New to machine embroidery and loving it! I live about 30 miles from the LQS that I bought it at and don't go to town often. So when I bought it, I was on the way home and decided I should pick up a few threads and stabilizers. I knew that I was at their mercy knowing nothing about the machines. I bought one spool of bobbin thread, three top threads, and three packs of stabilizer. I also bought a card that sort of tells me which stabilizer to use. I had full intentions of ordering extra supplies from the internet after I decided if I like the machine or not. Well, I love it and not wanting to give them the kind of money that I just had for the other supplies. 4 threads (smaller spools) and 3 stabilizers=$72!!!
I am still not sure on the stabilizer thing though. I bought some of what the gal at the quilt shop said I needed. Of course I have since found a ton of it on the internet a LOT cheaper than what I bought. The card thing on the stabilizer tells to use this one with stretchy fabrics, this one with this kind and so on. I am am confused because I read on one site that depending on the fabric, I might not even need stabilizer. Would this be for canvas or denim....? Is this true and how do I figure out when I don't need stabilizer??? I think I can tell if I do need it. What about cotton, do you need it for cotton???

TIA

there are very few fabs that won't need it, you're right, denim and canvas mostly, there is a lot of trial and error figuring it all out, most of the time i use a med weight tear away

I purchase my stabizers from JoAnn's with coupon, or WM and at quilt shows from Marathon .......I use totally stable from Sulky for knits ironed to the wrong side of fabric. Water soluable when doing emb on terry cloth or screen both under and on top. I hoop a med tear-a-way and emb on most things. I don't always hoop the fabric, sometimes just use my fix function. Where did you get your machine from? No classes? calla

check out emlibrary.com; they have all types of tutes on thier site and projects and instructions for doing embroidery including stablizers

I do the same, it's easier to buy the stabilizer from the bolts so you can cut it to the size you need.

I was in the same boat....
I purchased this book from Amazon: Embroidery Machine Essentials: How to Stabilize, Hoop and Stitch Decorative Designs [Paperback]
Twigg Jeanine

I also watched alot of You Tube Videos and asked lots of quests and did a lot of trial and ERRORS!....
In my limited experience, if the fabric is heavy and has little to no stretch, u probably can get away with no stabilizer. I find some off beat things to use as stabilizer too ( mostly from my reading online) coffee filters,tulle, I even bought some wedding aisle runner at Goodwill that is wonderful for light wt stablizing...
I purchase most of my threads on ebay or off craigslist and have built quilt a collection of FREE emb designs. I dont know much but I'm willing to help u and learn along with u if u care to PM.

I'm sure your machine was expensive, most embroidery machines are, but that is only the beginning of what you will have to spend. Shop on line to find best prices. Buy in large rolls the kind you use most. You will need several different kinds for different kinds of material. And don't be fooled by the weight of the fabric. Almost all needs some kind of stablizer. Denim is stretchy and if you embroidery without or with the wrong kind of stabilzer it will distort a lot. Denim needs a med. to heavy weight cut away stablizer. Having said all that, I love my embroidery machine.

Thank you all for your tips......I too have purchased an embroidery machine, but unsure how to get started- Quilt University is having a beginner Embroidery class starting July 1st I do believe for three weeks and $27. Seems like maybe I should sign up????