I can't wait to get my machine back from the shop. They said it
should be ready by July 1st. I sure hope they are right.

Haven't done any embroidery yet on the smaller embroidery machine
since I got it back 2 weeks ago.

Heck I just used it for the first time yesterday since I got it back on
June 12.

A few weeks ago I went to a thrift store and found 15 cloth dinner
napkins for $3.49. They are white damask 17" x 17".

I am planning to embroider on them, but not sure what to design to
do. Nor what I will do with them when I finish.

Any ideas? I don't want the design to be to heavy in density, but I also
don't want to do anything to "vintage" like in design.

How about something 'christmassy'? might make nice gifts

Great idea!
How about redwork type designs? They are generally a little lighter in stitching.

You can lay them out where it looks like triangles overlapping and not only put a design in the middle of napking but the small part that over lapes, put a coordinating design that will hold them together to make a table runner. it makes a really cute one. You could die them first too.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

The napkins are 100% polyester can it even be dyed?

I just did a google and there were lots of sites on how to do this. One comment was that it also stains less than other fibers. Worth checking into.

Could someone recommend where I can get iron on stabilizer on line to use with tee shirts. I'm having a difficult time finding any and would ideally like it to be wider than 12 inches. Thanks.

Hope I am doing this right. Could not see where to start new thread. I have the small brother se400. After over a year setting here, I got it out and did a couple of little things. Decided I wanted more patterns so I bought 50.00 worth of patterns. ( thought I was getting a card. ) not... had to downloaded to computer. OK that's fine except found out I had to have software to use them. Ok, pd 100.00 for software. Got it today and now my computer says It can not find a drive to load the software. I have a gun but no shells.... What to do? lol Any ideas?

I feel your pain, Nena, and look forward to receiving advice from others on the Board!

oh dear nena! Which software did you buy? The only one you need presently is a card writer/ reader for transferring designs from computer to machine. Is that what you bought? There are many free programs to cover your other needs...sizing, reformatting to your machine's format, editing, etc. Even free programs for digitizing an creating your own designs. I hope we can help you here...just ask all the questions you want!

mermaid , I sent you and email. Yes I have windows 7 and when I tried to plug in the usb port the software said it could not find a driver.

I don't think I would have a problem using it if I could just get it installed.

Ok, got driver downloaded now cannot transfer files. Ok, going to bed. Maybe I will have better luck tomorrow.

Does anyone use iron on stabilizer for tee shirts?
Where do you purchase it?
Please help.

I don't purchase it/use it but look on Amazon.com...they have many options.

GrandmaSewNSew I buy the packaged Pellon for iron on at Joann's. They have it in lightweight and medium. I also use Floriani, which is steeper in price and only sold in quilt stores that carry them. Check out Joann's if you have one near you or if not go to the website www.joann.com

For the inside of the TShirt I buy Floriani's no show mesh, its really soft against the skin plus I use a WS on the top. I can get it locally but you can order it from
http://rnkdistributing.com/products/...y-Stabilizers/.

There is a place on there where you can see if you have a local dealer which makes it nice. If you save your labels then after so many you get free stuff back. When I take the plastic and label off the roll I just put itinto the tube. This saves the label and a good reminder what each stabilizer is. they even have a workbook up there on what to use where and when.

Hi GrandmaSewnSew. I recently purchased some iron on nylon tricot to iron onto tshirts before embroidering. I think I got it from Fabric.com. It works great. Just iron it on the underside of the shirt and then use regular stabilizer. I use a medium tear away. I can't take credit for the nylon tricot, it may have been info I read on the QB, but it is a great help for the knits.

Thank you all for the information! I'm off to shop :)

Doing the happy dance. Got software loaded and using it right now. You guys and gals are the best. Thanks for all your help.

This is one of my favorite topics. I have learned so much from all of the postings.

My next embroidery project will be the Ooh la la quilt/embroidery by Lunchbox quilts. Has anyone made it? I am not a great quilter or all that good with the embroidery machine so am a bit timid to begin.

I did it in a retreat a couple months ago. It looks really good. The main thing is that on the Eifel Tower, when you are placing the design on it make sure its going in the right direction. It's done in multiple blocks and then you sew them together to make the tower. Several put a least a few together the wrong way. It is really pretty. They had ran out of the last French fabric so now I have to go back to store and pick it up so that I can put it together. Pattern is really easy to follow

Judy, I have the templates for the blocks along with design package. Do you think that will help on the Eiffel Tower?

I assume you went on a machine embroidery retreat. I had no idea there was such. I live a bit south of the middle of the USA. Where was the retreat?

New to embroidery. Got the Pfaff Creative Pro. Which brand of embroidery thread do you find works best?

Mary568,
I have used Sulky in the past due to the prices I could find at Joanns when on sale. However I am a huge fan and do own Floriani thread. The sheen is smooth and I do not have any breakage when embroidering. Sometimes my machine is testy when it comes to certain threads but I found that Floriani for me is the best as well as their stabilizers. You will find many of us here have at one point used different brands and would prefer one over the other. I have used Madeira in the past but for some reason my machine doesn't like it (yes my machine has feelings too :D). Hope this helps a bit, I"m sure there are many here that have a preference of their own.

I second the Floriani thread I just LOVE it. In fact I am working
to get all the colors (which I only have about 110 left).

I was new to embroidery a few months ago (and still think I am new).
One thing I've discovered from reading online and practice is that you really need to try out various threads to see what your machine likes and dislikes. I ordered different brands from Discount Embroidery Supply. You will find that the spools are different and may have an impact on how you view the thread. For example, my dealer strongly recommended Robison-Anton. When my thread arrived I was in love with the shine of the Floriani and the spools (they have a larger area underneath that can sit over a bobbin (hope that's clear). I wasn't so impressed with the Robison-Anton spools. I ordered various other thread such as Maderia, Isacord (kind of flat shine-wise), Superior Threads brand, and some from a company called Fil-tec which I haven't used yet (they are a great source for bobbin thread). Anyway, as it turned out, I did like the Robison-Anton the best as the spools just seem to work best with my machine (Janome). I had shredded threads with the Floriani. But I only have one spool of it so I wouldn't say that would always be the case.
I've had little problem with the various thread but due to the difference in the thread spools, some have to be put on the machine with a large cap, small cap, some on vertical pin- so that's a pain to remember and to do when you are changing colors. You will most likely want to find your brand and stick with it.
You will get many different opinions on thread just as you'll get different opinions on machines. So just as you tried out different machines before deciding on the one that was best for you, you should use that process with thread in my opinion.

Quilty Louise totally agree on the Floriani! And you have 110 left to go?! WOW! I have 210 of their threads in their floriani storage thread box. Their colors are just gorgeous. GrandmaSewandSew, I totally agree with you. Every machine has its own temperament. My first one Babylock Ellure was good with Madeira but not Sulky. I traded that one in for the Ellure Plus and it liked Sulky better than Maidera...go figure...Then I got the Babylock Spirit (traded the ellure plus) and it doesn't like the Maidera, some of the Sulky and totally the Floriani. Also if possible only buy mostly used colors like black, red or white to test. It will help out with the density and tightness of the stitches with these colors.

Twin's boy and girl's quilts
 

Beautiful work, Quitnut! I'm looking to do more "quilting" on my embroidery machine. I think it looks great!

I actually used my Brother cut n scan to cut out the fabrics for the dresses, purses, etc. The Eiffel Tower is easy, its just making sure you have the fabric laying the correct way in the hoop. All of it was easy. Some took the glasses and instead of using the black fabric like sunglasses they used like clouds as if that's what they were seeing. I always kind of do my own thing when it comes to fabric choices. I used furry fabric for the poodle for dimension. The retreat was something the store by me does every so many months. They just did a Christmas quilt for emb retreat. The retreat was for the weekend here in Suffolk Va. You can usually find thier classes on line or sign up for the newletter if you are interested. If you have any questions just pm me and it'll shoot me an email so you don't have to wait too long for an answer.

WOW not a single post since July 21st.

Just thought I would share my FIRST ever digitized design, using the
NEW Floriani Total Control-U software.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]489610[/ATTACH]

Looks great! You did a really nice job.

Congratulations on a lovely piece of work! I am just learning the old FTCP and NEW Floriani Total Control-U software. My elderly brain is slow to grasp it but recently a "light bulb" went off and it is beginning to make more sense now. I have done a few VERY simple items but in time I may become proficient like you are. Again, great work, you are talented.:thumbup:
Donna

That is so pretty.I have an embroidery machine also but have not used that function in years

Here are a few of my Embroidery attempts. I have a Husquavarna Viking Ruby, and use the Floriani Thread. The Horse Design on the vest is a Floriani design, the Antelope is from Embroidery Library. The Daisy flowers were embroidered using the Mylar product. The Butterflies, Cowgirls, Cowboys, and Hearts are a Purely Gates Design using the Mylar product also. Haven't actually gotten a project complete but have started many. Lol.... Oh also the windmill is Dakota Collectibles.

all your embroidery is stunning but I absolutely adore the horses! Could you tell me how I could get that particular pattern?
Thanks,
melinda in Tulsa