Somebody mentioned bobbin problems with Janome. Several times I thought the bobbin was misbehaving, but always found if I pull out the bobbin and the thing it's in, and clean out all the fluff junk in there, it works fine. I have a small paintbrush that I use to stick down in back of the bobbin area, and it catches dust bunnies in there like crazy. I do wish I could get new designs from the internet, but the converter box I'd need cost about $500, which is way too much for me, especially now that I've retired.

I have the Viking SE. Have purchased a few CD with designs, however, don't know how to use it very well. Would love to share.

this is exactly what i was talking about with the futura it converts every brands designs and even turns clip art into embroidery designs i got the progams to stitch out photos too although i have not tried that one yet. But putting several thousand $ in a machine then still spends hundreds and hundreds on designs is out of my budget right now.

I just found this thread and have read all the posts!!! Just what I needed. I have a Babylock Ellisimo and have really enjoyed this machine. I love this machine. I've learned bits and pieces with embroidery and have made 3D fall leaves and christmas decorations. I also made mug rugs with embroidery designs. I made a family tree quilt with all the branches and leaves depicting sons and daughters and grand and great grand children (128 names) for my MIL's 90th birthday party. I've made other quilts but just stitched in the ditch and a very small amount of fm (not so good at this task). It's all been fun.
I still need to learn quilting in the hoop. I've messed up several times with the hooping. Gail-r do you have your e-book completed and are you still teaching the art of hooping? I want to tap into your knowledge. Since you don't live too far away from me I would love to take a class from you.
I've enjoyed reading what you all are doing.

brother quanttro
 

This is my second broher embroidery machine and i dearly love and i havent had any trouble with either one

I still have my little brother PE 150 and works like a charm I bought it when they 1st come out years & years ago it runs a lot i have made hundreds of appliques that i have sold as long as i take it apart and clean that bobbin case i don't have any problems I bought the futura for bigger jobs but still am watching this post to upgrade again because i want a huge embroidery area but i do love my futura. I think next time HSN has the futura on sale i will buy another one. then when i can afford it buy the BIG machine
does any one think i have a problem besides me ??? actually I have sold enough of my embroidery to pay for them already

When you make your appliques to sell what fabric do you put them on? What do your customers apply the appliques to? Are they primarily patches for jeans or what?

I have the Bernina 830 with all the hoops. I am taking classes to learn to use this machine. I bought a kit made for the Bernina. It has a DVD with 8 different designs that go on this quilt. I am taking the DVD, the quilt kit and a USB stick to my next class and have my teacher help me embroider one of the blocks so I will know how to use it. I don't even know how to download the designs from the DVD to my USB stick. I tried, but couldn't do it. My sewing machine has an update and I don't know how to load the update onto a USB stick so I can upload it onto my sewing machine. If you can't tell, I'm not good with computers.

Assuming you bought it from a dealer, you should call your dealer and have them walk you through it or go in and get lessons. It's part of the sale.

I have the Janome MC9000, Brother Innovis 500D, Brother ULT2003D, and the PR600II. I do lots of digitizing. Right now I am making designs to put on toilet paper.