I am sew happy for everyone who has gotten new embroidery machines lately!! As others have previously said embroidery is totally addicting!! I got my first embroidery machine in 1998 an HV Rose, upgraded to a #1+ which my darling daughter now has... then upgraded to my Designer 1,.. then upgraded again to my present new machine my Babylock Ellisimo!! I still have my D1 as well and love hearing them both embroidering simultaneously! I truly love embroidering Free Standing Lace and applique.. and regular embroidery... guess I love it all!!! giggle
Have fun with your new embroidery machine ladies!!

Anything new in the Embroidery world?? Lots of new and exciting things coming out for Christmas for many machines!! Anyone find any new and adorable designs they would like to chat about?
I was into my dealership a few weeks ago and found 2 darling Sunbonnet Sue quilts that were embroidered from designs by Anita Goodesign. I totally fell in love with these designs and had they been available the day I was there I would have snapped them up instantly!!
http://www.anitagoodesignonline.com/sunbonnet-sue/

I just got a used Tajima machine. Does anyone else here have this machine?? Mine is a12 year old machine with 12 year old technology. I am learning, slowly how this machine works but have had issues with the programming. I was wondering if anyone here is a Tajima owner to have an embroidery buddy to learn this silly machine!! LOL!!!

I am the same way. Mine are all stored in my laptop. I keep them in files named from where I got them. Whenever I buy designs I print out the picture and keep them all in a notebook. I think it's easier to look at them that way

wvhill22,
I do the same, the only problem is tha my paperwork isn't filed yet like my usb is :( but there is hope somewhere along the line!

In the spirit of Christmas for all of you Embroideryholics check this out http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/Sale.aspx

Embroidery Library did have a wonderful sale of which I took full advantage of! Anyone else have fun this past weekend @ EL?

Roll call.... anyone out there in Embroidery Land??

I took advantage of juju's design special; all sets for 6 each. I will also take advantage this thur and fri at $3 each. I'm in the process of stitching out the advent calendar now and it stitches out really nice. After this its the snowglobes for my daughter.

I am all set to shop @ JuJu's Designs on turkey day! $$$ Can't be beat! JuJu's designs always stitch flawlessly!!

divokittysmom:

What is the link to Juju? This is the first time I've heard of it and would like to check it out! Thanks!

Has anyone used an embroidery machine with a Mac computer? I was going to purchase the Singer Futura but found out it only works with PC. Any Mac users out there that can point me to a good machine to start with. I dabble in sewing, quilting and want to start embroidery without spending my life savings. :)

Heres the link to the special. Designs stitch out great. Hope you don't mind me sending this to you since I'm not divokittysmom.

Designs by JuJu can be found at www.oregonpatchworks.com or you can Google "designs by juju" and go directly it his site.

Thank you both!

Blush, blush. I did. :)

How did you know about the special on Thurs. and Friday?

Sorry, I just realized I had forgotten to put thier link in. once you order or sign up they'll send you emails for all of the specials
http://www.designsbyjuju.com/

Hi, Just got back LOL was off shopping at Emb Library and got 15 designs for $10 choice from the entire web site. Sorry gotta go, Sew Much sewing to do for Xmas. Happy Turkey Day to all!!!!!

I have a Baby Lock Ellure Plus that I hook up with a cable USB to USB. I can import designs from my laptop to the machine, but can't export from the machine to the laptop. My machine has a USB input and also a card reader. I haven't invested in the card reader. There is software out now for Macs but it is kind of expensive. Best bet is go to a local dealer and talk to someone who knows computers

Did you have a special code sent via email for this? I want all the snowmen designs that they have right now on special! I really, really like them. http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/Sale.aspx

sale at embroideryhorizons
 

There is a good sale at http://www.embroideryhorizons.com/ I bought many designs.I liked the horn set and the birthday collection so much.

Hi. I just traded my Bernina 830e for a 780e and I have a Janome 11KSE. Thinking about buying a Brother 10 needle. Also purchased several cute packs at Designs by JuJu, jumbo north pole village and the snowmen. Now making the north pole village into a Christmas quilt for our grandkids.

I love snowmen....thanks for the link! I have been looking for snowmen similar or exact to those printed on fabric by Debbie Mumm for South Seas Imports. Been saving the fabric for years and would like to find emb designs to match.

Oh I love EL's designs! Have fun!

I have a Husquavarna Viking Designer SE bought from a friend and I am just learning.

I just got my 3rd Viking embroidery machine. I have a Viking #1, traded my Ruby for the Diamond Delux. You'll enjoy your machine. I love mine.

I have 2 Babylock machines and have been doing machine embroidery since 1995. When I first started I had a Kenmore machine with a 3x3 hoop. oh my, how things have changed. I mostly do embroideried quilts and teach some of Jenny Haskins quilts. Have you seen Susan Stewarts Radiance quilt? If not go to you tube and type in her name. It is amazing to say the least. I also have used Embird software since I first started and just upgraded to the 2012 build a couple months ago. What software do ya'll use?

Has anyone had experience with split designs? I just recently purchased the multi positional hoop for my Babylock Sofia 2. I tried one of the designs that came with it and most of it is really great, just that it looks like a few rows didn't stitch right at the connection. Is it the design do you think or my machine? It was an Amazing Designs design and I use the Edit & Stitch software from Amazing Designs? Thoughts?

I'm also trying to figure out exactly how to split a design, so any info on that would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Carrie

Ive never worked with split designs because my hoops are pretty large. emblibrary.com has some tutorial on it; under projects or Kennys corner. I hope this helps.

They are having another sale right now; codes are Merry5 and Bright5; one is 5 for 5 and the other is 5 off of $10; each can be used 3 times on separate orders. so if you get the 5 for 5 you have to use the code and then check out and then place your next order and enter which code you want. You have to do this even if you could do both codes with one order; it'll only take one at a time. Enjoy

I used the code for emblibrary and I got some cute xmas designs. May order more before it expires.

I think the easiest way to split a design is by color. On your snowman, I would probably have split it after the green scarf. In Embird, I run the sew simulator and that will usually give me a good idea where to split. If you can separate all colors on your software and then re-group them into 2 or 3 sections. I have split designs into several sections when I had a smaller hoop. Did the Wolf-Eagle (from Emb. Library) jacket back on a 5x7 hoop. I think I had six different splits. Check to see if there are tutorials for your software, Hugs.

Hi everyone! I have been away from Quilting Board for quite a while. I have a question about embroidery thread. I purchased the new Singer XL550 and it should be coming next week just in time for Christmas. However, I know nothing about machine embroidery. What type of thread and stabilizers should I purchase first? Should I use polyester or cotton? Maderia, Sulky or what about Connecting Threads? HELP! My first projects will probably be simple towels, easy Christmas presents. Thanks everyone for your help.

Sherry from Eastern NC

quiltinmom,
Congratulations on your new machine! Most of us use different threads and some machines do well with some and not others, yes they do have their own temperament. I use sulky and madeira but I am looking for the Isacord. Sometimes the Sulky will break on me and at times it has to do with the tension. Joanns always has sales on Sulky for 1/2 off and i think they're going to have their next sale this week for that price. I'd purchase a few mostly primary colors and choose a simple design to see how it reacts to the thread. Also remember to change your needle often well at least I do. Good luck! Oh and as for stabilizers if you are using terry cloth towels you will need a water soluble stabilizer for the top and depending on the density of the stitches in the design will depend on the type of stabilzier you would use in the back. i'm more than sure there is someone on here who could answer this question! Again Good Luck and Happy Embroidering!

quiltinmom, I just checked to see if Craftsy had any classes and they don't. There are some youtube videos on machine quilting. I didn't take time to watch any to see if they would be of help. Embroidery thread comes in rayon or polyester. They are considered 40wt thread but have a nice shine to them. There is also a 12wt cotton thread that makes a heavy dense design. Unless you need the design to show on both sides a bobbin thread which is much thinner is used. Pre-filled bobbins are nice to use. Depending on the size of your pattern you will use 1 or maybe 2 bobbins. You will learn which stabilizer to use. Some projects use cut away, some use tear away and like quiltnut4ever said water soluble on things like terry towels. Some projects might require 2 layers of stabilizer or stabilizer on both sides. What size hoops did you get with your machine? I ordered my first thread off the internet. It was called FUFU and I really like it but I think they got bought out by another company. I have ordered from this place. http://metroemb.com/store/index.php?...ory&path=20_27
I hardly ever hoop my projects. I hoop the stablelizer and use temporary spray adhesive and position the project.
Good luck, have fun with your new machine. I've had my machine for awhile so there may be some better ways of doing things than how I was taught.

I have quilting on the brain, I meant machine embroidery. LOL

[QUOTE=quiltnmom;5693247]

Congratulations on your machine; be careful, it's addicting. I've been embroidering for a little over a yr and started off with a Viking Ruby (loved it) and just traded it in for the Viking Diamond Deluxe (a deal to good to pass on). I take classes and if you can find them it would be great. Some stores will let you take thier classes no matter what machine you have; mine does. Also I know that Tidewater Sew n Vac has a club and you can learn alot from places like that.

When it comes to stabilizers I read everything that I can. Emblibrary.com has tutorials on thread, needles and stabliziers also floriani has a stabilizer workbook you can print out. I like thier stabilizers but the main thing you need to know is the type and when to use it more than the brand. Viking and most machine websites have tutorials on these as well. You can also google them. I'm not sure what you have in your area but if you sign up at Tidewater sew n vac or at floriani you can find when they have classes and you can learn alot. I took one a few months ago that cost me 30 for the day, it included lunch and snack and I got almost 600 in free thread, designs and stabilizers. Here is the link for the stabilizer guide; http://www.rnkdistributing.com/cid-3...-Products.html
My machines use all thread and that's good because for what I paid for the machines I'd be really upset if it wouldn't take a certain thread. It takes a while to build up thread and I don't think I'll ever have all that I want. Sears sells Robinson-Anton on its website for 3.99 which is good and has lots of colors. I would try different ones to see if your machine likes it and if you like it. Plus, I normally buy at least two shades of each color because Ive noticed most designs use at least two shades for highlighting and accents.

Hope this helps

I have rayon embroidery thread and after doing some research I wasn't aware of polyester embroidery thread. I hear they do not break as much and are intact for high speed embroidery. I usually leave my stitch speed at the lowest but does anyone know who makes polyester embroidery thread other than Madeira? i don't know of Isacord but I'd like to know what others use.

does anyone know who makes polyester embroidery thread other than Madeira? I/ve bought from 'Designs by Sick'--they have the Brother colors. I've also bought from ebay, and from metroemb.com. Poly sews better than rayon, in MyO.