romanojg

Shana, I don't know about the maintence of your machine but you should be able to google it and find out plus there are groups on yahoo for just about every machine out there. Congratulations to you and your sister. Embroidery is addicting. I have an old machine that takes cards and there are some you can buy with designs on it and are write proof but then they have the ones that you can download designs to and you normally have to have a card reader to see the designs on the pc. I agree with buying small amounts of thread at a time. If I come across a sale and I'm buying to stock up I try to some of the ones that I know I use a lot of. I always buy 2 shades of the same color because just about every design that I've done ends up having shading going on. I do substitute threads from the orginal design either due to me not having it or likeing another color better. Good luck with your new machine.

mermaid

Shana, if I understand your question re the PED Basic (I've owned it)..an easy to install, simple program that only moves designs from your computer to a re-writable card. Each time you want to use new designs from your computer, the reader/writer box erases the card to allow the new ones to be written to it. All your designs remain in your computer--they are not erased or lost! You can load quite a number of designs at one time, and since the 8500 uses different size hoops-- you can mix the design sizes onto your card. It's a Brother product, so it only works for .pes designs. When you buy the Basic from Walmart, AllBrands, wherever, you should not install from the disk unless it is the updated version. You could just go to the Brother site and install for your operating system from there---especially if you have other than WinXP. I think there are special downloads for Vista and Win7. After installing, connect the reader/writer box and drivers will then be installed for it. The serial # is verified thru the box. And be sure to register your ownership w/Brother for easy tech help in case you need it. I have a friend with the same Emb mach, and installed it for her. I let mine go with a Bernina I sold...and I had bought it on sale for $96. Absolutely worth the cost for you if you don't want to digitize your own designs right now. However, you must realize that it only transfers designs--no other options are included except resizing a wee bit --that's why it's called "basic". BUT..it provides you with ability to see images of your downloaded designs instead of just a little square icon with numbers.

Shana

Ohh...the October special over at emblibrary.com is GREAT I can see how I could spend WAY more money than sense would dictate lol

Krystyna

Shana check out http://www.cuteembroidery.com/designsbycuties for tons of freebies. If you click on community and look at the freebies section, there are daily links to tons of free designs.

TanyaL

Can anyone tell me a reason for using a zigzag stitch for appliquing instead of a satin stitch other than personal preference for the appearance? I have noticed that several tutes for machine applique use a zigzag with no reason given for the stitch selection. I have always used either a decorative stitch or a satin stitch and really don't care for the appearance of the zigzag. However, I am wondering if there is a technical reason for using that stitch.

Krystyna

Just personal preference and a matter of what looks best with your design!

SewExtremeSeams

Shana, you started me on the wrong path for today! But, thanks. I will have to whittle my shopping cart down below the $80 it is sitting at right now. Did you see all of the sewing machine designs they have... ? Oh, which ones would I like, huh?

Krystyna

Don't forget to shop the daily dollar specials at Stitch Delight!

On another note, I have two machines going to make tons of t-shirts and FSL jewelry for the Irish Day Festival here next weekend. I think I am going deaf! Does anyone have any terrific ideas for cutting down on the noise? I do have the machines on folded over towels to stop the racket on my desk, but not enough ...

TanyaL

Try the pads that are made to put under washing machines to stop their vibrations. I think that Lowes and Home Depot sell them.

Krystyna

OooH! I need one for my washing machine!!! Sometimes I think I was born in a cave. I am so ignorant of modern inventions.