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From: susies1955
Date: 12-03-2004, 04:08 AM (1 of 20)
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Hi, This will show I know NOTHING about embroidery machine 'but' how does the machine do a design that has multiple colors. The designs can have many colors and I'm not understanding how it does it? Is there a place on the machine to have like six or seven spools of thread? I don't see that when I look at photos of the machines. Ever learning, Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124 
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From: joannequilts
Date: 12-03-2004, 04:37 AM (2 of 20)
Susie, most home machines have color change of one at a time. The way the design is digitized it will list your colors in order and the machine stops at each color change. A couple of the bigger machines now have six thread changes. When I first started it was confusing but doesn't take long to get the hang of it real quick. 
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User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070 
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From: susies1955
Date: 12-03-2004, 04:48 AM (3 of 20)
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Joanne, Oh my. You have to check the thread and bobbin every time there is a color change? Is that a pain in the patouka or does it go quickly and you don't even mind it? Thanks for helping me out, Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: joannequilts
Date: 12-03-2004, 05:52 AM (4 of 20)
| The only time I really change the bobbin color is for black or if an item will be shown both sides/ It goes quite fast. Many times I am sewing right beside it on my other machine so need to get up and down for changes. |
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070
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From: susies1955
Date: 12-03-2004, 06:00 AM (5 of 20)
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Joanne, Ok, thanks. Hey, can you recommend a good Embroidery Beginners Book?????? Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: joannequilts
Date: 12-03-2004, 06:03 AM (6 of 20)
| The one I suggest is "Embroidery Machine Essentials by Jeanine Twigg. |
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070
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From: susies1955
Date: 12-03-2004, 06:09 AM (7 of 20)
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Joanne, Oh, I think it was you that suggested that book in another thread. I did a search for it but there is no book called "Embroidery Machine Essentials with just that title. There are subtitles to every one. Like: Embroidery Machine Essentials: How to Stabilize, Hoop and Stitch Decorative Designs Twigg, Jeanine Embroidery Machine Essentials: Basic Techniques : 20 Designs and Project Ideas to Develop Your Embroidery Skills Twigg, Jeanine Embroidery Machine Essentials: Piecing Techniques Twigg, Jeanine I have no clue which one to get. Thanks, Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: joannequilts
Date: 12-03-2004, 06:14 AM (8 of 20)
| Yes the one that says "how to stablize, hoop and stitch decorative designs" is the one. |
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070
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From: susies1955
Date: 12-03-2004, 06:27 AM (9 of 20)
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Joanne, Great, thanks for letting me know. It has been great visiting with you. Do you own an embroidery yahoogroup by any chance??????? Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: joannequilts
Date: 12-03-2004, 06:35 AM (10 of 20)
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No, I don't have a yahoogroup. I belong to a few and just read alot of info. I took digitzing lessons on line as I wanted to learn photos alot. Trial and error is the way but I have come to enjoy it alot. I combine quilting with it as well so nice variety. Do you have a machine or looking into one? |
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070
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From: susies1955
Date: 12-03-2004, 06:45 AM (11 of 20)
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Joanne, No I don't have a machine. Just doing a lot of research about them for now. I'm thinking next Christmas is a good time maybe. I wish I could get the higher end one's but right now I don't see that happening. You never know what tomorrow will bring though. I'm looking mostly at the White 3300 with an Ultimate USB Box. Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: lonestardancer
Date: 12-05-2004, 01:21 PM (12 of 20)
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Hi, Susie! You will love machine embroidery, but I warn you --- it is addictive, it is so much fun! My sis-in-law and I laugh, because it requires , what we call, "backward learning." You have to have some experience with it to know what questions to ask, and how to find a solution. With all the expense involved, that is a very scary predicament to find yourself in. I bought an ULT 2003 last November, and didn't do any embroidery until late August because I found it too intimidating. Now you can't get me away from my machine! My sister-in-law heard me raving about it, so she finally bought herself one, and now she is in the same predicament...and we are quilters, and bought it for "doing a little embellishment on our squares." So, at the risk of sticking my nose into your business, I am going to forward some information to you which may prove helpful (i.e.: these are the things I wish I'd known at the very beginning, as these are the basic answers to the questions I didn't know to ask.) Buy the White, or the Simplicity, or a Brother, in the same price-range. They all "speak" PES which is what you want. 9o% of all designs are in PES, and you will be able to access FREE designs all over the 'Net in this "format" (language). Go to Annthegran.com and click on her Free Designs to see what I'm talking about. PES is the language you want your machine to speak. The next difference in basic embroidery is the "stitch field." This is the size your designs will be stitched out; the embroidery machine you buy will never be capable of stitching out a larger stitch field. Basic stitch field is 4x4, and almost all designs start out in that size. If you can get a larger stitch field (the stitch field fits inside the hoop size) in your price range, go for the larger stitch field. The Hoop size can be big, but stitch field doesn't change, even when you re-size the design. The stitch-field is decided by the internal software of the machine. Think about it like paper: You type a letter on 8.5x11" paper. You want it bigger, so you copy it onto 8.5x14" paper. The amount of information does not change, you just end up with white space at the bottom of the page. Likewise, you can enlarge the type size of the the info you typed, and print it out on 8.5x11" paper, and you will end up with less info on the same size paper, so you will just print it on more sheets of paper. In this example paper size = hoop size, and info = stitch field. I believe the stitch field of the White 3300 is 4.3" x 4.3", it does not get bigger; therefore, you can stitch out several small leaves in a design or one big leaf, but the area the design will be stitched out on will never exceed 4.3" . Did I make this clear as mud? LOL. Nancy's Notions, among others, sells big hoops that allow you to overcome some of the obsticles you may encounter with this, BUT NO home embroidery machine stitches out designs a whole lot bigger. Mine is something like 6.5 x 10", and I still have to re-hoop for continuous designs. My point is to purchase the largest stitch field you can for the money, in either of those three machines. (Brother, Simplicity, White, and Babylock, are all the same machine, the difference depends on the the model number. They are all great machines, and have lovely stitch patterns. You can't go wrong. .. they all speak PES, and they can be repaired at the same shops.) As for the Ultimate box. It is just fine, but before purchasing go to Allbrands.com and read the descriptive info on the Amazing Box II, which is cheaper, and may prove more flexible for your situation, as it is cheaper and allows you to exchange card formats (format = machine language). As for offers for "free Embird trials" if you purchase a specific machine, don't pay any attention to that. Embird allows for free trials at their site, as does BuzzTools, and Annthegran Catalog Express. ...and you do not need to purchase alot of specialized embroidery thread, either. You can pick-up a thread pack or 6-8 spools at any JoAnn's, etc. for less than $15 to get started. Eventually you will be using lots of thread, and you want to purchase the spools with the most thread on them. Madeira has a big box for sale (everywhere!) but the spools only contain 220 yds of thread...so when you purchase your rayon embroidery thread, do some price checking, and never buy off brands. They will ruin your machine! There are some things you can save on, but embroidery thread is not one of them, ever! As for the bobbins:the prewound spools are great. They are REALLY tightly wound, and go further. In machine embroidery, usually, you use neutrals on the backside, like in quilting. Black, white and beige cover alot of ground. Most of us just match the fabric, or use white to "disappear" in the stabilizer. You will rarely need to go to the trouble of changing bobbin thread as you change top thread, to answer you very first "thread change" question. Sometimes, when my stabilizer is a "wash away variety" I will wind my own bobbin with variegated thread for fun (I do lots of flowers and butterflies --- variegated on the inside of a jacket is pretty. As for stabilizers: Buy one "tear-away light" to get started, and one "wash away" to use on top of towels and fleece. You can layer the tear-away to make it sturdier when you need it. Also some spray embroidery glue for "hoopless" work. (This will all make sense faster than you may think.) And lastly: Nancy's Notions has some good embriodery tutorials (books and tapes) that cover the basics and give you a good place to start with hooping, and stabilizing and threads, etc. These are lifted from her show and are done with Eileen Roche. They are very simple, and give the basic beginner to embroidery a good place to start. Later on you can invest in some more involved embroidery tutorials, which will probably be tutorials for more complicated software programs involving "digitizing" and "customizing." But you don't need that now; don't even go there. Hope I haven't worn you out, and have given you some basic reference info that salespeople in shops talk around, or assume you already know. I didn't, and spent money I didn't need to spend. It is never wasted money in embroidery, but it can be quite an outlay of unnecessary initial funds. At this point you need to get some good basic equipment, which the White 3300 is, purchase enough essentials (stabilizers and thread) to get started, and commit to a format (PES) which will carry you for years to come. Everything else is unimportant, and can come much later when you have a better grasp of what your needs are. And you do not need to purchase embroidery cards for designs. There are thousands and thousands available on the web for free, all you have to do is get them in your machine. Enjoy your new adventure! Lonestardancer |
User: lonestardancer
Member since: 09-27-2004 Total posts: 5 |
From: susies1955
Date: 12-05-2004, 02:05 PM (13 of 20)
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Lonestardancer, I get these replies in my email and I will save yours to read and re-read. I told my husband today that I didn't think I would get into embroidery that it is way to costly and 15 minutes later I told him well maybe I will. I find myself thinking of it often.  My first choice so far is the White 3300 and as for being addicting.......nah, your kidding right? I've got over 12000 designs saved already. I hear many say that after they got there machine they wanted something bigger and some are very satisfied with there "little' machines. Do you know anything about PEDBasic? I think that is what it is called. I guess Walmart.com has it right now and on sale. I thank you for your message and it really helped. Your right........I don't need much to embroider really and to have tons of fun. Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: paroper
Date: 12-06-2004, 09:26 AM (14 of 20)
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Susie, you have the right idea. Investigate what is out there and check into a good software too. The software CAN be as important as the machine. You need to buy the most inclusive software you can purchase so that you don't have a lot of add-on expense and you don't want to keep changing out your software. The key to the software, like the machine, is deciding how you plan to use it. Be sure and pay attention to fonts. Look and see if there are any fonts included in your machine and software too. At some point you will want these. You had asked about changing threads. My machine has a time counter that estimates how long a color will take to "finish" sometimes that time frame is less than a minute and sometimes it can be up to 40min or longer. During that time, you'll ned to stay close to your machine. These machines use a lot of tork and sew quickly. If you somehow catch your fabric outside the hoop in your project or something happens to the stitching, you can damage your machine (not to mention the project) quickly. Your machine should stop between colors and tell you what color to use next. I'm sure that most of us keep our threads in some sort of stitching order when we are working a project, it is just quicker. If your machine has a multiple spool holder option, they are very nice. Your bobbin weight thread is a different weight than the top thread. My dealer likes to sell cotton thread for the bobbin thread. They say that if you are making a quilt you don't want the thread to wear at a different rate than the material in a quilt. Well, I don't quilt and I prefer to use a polyester thread that matches my top thread's content. (Just me). I buy 10,000 yard spools for 10-12 dollars and keep a white and a black. The thread that I use most often is the white and it will last several months. I do not buy NEBS. I have never had a need for them and I'd rather use the money on metal bobbins and stabilizers. Although my machine has a special motor to wind bobbins (that is really nice), I usually keep several bobbins wound at all times and just switch them as I use them up. Some of my larger, denser designs may take three bobbins or even four bobbins before they are finished. I personally prefer polyester thread for my top thread. My particular machine likes 40 wt. Some machines prefer a different weight. The reason that I like poly over rayon is because it isn't as prone to fray during stitching, it isn't as likely to melt when ironing and the color will not change if it is accidentally exposed to bleach. Rayon has a reputation for being shiny, but some poly thread is very shiny too. Stick to major brands, Marathon, Isacord, and there are some others that come highly recommended. If you need a metalic or two the Yenmet threads are very good (but expensive), not terribly likely to fray and come on large spools that should last quite a while. The threads can add up to a large expense and you don't want to waste that money on threads that won't hold up to the stress of embroidery; and embrodiery does put a lot of "pull" and stress on the thread. If your thread is breaking or fraying, it can be a very upsetting experience! As for colors: there are several colors that you can almost bet you will use. If you purchase a starter pack from a major company like Marathon or Isacord, the colors will probably be the most requested. However, if you just start pulling colors off of a thread rack some place because you think you'll need this shade or like that color, you are likely to get colors that won't stitch out together all that well. Many of your colors are hidden in shading of the design. The best way to purchase your colors is to choose a few designs that you like and buy your colors according to what they require. The reason for doing it that way is that the colors will probably be compatable and you'll have what you need to do a few designs to start out. I have some designs that call for "country colors", others that call for "brights". The thing that amazes me is that I've often stitched out designs that have as many as 27 thread changes. It is hard to imagine that there could be so many shades and colors in one small design! I've done several designs that look to be one solid color but may have 5-6 colors hidden in the design. Give a lot of thought too to how you plan to store your threads. Over time they will be a large investment. You do not want to expose your colors to a lot of light or dust. Over time both of these things take a large tole on your threads. The more colors your purchase, the longer you will have the spools because you won't be using them up that fast. It is very helpful if you keep an inventory of your threads on hand and have a method for storing them so that you can find your colors. It helps in planning your designs and when you want to purchase/replace thread. Once you have chosen your thread type, it is so much easier if you continue to purchase the same brand. That way you can add to your colors and know what you have available instead of jumping from one color/brand to another and trying to substitute colors. A lot of people purchase boxes (Magic, Ultimate, whatever) and they can definately be an advantage and in some cases, they are vital. However, depending on your machine and software and what they will do, you might not need a box. The purpose of the box is to either convert designs from one format or card style to another, or to convert the design to a medium (card) that will fit into your machine. In my case I didn't have any old cards that I needed to convert (I had never had an embroidery machine) and my machine can download directly from the computer through software and cable. If your designs are on your computer and you can do that, you don't necessarily need a box (mine has never been used). The designs that I have purchased (so far) have been in my machine's format so I haven't needed a box for those either. In my case, the box may have been an unnessessary expense. One other thing. When you choose your machine, choose a machine whose upper line you like too. You may want to trade up. It is very nice if you trade up within the same machine format: PES, HUS, ART, whatever. There is no absolute guarantee that the machines within a line will stay with the current format, but it is nice planning. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: susies1955
Date: 12-07-2004, 05:56 AM (15 of 20)
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Pam, Oh my. Another message I need to save. I really do need to do a lot of research because it all gets so confusing. Right now I'm think to get the White 3300 and PEBasic. Once I thought of getting the Ultimate box. I'm still not sure. Thanks for all of the information, tips, hints and help you gave me. Sometimes I have thoughts of just not getting into it because of the expense but I keep saving designs. I have tons. LOL. I appreciate your time to write to me, Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: paroper
Date: 12-07-2004, 09:03 AM (16 of 20)
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Susie, this was something that I had wanted for at least 15 years. I walked into a Bernina store with the money in my pocket. I didn't even ask to have the machine $6500 demonstrated because I absolutely knew that I wanted a machine and I trusted Bernina. The next day my husband went to the store with me and asked some questions about the software and we walked out with another $2000 in software and an order for a sewing/quilting table. Since I didn't investigate, what came afterwards, the designs (which I had not considered), the need for stabilizers and threads, on and on came as a big suprise. I'm not saying that I regret it...not at all, but had I not had the money at the time, I wouldn't have been able to continue. The neat thing is that you are checking everything out and you'll be able to make adjustments to the price of your machine, software or accessories to meet your budget and still get the machine (hopefully) that you are looking for. When Bernina brought out the new Deco machine I asked my dealer why it was so much less expensive. She said that the combo machines have so much in them on the sewing side that when you put the two machines into one package, the price really rises. Most of the people that I know sew on one machine and do embroidery on the other. Since a lot of your time is tied up waiting for your embroidery to finish and since you really shouldn't leave it alone too much, that is something that you'll probably end up doing too. Some people either add just the embroidery machine or they keep an old machine so they have something to do while they are waiting. Your embroidery machine can be tied up for a long time on project. By the way, I did a 19,500 stitch, one color, lace project last night in gold Yenment (metalic) thread. I only used one full bobbin (with some left over), just to be on the safe side, I slowed my machine down to 75% speed because I was using a metalic thread. It took 35 min and I never had any problem at all with my thread. I also only put a dent in the amount of thread I had...although the Yenmet is expensive, the spools are good size. Good luck in your adventure!!!! Be sure and tell us what you decide! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: susies1955
Date: 12-07-2004, 02:59 PM (17 of 20)
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Pam, All I can say is WOW. Ok, when and if I get one I'll let you know but I'm NOT waiting 15 years. LOL, Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: plrlegal
Date: 12-07-2004, 05:09 PM (18 of 20)
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Susie why don't you purchase the machine and the software and just a few supplies to get you started learning and then invest in more thread, stabilizers, etc., as you learn and get involved in more complicated embroidery designs? That way, you will only be investing small amounts at a time instead of thinking about a total layout of a large amount of cash at one time. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: susies1955
Date: 12-07-2004, 06:20 PM (19 of 20)
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Patsy, You wrote exactly what I think I will do. I'm going to purchase 'I think' so far the White 3300 when it is on sale for $449. Maybe even less by the time I get around and I think maybe PED Basic. I have two 18 pack cases of the Madeira Rayon Embroidery Thread. I haven't a clue if that is good for a machine or not though. I would get like you said some stabilizers (whatever that is) and nothing more. I have over 14,000 designs downloaded already. Thanks for your message, Susie northern NY
http://community.webshots.com/user/susies1955 |
User: susies1955
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 124
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From: paroper
Date: 12-07-2004, 08:05 PM (20 of 20)
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Considering the changes in the machines over 15 years it wasn't such a bad idea to wait. I'm glad that I waited until the Technology got decent. It'll only get better from here on out, so you just have to pick your time to jump into the "embroidery thing". I think that you have a sensible approach! Good Luck! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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