods does your machine use?

Only # 3 requires additional software – a machine embroidery reader/writer unit and card compatible with your machine.

I need the conversion chart for this embroidery thread. I have looked everywhere on the internet and there has got to be one somewhere.

I did a llot of looking

If you are not able to find what you are looking for with our free online thread conversion tool please feel free to try out the My Thread Box software which offers you different levels of accuracy in matching threads from over 70 different thread manufactures. Another option is a free download the thread converter pro for free which converts between 14 thread manufacturers. We also have many other embroidery software packages available from digitizing to lettering.
This site show a lot of manufactures but none with your brand.

http://needlepointers.com/ShowArticles.aspx?NavID=1707

This link has a lot of charts but you will have to click on the picture to find the one you need. When you get to the bottom of the first page look just below it to see more and that will continue until they have no more pages to go to

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&va=conversion+chart+for+thread+embroidery+thread

This may be the last of the conversions and I hop you can find it in there otherwise please enter threadRus into your search and see if this or the paper work wrapping you floss gives the name of the manufacturer.

I do wish I could have been of more help……..Sorry

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!

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

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.

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