What kind of machine do you have and do you have any pictures of any ornaments you could post? I'd like to see them. Do you mean you don't use your hoop at all, or just don't put the top of the hoop on to hold the material taut? I haven't tried, but I'm not sure my embroidery software will even work without a hoop attached.

Has Anyone done the Hoopsisters quilt blocks on their embroidery machines When I get time I am going to try them I have the dresden Plate and turned ribbon block just need to try them out

I have that same Brother S350...such an economic embroiddery machine. I have done bits and pieces with mine, and always use it for the 'nightgown part' of the flip rag dolls I make (one side has smiley face and one has sleepy face) and I put hearts on the nightgown, flowers, cats, dogs etc for the local kids with cancer I donate the dolls too. In case some of you haven't seen the dolls, I'll try to find the file it is in and send a picture. The local office (ACS)says the skin color makes no difference to these little guys. I made a couple boy dolls too that do not flip but turn front to back. I truly love this machine. I wish I could afford one of the large ones, but not on this senior citizens budget, I'm afraid. I buy different skin color fabrics when I find them, but we are a couple hours from big fabric stores.

I have that same Brother S350...such an economic embroiddery machine. I have done bits and pieces with mine, and always use it for the 'nightgown part' of the flip rag dolls I make (one side has smiley face and one has sleepy face) and I put hearts on the nightgown, flowers, cats, dogs etc for the local kids with cancer I donate the dolls too. In case some of you haven't seen the dolls, I'll try to find the file it is in and send a picture. The local office (ACS)says the skin color makes no difference to these little guys. I made a couple boy dolls too that do not flip but turn front to back. I truly love this machine. I wish I could afford one of the large ones, but not on this senior citizens budget, I'm afraid. I buy different skin color fabrics when I find them, but we are a couple hours from big fabric stores.

You all are inspiring me! The tshirt is so cute!

I am awaiting my Ellegante next week. Cannot wait to get started with my heirloom and vintage projects!

Happy Stitching! Sassysewer53

Happy, you can embroider without hooping on the 8500. For continuous design embroidering, I would definitely baste the fabric to the appropriate stabilizer.

You would have to mark your rehooping spots on selvage ends of your fabric for the continuous embroidering.

I think you will enjoy your Pacesetter 8500, the only drawback is in design transport. You will need a converter system to do that. I have the BL Esante ESE2 that uses exact same accessories as your 8500 Brother.

Of course, if you have the stock designs, you can do those with no hoop, although I would use hoops to keep tension even.

SassySewer53

I have a Janome 11000 plus a pfaff 2170 you can call me a little compulsive lol i hoop the stablizer and lay the material on top of that , my machine has a basting stitch that holds the material . Now I can't do that with everything .

There is a software called Embird - go to Embird.com. This is the cheapest and best bang for your buck. It is marvelous, has wonderful customer service and a few Yahoo groups to give you a hand. Thru Embird you could run a design thru it's 3d to see what it looks like sewn out, it will sew it out for you - this is great as you can watch it sew and see the problems. It is an editing software that is unparrelled in price for what it does. There is no brand name (Viking, Bernina, Brother) to name a few, that are as powerful in what it does and the price is down right reasonable. You can download a 30 day trial. Here's where you would load a new design in and look it over, see it sew.
I've had Bernina Artista and Brothers Ped, nothing was as easy to learn and did as much.
Judi in Ohio

I have been doing embroidery for 15 years or more. I LOVE sewing machines and have had them all - well almost all. I started out with a Viking Rose, got an 1+, had the Pfaff 7570, then a 2170, then the Creative Vision (they've lost me for good on that one), Had a Brother 8500, a ULT 2001 & 2003 - (wonderful machines), bought the Babylock EMP 6 needle, and now have the Ellisimo. On the way, I had a Janome 10001 for about a month, a Viking Diamond for a few months before I bought the Ellisimo - I'm sticking with her and my EMP6. I sound like a millionair, but honestly just buy and sell at the right times. Many of my machines were used, and everyone who bought my machines ended up very happy. And I've never gotten a bad machine. I use Ebay and the yahoogroup sewitsforsale - love it. So don't think you have to stick to a lower end machine because of budget. There are many nice used machines out there - for instance the Brother ULT line was a great machine imho! TOL a few years ago and dependable and has a large hoop, and you can pick up fairley reasonable.
I think all the current machines are pretty equal in capabilities - they've all caught up. I love the Babylocks because I hate Disney so won't buy a Brother, and think these are great machines - ease of use, embroiders wonderfully.
Judi in Ohio

I have a Brother ULT 2003 D that I bought on Ebay and I love it. I use it for embroidery only as I have an Elna for sewing. I am looking to replace the Elna tho, and am considering another ULT or up. I also use Embird and found it to be user friendly and very helpful people around to help when you need it. I saw a ULT 2003D on Ebay before Christmas for around $1000.00 Wish I could have afforded it then. I paid way more than that for mine. I also have a Brother 180D that is almost brand new, bought it and then found the ULT so it never gets used. Anyone interested I am wanting to sell. As far as I know it only uses a 4x4 hoop, never really got to know it. I hope I can find my way back to this chat !!

I have a Design-A- Quilt DAQ-12. Looking for instruction book. This was given to me. Not sure how to you it. Any ideals?

How do you like your MB4? Hindsight being 20/20, now I kind of wish I had a dedicated embroidery machine rather than a combination. I have a Janome 11000, new on the market when I bought mine. Lately, just for kicks, I've been looking at dedicated EM's on line and I've seen several hardly used MB4's for sale at half the cost of a new one. So I have to wonder why these people (experienced embroiderers) are selling them after using them only a brief time. Brother has a new one, PR-650 that I like the looks and sounds of, but I have a fortune tied up in JEF designs and there's no Brother dealer near here.

You can't do any machine embroidery without hooping. It keeps the fabric taut, and the hoop mechanism moves and guides the fabric for the machine design to stitch the embroidery. You can do a long strip of fabric by stitching out the design, then taking the fabric out of the hoop, moving it to center the design again, and stitch the new part. It makes it easier if your design is broken into parts that don't all connect. That way, if your placement isn't spot on, it's not as noticeable.

I haven't had any problems downloading with Vista either.

I have Vista, The embroidery program on the computer is Designer Plus 5 for bernina designs not already built in for the machine, All you have to do is go to your dealer,he can give you information as to how to make this product work on your machine,My dealer is in Flagstaff several hours away from here My dealer sent me an E-mail . all I had to do is follow directions , I am not the smartest about computers but it works just perfect, now all I have to do is learn about digitizing and adding my own patterns from photos :?

Yes Windows 7 does work.

I'm jealous. I have a Bernina Artista 180 and have recently bought Ver 6 software which I plan to load tomorrow. I would love to have the 830 but just can't quite justify buying it. I also have a Viking Topaz 30 which has a bigger hoop, so I'm going to be happy with what I have.

I think I have a New Home embroidery machine that came with 20 or so memory cards. I have had it over 2 years and am so intimidated by it I have not learned how to use it. I did do names on Christmas ornaments one year but just by using the dial on the machine, which I can also do with my Vikiing. So I guess my goal this year should be to learn how to use the machine to embroider. I just HAD to HAVE it!!

It took me a year of staring at the machine before I used it. Now I wonder why I was so intimidated.

Your Janome MC10000 can be upgraded to MC10001 at Janome web site for free.
www.emblibrary.com is a really good site with freebies and also "Kenny's Korner" with all sorts of assistance.

I found the the instruction book. It was boxed up in the shop that My DH is working on for me. :oops: He has the lighting up and want to paint the wall and then I can tell him where to put all the sewing machines. :thumbup: I don't want to push him I hope he will do it soon. :!:

I have two vikings. An older Designer 1 and a new Designer Diamond. I love both of them. I made embossed Christmas towels this year for my hospital volunteer pals. I also have 4D Professional Embroidery System software. Have been taking classes with this for almost 2 years. My favorite class!

I have a Viking Rose, have had it since 1998. Love it. Don't do as much I used to. Have done t shirts, sweatshirts and quilt squares have even done some quilting with it.

Loading to the flash drive and sticking it into the 830 is so easy, I love that I also downloaded some patterns that I bought from Zundt Designs, I made some lace , it turned out beautiful

Hello Joeyoz, I just want to say I will keep your Mother and Family in my prayers.
Lisa

I have a Singer Futura and so far I am just learning to use it. I love it so far, and have many ideas for kids quilts. I am really excited about it.

When doing embroidery you have to have something hooped whether it is the stabilizer or the article, that is how it is moved to get the stitching done in the right place, you can manuely do embroidery work on your regular sewing machine, it is harder and you have to do all the moving of the fabric, there are all sorts of stabilizers to help you do a large variety of different projects, Here is the link that I was saying earlier to help with some of your questions, it can answer a lot of questions for you, it is a very user friendly site with a lot of information on it,

http://www.embroiderylibraryprojects.com/

It is not law, you will find somethings work better for you than others,

Hi all...I have a Janome 300e and I too stared at the machine for a loooong time before actually using it..I finally sat down with the instruction book and went through the thing several times...my machine is an embroidery only machine and can embroider up to 5 x 7...I made tons of stuff for Christmas and only screwed up 2 so feel like continuing on now...Embroidery Library is one of my favourite places and there is lots of great tutorials there on embroidering on everything from fabric to wood...

So glad to see this forum. I have a Janome 200E embroidery only machine. I have made very little on it, mostly in classes. I hope to get to get into it more in the spring. I love hearing about all the adventures and miss adventures you all are having. Grammie

I have the Janome 350E and I just love it. Yesterday I got the Customizer 11000 software for it but I haven't had time to check it out yet! My sister has the same machine and her computer is Vista and we haven't had any trouble downloading designs.

hi I have a Janome NH 9000 and a Brother PR600-ll I have done baby quilts with and want to do an embroidered old jeans rag quilt for my GS

Hi Everyone,

Wow this thread is rockin and rollin now, come on and post so we can learn from each other.

Have fun and be sure to post your pictures for show and tell!

Has anyone with the Janome 9000 had trouble with the bobbin thread showing on the front when embroidering? i ruined several designs because the white thread was all pulled to the front. i could use the same thread in the bobbin but that gets pricey and i think wasteful. A local Janome dealer told me to use serger thread in the bobbin, but do i
dont have every color in that kind of thread.

If you have bobbin thread showing on the top the odds are that your tension is off, if it is only some times, your thread could be getting caught a bit on something pulling it tighter, it can do fine in most spots but direction and amount of fill can change that and pull the bobbin thread to the top, or the other cause may be that your bobbin tension is a bit loose,

Now if you do both sewing and embroidery with it, the weight of the bobbin thread could be different. usually you use a finer one with the embroidery and the tension may have to be adjusted going on to the other,

Now there is a fix as well for that as well, you can take a perminant marker (as close to the color you were using) and color the bobbin thread, when you do in the hoop projects you either have to change bobbin colors or color it in on the last part, it depends on the mood that I am in to what I do. I use prewound usually with the embroidery machine so prefer to use just white as they are harder to find in color and they are a lot more expensive.

Buzz Tools is a program that you can use to catalog your designs, convert them to suit your machine.

I have a husqvarna scandinvia 300......I have had it for 5-6 years & have yet to get any success w/ it
Partially I am scared of trying to get things from on line into the proper card.
I have pledged to get this going this year !

Hi
I have a Bother Ultra 2001, sewing and embroidery machine. I did a qhole embrodery quilt for the first granddaughter. Waiting for mommie to pick the designs for the second grnddaughter. Love my machine thing of purchasing the Quattro.

These are so cute! I know they loved them.

HI THERE.........I have a Viking Designer SE and a Viking Designer Diamond, and LOVE them both..........I have just finished a baby quilt (actually a coverlet size for a twin bed) with Beatrix Potter designs. Will have to post a pic a bit later. I have done many kitchen and bath towels for Christmas presents, and I do use the Majestic Hoop and the new Inspira Quilt Designer software to "embroider" the quilting........

The NEW Futura's will "read" just about any design extension.....However, XXX and SEW are the Singer extensions.

Hope this helps!