I had some great responses to my previous thread about projects to set for beginners and it made me think of a supplementary question.....

Well, I did share all of your advice. You may also have noticed that two of them have joined this community and posted some comments. One has even posted her first entry in the projects section! Now to work on the others!

As I said in the Previous thread link, thank you! This is all great advice!!!

stop putting it off just get it out of that box and set it up , grab some fabric read the start up section of the manual and have a go .
The hardest part is plucking up that courage to actually have a go .after that it is fun all the way

Read the manual that came with your machine. Lol!

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by spendlove 18 Feb 2015

As a last resort, of course!

I think just don't be afraid of failing, enjoying playing with your new hobby, be creative , but most of join a forum like Cute, the advice and friendship here is amazing :-)

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by Patricia109 19 Feb 2015

"Failing" is a form of learning. Also learn from the problems others in the class are having with their machines, designs and threads. I learnt heaps just from that.

i have been saving design for some time but then i have problems finding them on the cds can any one tell me how to put them back on the computer and get them in order have so many will take me a year i'm sure should i put each font on one disk it would be such a waste of space

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by spendlove 14 Feb 2015

Put the CD into the drive on your computer. Go to "My computer" and select that drive from the list. A menu of everything on the disc will appear.Highlight the files you want to move. Right click and select Copy from the list. Go to where you want to put them on your computer. (I suggest you create a file called Embroidery, if you haven't already.) Right click and select paste.
Jobs a good'un.

Don't think I have added a comment as I have not been about much. Advice is not to download every free design that one sees as you will have far too many designs and many probably of a iffy quality I would also follow Liques advice of putting a effort in to saving designs with a method behind the saving. And lastly have fun and don't be scared,

Having to spend so much time down in my bed I was desperately missing my favorite hobbies, Sewing, Embroidery and hand stitching. Having found this site and all the many sites that people here have recommended, I am absolutely amazed at the designs and knowledge that people are willing to share with others. I have also learned that not all designs are worth the time to download them. It is best to stitch out a couple samples before downloading all their gifts. Still have not tested all the sites I have downloaded but deleting a full site of their freebies and less expensive designs was a real wake up to the fact that not all sites are equal. BACK up, BACK up, BACK up, eventually all systems will fail and you will be far less unhappy with the loss, if you do not loose all the designs you have downloaded. Practice, practice, practice and then sew your samples into small quilts for loved ones or a charitable cause close to your heart. Have fun.

A two part answer. Join this Forum & start with a baby quilt. It will give you experience with pattern design, layout , assorted stitches etc. Plus it is a great incentive to accomplish something quickly.

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by asterixsew 12 Feb 2015

Love this idea

Thanks for all these. I'm going to cut and paste them into a word document to give to the ladies at the meeting tomorrow.

when embroidering a name or words
check the spelling ,,I had made a towel gift
for my friend and spelled a word wrong
so I made another one with the correct spelling.

Don't be afraid to ask for help on this Forum. Start organizing your designs right from the start. Respect your budget.

I would add the same advice given to sewers for cutting patterns "check twice, cut once" changing the word cut to hoop (check twice, hoop once). Hooping to include the act of attaching to the machine for wayward pieces of the article to be embroidered under the frame.

To tell them that it is an expensive and addictive hobby.

Learn to hoop your fabric correctly an what stabilizer to use, it will save you time and money in the long run.

Organise your embroidery designs from the moment start!!!! You get addicted and will not be able to find anything. I never did this and after 4 years of collecting it took me a whole year to organise it all!

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by spendlove 10 Feb 2015

Great advice!

Be patient, if not sure ask someone and if all else fails read the manual..

I would endorse what everyone has said. read the instruction book, and keep it next to your machine until you feel confident. I was shown how to use my machine in the shop, but it was like another language. the only thing I understood was that it cut the under threads - I didn't understand the usefulness of that. Jo

Start with a small, simple design and take all the advice, training, lessons and freebies your store will give you.

You got a lot of good advice.
I bought my first embroidery machine in 1992,a Brother Galaxy, and ot a 15% discount if I did not take a lesson it was the first machine the dealer saw and sold. So I just read the manual and started embroidering. That machine is still in working order ( my daughter gave it to a friend of hers). The machines I bought after that one I all bought on the same conditions - no lessons, a nice discount - from different dealers and so far it always worked out well, although the machines have become more and more advanced/complicated and thus might be a bit daunting for first time buyers.
So my advice: RTM - read the manual.

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by spendlove 10 Feb 2015

You are a woman after my own heart. I too would have taken the discount. It would have bought a lot of thread!

by mops 10 Feb 2015

And at the time of the first one embroidery cards as well.

Go through the instruction book and do every task that they explain. That will get you acquainted with the machine. I did this before my first lesson and I took every lesson that was available plus would go to the monthly clubs and do the projects - with each project you learn something new. I can't relate to the thread issue as my machine was never picky about thread. Stabilizer are another issue that you need to know how to use. So, I pretty much agree with all the others comments. You need to have fun with your machine, don't make it hard work or you won't enjoy sewing and embroidering with it.

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by spendlove 10 Feb 2015

Fun is my main target!

I bought my machines second hand so technically the shop was not obliged to give me any lessons, however I got so frustrated I ended up getting a half morning by myself with the dealer (who is also a friend). Note that I bought the machines privately, not through a dealer. The problem was the thread I'd bought. I'd gone mad and bought three sets of thread that my machine hated .. grrr!


So, my advice: if you are able, only buy ONE spool of thread if you haven't tried that brand in your machine before - especially if it's not the one "recommended" by your brand. Both of my machines are Brother brand. We all know that Brother wants you to use their thread and yes it stitches lovely with that thread, but ooooooo the cost of those itty bitty spools. Prewounds (bobbins) save you a ton too, if you can get them. Brother has two different bobbin threads and if you're going to buy geniune, make sure you read the manual and get the correct one (or in my case reset the bobbin tension to take the other one lol though it's not for the faint-of-heart with a new machine).

All good advice from the other Cuties too! xXx

1 comment

by spendlove 10 Feb 2015

Good advice there.

I agree with lilylady. I stitched out a bunch of the designs in my machine first to get to know my machine, and how the different types of fabric and stabilizers behaved with the designs. And my 2nd is to buy the best fabric, thread, stabilizers and designs you can afford to get the best results. Best wishes for a successful class.

I sat down at the machine with the instruction book and played with it, putting a built-in design on the screen, moving it around, adding another design or initial. I did this for a couple of hours with no thread on the machine. When I finished I was fairly comfortable with the machine and put a design and thread in it and tried my hand at it. The machine was no longer unfathomable and I was getting comfortable with it.

2 comments

by airyfairy 10 Feb 2015

I did more or less the same thing with my first machine, bought second hand and no one to help. Welcome Helen

by Patricia109 19 Feb 2015

I did a similar thing. I kept entering different screens then backing out it beeped. My son wanted to know what I was doing wrong as the new machine was beeping so much. It was hard explaining to them that I was exploring the machine BEFORE I did any actual embroidery.

GET AS MANY FREE LESSONS AS YOU CAN FROM THE SHOP WHERE YOU BOUGHT YOUR MACHINE!!!!
And ask them if they know of any Embroidery sites that could help you. Love Chris

practice a lot on the designs on your machine, learning to do the thread list, color choices. starts and stops changes, basic how machine works, then venture on.

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by bevintex 09 Feb 2015

and read the instruction book

Make sure you spring clean your home before you start embroidering because you will not have time after to do it. LOL. It is addictive. Hugs Marg

4 comments

by lilylady 09 Feb 2015

OMG SEW TRUE! (LAUGH!)

by spendlove 09 Feb 2015

I love this one!

by jrob 09 Feb 2015

and 12 springs later......

by buttercup22 13 Feb 2015

so very true my husband sometime find me sewing at 3 am

I recommend that one has plenty of patience and perserverance, things unavoidabley do go wrong,BUT however in most cases can be solved with the cuties in this group. Some very knowledgeaable people here to help twenty four hours a day.Pactice makes perfection, and it will happen quicker than you think. Sandra

Have you told them about Cute embroidery site? A great way to collect designs,get great project ideas. get advice day or night and meet some truly wonderful people with the same interests.

3 comments

by spendlove 09 Feb 2015

I have -to join the Cute site was my number one piece of advice!

by lilylady 09 Feb 2015

It was the best thing I did after I found this site. Yes!

by KCowden 18 Feb 2015

That's what I love about this site....the people...always willing to help others!!!

Seek advice from fellow embroiderers or your salespeople or anyone who is knowledgeable and will talk to you about your machine and and embroidery.

Don't give up. At first it can be really difficult to get designs to turn out right. Don't expect the first try to work. I can't tell you how many times I have been tempted to just throw the machine out the window!

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by spendlove 10 Feb 2015

I've just shut mine in it's room for a while until it was prepared to behave nicely.

the difference in all those stablelyzers and needles

Don't spend too much $$ on your machine not to be able to purchase additional attachments, equipment and supplies: hoops, needles, thread, various stabilizers, scissors, fabric, designs, and various other items . The initial cost may be higher than many estimate.

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by spendlove 10 Feb 2015

Good point.