I need sugestions!
 

My Mom has a Viking Ruby .. and has owned it for over a year. Its a great machine , but she does not use a good many of the functions.. specifically the emboidery . She took a class at Jo'Anns ( they sell them at that Jo'Ann's) but it was not very helpful and they were less than supportive becasue she did not buy the machine at that dealer. The machine was purchased at a dealership no longer in business.
I have tried to coax her into trying it again, but after the instructors obvious distain for her not purchasing at that location... she does not want to try it again. In addition she finds the weight and all the emboidery "stuff" difficult to get in and out of her car... and is concerned that all that hauling it around is no good for the machine.
I know she wants to do more with this machine... and I live 550 miles from her.. I want to find a way for her to be able to learn more and get confidence in using the emboirdery functions. I know she would "play" for hours, if she had some lessons.
Is there a book "for Dummies" on using these machines? The owners manual only goes so far and is quite limited. Are there highly competant people who would be willing to give private lessons? How do I solve this ? I would love to hear suggestions.

I'm really sorry about the dealer! I purchased a machine from a different dealer and felt very welcome at the JoAnn's by my house. Is there another dealer in her area she could try? To be honest, if she is not comfortable with computers, it probably would be better for her to have a real instructor rather than a book. Are there any LQSs or Quilt guilds in her area? I would contact them and see if there is anyone knowledgeable with newer Viking embroidery machines that would be willing her help her. My LQS charges for private quilting lessons, but I'm sure if they had experience with this machine they would be willing to provide private help.

What area does your Mom live in? If she is near me I'd be willing to help - it could be a lot of fun!
I have a Brother Duetta, but don't think it would operate too much differently.

Oh it would be amazing if you could but.... my Mom is in Buffalo , NY.

I know this may seem insulting and I do NOT mean it that way but what about your mom reading her manual? Usually the machines today have very good manuals that will introduce you to your machine. The way I learned to use my TOL Bernina (way back when), was using the manual. Best of all the manuals today seem much better than 30 years ago.

Another thing is the internet. Has your mom visited here:
http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/media...ingroom_us.asp

This is Viking's instructional video series. Then you have Youtube.com. If your mom just starts to use the machine to make something as she has questions say on a zipper insertion or a buttonhole etc... she could search Viking Ruby Buttonhole and I'd bet she get enough information to get close.

Finally joining a board like this to ask any specific questions. This is an unusually positive and supportive group I bet she'd get almost immediate help/answers.

But the big point is to tell her she can't break her machine and to just use it.

Well, that was ***** of the personnel at the that Dealership. May they get what they deserve.


My first suggestion would be to hire a tutor that would make house calls.

Then my concerns would be -where would one find someone? who could/would one trust? and how much would it cost?
Maybe advertise at one of the LQS? maybe ask around at a quilt or craft show?


I'm one of those that learn best by - maybe your Mom is, too?

1) Demonstrate it
2) Let me do it
3) Show me again if I didn't get it
4) Let me do it

I MUST do it myself to get and retain the "how to" -

If your mom is comfortable with computers you could send here a doc with links on it that you found. Gather the links and make sure to number them from basic to more difficult. That way you'll have the links and if she has a question she can tell you what link she is looking at.

If she isn't comfortable with the computer does she have a friend that could do this with her?

Just briefly checking the link provided by moosie, I didn't find any help there for using the embroidery unit. I am so glad that my sewing machine shop offered free monthly classes when I bought mine 2 years ago. At that time I considered myself pretty sewing machine and computer savvy, but would not have become very good, or had much fun, without going to classes for using the computerized embroidery module. Not that I've become very good at embroidery, but I sure am having fun at it and still go to classes to learn new techniques.
It's such a shame that she was treated badly at Joanne's, considering she bought a high end expensive sewing machine. There are a lot of Quilting Board members who also have embroidery machines, and we would attempt to help her (as moosie suggested).

That describes how my Mom learns best and me ( I guess I learned how to learn from her).

I think a guild or LQS is your best bet if there is not another dealership nearby to help. Is this her first machine, it might help to buy a smaller more portable machine of the same brand for classes and learning the basics of the machine before she tackles the big machine. She might be overwhelmed if it is her first machine

When I bought my Bernina with BSR, we were supposed to have classes several times to learn everything about our machines and what all they could do. They gave us 1 class for about 4 hours, they rushed though the whole manuel. Afterwards I was so over whelmed I did not remember hardly anything. there were 4 or 5 of us in the class. That was 3 years ago. I have a $ 3,000 machine that I piece on. I learn by someone showing me, and Im not computer savvy. What a waste of a beautiful machine!!

It is definetly not her first machine, she has been sewing for over 70 years.. She bought this because she has looked at the inspirational embroidery pieces that are shown in quilts shops and just drools and looks and just loves them.. This was supposed to be her dream machine. She is a highly skilled sewer.. and just needs to get the hang of this machine , specifically the embroidery part. She has some computer skills and is pretty good about being able to decifer written instuctions.. .its just the manual really does not go very far into specifics. She has been able to attach the embriodery part and do some very very basic things .. but I know she is dissappointed that she can't do alot more.
Whats more interesting there does not seem to be any dealers other than those in Jo'anns in her area. I have looked online for dealerships and called Viking , somehow Jo'anns is the only show in town.

Oh I GET IT now! Thank you for clearing that up. She's a skilled seamstress it's specifically getting her head around the machine embroidery. She actually can use the machine for embroidery it's just all the 'stuff' surrounding the embroidery. Yes the manuals are poor for that subject you are right.

Frankly I'd wanted to do machine embroidery and like your mom was a skilled seamstress just never had a machine capable of using embroidery patterns, only free hand embroidery. I first read this book: Digitizing Made Easy by John Deer.

That helped me understand about basic digitizing but left me clueless on choosing stabilizers, hooping, draw-in etc... So I searched and found Trevor Conquergood:
http://www.sunsetstitches.com/blog/

Trevor comes from a family who made their living machine embroidering. I started taking his classes. They are mostly on digitizing and using digitizer software but I learned so much about why they are digitized this way, editing purchased designs etc... and I improved so much. Have your mom take a look through Trevor's site. Then she can subscribe if she likes what she sees. It's only $10.00/mo and you can go to 2 live Webinars/month for that and get a link to download the recorded webinars during the months you were subscribed. Even though some of the information didn't apply it certainly helped. I can't say enough good about Trevor.

I'd also send her to the local library and to Amazon for a couple of these general type of books surrounding the basics of Machine Embroidery (between 3 general books/Trevor/and a couple good forums she should be fixed up):
http://www.amazon.com/Machine-Embroi...ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/Embroidery-Mac...ref=pd_sim_b_3 (Twigg's books are good)

Essentially if she has put the module on and been able to work a small piece then she doesn't need a Ruby dedicated book just a book on how to embroidery and if she ends up with a machine specific question I'd bet someone here or on patternreview.com could fix her up. Oh and tell your mom how lucky she is her daughter is so concerned with helping her out, you are sweet.

I think hands on is usually best for everyone. I know where I live I teach Embroidery Club every month and it is free. We also have embroidery retreats every couple of months, where you spend the whole day with us and sew a number of different items. A great way to learn. So if we do this in my area, I would think something like this might be available in her area as well. Maybe online tutorials? Just thinking out loud. Best of luck :)

I have a viking topaz 30 and I think if she could just read the manual and it should show how to hoop and stabalize the designs are programmed in the machine she should be okay . If she liked it she could learn more things

i have pfaff embroidery machine---i have used sewing machines for 40+ years--there is no way i could have learned how to do embroidery without 'bearsingrey'method of teaching it is a whole new world--and yes i am afraid- moosie- you can break them --they do not take too kindly to being moved around they are very sensitive---if you can arrange a tutor in your mums home that would i feel have the best outcome-----embroidery is soo much fun

I believe Viking has video classes on their web site: http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/19211.htm. Also Youtube has many videos that she can watch.

Jackie,
Sorry you had a bad experience with your Bernina shop. The shop I use has guide classes going on frequently and you can attend them more than once! (I had to go twice) Also check out the Bernina web site and you tube for videos that will help. I bought a Bernina quilt frame and found a you tube video on how to assemble it - much more helpful than the printed instructions.

If floriani is oing a embroidery seminar in her area it s a great way to learn about stableizers and thread. The cost is usually 30.00 and they cover all types.

Craftsy.com has a class, Stupendous Stitching - it isn't really embroidery but uses the decorative stitches to make a lovely wallhanging.
If she can put the hoop on, load a design ... the screen will tell her Color #1, you do that, then Color #2. It is better to do a practice piece first and take notes on color placement! Then you can do the "for real" embroidery with colors of your choosing. It really is just a matter of doing. If she wants to digitize etc then she needs the embroidery software which is another big expense. The Ruby is a great machine and using it is really pretty easy. The very worst part is not having a dealer anywhere close by - makes a lot of difference.

I just traded my Ruby in for the Diamond Deluxe. I totally love the Ruby and constantly experiment and take classes for it and the software that I bought extra. There are tutorials on Vikings web site but my teacher recommends a guy who has a website called Mr Patience. He can help her use the organizer that came with it; it really can do alot. Check in her area for other places where she can take classes or get support. Here they have LQS that don't care what machine you have and it's normally a yrly price like where I go its 40 for the yr if you didn't buy your machine there and then whatever the monthly fee is (cost of material). We have a sew and vac that is like an embroidery club and you can learn from there as well. She may be able to contact someplace like this and get an individual to come to her house and offer classes. I'd do it if I didn't live so far away. There are also support groups on yahoo. If she has particular questions you can contact me and I'll try to help her. I agree about the owners manual and its limited functionality. I'll check with my teacher next week and see if she can recommend some books that deal more with the machine than the software which is what mr patience does. You can learn alot from him though. Let me know if I can help

Lori

I did a search for you for a Viking dealer near Buffalo, NY. I'm not sure if either of these places offer classes or are near your mom, but maybe they may have a suggestion.

[TABLE="width: 615"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceRightShort, align: left"]VIKING SEWING GALLERY 661 BLASDELL[/TD]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceRightShort, align: left"]3540 McKINLEY PARKWAY
INSIDE JoANN FABRICS #1932
BLASDELL, NY 14219-2658
[email protected][/TD]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceRightShort, align: left"](716) 821-9858[/TD]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceLeftShort, align: right"]7.55 Miles

Directions[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceRightShort, align: left"]VIKING SEWING GALLERY 662 AMHERST[/TD]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceRightShort, align: left"]1551 NIAGARA FALLS BLVD.
INSIDE JoANN FABRICS #1930
AMHERST, NY 14228-2702
[email protected][/TD]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceRightShort, align: left"](716) 831-1233[/TD]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceRightShort, align: left"]8.15 Miles

Directions[/TD]
[TD="class: GridColSpaceLeftShort, align: right"][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

When I first got my Janome, I was overwhelmed. I'd sewn for years, but that embroidery thing was a whole other animal! The dealer offered classes, but by the time I'd upgraded twice, I needed more classes. I have found that the internet (youtube, especially) is a great tutorial source. They are machine specific or very generic! I would ask a nice employee (if they have ONE) if there was someone who could offer coaching to get your mom up and running.

By chance is there a sewing machine repair shop near her. I was given a machine that had all kinds of bells and whistles that I had never seen before-it confused me to the point of wanting to throw it out the nearest window. I took my old Singer in for repairs and asked if he would buy or trade the 'Witch' and under glass on the counter were loads of names and numbers for help concerning every thing about machines and sewing. He recommended the right lady for me. I did learn how to use it in a very short time.

Maybe if she had a specific project to make/do it would be more rewarding & she would be more inclined to experiment.Fore example, Are there grandchildren ? You cauld say "Susie would love a bath towel with her name on it . Can you do a onsie for the baby with a teddy bear? The kids would sure like their names on Christmas stockings."etc.
Once she gets going I bet she will love it and there will be no stopping her! You might have a look at www.cuteembroidery.com It is a free forum with lots of free designs,tips,hints and "Cuties" wiling t help. You might even find someone who lives near who could help her with the first few steps.

Contact Viking customer service and see if there's someone else nearby that will 'adopt' her as a customer. That's what we did when the dealer I worked for went out of business ... the dealer I went to work for 'adopted' ALL of my customers including the discounts promised by the pervious dealer.

I tend to agree with bearisgray. I would be leery about posting on Craigslist for someone to come into my mother's home especially since you have to be very careful who you let into your house these days. The idea of the LQS is a very good one. You might want to check with a local quilting quild to see if someone there does that sort of thing. Good luck to you and your mom. Also IBQLTN has a very good idea about contacting Viking to see if they recommend someone.

Perhaps you could contact the local American Sewing Guild. I know the group I belong to has many people who use that machine.

We have an embroidery forum here on QB and I'm sure any of the ladies (or gentlemen) would be more than willing to help. There may even be someone who lives near your mum.

Lori S, there is a Pfaff dealer in Buffalo: http://www.totsewing.com/ Pfaff and Viking are 'sister' machines with many common (and some uncommon) features. The software will likely be the same, stabilizers and threads will be the same. You might contact the shop and see how they might receive her in classes with a Viking machine (in our community the Pfaff store is a little more receptive to Vikings than vice versa). As for the weight moving everything, which is an issue and I haven't been sewing for 70 years so I know I'm younger than your mother, get her a little wheeled cart (one that folds up takes up virtually no space) and a supply kit she can keep packed for class (if you're not familiar, the store can help with what she would need). Once she has some success, she'll probably be addicted like many of us! Embroidery Library has nice, inexpensive designs that can be downloaded to her machine so she can have some good results before she tackles digitizing. I wish both of you luck!

I would look for someone on this board from the NY area and find out if there is a quilt guild nearby. You might be able to find a guild member who would like to help her for a fee.