[QUOTE=Rennie;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.

I love my Vikings but they don't do the emb only, I don't think but I also want a multiple needle one which I havent seen either for them. When I get my next one it'll be multiple needle and large hoops, it'll probably be Brother. My machine has the largest hoop out there, the biggest one that I have is so large that it emb half of the design and then you flip the hoop around and it does the other side. I rarely ever use the 5x7 and less than that do I use the 4x4. Love the big hoops.

Rennie, I own the Babylock Spirit, embroider only machine that its largest field for an embroidery design is 7 x 12. As well I have the 5 x 7 and 6x6 hoops and it works like a dream. I'm still learning some of this machine but I can use the 5x 7 and 7x12 hoop for continuous designs.

Hi. I bought a Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold last year at the ASG sewing conference, and if it made coffee it would be all I need in life :) It is phenomenal! Just made my first quilt top with it, embroidering French love sentiments and tiny meandering roses along the border... I monogram lots of things on a regular basis, and the built in digital camera is so helpful for perfect placement. I had a Brother PC 8500 for years but now I feel like I've died and gone to heaven!

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Chantillydreams that is just a beautiful quilt and I love the colors you used. The monogramming came out great. I have the Babylock Spirit and just love love it! Since I have tomorrow off, New Year's Day, I plan on using it all day! Your inspiration is just wonderful and love your curtains too! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I am into quilt as you go... on Janone 11000... lots of fun. I like digitizing too.

Cute ebroidery
 

They also had a massive freebie section but it was disabled after someone posted designs that didn't belong to them. Hopefully it will be back soon.[/QUOTE]


Is THAT what happened to them!!! Hadn't been in there for awhile and was checking last week and couldn't find the freebies. I've gotten some really neat ones in the past, so sure hope they bring the freebies back.

Nita in coolish, cloudy Florida

Is THAT what happened to them!!! Hadn't been in there for awhile and was checking last week and couldn't find the freebies. I've gotten some really neat ones in the past, so sure hope they bring the freebies back.

Nita in coolish, cloudy Florida[/QUOTE]

If you are talking about cuteembroidery.com, they are still there. I just got a free design today and one yesterday. I get emails from them with the current freebie. If you are signed up you'll get the emails.

I think she might have been talking about the section called "designs by cuties"
pit had been disabled for a long while, not sure if it is back up yet or not.

As for the free daily designs that had not stopped.












If you are talking about cuteembroidery.com, they are still there. I just got a free design today and one yesterday. I get emails from them with the current freebie. If you are signed up you'll get the emails.[/QUOTE]

I never checked that site out and will!

clever way to come up with a name for the anitagoodesign company!!!

Threads
 

I went to a local quilt store today that was having a store wide 30% off sale. Love those! I have been going to JoAnns for emb thread when they have it for 50% off. They carry Sulky which I do like. The quilt store had Floriani which I have never used and I always assumed it would be quite expensive. I was really surprised to see that in general, it is less expensive than the 50% off Sulky at JoAnns. I can't say I needed any thread, but I did buy several spools. The shop lady told me that it is definitely less expensive but people seem to like it just as much if not more than Sulky. I just might do an inventory of my threads and go back for more before the sale is over. They were also having 30% off floor model machines but I didn't bite. Love my Brother.

I love Floriani thread.

I have a Husqvarna Viking Diamond and a Designer 1. Still learning on them. Software is hardest!

I love Floriani thread! I also have Sulky and quite a lot of them. This past Christmas I bought the 100 pk. thread and though costly it averaged to $2.30 a spool which isn't bad considering that the lqs sells it at $4.60 a spool. If I don't have the color that I need from Floriani then I'll I'll use the thread chart I have, with the actual threads not the printed color chart, and match them up with the sulky.

Has anyone used the poly Glide thread for embroidery?

I'd love to try my hand at embroidery however I don't have a machine yet though I keep looking! One of the things I do ponder about is whether it is better to have two separate machines or one combined. I keep relating this to an old washer dryer I had, couldn't wait to get rid of it and return to a washer and tumble dryer since it neither washed nor dried particularly efficiently. Would that experience bear any relevance to sewing/embroidery? Thank you for any advice.

Sheilz I have an embroidery only machine and separate sewing machine. While the embroidery machine is going I can go ahead and continue my sewing/quilting. The only time I stop sewing is to change the thread and/or to check that it is embroidering ok. I used to own a Babylock Ellure Plus which is a combo machine, sew/embroider and found myself using the embroidery portion more than the sewing and constantly switching out the foot for both. For me it was a hassle and I much prefer to have two separate machines. Also consider how much room you have for two machines. If you already own a sewing machine then check into some embroidery machines only. Size of hoop is also important. If you purchase a machine with a 4x4 hoop then you cannot have a design any larger. A 5x7 hoop gives you more room for small/medium size designs so you can have both. Just my opinion and I'm sure there are many here who can also help. Good luck!

Thank you that is really helpful. I do have a spare sewing machine which I'm in the process of selling so I think replacing it with an embroidery only would be acceptable lol!

the extension for singer is .xxx but you should be able to use .dst

I would vote for an embroidery only machine. I originally bought a Babylock Sophia 2 for sewing primarily. Well, once I got going with embroidery, I found I never took the embroidery attachment off. And, as mentioned, you can sew while you stitch. :thumbup:

Krystyna how have you been? I've missed you!

I have a new computer with Windows 8.1 and I have PED v. 5 and the two are not compatible. I have no interest in digitizing so the only thing I used PED for was to print out templates or look at the stitch order. I don't want to spend boocoo bucks on another PED (any version) unless I have no other choice. What software is out there
that will give me what I want and not empty my wallet. My OS is 64 bit. I've already written to Brother and they told me that what I have is not compatible. So what can I get to fix my dilemma?

Nita, in downright COLD central Florida

Just wanted to thank everyone again for their help with my new machine. So far no problems. I've made a couple kitchen towels and some onesies. Boy, those can be hard to hoop!

Which embroidery only machine would people recommend. Although I'm a beginner from my experience with my current sewing machine I know that if I bought one that is too basic, in a matter of weeks I would be buying one with more bells and whistles! So I'd put my budget at around £2-3000. If I gulp hard could perhaps go a little higher. Thank you

metallic threads
 

I just read this on metallic threads. I just might go get some and give it a try. http://community.annthegran.com/blog....hGvv0bCO.dpbs

I have the BL Spirit and really like it. I am a fan of separate machines. I had the combined and found I used it for embroidery then sewed on a lesser machine. That wasn't good because the combined machine had extraordinary features for sewing that weren't being used.

Everyone has their favorite and every brand has exceptional machines. For me it was the location of the dealer and the ease of purchasing accessories, etc for my machine along with the reviews on the machines. In my area the most common machines are Baby Lock, Brother, Pfaff and Bernina.

One of the local dealers had an anniversary event and lots of embroidery machines were used. The machines were sold for a large discount.

Let us know what you decide.

I am finding out I do now prefer the Floriani over the Sulky. It seems to have a better "flow" coming off the spool and doesn't break as much. I like the look too. I may go back for more while it's still on sale.

Hanging in there. The stress of losing our house has taken it's toll on our health, but we're plodding along and trying to accept the fact that even if you pay insurance premiums faithfully, it doesn't mean the insurance companies are going to do the right thing. Or any of the taxpayer funded programs and charities that have millions to help flood victims. We've given up and will sell our property on Monday and take a HUGE loss, but we just don't have a spare $500,000 rattling around to rebuild. Hopefully we'll be able to get another mortgage and buy something elsewhere. BUT I'm grateful to have a roof over our heads in a time when so many do not. So ... I'm good! :thumbup:

That awful for you. I do hope it works out for you. Best wishes to you for the future.

Krystyna I'm so sorry to heart that. I've heard the same from my friend's daughter. Eventually they moved out of the state and found a home much cheaper. Now its the part of finding good jobs. They both have temporary jobs but its a struggle. My prayers and hugs sent your way to you and your family. Keep your chin up!

Jratcliff, I'm going to my lqs today where they sell the Floriani thread. Quilty-Louise on this board swears by them so I bought one spool and fell in love with it. No breakage and the color sheen is great. Yes they are expensive but worth it imo.

How does Floriani thread compare to Isacord?

I have never used Isacord thread before so I honestly can't
tell you.

But of all the thread I have used since I began machine embroidery
(Dec 2006 or 2007 can't remember), Floriani is my #1 favorite.

PLUS I love that there is more on the spools than some of the other
brands such as Maderia which has probably about 1/4 to 1/3 less than
the Floriani.

PLUS the beautiful sheen of the Floriani Polyester thread is just good
if not better than many (if not all) rayon threads.

Of course this IS just my personal opinion from my experience.

Quilty-Louise I totally agree. Though everyone's choice is different and the some machines are temperament. I tried Isacord one time and it worked well, but the sheen wasn't the same when the design was done. Today I ordered the 2 spool thread attachment for my emb. machine. This way the thread is standing up not down.

I mainly use Isocord thread and think I have all of the colors-it sews up beautifully with no trouble on my Bernina. I do like the Floriani thread because it has a beautiful sheen on the embroidered projects. Find Floriani works better for my machine when I put it in a cup and have it below the thread intake. But do love that thread.

Love GAYG and digitized double wedding ring... got 6 rows done!!! 6 more to go

What collection is this? Please post pictures.

I am so sorry to hear about your Mother. I hope that she will get well soon.

While cleaning my sewing room I came across some designs that
needed to have some findings added to them.

So I spent a couple hours today finishing them.

These designs are by Sonia Showalter Designs. For the "blue" feet
I added a black rhinestone to the heel for those who might be fans
of the "Tar Heels".


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Those are really cute love the embellishments you added.

Louise those are just awesome! Love the baby feet ones! So cute to give as a gift to a new mom!