I'm NOT spoiled :) I have green & black screen and know where I'm at by thread color #. I sure can't go by the thread color showing on the screen. I have to print everything out first to see what colors are what numbers, and that can still be hard. Sometimes I leave the design open on the computer screen, then I can move cursor over colors to see what they are. Just makes it that much more fun, right!?! Who needs a fancy machine? :)

I have a brand new Brother Innov-is1500D and it has a black and white screen. It shows the whole design and also a smaller part of the design and color name that you are sewing - below that it shows the next color and part of the design coming up - you can scroll through the parts (by color) of the design. There was a big difference in price between the B&W vs color screen - so far, I am very happy with what I bought.

My Janome300E has a black & white screen, but it shows the whole design, and then there's a series of blocks underneath, with a little TINY picture of the portion of the design, and the color name & number. The one that's sewing is a more black square than the others. The colors are supposed to be RA, but they're never right, it serves to separate the different portions of the design, though. I have a laptop, and if it's a complicated design, I leave it open in Digitizer Pro next to the machine, so I can keep track of what I'm doing and line up all my thread spools in order of sewing. What does your screen tell you, or not tell you, Monica? Hugs, Marji

oh boy do i know what you mean my brother he 120 only hada black and white screen and all it told me was what color it was on couldnt make out the pic it showed then now my brother ult 2001 is a 8 inch LCD with color and shows me where it is stitching oh i love my new baby

Just love my color screen on the viking SE

I have a colour screen. It shows where I am stitching and the area to be covered in the thread that is sewing is on the right and the whole design on the left. There is a list of all the colours in order also on the right

I have a singer so it is hooked up to my laptop. A B&W screen would drive me nuts! Mine shows each color change as a different block and I send each to the machine individually.

Same for me! I have a black and white screen. My computer is upstairs and my pc to another floor ... So, I note all the colors on paper before you begin: this is very frustrating ... :o(

Mines black and white as well, not that,that matters as i don't think i have stitch one design using the original colours ;D . It sure would be nice to have a colour screen though.

I have a sort of bluey grey screen but I'm lucky enough to have a very old, rather slow computer right next to my sewing machine, so I can keep my design up and as I almost never use the recommended colours, this system works for me. Another advantage is that all my designs are on a dedicated pc that is mine! (I followed advice from this site the other day and backed them up on an external hard drive too.)
However,the downside - if it is one - is that I have to transfer designs from one pc to the other via memory stick. *

I have a Brother 190D with a monochrome screen that shows the part you're sewing plus the colour name. And I have the Husqvarna Iris, that's the machine I take with me to my children when there are things to do, mostly sewing. It only shows the colour number (e.g. 1/5 2/5) in which case you have to be even more careful. I either write down in sequence the colours I'll be using and keep the paper next to my machine or place the cones on a thread rack in order not to mess up. Both machines use embroidery cards, so I have to transfer the designs to the card anyway and can see the colours on my pc.
And I have a machine with a colour screen that gives me all sorts of information. But with this machine I've made colour mistakes when in a hurry, because I don't have to be as alert with this one as with the others.

I have a color screen on my Janome but have never known anything else. I can feel your frustration. It is interesting to see how each person handles what they have. Where there is a will there is a way. Thanks for the topic.

Mona

I have a Brother PE-150 (PES format) and I have the same type screen. I have the Little Max box that I download my designs from and then I print off a color picture of my design I'm using. It's really easy to keep up with it that way. If you need anything else, let me know. Debbie

I have my computer hooked up on a separate table next to my machines and I use my software to see each color stop..I never use the screen on my emb. machine..I try to check the colors in my embr. design against the background color of the item I am embroidering..The software sure helps..Nice question. *2U