I have to ask this question. I am amazed when each time a cuties request a design, another cutie will give all the details, links etc., for that design. What kind of a filing system do you have. I have 4d orgainzer and my purchased files I can control but freebies. Do you all have a coding system or what? Would love to know your secrets.

So, again my hole post is gone with that "page error-thing" :o(
Short version: Make folders with your categories you colleted the most. Subfolders will help if you have too much from one sort (like kazzy wrote). I have FLORA > roses, lavender, trees...
Made a pic for you. My favorite sellers have own colors so I can see them easy ;o)
Greetings, Bettina

1 images:[1]

1 comment

by michemb 10 Oct 2011

I have a good file system set up I guess |I just do not keep enough info about where my designs come from. Like I said the purchased files are not a problem, it is the freebies (there are many but I do look twice now before downloading) that I do not keep track of. It would be hepful if I did because sometimes I try out a freebie, like it but do not know where to go if I want to buy more.

I am very new to all this and am slightly overwhelmed with the mess I have created. I am addicted to collecting the designs. I can't resist a free design and most are still zipped and no where near organized. I really need to find a program and spend some major time doing this or I'm sure at some point I'll be sorry I didn't. Love the tips on what you cuties do!

2 comments

by starlizard 10 Oct 2011

At some point, you're going to start asking yourself, "Do I REALLY need that design?" Create a folder on your hard drive and dump the freebie designs into it.... then, start unzipping them into that folder. Get rid of the formats that don't pertain to your machine... go from there.

by starlizard 10 Oct 2011

... your machine... go from there.

With 4D you can write notes to go with your designs, I write where I got the freebie eg., if it's from Sue Box, I incorporate it into the notes along with the description of the design and then file into a catergory I have made folders for in the My Designs file makes it easy for searching later on. You can have A folder called Flowers and then a sub folder for say Roses and another for Pansies etc., saves time when looking for a design. It doesn't matter whether it's a paid or freebie they are all filed in the one area - under the My Designs file.

3 comments

by michemb 10 Oct 2011

I do that but I never thought about adding a note so that I can remember where they come from. Thanks for the tip. I will try to take the time and do this in the future.

by kazza 10 Oct 2011

I must admit when I first started I didn't either but after about 6mths I thought about it as it was becoming hard to find designs, and being a virgo - likes everything in it's place - I sat down over a period of time and went through every design I had putting my notes on and now it's easy. So take the time and do a bit at a time and you get there!

by michemb 10 Oct 2011

So it is a virgo thing, I to am a virgo, organize, organize , organize, which is why all of this is driving me crazy.

Hi Michelle!

As I read your question, what I got from it is that you'd like to know how some members of the site can spout chapter and verse (in this case, site and page!). I believe the answer to your question is - After a while, you know where everything is on the embroidery sites. Some sites specialize in certain types of designs, but even in the sites where hundreds, if not thousands, of categorized designs are, there is a built in mind set of sorts. I'm a relative newbie to machine embroidery... been at it for nearly 4 years now... but I've got all the really good sites bookmarked and at my fingertips. By the time I get around to seeing a request, there's generally someone who's already seen it and answered it... if I'm interested, I'll follow the link myself to see if its something that I'd like to snag. In a word, the answer is: experience.

My 2 cents worth... LOL!
Liz

6 comments

by starlizard 10 Oct 2011

Okay, I just read your response to Sue's comment... I spent days sorting through all the designs I have and deleting the freebies that I knew I'd never use. Then I organize everything into categories. Whether its purchased or freebie, if it fits into a category, it goes into that category.

by starlizard 10 Oct 2011

... category, its goes into that category.

by michemb 10 Oct 2011

Well maybe with time I can do this as well. Have been embroidering for little over a year and have what I considered a pretty good design bank (80,000) but wonder, when you download freebies for example do you download the link as well. Time consuming,NO?

by cfidl 10 Oct 2011

that is why I have them by site, when i copy them over I rename them to include the site, and yes it is time consuming. There is software!

by starlizard 10 Oct 2011

Maybe its just me, but I don't see a point in organizing according to web site. If you browse the sites long enough, you get to where you know where everything is. BUT, there is a couple of exceptions to that self imposed rule... those being Embroidery Library and Urban Threads.

by starlizard 10 Oct 2011

... Embroidery Library and Urban Threads.

I just started so I am still organizing. I do it by store or group, now I am copying into categories just the ones I really like, and plan to use. I do not have software yet, however if I stay with this there is 1 called sewConz? someone will bring it up! christine Live Laugh Download Stitch!

1 comment

by michemb 10 Oct 2011

Word of advice, start organizing now before you totally loose control. They add up fast.

Like Sue said: It's just my brain ;o) Have a special sticky part there for embroiderydesigns *lol*
All my designs are in folders for the different themes and for my favorite embroideryshops I have own folders (and for my most beloved katulle!).
Somtimes it is just fortune that you used a special design short before somebody asked for it...
Greetings, Bettina

1 comment

by michemb 10 Oct 2011

I embroider every day and regularly have to go through my designs otherwise I lose track. I am sure I have things I do not even remember.

Good question!! I wonder the same thing....some Cuties are just sooo organised!! :-)

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by michemb 10 Oct 2011

I've always thought I was but nothing compared to some of these smart cuties.

There are so many of us that someone is bound to know the answer to every question....mind you there are one or two with computerised brains!

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by michemb 10 Oct 2011

Must be because I though I considered myself very organized simply am lost most times with so many designs.