sewnsewer2

Congrats!! Yes, please do post a pic of your emb machine. That way if some of us have that model, we can be of more specific help to you.

I also have that book by Nancy Zeiman, great book!

You can embroider on so many things from toilet paper (yes, you read right) to leather!

You will have so much fun with it and I'll help in any way I can.

mpeters1200

Now I really can't wait for it to get here!

fabricluvr

i've never tried interfacing, so i can't say. i've just always used the stabilizer that jo-anns has in rolls. it varies in stiffness, and you can also get the sticky kind and water soluble. it's specific to machine embroidery. i have read where the hooping and stabilizer process is critical. if you have issues with the outcome, it's generally issues with one of the two (or both).

there are some websites where you can buy the stabilizer in bulk, but i'm just a 'casual user' so i've picked up a little here, a little there. got the sticky and water soluble after reading nancy's book. worked great with the towels because i didn't want the hoop marks and didn't want the little loops to catch on the needle.

have fun!

oh, and here's another fun embroidery design site - not sure why the name, but some fun and inexpensive stuff

http://www.designsbysick.com/

sewnsewer2

No, interfacing is not the same as a stabilizer for MEing. I get the H2gone WSS (water soluble stabilizer) from walmart and it works perfectly.

I mainly buy OESD stabilizers tho.

Try this site, it helped me a lot when I 1st started. It's free to join and they don't bother you with emails unless you want a reply to a post.

http://www.sewforum.com/index.php?si...ca02bfba050b6b

mpeters1200

I had to come back here so I could bookmark this thread. There's no way I'm going to get through all those fabo links in one sitting.

Also...one of the quilt fairies gave me a message to expect my box on Wednesday. I just can't contain my excitement. I'll take a pic of it as soon as I can, but I'll make sure to post make and model right away.

I'm SOOOOOOOO excited!

mic-pa

The reason you do not want to use interfacing is because you want to be able to take the stabalizer off after you finish embroidering. So tear away is what you use. What ever kind of machine it is, it would be nice if you knew a dealer or friend who does this kind of thing to help you out. Hands on is a good thing. Good Luck and enjoy. Marge

Elizabeth A.

I was just thinking about this post yesterday and wondering.... Has your machine arrived yet!?!?!? :D :D :D

mpeters1200

I've been going to some of these links and learning a lot. I also found a friend who knows what she's doing.

I'll be getting lessons once it gets here.

fabricluvr

i don't know which i'm most excited about - you getting your embroidery machine or me getting my Cricut which should be here any day!

doin' the happy dance!

Debra Mc

I just got my machine in Nov and have been taking lessons from dealer to learn to use it. It's a Babylock Ellure Plus. I love it except that the biggest design area I can do with this machine is 5x7. I didn't realize this when I bought it. I saved forever to buy it and if I had realized this I would have waited to up grade to a better machine. My teacher said not to use cheap thread (Coats & Clark) because it will cause problems in your machine. It will fray & shred. I didn't know this. I grew up sewing with this thread and never had a problem but I'm not gambling with a $2000.00 machine. There is a book I'm going to order from Amazon, it's titled "Embroidery Machine Essentials-How to Stablize Hoop & Stitch Decorative Stitches by Jeannine Twigg also Basic Techniques same author. They seem to have more basic information than others I looked at. The key to good embroidery is the stablization. It's makes all the difference in the world in how a piece turns out. Did you know to monogram a towel you have to stablize the top side & the bottom & you don't hoop it. My next lesson we are doing towels. Can't wait to do T shirts. Hope you have fun. It is a learning process.