romanojg

Most of the time you'll change the color when the machine tells you too. That also depends on the design; some have stitch down lines and it'll have a color change stop for that too. Those are normally where you do the first color but it's done on the stabilizer so that you can see where to lay the fabric down (when it isnt' hooped w/stabilizer) at and then it'll stitch the first color. I normally load the color that I want to go first and use it for both of these.

Then if you are doing an applique you'll get a color change after a stitch down so that you know where to place the applique fabric and then it'll stitch down one time to hold fabric in place, show a color change and at this one it's just so that you can trim the fabric down and then it'll go over the stitch down again and normally do a satin stitch to finish it off. This is where it's really important to download your color sheet if you can and any instructions. You don't have to change the color each time when it's just prompting you to take the next step in either laying fabric down or trimming the fabric.

I have software that tells me what each thing is so that helps alot. Do you have any LQS or a sew and vac that has classes. I know that my Viking store will let any machine into our embrodiery class and so does the sew n vac even though they sell mostly Brother.