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How do I create embroidery designs without the use of a digitizer program?

December 3rd, 2012 Leave a comment Go to comments


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

  1. old_woman_84
    December 3rd, 2012 at 07:08 | #1

    Don’t know if they still make them–but they used to make patterns you could iron on. Go to a fabric store and look around or ask if they still make iron on patterns for embroidery work.
    Good luck
    References :

  2. h_brida
    December 3rd, 2012 at 07:43 | #2

    For machine embroidery? For free-style hand-embroidery? For counted-thread embroidery by hand? I believe each of these has used digitizer programs for design. There are different answers for the different sorts.

    As an example, free-style machine embroidery was routinely done with a tool similar to a pantograph.

    Hand embroidery designs can be hand-traced onto fabric, or ironed on (design is drawn with an iron-on pencil) or a stencil can be pricked and the pounced using chalk, graphite or even flour.

    Plastic with a grid can be laid over a design can help in cross-stitch design, or lay the plastic over a drawing and photocopy the result . . . use coloring tools (pens, pencils, whatever) to reduce the colors to a manageable assortment.
    References :

  3. brat
    December 3rd, 2012 at 08:23 | #3

    You could use carbon paper.Find a pattern and lay it over the carbon paper and trace over the lines. Or draw free hand with a pencial,it will just wash out. Or if it’s white material you could lay it over a drawing if you can see the lines through the material you could trace with pencial.
    References :

  4. Aimee G
    December 3rd, 2012 at 08:28 | #4

    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
    References :

  5. NB Violet
    December 3rd, 2012 at 08:44 | #5

    If it’s a printed design you want to translate into embroidery, there are kits you can use. I have two, for knitting and cross-stitch. They are clear vinyl sheets with assorted size grids you lay over the image. You then use coloured pencils to outline and fill in the design. I find they work best with simple designs with minimal shading.

    Or, you can make your own designs inspired from pictures. There’s lots of downloadable software, some free, that can help you. They work on the same principle as graph paper, where you fill in each block with a colour to create your picture.

    Hope this helps, and best of luck with your project.
    References :

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