I have been away from using my Bernina Artista embroidery machine for a few years. Well, I use the machine for everything but embroidery. Lately, I have wanted to jump back in. Looking forward to making my own labels first off.

Good for you! I started on my machine by only sewing as I had no intention of ever doing any embroidery. Now I'm totally hooked. Let us know how it goes.

Has anyone done embroidery on burlap? What is the effect on the machines?

I had purchased burlap with the intention of doing embroidery. However the other day when I was at the fabric store and they were cutting burlap and I saw all of the fibers everywhere I decided maybe not.

Anxious to see what others say.

Embroidery Library Projects has a write up in the "Fabric 101"
for tips on how to embroider on burlap.

EMBROIDERY LIBRARY


Hope this will help you.

I've made 2 sets of coasters with burlap and haven't noticed any excess lint or fibers in my machine.

I've just bought a new software program for $5.00 and I want to share the info. It is being "test sold" by www.bowsandclothes.com--an embroidery design site. It is the first program the guy owner has ever created. I am really enjoying playing with it. For merging fonts to write names or phrases, and even bringing in cute designs to merge with the words. It only saves in .pes, and only works with digitized fonts ( no TTFs)...but it is so easy to use and really affordable for some people. Oh, and 4" and 5x7 hoops are the limit. I've merged and saved, and now my creations are one file ready to stitch. At the site they have a link to a YouTube video demonstrating how it works. Really cute, and worth every penny. I'm liking it enough to push my PE design to the side.

I've made a number of them as well and no problems. The most lint I get is when I am using battelizer. I need to clean out the bobbin area after every embroidery with that stuff.

OK all you embroiders, for anyone who has Janome MBX Digitizer program, is it compatible with Windows 8. I just purchased a new laptop today and I don't even want to open the box until I know I will be able to use my MBX program.
Please help!!!

Just signed up for class next Tues on embroiderd corners on napkins. I'm a newbie at this, so it's at my skill level and learning something new. It has an applique, pumpkin and swirls. Uses 3 colors of thread. I have my own napkins but they're a little small. I could make this a more complicated project....just answered my own thought... Don't have time for more complicated. Maybe, if it still bothers me, after the holidays I can make them larger.

I have digitizer jr and had to do a free update to work on my windows 7 so check out their download site. Gale

Cute!! Love this idea!

I have had this problem before.What is your fix? I end up sitting there with my finger guiding the thread and this is NOT very productive.

My dealer put a new uptake thing on my machine. Works much better, however, I still have fraying of thread occassionally. Will take it back in the next time I am headed in the direction of my dealer.

It seems that when I have a fraying problem it is time to change my needle. The problem decreased a bit when I went to embroidery needles rather than universals and it also depends on the size of the needle for the project. I do have a tendency to use my needles as long as I possibly can rather than tracking the number of stitches, so if I am doing a project and the thread frays 3X, I change it.

Charity pattern
 

I volunteer at a local hospital and they try to keep a supply of soft toys on hand for any kids that come in. I found a pattern on Urban Threads that makes an adorable little rabbit that is the perfect size for little hands. I used some fleece I had left over as it takes so little. I think they are really cute and perhaps someone out there is looking for a project.

Cute! I've downloaded that pattern too, but have not tried it out yet.

They redesigned the uptake lever. I went through this for so long and was wasting a lot of thread and stabllizer. They kept telling me to do this and that. I even emailed Husqvarna. Then one day someone said Oh I know what is wrong, they have a fix for that now. Took it in and they fixed the uptake lever and am doing sooo much better...

have you taken any of Tim frosts classes or used any of his books.

I downloaded this but haven't made it yet. Did you make it out of polar fleece? They are really cute!

I have a Janome 9000 and and really haven't learned to use the embroidery functions. I have just started quilting and
love the above posted quilts!

Double wedding ring on emb machine
 

Digitized this and having fun with it... not expert but good enuff for me.

Bravo! I wish that I had your skills.

Digitize
 

I love to digitize and did these a long time ago and now I can't remember where I put designs! Haven't done this type design for awhile... used a color book for pics I like applique so have been trying that.

I have BrotherPR600 and 2 Janome( 10000 and 11000) my dream is the Babylock Ellisimo or the newest Janome...if I win the lotto!! lol

yes just did anita goodesign tree of life!!! designs are great

What fabric did you use? I have the foundations collection but haven't used them yet. So glad to know someone has made one of the quilts using the Anita Goodesigns. Would you post a picture?

Well my Brother PE 770 just went into retirement. I've had it for three years and it served me well, but after Hurricane Sandy I had it into the shop twice -- at $125 each time. Not sure if the banging around and dampness had anything to do with the problems.
Over the last couple of weeks it has been shredding thread and getting into a snarl in the bobbin case. I did everything including taking the casing off the top to check for wayward thread (helped by a Youtube video).

I decided that rather than pay another $125 or more at the repair shop that I was using, I'd call the shop where I purchased it online -- Mr Vac and Mrs Sew to see if they did trade in's. They didn't. Happily they are a short drive away. Surprise! I told them I was ready to buy a new one rather than keep paying for repairs. The last one was for a burr on the bobbin case and Mrs Sew told me that I could have just bought a new bobbin case for $25! She said it was ridiculous to buy a new machine. They told me to bring it in and they'd look it over for free!

Mr. Vac did everything I did and then some but it was still doing awful things. Sending it back to Brother was going to cost more than I wanted to spend at this point, so I told them I wanted to buy a new one. Mrs. Sew tossed in a huge case of thread, a case of pre-wound bobbins, a thumb drive and a tote! I am one happy camper!

And now I have the old one to play around with in my spare (haha) time! Actually, the guy who did the Youtube video is one of their customers so I'm going to contact him to see if he can work his magic on it.

Mr Vac and Mrs Sew did give me some excellent tips - put your bobbin in counter clockwise. It makes a difference!

Mr. Vac told me never to use titanium needles. He said if there was something that caused the needle to break you wanted it to break rather than damaging something in the machine.

A long time ago I was having another issue and called them up. He told me not to use the spool cap. I stopped and haven't had an issue since.

Happily stitching with their thread -- which is wonderful!

Krystyna,

Sorry to hear that your 770 had to be retired after such a short life.
But I agree it would be better to stop spending money on a machine
that just wouldn't work right.

I am happy that you got a great deal on a new machine. Is it the same
kind or a totally new brand/model?


I sent you a pm last week, don't know if you got it or not haven't heard
from so didn't know.

Hope you and the family is doing well.

Can't wait to see some embroidery from the new machine.

Quilty-hugs to you.

Hi Louise! I bought another PE 770. I really like the machine and don't think I need a bigger hoop, so I'm happy.
Now I can finish my Fall placemats before Fall is over and gone ... although it feels that way since we had a big ice slick this morning.
Will read my PMs. Have been so tied up lately with the decision to sell our land/house, figuring out what to keep from the garage loft and attic (do I really want to pay for a storage space for this stuff?), hiring a crew to clean out what we was rubbish (Filled a huge dumpster!) hubby's surgery, my own health junk, nagging my son to quit his dead end job, and my aunt passing away -- and the ensuing nonsense with my control freak sister, and, of course, catching up on quilting and stitching!

Oh my you DO have your hands full. Sure wish I could help you in some
way.

However you are in my special thoughts HUGS.

Tree of life pic on the picture page

Digitizing programs can be expensive.. it is best to have some lessons also... I downloaded Embird free demo and haven't figured I out yet and I have used Janome, Brother and Viking programs ... probably like Janome best. Wish I could figure out Embird.. it is cheapest ... even tho I have others there may be something different that I would use on Embird. Need to read tutorials and see what I can figure out before I buy it. Floriana has a professional program my friend bought ON SALE FOR OVER $2000! and it is just for toy( like me) not to make $$$ . COME ON LOTTO!!! lol

Yikes! That's a lot of $$$$. Never tempted. I still am nowhere near using all the designs I've purchased and downloaded for free.

The Tree of Life quilt is BEAUTIFUL. You did a wonderful job on it. Thank you for sharing your amazing work!

Well I did it! I set myself to download all of my embroidery designs by year date and month with title and how many designs for each in a folder for each year (that's 3 yrs total). I will tell you it was daunting and I have filled up 6 binders. The binders are two of each yr., Jan-June 2011, July-Dec. 2011 and so forth. I cannot tell you how liberating this feels! I honestly don't know how many designs I have its too mind-boggling but I can say its well over 2,000! So now that it is done I made cover sheets for each binder with the dates on them to know where to find them and have each receipt for all the designs (from embroidery library website) and separated them all into their months. Does it make sense? Yup to me it does! Krystyna sorry your machine bit the dust but I'm sure you're happy now that you have a new one and one that you are familiar with as well. Quilty Louise long time I haven't seen you on here and glad to see you're doing well. I went to the Floriani event last mth and must say I enjoyed all the information and bought some more thread. My LQS sells the thread holder box for 30 spools at $15 instead of the $30 I've see online so I got 3 right now and I'm going to put my thread in by color scheme. I have so many projects to do and feel now that I have my designs where I want them I''m ready to embroider. Trust me I will post pics! Krystyna HUGS sent your way!

I have embird and love it. I does the everything I need it to do. Wish you lived closer because we have an embird club here. We have several people who get together once a month and learn new things on embird. The program does fantastic things. Don't be afraid to call embirds help desk. They are there to help. Also watch you tube. Has some good help there. Yahoo groups have a couple of groups on embird. If you be willing to come to Fort Dodge Iowa, we would all love to give you a hand. Where in Illinois do you live?

My first time posting on this thread! I have a Husqvarna SE. Love it!
I am doing some quilting on placemats, runners, small quilts, etc. I haven't used the quilting designs on quilts before, the actual quilting stitches.like say a snowflake outline. Anyway, I am wondering if you use or would use a quilting thread or embroidery thread. And also I see that on Embroidery Library they have single and double run designs, which would be best?
Laurel

I used cotton for background and scrapes

[QUOTE=IBQLTN;6401005]I downloaded this but haven't made it yet. Did you make it out of polar fleece? They are really cute![/QUOTE)
I did use polar fleece. Also did a couple out of flannel, but like the feel of the fleece better. They are so easy and fast to make.