Most of us struggle with SAD - serious addiction to downloading - no one has as yet come up with a cure, but at least it's neither immoral nor fattening! So, the answer to your question: I DL a lot but am getting more choosy than I used to be.

I D/L when I find them.....ya never know WHEN ya just MIGHT need that design...and most of the time I can't remember where I saw it...or YES it is gone!!!

I DL immediatly... and see after what doing with :o))
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Get them when you can...they won't be available when you need them!

mops has the perfect answer....
Louise

I agree with Martine. I also run the design in my software and if it is not a good design, I delete it.

When I see something I like I download it, scan it to make sure no viruses, unzip, save my format then delete, then I put the zipped file on a seperate hard drive in case I lose something. My unzipped folders are then divided into categories, birds, cats, dogs, etc. Makes it easy for me.....

I love this question!!! I feel guilty spending so much time downloading designs! But, I keep thinking - well, I might need "that" later....lol. I did purchase Deduper which unzips and sends the formats that I don't need and the zip files to another file. I like the suggestion of downloading the zip files to a CD and save them as a backup. Although, I do backup all my files to a spare hard drive that we have. Backing up your designs are very important! Great question!!

Definitely get them when I see them. You're right, they're not always going to be there. Also, trying to remember where you saw something would be highly unlikely..Hugs, Shasta

When I first started I was a design junky and downloaded every single design I would find. After a while I realided that I was just wasting space on my drive, time and had a whole bunch of designs that I asked myself I was ever going to really use. So I ended up deleting about 70% of them. Now I just donload the ones I think I will probably use and as soon I download them I ccheck them on the simulation to ensure that the design is good and if I think there is not good I delete it. (call me picky, but oh well)

You are doing the right thing!! Often websites change the items that they offer. It is a shame to know that a desired design was offered (for free) and then to forget it's location.

Don't worry I think we all do the same and I put them on an external harddisk and a memorystick because the memorystick is easy to take with me when needed. If you don't do it that way you will mis designs because sites have change them.

Adelmarie .. what do you mean "check them on the simulation to ensure that the design is good " ... what is the simulation? And regarding the question, I download the ones I like, or may use at some time. Thanks to all!!

When I first started machine emb I would wait todownload. Too many times the design wasn't available when I went back. I now download as soon as I see it. Once a week I burn designs on CD's so I don't lose them if there is a computer problem. I also try the designs out on Embird Sew Simulator & later when I have time I test stitch. I save all my tests in a binder and catalog which CD the design is in. I find this to work best for me and when someone sees a stitched design it really makes it easier for them. Tell hubby that there really is a reason for our madness.

I put mine on a disk, then on a ub stick where I loaded my 4-d software. Then I can open them there as well on my desktop so I can see the pictures. I use the ub stick for my laptop. That way you don't need you hard drive to hold eveything.I can save my memory since I had 2 have memory put on my desk top twice.I also keep a book as to what I have and label each disk. A lot but It helps me.

Do not worry, my husband fusses too, but not as much as before. They get used to it.

Grab what you can!
You can see at "Voting requests" that offers on the internet won't last forever.
Modern computers do not really have a memory space problem- your problem might become finding the designs when you need them.
So I categorize them, the more I collect the more detailed the folders get. For example I have the big one "Designs", then "Cats", then "cartoon style" or "Card xyz Cats".
I delete all of poor quality! Better 1 of good quality then 10 ugly to choose from.
Internet Sites which offer freebies are stored of course in the internet favorites and I visit regulary each session.
And I collect just one file format to avoid duplicates, foreign formats I convert with a free software.
And don't forget: save, save, save.
So I think you are doing right.

It's more of an addiction with no cure in site. At first I downloaded everhthing I saw, now I'm a LITLE more pickey, however I still have a million ABC sets that I know I'll never use, but they are so cute and you never know when you will want a certain design. I started out on a disc, ran out of room and transfered to a 1 gig stick, ran out of room and transfered to a 4 gig stick. This should take some time to fill. you do need to organize them and make folders for all the different designs or you will never find what you need when you need them. Soon hubby will get used to the downloading and think its an every day occurance!<br />Good Luck

I suppose it depends on if you have space to download to, (I am now considering a HUGE external hard drive just for embroidery) and a way to organize & view what you have. I download WAY TOO MUCH, but have seen embroidery sites come and go. If I think I MIGHT possibly use it I download it. I have become a "bit" more picky in what I download, but "what if" I need that sailboat or baby bottle or monkey... you know what I mean! I guess my husband has little to no idea what I am doing at the computer. If he only knew of my secret addiction...well he may have a clue..

I down load it! You never know when you will NEED it. I have a brother disney too, but I do use a usb stick. After downloading for over a year I just started putting things in categories.( Alphabet, Angels, dogs fall ets)It has made my life alot easier. Now I can find things. Good luck and Great question.