you can hoop your stabilizer spray it with spray adhesive I use 505 then stick what you want to embroidery to the sticky stabilizer and embroider
you might have to do a little advance marking if you want to do a long strip and you will have to put another peice of stabilizer over where you take the first design off.

I agree with the thread position part; it does help, in embroidery as well as sewing. Most of mine end up in a heavy coffee cup behind my machine. The needle could really be the problem. When I was doing FSL with polyester the site where I got it said to use a sharp size 11 for FSL. It didn't work, every few seconds sometimes it would break. I finally switched to a size 14 sharp and then slowed down the machine and that worked greatly. I'd say it's more likey that the needle than the stabilizer. Normally if the stabilizer isn't happy it'll just tear; depending on what you are doing. Check emblibrary.com under projects and see if they have the same type of project listed as you are doing, if so they'll have recommendations for the stabilizer as well as the needle size and type. You may have to change the size some if you are using a different type of thread like I was. They were using Rayon and I was using polyester.

Oh, no way will I change the thread! It was ordered specially from India and it is gorgeous. So far only a couple of colors seem to be breaking but I will try different types of needles to see if that helps.

Embroidery Library has their new free designs out for May - a cute sea turtle and a cheeseburger! They also have the international Sunbonnet Sues and Sams on sale for $1.29 each. So silly that they're tempting, but what on earth would I use them on?

Designs and I have lots...how do you decide what you want to use them on? I don't like to use the heavy stitch count ones on my quilt blocks. However I continue to buy them because they are so pretty. I love the quilt block designs that are single or double run to quilt small projects. They look so precise and pretty.

I have several designs that I think are wonderful but then the stitch count will be upwards of 30,000 stitches or more. They take quite a while to stitch out. What stitch count do you ordinarily choose for quilt blocks?

I concure on the PED basic. Look for it online at Joanns (I used a 40% off coupon) I have an older Babylock Esante II. max hooop size is 5x7 ( a real drawback as many designs are for the larger hoops) But I muddle through. My machine takes .pes only.

We don't mean change the thread; change how it is setting. If it is lying down then stand it up even if that means sitting it on the table in a cup or something to hold it. What type of needle are you using? Embroidery needles naturally have a larger hole but then sometimes they don't work. Like when I had to use the sharps. You have speciality thread it may need a little extra care. Have you tried also slowing it down and you can also double your stabilizer. You can do that just by using scraps and spraying with adhesive and applying it. I only do this when the thread breaks and my stablizer tears then I strenghten it. Let us know if we can throw some other ideas your way if this doesn't help. Good luck

To be honest I've never really paid attention. I get most of mine from emblibrary.com and I guess because that is a problem I've never had I haven't paid attention to it.

Sometimes I have trouble with thread breaking so I take it off the machine spool and put it on my separate cone thread holder that sits beside my machine. Seems to loosen the thread tension or something.

On the subject of thread breaking, you say some of the thread is breaking but other spools aren't? You might try applying Sewer's Aid or using a vegetable grade silicone spray on the ones that are breaking. It won't hurt and might make a big difference. Just a thought.

This is a big no-no for newer machines though so be careful.

I always use Sewer's Aid for metallics. And, of course, a metallic needle. It does help with the Indian thread, but only on the needle.

I wasn't aware of that. Why is it a no-no? Does it mess up the sensors?

They need to do what they are judging, then maybe the judges would understand how much art and creative work is in a project. Lovely work

Sewers Aid was thought to be a miracle for uncooperative threads when it first came on the market. However, repair techs soon found that is was leaving alot of 'goo' for lack of a better word.. on the insides of the machines. We were soon told if we absolutely had to use it, only use a tiny tiny drop on the needle, no more using it on the spools themselves. Just some information I am passing along. I worked @ a dealership so was current on thoughts by the tech repair dept.

Krystyna; One other thought on your thread breakage. Is there a possibility that the threads that are breaking are darker colors? When I was teaching machine embroidery thru my dealership we found that the blacks, dark browns and very deep colored threads would break easier, especially black! Thru a bit of research we discovered that the deep colors were dyed and overdyed to reach the desired depth of color. Results were that the thread had been perhaps over processed to reach those deep dark luscious colors.


Just passing along some information learned on the machine embroidery road. HTH

So sorry this posting keeps repeating! Having posting difficulties tonite!

We have a Janome 11,000 se. We are just beginning to see how exciting things can be. Our daughter opened a chocolate shop today and we wanted to do a logo for her. We went to Cooldigitizing with her art work and now we can embroider anything for her. The cost was only $ 42.00 19,864 stitches it is beautiful and it was done to be dimensional. They are great no need to by digitizing softwear.

Divokittysmom, actually the ones that break are light in color. Go figure!
As for Sewer's Aid, that might explain a nasty little surprise I had a couple of weeks ago. While happily stitching away a black blob of something fell out of the machine onto the fabric. I tried to blow it off, but it wouldn't budge, so I stopped the machine and used my finger to remove it, but it smeared! Arghhh! Happily what I was working on wasn't a big project, just a needle case on muslin.

Would you please tell me more about the beautiful silk rayon thread you ordered from India. Is there a web site to buy from? Thanks for your time.

Here it is, Connie - Indian Delight. The colors are remarkable. The packages come quickly and with free bindi!

those look pretty for sure. I also had to look at some of their cool fabric and appliques. Hmmm very tempting but I took all credit cards away from myself so I can't buy anymore designs or fabric or anything until I am done with ufos. And my bills are paid up in full. Oh those medical bills anyway. but that is one cool sight and will keep that in mind.

I have been using Maderia's rayon thread and I notice that some spools like to break while others don't. I switched up to a larger needle than they say and then there was no issues at all. I went to a 90/14 embroidery needle. lots of great info here.

So I am doing the crazy quilt squares as well, what stabilizer are you using. I thought to use a tear away doubled should be sufficient but I am using batik fabrics which are already pretty stable, but then are you using foundation fabric like muslin then using the tear away stabilizer? Or would you use a cut away then do the crazy patch applique right off the start? Not sure, have nto started and Molly Maine does not have any info on them on her site, or I just cant find it, so thought to ask here. This is the first time I have used her designs and want to be ready for tomorrow when I get to work on it.

Great news! Finally, after 6 months of working on my laptop, it finally communicates with my Bernina 165 and i did not have to buy the new version or upgrade of software. i am so thrilled. Took quite a bit to do and lots of frustration because I know little about computers. I am so exstatic because I get to take my sweet little laptop with me tomorrow to sewing with friend.

I use the heavy ones on my quilt blocks if I truly like them. I do stitch them down when I quilt them as well. I just did a wall hanging that I used some heavy designs and when i quilted, I went around the embroidery, following each one and it looked so cool on the back. I know the larger stitches designs take some time, but if you really like them, it is so worth the effort. As well, I buy the designs that I think are pretty and I truly like, like the flower designs, then I stitch out what ever it is I want on my project. I found some awesome toile fabric and am going to stitch out some redwork and toile designs to coordinate. I have done some dq wallhangings with some of those heavy stitched designs because I wanted Montana to be special. It is in the project or quilt you are making which should help you decide if you truly want to stitch them out.

So question for you ladies. Does Bernina allow you to use another software to download designs into the machine? I accidently ended up with a 170 but no software to work with it and the new program, well bit pricey, and I noticed you ladies had discussed editor software, so is there some out there?

Is there a good tutorial some place on the web that explains how to quilt with the EM? Do any of you do that? And do you use a stabilizer, or does the batting act as a stabilizer? I've been seeing these great designs and thought it would be nice to try it.

You can quilt with emb and if you have your quilt sandwiched it does not need stabalizer. It is wonderful they suggest using the same thread in the bobbin and the top thread. I usually use the poly embroidery thread it works great.

Guess it might be easier on a QAYG! Does the type of batting make a difference? I've got a lot of warm and white on hand, but I also use a lot of poly batting for the GK's that want it "puffy", LOL!

Wow this thread has been well hid. Have been reading the posts for the last hour and it is great. Have a friend that would love this thread. She is on QB a lot and has not ran across this thread yet. I have subscribed to this thread to keep up with it now, but how can I email her to get her looking also.

I bought my friend's Bernina 830 and I stitched this out. I really like how fast the machine stitches and how great the quality is. Hope you like it.

Well that blew that theoy right out of the water!! lol Good luck with your project!!

I am not sure what format your Bernina 170 uses. I know ART is one format... Have you checked out Embird?? I use it on both my Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 as well as my BAbylock Ellisimo. I have used it for years and like it so much more than my HV software and it is VERY affordable compared to other software programs.
http://www.embird.net/

Krystyna, instead of the Sewer's Aid, you might try putting them in a plastic bag and then into the freezer overnight. I haven't tried this, but others have said it works to keep threads from breaking. Don't know why!

Do any of you embroidery your greeting cards and what do you embroidery on? I use a medium tear away and an iron on stabliizer and embriodery on the tear away then cut it to size for the blank card. What do you use?

"Great news! Finally, after 6 months of working on my laptop, it finally communicates with my Bernina 165 and i did not have to buy the new version or upgrade of software. i am so thrilled. Took quite a bit to do and lots of frustration because I know little about computers. I am so ecstatic because I get to take my sweet little laptop with me tomorrow to sewing with friend. "
Quiltmama....I can so understand, very happy for you!!!!!!

Someone had asked using the EM for quilting.
Here is just one I found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypd46o9l3Ow

just do a search on the internet and you will get tons of information.
Hope that helps.
p.s. I have learned so much by subscribing to this thread. I even pulled out my EM after reading some encouraging words from you gals-Huge Thank-you.

I am loving this, about an hour or so ago, I signed in on the Board to read about quilting. I just got my new Singer Futura Quartet SEQS600 a couple weeks ago and been trying to learn. I was thrilled to see an embroidery thread going. Sure wish it was a separate section, like receipes, photos, etc. It would be so much easier to read. I have not read anything on the quilt section since I saw this. I have now subscribed to it and hope to visit it more often. I see there are many like me that are newbies even though machines were purchsed earlier.

I bought my machine from HSN as it had the best deal with the software included and I liked the fact that it can use many formats if needed. I have other machines for quilting and garment sewing so this one will be strictly for the embroidery only. I did buy the 5 hr tutorial CD from HSN, it said it was for the earlier Futuras but I am finding the basic software programs are very similar and it has helped me tremendously.

I hope the moderators will reconsider and give us a separate section. Or maybe someone who is computer smart with the internet could start a forum just for the Machine Embroidery... we could discuss quilting on it too... I am one also. LOL

This is fabulous having this thread here on the Quilting board!! I think there are a lot of us who have embroidery machines but love to quilt also and combine the two!! Hopefully, more and more people will join us here as they see we are posting more and more and making it to the daily digest!! Sooo,... let's keep chatting!!

Putting embroidery thread in the freezer is a great idea! I had forgotten about that one!! I think it works because it puts a bit of moisture into the thread making it not quite so brittle.
Also know that slowing your machine to the slowest speed, using a metallic needle and a design that is not too dense all help to have a successful outcome in regards to thread breakage.

I did a little this past Christmas. I took a class and got a program with it. We used card stock and envelopes. I can't remember everything that I did; that was a few months back so I'd have to check to let you know for sure but I know tear away was used and steam a seam lite. You can find info on it at emblibrary.com under projects; they have a few different techniques including making your own cards and envelopes.

I had some really old thread and thought that was the problem and tried this when I heard of it too. Maybe it works but it didn't for me; I left it in there for months. I changed to a sharp needle and then changed the size from 11 to 14; that did the trick; no more broken thread. I'm not saying it doesn't work but who knows if that's the problem or if it needs a different needle. I bought the same type of thread and still had the same problem so figured it wasn't the age of the thread and was bound to figure out a solution since I wanted to use the thread. I was successful.