Yes I do - I really have a hard time as do some others, but if your computer smart and know all the ends and outs of
computers there are some that do more things than I can even belief.

Mug Rugs for Christmas
 

I am so excited that I finally figured out what I was doing wrong to post pictures. Anyway here are the mug rugs I did on my embroidery machine for Christmas.

Almond those are just gorgeous!!!! Love the designs and the colors!

Everyone is doing some awesome embroidery work I LOVE seeing
everything posted.

I am even very impressed with all you "newbies" to embroidery.
So happy to know that all of us have place to go to ask questions,
get advise and share in our completed projects.

Wish I would have found a group like this when I started embroidery
in 2007. Who knows WHERE I could be today had I found a wonderful
group like this.

Cheers to ALL of you for making this one of my TOP 3 threads to follow
here on the QB.

Happy Holidays to ALL of you.

Quilty-Hugs!

Louise

Almond, they are fantastic. You have certainly been busy. Did you do them completely in the hoop or did you do the embroidery and then put them together? I can see them as great teacher gifts.

As yet, I don't have my FSL angel put together for a pic, but am working on it. In the meantime, I tried a couple of ornaments and decided to try serger thread thinking it would be thinner and make less bulk on the ornaments. It worked like a dream. So, back to another angel. Since the serger thread worked so well with the ornaments I thought I'd give it a try. The angel body has 37,000 stitches, lots of bulk, and doesn't seem to like serger thread. About 45" into the stitching I got a major birds nest and had to cut it out of the machine. So back to the other thread. I just read in the new CME magazine that generally designs are digitized for 40 wt thread. Good to know.

It took me two holidays and lots of trial and error to get serger thread to work. At first I though it was because it was old so I bought a new spool. Sometimes it go a while before it started breaking. Here is what I discovered. Use 2 or 3 layers of heavy duty WSS, a large sharp needle and slow down your machine. This Easter I was able to create all of my grandbabies and my kids thier own baskets. I didn't want to use rayon because it is so expensive and I didn't care if it had a sheen on it. I knew the kids would be rough enough on them so why spend a fortune on them. I did alot of my ornaments like this as well.

Good to know. I attempted another one last night & it worked. I also went to a 14 needle instead of an 11.

Great, I'm glad it worked for you. I love the look of rayon but its not always about the look. Especially if I'm testing the design, I don't always want to use my expensive thread. I've even used my Aurifil on small areas, where I didn't have the right tint or color called for. Since it was a small area you can't even tell it doesn't have the shine.

Lots of free embroidery designs here - go there quick - the site is coming down early January http://www.abbots-embroidery.com/index.htm

In picking up the studio the other day, I discovered a product I had purchased some time ago for using with metallic thread. I thought I'd try it on my embroidery thread that seemed to have a shredding problem. I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but I think it's helping a lot. It's called "Sewer's Aid". It's a thick liquid that seems a little oily, but I don't think it would mark fabric. I put a little on the needle and drizzled some down the spool of thread. Everything so far has sewn much better since doing that. I don't know if it's been mentioned here before. I asked Santa for another bottle of it for my stocking so I can have some near each machine.

I love seeing everyone's creations!

Here are some Christmas cards I made using a machine embroidery applique design:

dj those came out gorgeous!

I am new to the machine embroidering. I want to monogram some towels for my daughter for Christmas. Does anyone know what kind of stabilizer I should use on terry cloth towels?

DJ
Your cards are darling!! I just love them! Wonderful!!
Can you tell me where you purchased the designs??

DJ; I don't know if the techs have changed their minds on "Sewers Aid". When it first came out, we were all using it and loving it! We were using it on spools of thread and our needles. We were soon warned that it was 'gooping' up our machines! I LOVED the stuff, it made difficult threads more manageable. Sooo... just wanted to send this along to you. Obviously up to you as to what you do. Just my 2 cents worth.

I just embroidered some towels for gifts. I used tear-away on the back and put a layer of water soluble stabilizer on the top to keep the embroidery from sinking into the threads of the terry cloth.

Rexie,
I use medium cut away stabilizer in the back, depending on the density (the design). If the designs has a high thread county then I use the medium cut away with water soluble on top. Last time I did this I put double the soluble on top and just visited my daughter in which after she washed them they still look great! The lighter the terry cloth and density of the design I use one layer of water soluble and tear away stabilizer. Many here will share their ideas and so I hope this all helps.

I used a sticky wash away for the bottom and a Film WSS on the top. Since then I've read that the sticky can be a bit tricky if you pull away the excess before wetting as the sticky is strong enough to pull loops from the towels. I did notice that a little on the towels I did but attributed it to really cheap towels. Could have been a combination of things. On the other more expensive towels I did a film WSS both hooped and on the top and it worked beautifully. I didn't hoop the towel. I just recently purchased the Monster magnetic hoop that is supposed to hold towels, but haven't tried it yet.

So pretty. Love the cardinals.

DJ, I agree with the other post. I was told its not good for your machine. If you put the metallic thread on the table behind your machine in a cup or something it'll work better. I was also told to turn it upside down and slow down your speed when using it and make sure your needle is larger than normal, and that should help

Jratcliff, I have the magnetic hoop and used it for my towels and it works terrific!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a good investment and I've used it for kitchen towels as well.

My computer had to be replaced and my amazing box won't work with windows 8.. Does any one know if the amazing box little max will work with windows 8?

Christmas Crazy Quilt
 

I purchased a Christmas crazy quilt series from Molly Mine and am in love with it. I've made several of the blocks and am going to use them for a table runner. Unfortunately, it won't be done for the holidays this year, but that's ok. I gotten several of her designs and love them all. So dependable and always turn out great. I don't know how she can afford to pay such close attentionn to the details and then sell them so inexpensively. No, I don't work for her - just love the designs. (Not so good with the photos

Jratcliff those are pretty! I never heard of this designer and I'm going to check it out! And the photos came out fine :)

jratcliff that is going to be a beautiful table runner.

Singer is usually xxx extension...

Have you looked into Embrillance.com for their nice embroidery software program... It's pretty inexpensive considering the cost of embroidery software which is outrageous!

I've been trying for the past yr to get these but my budget just doesn't allow it. They have some really pretty designs. Congratualtions

I agree would love to have MANY of the designs from this website
but just can't afford them.



QUOTE=romanojg;6469070]I've been trying for the past yr to get these but my budget just doesn't allow it. They have some really pretty designs. Congratualtions[/QUOTE]

Santa brought me a Brother PE 770 for Christmas. I guess Santa was tired of hearing me talk about wanting an embroidery machine. I have been quilting for several years, but have never used an embroidery machine before. Do you have any advice for a newby? After everyone leaves tonight I plan on watching a YouTube video about the machine. Merry Christmas!!

Congrats on your new emb. machine.
It CAN get addicting, but have fun with it.

You will need a variety of different stabilizers to use, embroidery thread,
and various needle types & sizes.

A good place to find what style needle & stabilizer to use on the different
types of fabrics I recommend going to RNK/Floriani website to get the
guide they have to help with setting up the correct combinations.

Quick Reference Guide this guide is quite useful for helping with
matching the correct stabilizer to the fabric you plan to stitch on.

Stabilizer workbook this is helpful for learning about the different
kinds of stabilizer.

I personally use both these guides to help me even after 6-7 years of
embroidering.


Most important is just have FUN.

hsweany, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW EMBROIDERY MACHINE! I totally agree with Louise here though there are many other websites RNK/Floriani is the best! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I have a 'new to me' Janome 11000 that is being upgraded with the Accufil updates. Has anyone used the Accufil on their machine? Have you used any of the quilt block patens that come with it also? Of so please PM me with your thoughts
P / suggestions, thanks is much!

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm sure I will have more questions. Now I'm deciding if I should clean up tomorrow or play. Lol

I have a SE400 Brother and have found it to be a real work horse. It has been a learn as you go for me and trial and error. It helps to stay within your hoop size. I was very frustrated until I found I was trying to load too large into my machine.

Congratulations!
Start with something small, always use a new needle for each project and good quality thread. I use Floriani thread, and I get my thread nets free from my local florist. Check with them, it is better than buying them!
Pick out simple designs, and work with your sewing center to learn about stabilizers. They are the key to successful machine embroidery.

Congrats on your new embroidery machine, hsweany. my advice is to enjoy your machine and the embroidery
work you do it. I save my practice pieces and use them on projects: mug rugs, table toppers... really good site for signs is www.embroiderylibrary.com Have fun

That definitely would not be a tough decision for me. Always play today. The dirt will still be there tomorrow! Keep us posted on your progress. This is the best site and i always get great answers to my questions.
Jane

I have a Sofia2, a Janome 9000 (both of which only do 4X4) and an Ellageo that takes the small 3.5" disc. Love all 3 machines - no real problems with any of them except the Ellageo sometimes does not want to read the discs. That machine is 12 years old and still the one I use for embroidery because of the 6X10 hoop size - BUT I know I will need to replace it soon. I would prefer an embroidery only machine but not sure any of them do bigger than the 5X7 designs. I do NOT want to have to hook a laptop to my machine - want one that uses a flash drive.

Any suggestion on such a machine - and does anyone that has a 5X7 only machine have any luck with splitting designs? I did not see any instructions for that at Embroidery Library.

TIA - Irene