Free Embroidery Designs

I have never used an embroidery machine and would like one. I have a very old Bernina sewing machine which I love, but would it make more sense to buy a combo machine?

Combos are usually a little more expensive, but it is always a good option to have a second sewing machine.

Brother is the leader and first to offer home embroidery machines.

I purchased a Brother embroidery only machine from Walmart and used it for several years and then upgraded to a Babylock (same family) that is a combo, has a larger embroidery field and USB connectivity.

The standard embroidery area (based on the largest size hoop that comes with the machine) is 4 x 4, which limits the size of the design that can be stitched without using editing software for machine embroidery to split the design into smaller segments (2 or more).

USB connectivity makes it easy to send designs to the embroidery machine from the PC (or flash drive) as this is where downloads will be stored.

Most of the new models have either a cable (USB Port B) that connects to the PC (after sending the designs to the embroidery machine, it no longer has to be connected to the embroidery machine and PC).

Or, flash drive (USB Port A ) which comes up on the PC screen as a removable drive. This product is good to have as storage as well as a method of providing designs for the embroidery machine once it is plugged into the machine.

Without USB connectivity you will need to purchase a reader/writer/memory card unit for machine embroidery that is compatible with the format of the embroidery machine.

Brother and Babylock use the pes format. Example roses.pes.

Bernina makes great machines, but they are too expensive and so are the accessories. The format is not that compatible for conversion (formats can be converted if you find a design you like in a format different than what is required by the machine).

Pulse Ambassador is a free software download for conversion. I have used it with success, with exception of the art format (as in roses.art) which is one used by Bernina.

With these basics in hand, shop the sewing machine dealers and see what is available.

Buy the machine you like the best from the dealer you like the best.

I want to get an embroidery machine that I can just put in what I want to embroider onto something and then let it go. I do not want to free hand embroider. Can someone help me, because I am unsure on which one to buy?

Any brand. However, Brother is the most user and software friendly.

Putting "something in" depends on what you mean.

Embroidery machines can only read machine embroidery formats.

There are many machine embroidery designs you can download from the Internet – some you purchase and some are free.

There will be some designs already built-into the embroidery machine, including alpha/numerical fonts.

Downloads or CDs have to be loaded on the PC. Then transferred to the embroidery machine.

How you get the design to the embroidery machine will depend on the capabilities of the machine.

Some use a machine embroidery formatted memory card – this type of machine will require a reader/writer unit and rewritable memory card for the brand and format of the machine.

Some use UBS port B direct connect cable. The cable comes with the machine and has to be connected to the PC for sending the design to the machine.

The best models have USB port A. You transfer the design to a flash stick and then insert it into the embroidery machine.

If you want to embroider your own art or clip art, you will need machine embroidery digitizing software and this starts at about $700.

Expect to spend at least $800. Plus another $50 or so for thread and stabilizer.

I’m looking for an embroidery machine that will do custom logos. I need to upload images (gif/jps whatever) from my PC. All it really needs to handle is one color, but the more the merrier. Would also like it to be able to do at least a couple of fonts so I can write names. Thanks!

Any embroidery machine will do what you want, but the design has to be in the embroidery format of the machine (pes, sew, hus are examples).

The machine will not recognize gif/jpg/jpg and whatever.

You will need to purchase digitizing software and then you need a way of getting the design to the embroidery machine.

The less expensive machines use a memory card for machine embroidery, which requires the purchase of a reader/writer unit and rewritable memory card. These have to be compatible with the brand/model and format of the embroidery machine. These are usually less expensive online. http://www.allbrands.com

The more expensive embroidery machines either have USB Port B (direct connect) where you have to have the PC next to the embroidery machine or both, USB Port B and USB Port A (removable flash drive/stick), which is self describing.

You can download trials and demos of the software before you purchase – the easier to use the better. However, even auto-digitizing can need tweaking. Here is one that is free during the trial stages http://www.sophiesew.com/

Visit sewing machine dealers and tell them what you want to do and they will show you what they have. Expect to pay out at least $2,000 for the entire kit and caboodle.

Or, you can buy the Brother at Walmart and the reader and card at Allbrands for a total of around $700. This how I got started – it may appear confusing, but it is not rocket science.

The embroidery machine is brother 190-d using a memory card, but as i can download free patterns or use my own want to know how.

By reading another persons answer to a different question I have just found a great site for you to look at. It has a list of sections on machine embroidery, and has a section on exactly what you want. Its called digitising step by step. There are also many things that it will clarify for you which you can do with your machine.

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/th_feat_embroidery.asp

I hear people saying they download the pattern on to their memory card then use it on their sewing machine.
Does anyone know where I can the patterns from for free please?

http://www.names.heartstringsembroidery.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=18
http://www.freenamemania.com/index.htm
http://www.embroiderydesigns.com/DesignSearchResults.aspx?SearchText=splendor&ddsearchid=Stock%20Designs
http://www.annthegran.com/FreeDesignsAgreement.aspx
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fire-Font-Machine-Embroidery-Designs_W0QQitemZ320216436926QQihZ011QQcategoryZ41383QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/Free.aspx
http://www.embroidery.com/family.asp?sid={07E748EA-285F-4F5A-A997-C48A360C8CCE}&EFID=76&shopstop=1

SOME OF THESE SITES WILL REQUIRE YOU TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT WHICH IS FREE AND YOU MAY WANT TO FOR THE EMAILS FOR UPCOMING SALES AND EVENTS…MY FAVORITE EMBROIDERY SITE IS WWW.EMBLIBRARY.COM…….EXCELLENT QUALITY AND OFFER TWO FREE DESIGNS EVERY MONTH…….
THE ONE LINK IS FOR EBAY BUT IF YOU SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER YOU WILL SEE THE FREE DESIGN THEY OFFER AND IT CHANGES EVERY DAY TO A NEW DESIGN………THIS HOBBY IS ADDICTING……..DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR FORMAT WHEN DOWNLOADING AND CREATING AN ACCOUNT……….ALSO SOME FILES ARE ZIPPED SO YOU WILL NEED WINZIP OR ANOTHER TO OPEN THOSE DESIGNS BEFORE YOU PUT THEM IN YOUR FOLDER…GOOD LUCK AND HAVE SEWMUCHFUN..OH AND SOME DESIGNS ON THE LINKS……..JUST CLICK FOR INSTANT DOWNLOAD……….

i am new to this whole embroidery machine thing so i dont know anything yet. i am looking to buy a machine so i can add designs to my own creations that i started for my kids. i want to monogram but also do those cute little designs for cheering, fairies and trucks and cars, things like applique. im not doing quilting and i already have a serger and a sewing machine. so this would be all it is used for. will make several items but dont want to buy a $1000 machine until i get into making my money back.

can you give me a run down on what i need to look for.
i dont like the cards that you have to buy for certain designs. i would like to find clip art or free designs online and send them to my machine through usb port or something. also handmade designs maybe that i can design myself. is there accessories i would add to do all these things or would a certain machine have it all.

also what about the thread. i would like it to have multicolor on one design but i think only the large industrial machines do that.

In order to get a machine that will transfers via an USB port, and create your own designs or even use clip art you will end up spending $1,000 or more.

The Brother PE II has the USB option. http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp15438-0068.html

To create your own designs is another heap of money.

You cannot just download clip art and sent it to the machine. It has to be digitized in a machine embroidery format.

To do this you have to purchase digitizing software. This can cost $300 and up.

Forget the cards, they are practically obsolete – almost every designer has the option to download directly from their site.

Embird is a popular software that many people use for digitizing. http://www.secretsof.com/content/1869

You start with Basic Embird, and then add plug-ins (digitizing it one) as you learn and want to expand your talents.

You can do just as well with the $500 dollar Brother at Walmart or Costco and use an reader/writer unit and rewritable memory card, which you can get for just over $100. http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp01060-0165.html With Embird, that is still around $1,000.

There are many free embroidery designs you can download from machine embroidery sites without digitizing your own. You would still need the USB or a reader/writer and card.

Thread – There are stops already in most designs and this is where you change colors – you can use any color you want.

Editing software (Embird Basic) can be used to add stops where you want them for color changes.

About the only thing the industrial or professional models can do is work faster, using multi needles and multi spools of thread – the design colors stitch out the same on the home version or or pro version.

How hard is it to embroider…I do not have much experience with sewing machine. Mainly all I wanting to do is embroider cute graphics and customs names on baby items for a business i currently have running. I have tons of customers wanti8bng these products and I need to know how hard embroidery is. The machibne I have looked at is the singer futura because it appeaqrs to embroider for you once you put it in the computer. is this how all embroider machines work. What is the best one to use…as i said i am new to this and want something that will be easy to use and I love the idea of hands free bevause the though of sewibng a difficult design is kinda scary to me

Brother is the leader in machine embroidery. The Singers are not supported once the new models come out.

The SE400 sold at Walmart is less than $400 and serves as a sewing machine as well as an embroidery machine.

A sewing machine dealer may have something a little more expensive and they would be able to teach you how to do the embroidery.

There are some designs built into the machine and others can be downloaded from the Internet.

Before downloading, you need to be sure the design is within the size of the embroidery area of the machine – this is usually indicated by the maximum hoop that comes with the machine.

Create a folder on your computer for the designs to reside.

When designs are downloaded, most will be in a zipped/compressed file. They have to be opened and saved to the folder.

Embroidery machines will have a limited selection of alpha/numerical fonts. Others can be downloaded.

You select the design from the folder and copy to the method of transferal that comes with the embroidery machine; USB cable or USB stick drive.

Avoid machines that use floppies or memory card only as they are obsolete.

To view the designs on the computer you will need a catalog, such as Catalog Xpress or Embrilliance Thumbnailer. Cat X has more features and cost more than ET, which is only for viewing.

http://www.annthegran.com/Product.aspx?t=1&i=2567&gclid=CNbwwZ-HlqgCFYjsKgodi2XuDg

http://embrilliance.com/products/embrilliance-thumbnailer