It sounds as if the quilting fairies have been listening to the wishes of my heart. I believe it's very possible I will be getting an embroidery machine in the next few days.

I've wanted one for several years, but too many things are in the way. It sounds like my FIL is sending me my late MIL's embroidery machine. I remember seeing it once, I helped her with something. Once it's here I'll take a pic of it and post it so I can post more specific questions...and I'll have to google the owner's manual.

I know that embroidery thread has to be used. And some type of software. FIL keeps talking about Chips that go in it.

Are there any basic rules of thumb that apply to all embroidery? Is there software out there so I can make quilt labels or do I have to try to do everything from scratch. I'm very intimidated. I have such a hard time with computers. When I got my sewing machine, I insisted on one that "couldn't think on it's own".

I know that there's a no magnet rule about computers. No food or drink is ever allowed outside of the dining room so I don't have to worry about knocking my coffee onto it. Do i have to use special fabric?

I just need help with the basics. Once I know what kind it is, I can get more specific....and I want to show you my new toy when it gets here!

OH, how wonderful! I think once you get the machine, post the model/brand and you'll get some great help. I have a Bernina and my dealer has been most helpful with all my questions.

Can't wait to see your new toy :wink:

Oh most definitely post pictures when you get the machine!! One of us out here probably has the same model and can tell you all about how to use it!!

You do need special "embroidery" thread as well as special bobbin thread, stabilizers, etc. But don't panic. There are some really good books that will lead you from hooping all the way through taking it out of the hoop!!

Congratulations and just RELAX!!

i'm fairly new to embroidery by machine (white 3300 i got for $120). i just bought Machine Embroider with Confidence by Nancy Zieman. i got it from the library and didn't want to return it. then i found it at jo-anns and finally got to use a 50% coupon on it. it has most everything you need to know.

special bobbin thread (i use coats and clark), not really special embroidery thread (i've used gutterman, coats and clark, and sulky) as long as it's rayon or polyester. get your stabilizers when jo-anns has 50% off their notions wall (if you have a jo-anns or hancock fabrics).

by a chip, he may mean a card. my white (made by brother) takes a card for designs other than what are in the machine. i had to get a card writer to be able to save embroidery designs from the internet to the card to put into my embroidery machine. if i continue to be as interested in it as i am today, i hope to get a machine with UBS port and larger embroidery field.

when you know what machine it is, google embroidery designs and start looking for the many free downloads that are available (and some also really cheap).

a few of my favorite sites are

http://www.emblibrary.com/EL/default.aspx
http://www.embroiderydesigns.com/
and
http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/

this one has a nice message board (with tough restrictions on posting embroidery designs)

http://www.embroidables.com/

no special fabric. i've been using my quilting fabric. made some potholders and towels for Christmas gifts (the towels are tricky if they have the loops, but you can use water soluble stabilizer on the top).

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...der640x480.jpg



can't wait to see which machine you're getting!

Another website for free embroidery is http://www.annthegran.com but it will really depend on what software you'll be getting with your machine how it will read the data and where it can come from. You'll need to know what format your machine reads, but that will be in your manual.

My machine has a bobbin sensor and the coats and clark makes it malfunction, but do spring for a box of speciality threads. The best deal I found was a box of 20 Madeira spools from Joanns.com http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.j...RODID=prd15360 It's $20 so the up front cost isn't bad unlike other big thread groupings, and you'll have all the colors you'd like to start out. With the $20 box you can add Sulky or other brands and see what your machine sews best with.

Also http://www.Allstitch.com has refill spools that are 1100 yards or some such for $2.45, with your first order they will send you a booklet of a whole bunch of different stabilizer samples so you can see what they are and which ones you'd like.

Hopefully your new machine will come with at least one font that way you can just put in the info you want on your quilt labels and voila!

How exciting! Definately let us know what it is when you get it. We all might have different machines but basically they're all the same. When your FIL says "chip" he probably does mean card and that means computer software with a reader/writer box. When you find out which brand it is, you can make a decision on which software program is best. Or maybe she had a box and he'll send that along with it!

It all seems really confusing and overwhelming at first but there's enough machine embroiderers here that can help you with all the questions you're going to have. There are some excellent websites with lots of good information as well. Here's a link to one of my favorites.

http://www.secretsof.com/embroiderytips/

Someone mentioned http://www.emblibrary.com
as well. It's my favorite site for purchasing designs. Their designs stitch out beautifully and they have great sales!

Please post a pic of your new toy when you get it! And ask all the questions you need to...have fun!

I'm interested in watching this thread as well. I have a Bernina 630 e with the Embroidery Unit and so far all I have done is use it to make labels with. I need to learn how to use the software I got with the machine, as well as the Explorations software I got for Christmas. I have downloaded a boatload of free designs but have not been able to find the time or brains to work them around in the software and get them to my machine. I am confused a little as my software that came with the machine, the Bernina Editor lite v 4, uses ART format but my machine uses EXP. When I download EXP format, the designs don't do well on my software, but...... I am so confused. I will be watching to see what everyone has to say. I feel so stupid when it comes to this embroidery stuff! I need one of you to come to my home and show me what to do!!!!

Thanks! I'll go to the library to request that book by Nancy. My first quilt ever was one of her beginner patterns. By stabilizer....is it specific to embroider or would interfacing stuff work?

I was afraid once I posted about it, I would either jinx myself or raise more questions....I wish UPS would hurry up and bring it!!

I have a Babylock Esante. It sews and embroiders, although I have not yet used the embroidery to its capacity and I've had it 6 years!

I use Sulky thread for embroidering. Try 'Atlanta Thread Supply' - they have some great deals on sewing supplies and threads. They carry Metrosene Plus which is my favorite. I think 'Nancy's Notions' also carries Metrosene. 'Clotilde' is another one and 'Home Sew'. JoAnn's carries Guttermann but it is very linty, but I do buy it if it's on sale, I just vacuum my machine out more. And you can always find a variety at a quilt shop.

You're gonna love it!

Congrats!! Yes, please do post a pic of your emb machine. That way if some of us have that model, we can be of more specific help to you.

I also have that book by Nancy Zeiman, great book!

You can embroider on so many things from toilet paper (yes, you read right) to leather!

You will have so much fun with it and I'll help in any way I can.

Now I really can't wait for it to get here!

i've never tried interfacing, so i can't say. i've just always used the stabilizer that jo-anns has in rolls. it varies in stiffness, and you can also get the sticky kind and water soluble. it's specific to machine embroidery. i have read where the hooping and stabilizer process is critical. if you have issues with the outcome, it's generally issues with one of the two (or both).

there are some websites where you can buy the stabilizer in bulk, but i'm just a 'casual user' so i've picked up a little here, a little there. got the sticky and water soluble after reading nancy's book. worked great with the towels because i didn't want the hoop marks and didn't want the little loops to catch on the needle.

have fun!

oh, and here's another fun embroidery design site - not sure why the name, but some fun and inexpensive stuff

http://www.designsbysick.com/

No, interfacing is not the same as a stabilizer for MEing. I get the H2gone WSS (water soluble stabilizer) from walmart and it works perfectly.

I mainly buy OESD stabilizers tho.

Try this site, it helped me a lot when I 1st started. It's free to join and they don't bother you with emails unless you want a reply to a post.

http://www.sewforum.com/index.php?si...ca02bfba050b6b

I had to come back here so I could bookmark this thread. There's no way I'm going to get through all those fabo links in one sitting.

Also...one of the quilt fairies gave me a message to expect my box on Wednesday. I just can't contain my excitement. I'll take a pic of it as soon as I can, but I'll make sure to post make and model right away.

I'm SOOOOOOOO excited!

The reason you do not want to use interfacing is because you want to be able to take the stabalizer off after you finish embroidering. So tear away is what you use. What ever kind of machine it is, it would be nice if you knew a dealer or friend who does this kind of thing to help you out. Hands on is a good thing. Good Luck and enjoy. Marge

I was just thinking about this post yesterday and wondering.... Has your machine arrived yet!?!?!? :D :D :D

I've been going to some of these links and learning a lot. I also found a friend who knows what she's doing.

I'll be getting lessons once it gets here.

i don't know which i'm most excited about - you getting your embroidery machine or me getting my Cricut which should be here any day!

doin' the happy dance!

I just got my machine in Nov and have been taking lessons from dealer to learn to use it. It's a Babylock Ellure Plus. I love it except that the biggest design area I can do with this machine is 5x7. I didn't realize this when I bought it. I saved forever to buy it and if I had realized this I would have waited to up grade to a better machine. My teacher said not to use cheap thread (Coats & Clark) because it will cause problems in your machine. It will fray & shred. I didn't know this. I grew up sewing with this thread and never had a problem but I'm not gambling with a $2000.00 machine. There is a book I'm going to order from Amazon, it's titled "Embroidery Machine Essentials-How to Stablize Hoop & Stitch Decorative Stitches by Jeannine Twigg also Basic Techniques same author. They seem to have more basic information than others I looked at. The key to good embroidery is the stablization. It's makes all the difference in the world in how a piece turns out. Did you know to monogram a towel you have to stablize the top side & the bottom & you don't hoop it. My next lesson we are doing towels. Can't wait to do T shirts. Hope you have fun. It is a learning process.

I have a question ? How do you do the embroidery without a hoop?
Sharon

Best of luck with your new embroidery machine. You will have so much fun. I recently just bought a Pfaff 2170 (my second machine - I had a Babylock Ellageo which I loved but did not have computer connectivity). I have also done a lot of sewing/embroidery on Viking (worked for them a while when I was in VA)

Here are a couple of links about stabilizer. The first is a Threads article and the other is from About.com

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00128.asp

http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.h...Stabilizer.htm

I agree with Loretta on the importance of good hooping/stabilizer. Also if it is a design that you have downloaded from the internet - stitch it out before you do your final piece as some do not stitch out as you might expect them to. Debra Mc is correct about thread - you get what you pay for - I now buy either Madera or Robison Anton Thread - it is beautiful to work with. I do have some cheap thread but I use it sparingly. I have found that some machines are pickier than others. Below is another Threads article about thread choices.

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00125.asp

Again - best of luck - and ask lots of questions.

Generally you hoop a sticky stabilizer with paper on it or a fabric type stabilizer with water soluble glue on it and then "stick" your fabric to that.

Sharon, what was meant by not hooping the towel is that some items are difficult to hoop or end up with hoop marks on after embroidering. So it's possible to hoop the stabilizer and attach the item to the stabilizer with fabric adhesive, or right to the stabilizer if it has a sticky side.

Glad you guys cleared that up. I didn't have a clue how to do it. That is my next lesson. I just knew my teacher told me, you didn't hoop towels. That does stand to reason though. My son bought me the Maderia Treasure Chest for my birthday & christmas. It has 194 spools of thread. It is so beautiful. Can't wait to use it. Changing the subject, we are having a heat wave here in Texas. It's gonna be 22 degrees in the morning. Man I feel sorry for everyone up north. -21 in Chicago. Man that is cold. I feel for everyone up that away. Ya'll stay safe & warm. Bake cookies & muffins & big pots of chili and stay inside. Debra Mc

What a Wonderful gift - you will be equipped to do almost anything. Once you get started the list if "I want" grows exponentially (kind of like quilting but I find it even more expensive).

You will love being able to do your own quilt labels as well!

I'm excited for you to get your machine...is it there yet??? I'm bookmarking this thread because of all the good links listed. I'm learning how to embroider also...it is loads of fun...but the others are right...it can be even more expensive than quilting! :oops:

It is supposed to arrive today. I can't wait. But, patience was never one of MY virtues!

It just arrived. Evidently my late MIL must have had more than one machine, because I certainly don't remember this one.

It looks like an older machine.

Babylock ProLine Model bl60e.

I'm going to their website to try to download the owner's manual.

I have no manual and he couldn't find any "chips" which I'm sure were the designs. There is no USB port, so you can't hook it up to the computer. It has a slot in the side by the power switch that looks like where the design discs would go, but certainly not a cd. They look like it would fit a small square or rectangular device.

I'm off to google! My hubby has the camera phone, so I won't be able to post a pic until tomorrow.

M

ok, here's what i've found out (i think i'm as excited as you are).

your machine looks every much like mine (white 3300, made by brother).

if you look at this ebay item, you'll see at the bottom that it is a card that works in brother and BABYLOCK machines.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brother-Babylock...3%3A1|294%3A98

if that is the case, you'll use the brother cards and PED-basic to write designs to the card. then you put the card in your machine and they appear on the touch screen.

off to sleuth some more!

I played some with a friends Babylock (Brother) machine prior to buying a machine for myself. There was a device that you can hook up to your computer where you can download designs, then you put them on the "card" and plug that into the machine. It was really easy and of course...fun! Good luck with your new baby!

yep, look at this - allbrands.com embroidery machine cards for babylock/brother/white

this means that your machine probably reads .pes files. it probably has a 4 X 4 embroidery field.

http://www.allbrands.com/products/abc0217.html

allbrands.com is a really good resource for embroidery machine stuff. when i bought my machine (used) i stopped by the dealer and found out what hoop it took. they were $40+. i found them for $25-$30 at allbrands. for some reason when i ordered from allbrand's ebay store, i got free shipping. i also got my PED-basic from allbrands.

if you have a question about something being compatible with your machine, they (allbrands) are really quick to answer back.

fun, fun!

Congratulations on your new toy - you will have lots of fun.

Fabric Luvr,

I think I'm going to have to do some homework before I do anything else. I do not understand embroideryspeak. PES??

I'm sure between you and the rest of this board and my friends here in town, we'll get her figured out.

M

Fabric Luvr...I bookmarked a ton of the sites.

Someone posted some sites about stabilizers and thread. THANK YOU. I also found an article at the same site about hoops. I understand more now than I did earlier. I will be getting some books though!

you know what made all the difference for me was the video that came with mine. since our machines are so much alike, i'd be happy to see if i'm able to copy it to dvd for you (it's a VHS tape).

even if our machines are slightly different, it still has the basic of information about the process.

as far as .pes, each embroidery machine is programmed to read a certain file type (like microsoft word uses the .doc extension and excel uses the .xls extension). our machines read the .pes extension. so if you go out to look at designs to download, you'll see the files come with different extensions. yesterday i got a few of the $1 designs from emblibrary.com and i had to designate which format. other formats would be .dst, .xxx, just to name a couple.

let me know if you want the DVD -

Congrats on it's arrival. :) Happy stitching

As promised here are the pics to the machine. First is the front and then the back. Found a local babylock dealer. They looked up the price for hoops. a 4 x 4 for 71 and a multi-positional for 77. We shall see.

Here are the pics!

[IMG]http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...erymachine.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...erymachine.jpg[/IMG]

Check with Allbrands.com. They may be cheaper. I just got my "Amazing Box Max" today from them. It was only $199.00 & I had a coupon for $10.00's off so I got a good deal. My dealer wants $299.00 for it. Some want as much as $399.00 for it. I ordered it on Monday & got it today. They are real fast & can answer all your questions. I know they sell hoops. I looked them up but can't remember what price they were. I do know they are real expensive. Good luck Deb

The webpage is www.allbrands.com. They are out of Baton Rouge, La. Also try Sewing Machines Plus.