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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: mzappala
Date: 12-29-2005, 05:06 PM (1 of 12)
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Santa coached my husband well, and I have the Babylock Ellure in my sewing room now. (Not the newer model, but the recently replaced one.) It's fun! I've never had an embroidery machine. I have, however, been sewing on the same Singer Genie machine for over 35 years! The embroidery patterns built in are somewhat limited, as are the two free cards that came with the machine, so I'm looking to see what else is out there. I'm stunned how expensive these cards are! And if I only want one pattern on a card, that's kind of dumb. Should I instead invest in an Amazing Box? For $150 I can have access to much more, is that right? Do I need a bunch of blank cards (those are also pricey!)? I'm also quite tempted by the assortments of threads on Ebay, especially the bundles of many spools in lots of colors.  Right now, I have 3 spools of embroidery thread, two Sulky and 1 RobinAnton or something. They seem to be just fine, although I do get a few upper thread breaks. I wish the spool holder was vertical because it seems that the horizontal position causes the thread to snag on the spool itself as it unwinds.  Should I resist the temptation to buy a big thread collection of a no-name brand? Or should I buy a thread collection of a better brand, like Madeira? OR should I just buy the threads from JoAnn as I need them? Thanks for any advice! Maureen |
User: mzappala
Member since: 12-12-2005 Total posts: 16 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-29-2005, 05:12 PM (2 of 12)
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If the machine hooks up to a computer, I wouldn't waste money on a box. I bought one and have never even checked to see if it worked. You only need one possibly two cards at a time as they are only temp. storage. The boxes are wonderful if you machine only takes cards or if you've had a machine and have tons of cards that need to be converted to your machine format. If you have computer access and a way to download or convert your format (software...may not be extremely complicated) and get it to your machine, you should be in business. There are hundreds of sites with free downloads to get you started. If you happen have PES (I think?) format, you wil find all kinds of designs just waiting for you!!!
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: threadingerin47
Date: 12-29-2005, 06:48 PM (3 of 12)
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I have a babylock embroidery machine which i absolutely love. does the ellure on use the little cards? or floppys too? if only the cards then you need to get the amazing box and one blank card is fine. then as you see sales buy more cards with what you like. you can buy the ones at joann's because babylock makes brother and joann's sells brother. PES format is what you want. Let me know what your machine takes, if it takes floppies then I can help you out. you can email me direct at <email address removed for privacy>. Babylock when embroiderying only likes "finishing touch" bobbin thread, it comes in black and white, but those are the best to invest in for threads for bobbin. If you are not embroidering then you can use the other stuff. Just remember that and your embroidery life will be great. I had a babylock esante 2 which I sold, along with a babylock espire and bought a babylock ellageo 3. so i am very familiar with babylock. if you need anything at all let me know. erin Erin from NH who says GODoodlesNQuilt!!!
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User: threadingerin47
Member since: 12-18-2005 Total posts: 10 |
From: Melanie T
Date: 12-29-2005, 07:00 PM (4 of 12)
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I bought the big collection of Radiant Threads thread from Ebay just before Christmas and love it. For the first two years I just had 5 - 5000yd cones of embroidery polyester (of the primary colors) and used my regular guterman thread for the others. It worked fine, especially as most of my designs end up on little boy clothes anyway. I had all kinds of problems with thread breaking until I invested in a cheap thread stand ($5 at walmart) and set the thread behind and to the right of my machine to give the thread plenty of time to unwind before it gets to the needle. That seems to be the best advice I have seen on thread breaks. It takes care of everything except some spools of black (a whole story in itself. Black is overdyed and often causes problems, no matter what brand. Some spools just have to be tossed). Hope that helps, have fun with your new baby. Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-29-2005, 07:11 PM (5 of 12)
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Be sure that if you get a single cone thread stand you get one with a metal base. I bought one with a metal base and discovered I needed another. I couldn't find metal and bought plastic for the same price but it wouldn't stand up. Now I see the meal based ones more often than the plastic.
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: LadySloPokes
Date: 12-29-2005, 08:38 PM (6 of 12)
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I'm very happy to hear that Santa was very good to you for Christmas! Your machine sounds wonderful, and like me, I'm sure you're on overload about getting designs and patterns to embroider with it. I also got a new machine for Christmas--the Singer Quantum Futura CE200, just the one I was looking at. My Santa took me to the Singer store last week and we picked it up together. He was so excited about the software he couldn't wait to install on our computer. So far I have been able to digitize several of my own graphics with the AutoPunch software that it came with. Other than having a few beginner glitches, the machine is working well for us. The ladies at our Singer store will let us upgrade to a better machine down the road if we feel this one will limit us too much on the size of the designs we want to make. Just like McDonalds....I'm Lovin' It!!
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198 
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From: mzappala
Date: 12-29-2005, 09:05 PM (7 of 12)
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Thanks for the replies. The Ellure does not directly connect to the computer. And it only uses the small cards, no floppy. The shop we bought it from will credit the full purchase price towards an upgraded machine within the first 6 months, so we'll see where I am with this toy in 6 months!!! I hadn't thought of a thread stand...that's a great idea. And thanks for the advice about the Finishing Touch bobbin thread. I'm not using that one right now, but it doesn't seem too bad. Of course, I don't know exactly what I'm looking at yet in terms of good quality embroidery. I was at Joann's tonight, and was disappointed in thier selection of embroidery thread. Only Coats & Clarks, which I've read is too linty. There's another larger Joann's close by and they have a much bigger selection of Sulky threads, but they're just so expensive! I will need to save my pennies, I suppose. I think I want to save them for the Amazing Box.  Thanks, Maureen 
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User: mzappala
Member since: 12-12-2005 Total posts: 16 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 12-29-2005, 09:35 PM (8 of 12)
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If you're going to embroider buy the BEST thread you can. Stay away from Coats and Clark. (its cheap, linty and will make a mess of your machine). Embroidering is an expensive hobby. You NEED expensive thread to one, work in the machine it's designed for and two, to make sure your machine will WORK without service all the time. Get some canned air to blow your machine out after projects. Mederia, Sulky, Mettler, Gutterman, Robinson-Anton, YLI, Yenmet (YLI, Yenmet are from OESD). For me the prewound bobbins are great. Or a cone of YLI bobbin thread. You can also use your embroidery thread AS bobbin thread if you want to keep the 'look' on top and bottom. Also needles need to be GOOD. (Organ, Schmetz) Change a needle every 4 designs or so...if you get a LOT Of thread shredding, the needle needs to be changed, or a BIGGER needle needs to be used.(sometimes slowing down the embroidering will stop that too.) I'm not big on Sulky thread. It shreads in my machine (always). Robinson-Anton with it's minin king spools is a good buy. Embroidery thread run's from $2.95 a spool to about $5.95 a spool, depending on how much you get and the manufacturer. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: mamadus
Date: 12-30-2005, 02:33 AM (9 of 12)
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Maureen... since your machine is a Babylock, you may want to look at the Ultimate Box by Vikant... much less expensive than the Amazing Box and the UB card will hold a lot more designs than the AB card will... I think the limit on the AB card is 6 designs while the UB card is limited by the number of stitches not the number of designs.... when I used a card, there were times when I had almost 40 designs on one UB card.... also... you may also want to look at Marathon thread (just do a google search, there are about 5-7 different sites) or ARC thread from Melcomart... both are relatively inexpensive as compared to Madeira, RA, Sulky, etc but both have a very nice sheen... btw.. another thought would be to look at the EMBIRD program... they have a deal combining Embird with the Ultimate Box.... if you're going to be downloading all those free (and Paid) embroidery designs off the internet, you will want a program like Embird to allow you to edit designs (change size, color, merge 2 designs together, etc) www.secretsof.com has a decent price on the Embird registration... Also, you can try the program out for 30 days before you decide to buy it.... Have fun!! and let us see your first project!! MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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From: chris b
Date: 12-30-2005, 01:13 PM (10 of 12)
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I'm a big fan of Marathon thread. I have the entire 377 colors of rayon and the varigated set. Right now they have their 1100 yrd mini cones on sale for $1.75 for the rayon and $1.55 for poly at : http://www.marathonamerica.com/special.html scroll down and if you call and order make sure you use the code as well as asking for a free thread chart. It is premium thread for a reasonable price. Pfaff 2170,Pfaff 7570,Elna 945
Singer 301A,Singer Redeye,Singer 15 HC Simplicity 2/3/4 Pfaff Creative 3-D digitizing,3-D Fabric Decorator Pfaff PCDMac2.2 StitchBunnyPro,FlutterWhumper Embird,Studio,cross stitch, EQ5....and adding all the time! |
User: chris b
Member since: 01-10-2001 Total posts: 109 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 12-31-2005, 10:26 AM (11 of 12)
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If this is Chris b from European sm circle, will you please tell everyone I am alive and well but Yahoo refuses to recognize that fact. I have tried everything, including registering as a new member but their stupidity is so monumental that nothing can get through. My new address is in Friendswood adjoining Houston, my new e-mail is <email address removed for privacy> if anyone wants to get in touch, but try convincing those unutterable idiots of that. They also refuse to recognize my old e-mail address and say I bounce. I wrote them in detail about being in 3 hospitals having 3 different operations and having to move in with one of my sons, etc, but they have solid stone where other people have brains. Much love to all, MariLynn Johnson <email address removed for privacy> Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: chris b
Date: 12-31-2005, 10:36 AM (12 of 12)
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Yes MariLynn it's me. I am so sorry to hear what yapoo has done to you and wish I could somehow fix it. I'm still waiting for a reply to a problem I was having with the club a few years back. I will copy your post and repost it at the club. So good to hear from you!!!!
Pfaff 2170,Pfaff 7570,Elna 945
Singer 301A,Singer Redeye,Singer 15 HC Simplicity 2/3/4 Pfaff Creative 3-D digitizing,3-D Fabric Decorator Pfaff PCDMac2.2 StitchBunnyPro,FlutterWhumper Embird,Studio,cross stitch, EQ5....and adding all the time! |
User: chris b
Member since: 01-10-2001 Total posts: 109 |
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