Yep! EL is awesome!!

qn4e - I finally gave up trying to keep all my designs stored
on usb jump drives. After I had to keep getting larger capacity
I just started saving the design to my external hard drive. I figure
if I fill up a 1 terabyte hard drive than I am way beyond being in
trouble.

At last count I had approx. 168,000 (yes you read that correctly 168k)
designs. But I always still find designs that I love.

I have been racking my brain out about purchasing an embordiey machine, to make the purchase and use it to the full potential, as I can only figure out I would only use probably for quilt labels, and when I give a quilt my signiture is always a small quote to go with the quilt. So I wouldn't need an expensive one if that is the only thing I would use it for. Any suggestions on a good machine, only need the embordiery as I have a good sewing machine. Gonna start looking but always talk myself out of it.

Quiltylouise, do you think thats an addiction yet. Wow, have you used them all?????
im stalking this thread because after 2 yrs. Im finally supposd to get my friends tajima 1201.
Its a single head with 2 needles. Im getting the backings, toppings, threads about 20 hoops ( fron 1-1/2" rounf to 28" x36" hoops)
Large thread cones, dakota collectables disc and catalog and the computer to go with it with the digitizing programme for are you ready... $6,000.00
What a sreel. Wish me luck. I cant wait.

I have a babylock ellure...it's at least 12 years old...it has a 5x7 area. I think If i were in your shoes, i'd look for a brother with a 5x7 area. you might get frustrated with a smaller 4x4 stitch area...but the 5x7 should keep you pretty happy. You can find them for less than 1000 (i think even around 600?). they are great little work horses. I use my ellure alot. there are times when i really want "the newest" with a huge embroidery field, and then i realize, in my case, i would not make use of it. pathetic, huh? but...at this time in my life, with a kid in college, i cannot justify the $$$$....

Unfortunately, I do not recommend the brother PE770. I had one and hated it so I sold it after 6 months! I couldn't see what I was stitching. Everything looked like a blob on the screen :thumbdown:

I agree with others tho, get a machine that has a 5x7 hoop also, or you will wish you did later.

I''m sorry to hear that. All the machines I have are Babylock and I never had a problem with the embroidery machines but again do go with a 5x7 field you can always reduce some designs smaller.

I love my new Baby Lock Ellageo Plus. I originally bought the Ellure Plus but quickly upgraded. Decided I needed more!

snipforfun, that's exactly how i felt. I loved the Ellure Plus but needed more in resizing and such so I got the Babylock Spirit and what a fabulous machine!

I bought the same one.
 

I bought the same machine and I have not used it yet. actually I wish I had never bought it because I hate the way it threads. Usually takes me rethreading it several times before I get it right. Never had this problem before and I have been sewing most of my life. When I do sew with it the tension is always off. Buy cheap, get cheap is what my Dad used to say and it's true. I have a Melco EP1 embroidery machine and it is a dream.

To the responses of my question, I now have come to the conclusion of a 5 x 7 field. But again I think I had better go check out some of the models and see what I can afford. Thanks for the input.

Has anyone tried/used the hot fix crystals on any FSL items?

Curious because I just got a setting tool and some crystals and
wanted to see if anyone has use them on lace yet or not.

I have some lace made up that I am going to give it a try to see
how well they look and work.

Stay tuned for pictures (regardless of HOW they come out).

I have! Here's some ornaments.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh those are so AWESOME.

I love the lace designs more than the crystals. Where did you get
those designs from? I want to try and buy those.

They are from OESD Christmas collection #1 2008.

Grandma Jeanne, I have 2 embroidery machines, both Brothers. One is a combo machine with 4x4 stitch area and the other is embroidery only with 5x7 stitch area. I, too, recommend going ahead and getting one with a 5x7 stitch area. Brother and Babylock are good machines. I bought both of mine from a dealer and they were refurbished machines...like new with new warranty. Have had NO problems with them (except user error LOL).

Also, there are a couple of Brother 770s listed over on SewItsForSale site. Very reasonable!!

I, too, love EL as well as Embroidery Designs. Always stitches out great. Embroidery Designs has lots of free designs and you can get 3 per week. They have great sales and if you buy, you get to choose more free designs. Just my kind of deal!!

sewnsewer2 those are just beautiful! Love the red one! oh heck I love them all!

March 1, Janome 9900....who is buying one???? I would love to upgrade from my 9700. Sigh
Sandy

Last year while at my local store where I purchased my machines
and buy all my Floriani thread and stabilizers I saw they had these
bands that you could put around the stabilizer so you would know
what kind it is (ie. water soluble, medium tear away etc..).

However I was NOT going to spend $20+ on 5-6 bands. So while
wondering around a Family Dollar store one day I saw they had silicone
covers "slap bracelets" $1 for a short (about 7" long) and $2 for a long
(9" long) of course they had sayings and/or a funky print on it, but what
the heck they will work perfectly for keeping my stabilizers on the roll
and not in a mess.

I need to go to another Family Dollar store to see if they have any of
the 9" long bracelets so I can buy some more.

Just thought I would share this with all of you.

Great tip. For the stabilizer that I buy by the foot at Joann's I use the pool noodles and cut them to size and use a small straight pin to hold them while I wrap them around it. Doesn't take up much space and keeps it from getting wrinkles in it. also, if you buy your stabilizer from Floriani, I hope you are saving your labels, you can redeem them online at rnkdistributing for free stuff. I take the lables off and put them inside the roll so they don't get lost.

Ditto!! I do the same thing with my Floriani labels.

And yes I save my points from the packaging, in the
beginning I did toss them out but that was before I
got "smart" about keeping them. In total I probably
tossed about 4-6 away.

I love the pool noodle idea but I would want something
that is not quite so "fat" something no bigger round than
maybe the cardboard tube from paper towels.

Unless I am totally missing that there are newer "skinny"
pool noodles and I just haven't seen them.

no, they are the ones from the Dollar store. You could also use the wrapping paper cardboard rolls from Christmas, etc. I like using the by the yard stabilizer (WS) not only for the obvious but also if I have skinner tear away, etc that what I need for my hoop, I first use the WS by the yd one and then put the other one on the area of the design. This helps keep it securely in the hoop and it does save money. You can use the stores coupons for the by the yd one that and along with the senior and military discounts when I go to Hancock Fabric saves me alot. I save all of my leftover stabilizer in ziploc bags with the type written on it. If I need a couple of layers of what ever, I use the spray baste to stick the second layer(that covers the design) over the the first layer of hooped WS or if I get a rip while stitching I just spray it and put some more stabilizer on it and that has saved many designs. I do use the recommended when needed like for tshirts, etc but I cut corners when I can. You can also take your WS scraps and disolve them in water to "starch" you FSL designs when needed.

Thanks for some great ideas.

I also save ALL my WS scraps no matter how small they
are. When I make ornaments and bookmarks I found that
keeping them "stiffer" makes them look best and not as
"flimsy".

One of my co-workers saw all my cross bookmarks that I made
last year and revamped last week by adding hot fix crystals. He
took ALL of them with him to a Mexican restaurant that he goes
to every week. He said they are a very religious family and would
probably like and buy the bookmarks. He sold 3 out of the 9 and
1 snowflake ornament.

Yahoo that made me happy.


Here are a couple pictures of the revamped bookmarks I made.

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Very Pretty, Q-Louise. When I make things that don't require a sheen to them like ornaments and Easter baskets I use the large serger thread. I have to double up on WS (one full hooped layer and then pieces where the designs will stitch) and then a sharp needle. It took me quite a while and lots of research and loads of frustrations to figure out how to use this thread. I had tons of it and things especially like the Easter baskets for little kids won't last long enough to put too much money (thread) into them. They really turned out nice along with the lace bags for candy, etc. You did a great job on your ornaments.

Great job Louise!!

Quilty-Louise I finally went to the lqs in Naples and bought the Floriani Wet n Gone stabilizer. Will be using it soon. Also those are some pretty lace bookmarks!

Thanks everyone.

Not sure WHY my pictures are sideways. I tried to rotate them
but couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.

Oh well at least they can be seem LOL.

Quilty-Louise,

Love your bookmarks ... where did you get the draped cross with the lillies? I'd love to make one for a couple of special volunteers at church!

Love the bookmarks!!! I have gotten quite the assortment of stabilizers and would like to get them up and out of the way like in a wall hanging or something. Does anyone have an idea to make a organizer for the different stabilizers?? Keep the pictures of projects coming what are you doing this week???

I also would be interested in some type of stablizer wall hanger. Right now I use an over the door shoe organizer. Works, but not exactly what I would like.

Quilty Louise; I have used hot fix crystals on many FSL items with no problem! I even successfully used them on my darling daughter's bridal veil! Tiny tiny crystals scattered all over the tulle, they caught the lights just enough for a tiny sparkle here and there. I have the BeJeweler, as it stated it was the only one that could afix crystals to tulle w/o burning it. Worked great!

I've got the bug to get an embroidery machine, any suggestions from you that have one? What should I be looking for, what to avoid? I'm a fairly experienced quilter & pretty computer savvy so I'm not afraid to jump in so to speak. Just looking for some guidance from those who have been down this road. Thanks in advance!!!

I got the draped bookmark at Emb. Lib.

I bought a Brother SE 400 a year ago, going by price, not what was included. I love the machine. However, it is limited to a 4x4 size. So if you want to avoid that, do your homework and go to the next higher level.

SQS; As someone just mentioned when purchasing a machine think about how you will use your embroideries. If you are thinking small designs then a 4x4 field may be enough for you.. If however you dream of embroidering jacket backs, skirt hemlines, tablecloths etc you will be much happier with an embroidery field much larger. I made that mistake with my first embroidery machine, as it had only a 4x4 hoop. Now, My Elli has one of the largest embroidery fields on the market and I am totally in love with this machine and all it can do! There are many machines that are moderately priced that will do a great job and have great sized hoops. Think about at least a 5x7 size hoop. And the MOST important thing of all is Dealer Support, I can't stress this enough! Even if it means purchasing something farther away from home than you would like, a supportive dealer who is willing to back you and gives classes is worth their weight in Gold! Good luck in your search!

I have seen this being done before only exception was that
each "pocket" was made using fabric AND each type of the
stabilizer was embroidered onto the outside of each pocket.

Floriani - Wet n Gone
Floriani - Heat n Gone
Sulky - Water Soluble

etc.....

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I would LOVE to do that, but quite frankly I don't have any place
where I could hang something like that up. So I have mine in a
big box.


Below is a picture of MY stabilizer box. As you can see there is
a bucket for my WS scraps (on the left) and my "commercial"
size roll of Floriani Wet n Gone (on the right) that roll started
out as being a 100 yard roll, I have used about 1/4 to 1/3 of
it I guess.



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