Released December 20, 2009
by MaryCatherine McCoy
How many times have you heard that comment when you gave a birthday or holiday gift to someone? Perhaps they were trying to pay a sincere compliment, but maybe they really would like to embroider but just don’t know where to start in the (sometimes overwhelming) world of machine embroidery.
In fact, traditional sewing skills used for garment construction or quilt making are not mandatory for learning machine embroidery. And some intermediate-level embroidery students have remarked that students who come to classes without any sewing experience sometimes have an advantage on the learning curve!
Huh? How can that be?
First of all, if someone truly wants to learn machine embroidery, she (or he) doesn’t really need to know about seam allowances, darts, or stitching-in-the-ditch. The desire to learn is the most critical element. A relative or friend may be interested in a new hobby but think she (or he) has to learn to sew first and embroider second. And that assumption is not necessarily true. (That’s why they manufacture embroidery-only machines!)
Second, most of the skills and knowledge required for successful machine embroidery were new to accomplished stitchers, too. For example, proper hooping techniques, placement & alignment are not part of quilting and sewing. Products like stabilizers and toppings are not used to sew garments. And how many times on the Forum does a new member inquire, “What is FSL???” (It’s free-standing lace, in case you’re new to this world). After learning to thread a machine, most folks – whether non-stitchers or veteran tailors – are starting to learn at the same place. After all, you don’t even have to know how to wind a bobbin to become a machine embroiderer.
“Pay it forward” by sharing your passion with those friends and family members who are sincerely interested in a new hobby – and possibly a second income. Remember, the more folks embroidering the more embroidery resources for all of us. Plus it’s a great way to make new friends all over the world.
As a first step, invite your friend(s) over to your house to take a first peak into machine embroidery. Or, take them to your local dealer for a shopping (but not necessarily buying) trip. Maybe even schedule an appointment with the dealer (explaining that you’re just looking), so you get dedicated time for a professional demonstration. A field trip to an embroidery shop is like a trip to the candy store for most of us, and probably the second best thing in the embroidery world – right after getting free designs at DesignsBySiCK every day.
Thank you so much. I am not new to sewing and embroidery, (over a year now), but I am learning every day. I think paying it forward is a wonderful thing and cant tell you how many great people I have met online sharing this hobby and collecting designs. The greatest gift you can give another is the gift of your time and patience, so I hope every embroiderer heeds this advice and pays it forward.
Comment by Kim — December 21, 2009 @ 7:20 am
I have a embroidery machine and have built in designs, but what do I need to use your designs with my machine? Please help me as I am really new at this hobby and would love to expand in my designs. Thank you Sue
Comment by sue hanson — December 23, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Sue, depending on what machine you have and if it can be hooked up to the computer. I use a box called Mini Magic Box elite which will write the designs on a card for my brothers and also on a card for my Bernina which uses ART and is hard to find. It converts the designs to the right format for me and will cover a lot of different machines. It isn’t cheap $300 is what I paid for it at the time. The cards are anywhere between $60 to $100 depending on where you get them. My bernina also uses a USB stick which I can save the art format files on. Not knowing what kind of machine you have, this is about all the help I can give.
Comment by grandmashari — December 27, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
I found this article a very nice way to let a person know about machine embroidery. It is very easy to follow, and understand, what the writter was trying to get across to a new sewer.
I really like to read these articles.
Comment by Patt — December 27, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
I don’t know if this will help but I have a writer box that connects to the computer. I has a memory card that loads the design on to it. Then I just put it into the slot on my embroidery machine. (some machines don’t have this feature)You can also transfer a design from your computer directly to your machine with a cord (I can’t remember the name of the cord). You can also buy design cards with patterns on them but that can get pricey. The designs here are really well done and I have never had any problems with them. Good luck with your embroidery. This has been a great artical. Now I know what to tell friends who say they can’t do machine embroidery because they don’t know how to sew.
Comment by Cheryl — December 28, 2009 @ 2:00 am
Just an FYI to know before buying a converter box. I had a Magic Box Elite to transfer designs to my Bernina & Brother Machines. Each machine takes a different card but that’s OK they are rewrittable indefinitely. I recently had to replace my computer and made the BIG mistake of buying one with a Vista format. It was all they were selling a couple of months ago (2 weeks later the new Windows came out). Vista is not compatable with the Magic Box, I even called the manufacturer of the box (Great Notions) & they told me there was nothing I could do. I had to get the “Amazing Box Max” made by Amazing Designs. These boxes are now selling for about $150. including one card. Don’t pay more. I just bought the new Bernina 830 and most people seem to use it with a laptop sitting right next to it. luckily it takes a UB stick as well, but so far I’ve just gotten it out of the box (it’s 4 ft. long)!
Comment by Janet — December 30, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
It is my understanding that this box is Windows XP compatible. I had my Vista taken off our new computer and had the XP put back on. This might be another option for you, so you will be happy with an operating program that works with most of the software for embroidery.
Comment by sandy — December 31, 2009 @ 10:56 am
It took me a few days to get around to reading the article, but I found this article well worth reading. I have been thinking of invitiing friends over to my home to see how I make the FSL christmas ornaments. I somehow have gotten stuck on FSL but need to take the time to learn the placement for regular machine embroidering. I love it and I am so very happy to have my Baby Lock Elegante and even tho my mom gave me her laptop computer I could use right at my machine, I use my memory stick and find that just as easy. Keep the articles coming. Thanks so much.
Comment by Delores — December 31, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
I have an older embroidery machine that only does 4X4’s per rewritable card( Amazing Box). It’s in good condition but the tech. stuff is only for newer machines. Thought about up grading but don’t know where to go money wise, I need a user friendly machine that a non-tech person can use. Help,Help
Comment by Dona — January 2, 2010 @ 10:02 am
Hi Mary Catherine,
YOur article is so true.Paying it forward is wonderful.. I seem to have as much fun or more,when teacing a sewing or embroidery technique..
All new sewers and embroiders …just keep on learning..there is something new each day.. and so much fun.Judy
Comment by judy — January 2, 2010 @ 9:52 pm
I have a janome embroidery machine. I get all of my designs off different embroidery sites online. You can easily find all of them from looking on ebay then going directly to the different websites. You have tons of choices to pick from. I have hundreds. They are so unique. I download them from the website to my software on my laptop. Then I just go to my machine and by USB port, download them to my embroidery machine
Comment by Grace Beasley Bost — January 3, 2010 @ 1:32 am
Sorry to say, i got a magic box. It never worked. I took it back where I got it & they said, the only thing they could do was give me 1000, designs.
Sewing for 65yrs, never helped when I got my embroidery machine.I did know how to thead it,lol. Now I can do a lot more on it. Just follow the BOOK, I keep it right by my machine,it is a baby lock. Love it for all it can do.
Comment by Shirley — January 5, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
I do know how to sew, have done it for 65yrs.Can make most things on my baby lock, BUT didn’t know the first thing about embroidery on it.I did what they say to do, I read the book, keep it right by my machine. If I get stuck, I go to it.
I also got a magic box, never did work, I took it back where I got it, they worked trying to get it to work, no luck. Was offered 1000 designs.Got about 35 that was it.
I did buy some designs, when walmart put there ped-basic on sale for almost nothing I got 4 for the price of just one when they where full priced.Ihad a friend show me how to put they on the card. My computer can’t be conected to my machine at all.
I made about 50 tote bags, with designs on them & gave them away as presents.
Then I had enought time on the machine & did the 10 comandments. It is really nice, it hangs in our sunday school class. I can see the few mistakes I made but no one else can or don’t say a word if they do.
I gave my daughter, my janome, showed her how to use it, had a friend come over to watch me do a design, now she wants one.
Just talking sbout it makes me want to get back to it.
Comment by Shirley — January 5, 2010 @ 7:56 pm
I have only been embroidering for about 7 months now, and gee have I learnt alot in that time! As the writer of the article says, you dont need to know how to sew. Alot of the knowledge I gained I had to forget when using the EM.
I have been sewing for about 25 years mostly patchwork and quilting, and I bought an EM to out a bit of dazzle onto my quilts. I never realized how tempermental they can be! But, you stick to the book, and read the forums here you learn ALOT. I have been teaching my mum how to use the machine, and she loves it.
Comment by Lee — January 6, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
I want to purchase a writer box or design tool of some sort. I am new at this and I don’t know much. My machine will plug into computer with usb plug and I can download onto it, but the LCD screen is small and I cannot see the design. I downloaded onto my computer in the PES file which my machine takes, and my computer will not open these files. What should I purchase to be able to let me see the design before downloading onto my machine? Thank yous
Comment by Rose — January 17, 2010 @ 7:28 am
Hi Rose
You don’t need to purchase anything. Tajima/Pulse provide a software program called “Ambasador” which will allow you to see the design. It will also convert designs from one format to another - for example if you want a Janome SEW design, it can convert it to a PES file for you. And the program is free.
There are other programs that will allow to view files, but this is the first that I found that allows for conversion as well.
Comment by Arlene — January 17, 2010 @ 4:07 pm
Hi All,
I found out the expensive way that a USB stick is
just that. I bought one for my Bernina Artista
and paid almost $60.00 for it from my dealer and
then thought why not try one from Big Lots and see it will work and of course it did and I paid
only $12.00 for a two gig. stitck.
[note: I have spoken with bernina dealers - sometimes the larger USB sticks will work because the emb machine is set up to only work with one that is no larger than 250 mgs - so if you have a problem, get a small USB stick. ~rob ]
Comment by Sandy — January 24, 2010 @ 4:53 pm
Hello
I never sewed before I got my embroidery machine- didn’t even know how to turn it on lol. We have a wonderful embroidery club that meets twice a month we do different projects and designs. I have learned so much and now I am quilting and in the process of making an embroidered quilt. Who would have thought.
Comment by Cheryl — February 6, 2010 @ 6:49 pm
My husband just bought me a Singer Futura E.M., and I was just wondering if anyone here has this machine, and what is the best thread to load unto it?
Comment by Yvonne — February 22, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
I have the Disney 270D, I just purchased a Ped Basic to download designs, but I dont know what format I need. Where do I find this?
[You would need PES - editor]
Comment by shirley england — June 14, 2010 @ 9:19 pm