Free Embroidery Designs

You can start machine embroidery (ME) for less than $600.

An embroidery machine (EM) can be purchased for around $500. You can start with about $50 in supplies. A reader/writer/card unit can be purchased on-line for around $120.…this can be added later.

Visit sewing machine dealers or purchase from Walmart or Costco. I started with a Brother EM from Walmart, then about five years later, traded up for a Babylock with more bells and whistles.

Brother and Babylock are very user friendly and the most compatible with software and design files.

The lesser expensive EM most likely will have a maximum embroidery area of 4 x 4.

There will be built-in designs and fonts, but for more selection the machine will require a reader/writer unit with a rewritable memory card in the format of the EM for sending designs downloaded from the Internet to the machine. You do want to be able to take advantage of products on the web where you can find thousands of free designs to download.*

If you go higher in the price of the EM, you will get a larger embroidery area, and USB compatibility.

USB compatibility offers USB Direct Connect – a cable will come with the EM to directly connect to your PC and/or USB Flash Drive/stick drive. Either of these devices will indicate to the PC that a removable drive has been installed and that is where you will send the designs you want to use on the machine.*

Purchase supplies as you find them on sale – check the ShoppersRule and Allbrands websites – they usually have the best prices and variety. JoAnn Fabrics has thread on sale almost every month and if you sign up for the store flyer, you will know when the thread will be on sale. The flyer usually has at least one coupon. Also, check the Internet for JoAnn printable coupons.

Start with ME thread in basic colors. Polyester can take bleach, Rayon cannot. Bobbin thread comes in black or white – buy both….white for most items and black for darks.

Embroidery machines are designed to slightly pull the top thread to the back of the design, so the bobbin will only show on the back of the embroidered item.

Purchase medium weight stabilizer in tear-away (white is fine as the excess will be removed), cut away (white and black) and a water soluble stabilizer for placing on top of napped fabrics, such as towels. This provides a smooth surface for the stitching and helps prevent the stitching from sinking into the nap.

The machine will come with extra needles, tools and a manual – keep the manual handy. When learning to use the machine, open the manual and go step-by-step through the entire process, then refer to the manual as needed.

Excellent resources are: Jeannie Twigg’s book, Embroidery Essentials. Websites – Embroidery Library, ABC Embroidery and Ann The Gran.

*Before downloading embroidery designs/files, create a folder on the hard-drive of your PC. Name it Embroidery or EMB Downloads….something easy to find.

When downloading, select the design in the format of the EM and save to the folder you created on the hard-drive. Also, keep in mind the hoop size. A 8 x 6 design will not be accepted by an EM that is limited to a maximum 4 x 4 hoop.

The downloads will most likely be a zipped/compressed file. This has to be opened before it can be used. Highlight the zipped file and open or extract the file. Give the opened file an appropriate name and then delete the zipped file.

Should the design not come in the format you need, there is a free software program – Pulse Ambassador that you can download from the Internet, then open the design in question and save it in the format needed.

I’ve noticed that companies charge $10 and up just to put a name with a mega phone and pom-poms on a jacket front. I’d like to buy my own and embroider them myself. What type would be helpful. I don’t want to go over $800.
I only want to embroider names on the front of jackets at most 4 inches long, and logo’s that won’t be more than 4 x 4 inches.

You can do this with the Brother 350 sold at Walmart and it is less than $400.

You also need Ped Basic. More info below at Allbrands.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother-Se350-Sewing-Embroidery-Machine/8033273

So there you have it. For around $500 you can have a combination sewing/embroidery machine and the software for downloading.

You can use the remaining budget to purchase thread and stabilizer and still have money left over – that’s always a good thing!

Eight years ago, I started with the first Brother embroidery machine that Walmart sold, but at that time the additional software (like Ped Basic) needed for accessing designs from the Internet sold for $200 – $300.

Later, I purchased a Babylock with a larger hoop and sold the Brother on Ebay for about 80% of my original expense.

The embroidery machine will come with a few tools for maintenance (cleaning), needles, bobbins, thread nets (keeps thread from feeding too fast from the spool – it may, or may not be needed) and a small pair of scissors.

If you use polyester thread for machine embroidery, it will withstand chlorine bleach. If there is no chance the item will come in contact with chlorine bleach you can use rayon.

Be sure to use machine embroidery bobbin thread – this comes in white and black. I use NEB prewound bobbins as they hold more thread.

You can find good prices on stabilizer at Allbrands or JoAnn Fabrics when they are on special. Start with a medium weight cut away and a medium weight tear away. You should also include a tricot iron-on to cover the back of the embroidery if the garment is going to be worn next to the skin.

Rayon and Polyester machine embroidery thread can be purchased online as well, but you may want to buy a few of the basic colors at a fabric shop – JoAnn Fabric has thread on sale from time to time at 40% off. Thread that comes in kits sometimes leave you will colors you may not use.

If you embroidery a design that has lots of black or other dark color – buy Madeira brand as Coats & Clark and Sulky tend to fray as the machine stitches. This is due to the dying process used by the manufacturer.

Embroidery Library has a great section that provides tips and techniques as well as sales on designs. This is worth downloading or a least flagging it as a favorite site.

Embroidery Designs is another site that has a variety of designs for cheer leading as well as access to other vendors of machine embroidery designs. Download freebies and use them for practice, if nothing else. The embroidery machine will have some designs and fonts built-in.

When you get your embroidery machine home – open the manual and lay it right next to the machine. Then read and follow each step of each feature of the machine – this is the easiest and quickest way to learn how to use the machine.

Be sure to use the right stabilizer (see embroidery library); practice on old shirts or fabric scraps and in no time you will be expert at this.

JoAnn does not have any specials on embroidery supplies right now, but you can sign up for notices – http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2005/12/jo-ann-coupons.html

http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp01060-0145.html – check your PC’s operating system for compatibility.

http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/elprojects/holder.aspx?page=techniques – be sure to check the charts for placement and stabilizer recommendations.

http://www.embroiderydesigns.com/DesignSearchResults.aspx?SearchText=cheer%20leading&ddsearchid=Stock%20Designs – downloads, check the vendors on the side bar for more possibilities.

Never leave the machine as it is running and if it sounds like it is jamming – stop and remove the hoop and check for thread snarls in the bobbin area (maintenance section will show you how to clean). This can happen with any machine and at any experience level. All sewing and embroidery machines with a drop-in bobbin need to be cleaned after a few stitch-outs.

Take some quiet time and have fun. This is a hobby that can shortly lead to a business.

I do my answers on a person-by-person basis and if I missed something pertinent to your situation, or if you have more questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

I’m looking for an embroidery machine with many of the same capabilities of the Husqvarna Viking Designer 1, but for a much cheaper price. Any suggestions?

Make a list of what you like about this machine and take it to a Brother or Babylock dealer and compare the features and the prices.

Ideally – you want a hoop area larger than 4"x 4" and USB connectivity.

The larger hoop will allow you to stitch out larger embroidery designs. Whatever the size hoop is the largest design size the embroidery machine will stitch out.

Some users think if they buy an additional hoop that is larger than what came with the machine, the machine will stitch larger designs. Not so. The embroidery machine is computerized for certain features and that cannot be changed.

USB connectivity can be either a cable that connects the embroidery machine and PC, or a removable flash drive. These are what you use to move design downloads from the PC to the embroidery machine.

You can get the Brother 400se (sewing and embroidery) at Walmart that has a larger hoop and cable connectivity for around $500.

You may want to buy from a dealer for assistance in using the machine and for service of the machine.

You do need to have a PC as 99.9% of software programs for machine embroidery require the Windows operating system.

You can begin a collection of designs from the many sites that offer free downloads.

Create a folder on the hard drive and name it Emb Downloads.

Download .pes formatted designs for Brother or Babylock.

Most downloads are zipped files and have to be opened or extracted and then saved to the folder you created.

So, I have been interested in purchasing an embroidery machine and I just wanted to know if anyone could recommend the best machine for a beginner but also a sturdy enough to last long. I am interested in the cool ones that can connect up to the computer but i am not sure if those are good or even worth buying. If anyone could help me and tell me the best places (in Chicago or online) or brand and model and a reasonable price for a quality machine this would help me lots.

Thank you so much to whoever saves me from this dilemma 🙂

I bought my first from Walmart several years ago and it served me well. This was the Brother PE150.

Because it did not have USB connectivity and a limited 4 x 4 stitching area, I upgraded to a Babylock that does have both Port A and Port B connectivity as well as accepting memory cards and a larger stitching area.

When I bought the first machine, dealers did not know one end from the other and with the help of books and the Internet, I taught myself how to stabilize, hoop and embroider. http://www.amazon.com/Embroidery-Machine-Essentials-Stabilize-Decorative/dp/0873419995/ref=pd_sim_k_3

Embroidery machines have some built-in designs and fonts, but for access to millions of designs (many are free), you need to download from the Internet (it is also the least expensive method).

Port A USB accepts a flash drive/stick/memory drive/thumb drive – they go by many names and I have several brands – all accepted by the Babylock.

Port B USB is a cable that comes with the embroidery machine. You need to have the PC (MAC is not compatible without purchasing additional hardware/software so it can read Windows) within approx 4′ of the embroidery machine to send designs from the PC to the embroidery machine. The cable does not have to be left connected once the designs are transferred.

Brother is the leader in embroidery machines and Babylock is of the same family, only a little more expensive.

The Brother PE 770 would be ideal – larger hoop and flash stick. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?rlz=1T4TSHB_enUS260US260&q=brother+embroidery+machines&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=10345458999759000893&ei=npU4TNP3GoP9nAfSvMWFBA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDoQ8wIwAg#

If you also want to do sewing as well as embroidery, shop for a combo. They are a little more expensive than an embroidery only machine.

I think the one you are referring to as being connected to a PC is one of the Singer models. Some love this and some have a lot of issues with the software and updates.

I am not sure the the Singer model that came with digitizing software is any longer available or supported by Singer.

Visit sewing machine dealers and ask for demos. Take notes. And then review those notes at home. Purchase where you were the most comfortable with the staff, or take a plunge and buy online or at Walmart.

Remember – a dealer may not be real happy to service a machine that is under warranty if it was not purchased from them.

Have a new Huskvarna SE sewing/embroidery machine. I would like to make patterns for it (stitch files is what the store calls them) so I can have my own cust. designs. How do I get started?

If you are referring to embroidery and not sewing, you will need digitizing software for machine embroidery.

Most of the software programs do auto digitizing which requires you to use clip art or your own designs in a format such as jpg. Even then, you may have to do some manual editing.

There are a few products that you can download for a trial – Designer’s Gallery (BabyLock) and Buzz Tools are a couple brands.

All digitizing software will save designs in the format of all embroidery machines. You do not need to purchase the brand offered by the same company as your EM.

There is another software – Stitch Era, that is free to download. It is also complex and not that easy to learn. The manual is over 200 pages and I have yet to get through it.

I use PE Design for digitizing and Designer’s Gallery for editing. PE was a gift and DG came with my BabyLock.

I want to use some of Clotilde’s embroidery patterns, and Jo-Anns is having a decent sale on Singer. But what about Brother? Help?

I prefer Brother or Babylock and I would suggest buying from a dealer if you have never used a sewing machine – the embroidery machine has some similarities.

If you do not buy from a sewing machine dealer, try the Singer – it should connect via cable to your PC and this is where you will store designs and then send to the embroidery machine.

You choose designs by the format of the embroidery machine and the the hoop size. Watch this when downloading.

An embroidery machine that has a maximum embroidery area of 4 x 4 will not stitch a design that is larger.

The least expensive method to obtain designs is downloading from the Internet to the computer, then send to the embroidery machine as you want to stitch out a design.

Methods for sending designs to an embroidery machine:

Memory card only (you will need a reader box and card compatible with the brand/model of the machine.
Memory card and USB cable (connects directly to the PC)
Memory card, USB cable and USB flash drive.

The more options, the more expensive the embroidery machine.

Clotilde does not sell machine embroidery designs.

Each of the two books listed in her catalog has a CD with free designs, which you upload to your PC. You cannot just stick these CDs into an embroidery machine and start stitching.

You have to have a method (reader box/card, cable or flash drive) of getting the designs from the PC to the embroidery machine.

The designs at Nancy’s Notions are her choices, but they are Amazing Designs products.

http://www.amazingdesigns.com/en/products/

There are many Internet sites that have free designs you can download to your PC.

Once you get an embroidery machine, you may find this site helpful – http://www.annaboveembroidery.com/embroidery-tips.html

Free Motion Embroidery / Thread Painting on any sewing machine. Everyone at any skill level can embroider on ALL sewing machines because we only use a straight stitch and NO sewing machine Foot is needed so visibility is far superior to any other embroidery process. This kit includes 3 8 sided frames varying in size that have holes on all 8 sides where a handle drops into to make it so you don’t have to hold onto the frames. It is ergonomic and feels like you’re holding a crayon and coloring in a coloring book. So simple even beginners succeed! It’s fun and relaxing and is a fantastic stress reducer. Invented by Clare Rowley, inventor of the Creative Feet presser feet for sewing machines and are available for purchase from http://www.creativefeet.com/products/frames/octi-hoop

Duration : 0:8:46

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I want to buy an embroidery machine for myself in a couple years[when I have more money and experience] but I don’t really know how the USB adaption works
Is it one of those things like when you legally go download a song, you have to buy it? Or can you get a free pre-made image? Is there sites for that sort of thing? Are you able to use any image?
And when you use multiple colors on the image, can your machine automatically change threads[like, you put the threads in a certain order or what?]
Honestly, I’m a real newbie in this field. As you can probably tell.
I would also appreciate your bran preference for these machines.

You can download free designs as well as purchased designs from the Internet.

If you purchase an embroidery machine with a Port A USB connection, you will be using a flash drive/memory stitch to load from the PC.

If you purchase an embroidery machine with a Port B USB connection, there will be a cable with the machine that you use to connect to the PC for loading the designs to the embroidery machine.

Only a multi-head embroidery machine can load different colors of thread.

You may want to start with the Brother model sold at Walmart that has the USB Port B cable to see it this is the craft for you. It is around $400. With this type (home embroidery machine), the machine will stop when the color change is needed and you re-thread the machine with the next color.

The multi-head machines cost several thousand dollars.

Visit sewing machine dealers for a demo of how the machine works. If you are a minor, take a parent or guardian with you as the store will not want to take the time for someone who is underage.

My preferences are Brother and Babylock brands.

Embroidery software educator Soni Grint shows highlights of the packages contained in 4D Professional. She shows a jacket embellished with Shapes, a table runner created with Encore and lettering font samples including QuickFonts created from computer TrueType fonts, all in 4D Embroidery Extra. Another jacket demonstrates editing features from 4D Stitch Editor, as do morphing samples. A sampler, designs and text were created in 4D Cross Stitcher.

Duration : 0:7:28

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Embroidery software educator Soni Grint shows highlights of the five exclusive modules contained in creative 4D Suite. Make every design unique with creative 4D Design Creator using special fill effects such as contour and motif fill. Transform photos using monochrome and 4-color techniques in creative 4D PictureStitch. Embellish fabric with machine or personal motifs with creative 4D Fabric Decorator. Create your own fonts using creative 4D Font Digitizing. Use creative 4D Stitch Artist to create stitches for many Pfaff sewing machines. Finally, use 4D Organizer to catalog your designs, 4D Vision to preview designs before embroidery or 4D Design Aligner to split larger designs for any hoop. (available in other packages)

Duration : 0:9:44

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