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Posts Tagged ‘Software Programs’

What is a good embroidery (monogramming) machine?

January 2nd, 2013 2 comments

I have been wanting to purchase my own monogramming (Embroidery) machine. I do not sew or use sewing machines, but I would love to own my own embroidery machine to make items for myself o for gifts. I do not plan on making items to sell or anything….just personal use (bags, bath towels, t-shirts, etc….). Does anyone know a good machine to recommend to me? (I’m pretty sure I will have to buy a sewing/embroidery machine). Thanks!!!! Also, is embroidery machines hard to use (for someone that doens’t really have any experience with sewing machines).

Embroidery machines are easy to use. Start with small, simple projects to help you learn the machine and the different techniques.

This is long due to the explaination regarding how to download designs from the Internet.

The sewing/embroidery combos are usually more expensive. However, the Brother se400 sold at Walmart is a combo and a bargain at less than $500.

There will be several designs and fonts for monogramming built into the embroidery machine.

This model has USB connectivity, which means you do not have to purchase additional software to send downloads from the Internet to the machine for embroidering. And you will want to download as there are thousands of free downloads, plus many more for sale.

There is a cable that comes with the machine that you connect to the machine and your PC – all embroidery software programs are Windows supported, so Mac users have an added expense when using these programs.

To utilize the downloads, you create a folder on the hard drive of your PC. Give it a name you can easily find. Then as you find designs you want to down load (be sure they are .pes and within the hoop size of the embroidery machine) save them to the folder.

Many, if not all downloads are zipped files. You will have to unzip or extract before the embroidery machine can read the file. Mouse over the zipped file and a mini screen will come up. Select unzip or extract all. This will provide the file you need to keep. The zipped file can be deleted.

To send to the embroidery machine, hook-up the cable. A new drive letter will appear. Select the designs from the folder on the hard drive and send to the new drive letter. This will then allow you to access the designs from the embroidery machine.

Once the transfer to the embroidery machine has been made, the embroidery machine and PC no longer need to be connected.

Some of this will be addressed in the manual for the machine. There are also several forums you can join (free) and ask questions. http://www.sewforum.com is an excellant one.

A great one for tips and techniques (free videos and print-outs) is Embroidery Library. Take special note of the type of stabilizer and hooping techniques for the different types of fabrics that are to be embroidered. http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/elprojects/holder.aspx?page=techniques

PS: All embroidery machines have formats and pes is used by Brother and Babylock. The other brands of embroidery machines have different formats.

All formats, except Bernina’s art format can be converted to that of the embroidery machine, meaning if you have an art formatted design, it will only work on a Bernina embroidery machine that has the art format – confusing, but that’s Bernina!

Pulse Ambassador is a free software program that I have used for conversion of machine embroidery formats. Here is a tutorial for this software http://www.annthegran.com/cs/forums/t/4745.aspx

is there a program out there i can find to digitize my personal pics for my embroidery machine?

December 11th, 2012 1 comment

i bought an embroidery machine yesterday. We were wondering is there a program or something where we can digitize a personal pic eg.. of me> Then have it transferred to my machine to use as a pic for any design?? help please!!!

There are many software programs for digitizing clip art and pictures.

There are several companies that have free trials – search digitizing software for machine embroidery.

These are expensive programs. Do your research before buying a program.

One popular brand is Embird.

There are also embroidery companies that will digitize for you, also expensive.

You also need a method of transferring the designs from your PC to the embroidery machine.

Cheaper version of the Husqvarna Viking embroidery machine?

November 27th, 2012 2 comments

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.

Making embroidery patterns for a sewing machine?

November 23rd, 2012 2 comments

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.

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

Information Regarding Machine Embroidery Designs

August 19th, 2011 No comments

The artistic curvatures and patterns that are made out of an embroidery machine can be very delightful and attractive to the human eye. We enjoy seeing these beautiful designs on our favorite clothing and accessories, bringing out our own taste, fashion and style.

To do this there are a variety of machine embroidery designs. Many of them can be downloaded from the Internet. Some can be bought from designers, independent companies and machine manufacturers who sell their own-made designs for those who don’t want to create their own. You can also buy software programs to digitize graphics and convert them into designs compatible to the machine’s hardware. Software can also edit and resize the installed embroidery designs.

For more information on machine embroidery designs click here