I have done it! I have decided to clean up my embroidery files! A major task but I have so many that I never can find what I want! I have done my abstract, all kind and alphabet file. I also am very brave and bin everything that is badly digitised! Give me strength. patience and courage to finish it! (It will take at least 6 months I reckon).

I am doing the same thing!! I have to hold my breath before I hit delete & hope I am not sorry later. Had many designs that I haden't even looked at for probably 5 years so that was sort of fun seeing how my tastes have changed.

Since my machine is not working I have been ignoring the freebies section LOL I too have at least 100,000 freebies so am not in need of more but I do continue to collect the free snowmen. Too many sites use the auto digitize feature of their software to create designs and then do not manually clean them up and those freebie 'sets' are among the culprits. I did find and download a file with sections for storing the files and over time I've added my own folders, it does help keep all the files in some sort of order!!

Found this link on SewForum, think it might be what everyone is looking for. Sure hope this helps! *** Very important to read the complete info before downloading ***

Christie in Germany

I have been going through my designs and binning the poorly digitized one for the past few months. Am only about half way there. It is one way of refreshing your memory on what you have. Congratulations on starting a time consuming job. Shirley

1 comment

by lique 09 Jul 2012

Thank you and yes I have seen so many designs already I want to use somewhere!

I love the anwers here. Way to go! I work files ever week, my hubby gets mad that I am on the computer all day! ME work is never done that is for sure. Live Laugh Download Stitch!

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Luckily My husband likes to watch sport on TV That is the time I work on the computer!

as sure as you delete a file you think you will never use you want it ...I do a hard copy of all embroidery designs every months depending how many new ones i have accumulated this way if you have deleted one you can rescure it from your hard copy...good luck imust do mine to...soozie

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

I have cds for back up, but I know that the designs I delete I would never stitch out as there are lots of mistakes in the digitising!

I have a folder for the "horrible digitizing". I keep them. That way, when I come across that design again, I can search my computer and see that I already have it, and don't have to trial-and-error twice on the same design.

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Because I have a digitising program I can check on my computer how it would stitch out. I have learned to avoid certain digitisers though!

A month ago when my machine was waiting for parts I started cleaning out my files. I can find everything, just needed the duplicates and file formats I don't use to be deleted. About four months after I brought my embroidery machine I realized I needed a better filing method and I've stuck with it. I put everything into a daily file, unzip, run a scan, and then drop them into their files. Had a mess when our son was married and too busy to file so doing this every day makes a difference.

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

I also can find things I just have forgotten what I have!

Great Job and you will be so happy when its done!

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

That might be a while but I will get there!

Good for you! Also, glad you're brave enough to delete badly digitized designs, you know you're not going to use those, and they're just taking up space. Best of luck, keep up the good work, hugs, Marji

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

I always though that I could improve them, but I have noticed that it easier to start from scratch.

good luck!

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Thank you

Since I not only digitize my own designs as well as have a ton of freebies. To keep them organise, I do three things. 1. I use a software call embroidery deduper to delete the unwanted formats that I don't need. 2. I keep a file on my laptop and external drive call E-files to keep all designs in one, location. 3. I list file folders A-Z in my e-file folder, such as 3-d, angels, eof, fsl etc. Since doing this I back up my files weekly onto mmy external drive and they stay organize. Since doing this my life is so much easilier. I wish you luck in what you are doing.
Smiles
Sewinhuggs

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

I also have them all in folders, the only thing is that I saved everything and bought memberships from everywhere. Now I know that some of them are badly designed and those I bin.

You have started well! Good luck.
Hugs, Lidia

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Thank you

That is a major task and I wish you well in your endeavor.

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Thank you

I can't remember where but I downloaded a file with folders, each a type of embroidery file and I've been very good to put things in their proper folder! I still have the zip file with all the folders, can I share or is this a no-no? I could make a list of these folders. Would this be ok?

5 comments

by lidiad 08 Jul 2012

I think that you may share a link to the file but not the file itself.
Hugs. Lidia

by marjialexa 08 Jul 2012

Definitely not ok to share designs, unless you digitized it yourself. Even if it was a freebie, you can give the link to where, but people have to get it themselves. Only digitizer can give her design.

by justonlyme 08 Jul 2012

Did you get your organizational file folders from SewForum? Someone there had an excellent set. I've been using them almost from the get-go, and it is so much nicer than looking at a giant general file.

by cfidl 08 Jul 2012

OK you got my interest piqued. What?

by lique 09 Jul 2012

I think I have seen this, but my problem is not where I have put them as I have organised them in different folders and subfolders, (Abstract, All kinds, Angels, Animals (birds butterflies etc)) My problem is I kept everything

Keep with it, you will be glad you did.

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Hope so

I need to do this also, but where to start, finding anything take's forever...

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

I have all kinds of folders with subfolders. This works but I had forgotten how many designs I had and I now can see the difference between a well and poorly digitised design.

Well done. You will feel so good when it is complete. Hugs Sarah.

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Might be a while though. I am at the moment tackling the folder animals. Have just finished cats!

You will be surprised how many you delete if you have saved every freebie that came down the Pike like I did. I have found soooo many duplicate files as well. I am on a vacation with friends with lots of down time and nothing to distract me, so I have been doing the same thing. I have deleted over 2000 designs (starting with 247,000) so plan to pare it down to a managable 200,000! In my dreams anyway. Good luck.

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by lique 09 Jul 2012

Oh Yes. I am deleting madly. I am surprised at how badly some designs are digitised!