Answers:
1) YES--there's always a better machine
2) YES--if he's offering, why not?
3) I DON'T KNOW which is the easiest :)

Hi and welcome to cute. I saw your post yesterday, and if you want that circular design, let us know what wording you want and we'll digitize it for you. It's pretty easy for me to do. Alot of ladies here have Brothers, and I'm sure they can be of more help with the Brother. Did you see the reviews on this site? Just click on review on the top line above. How nice for your husband to get you a new machine, provided you need one :)

You might need editing software...I use SewWhatPro and there is a free trial period b4 you buy..It is relatively inexpensive..It is not a digitizing program though...It will in fact let you create lettering in the circular shape though using your own fonts on the computer..I haven't tried it though.

I meant to welcome you to Cute...and to tell you that is what this site is all about...so don't be shy ask all the questions you want...Lots of us benefit by those questions as well..*4u

I am sorry I can't help. I just wanted to say that a husband with questions like these is a keeper. I am sure you will get enough feedback to make a good deciscion on your next purchase. AND WELCOME TO CUTE. You have to be careful to find time to embroider. This site is ADDICTIVE.

i have the same machine and i love it. i just don't like the fonts on it so much. which is why i download alphabets like crazy. i just get the wording digitized in the circle.

esadsh, WELCOME to the CUTE family - isn't it wonderful - that you husband wants to help - he will become addicted to this site, as well - you have a good machine - you need to have some software to use with that machine - ask your dealer - tell them what you want to do - what might be easy for one - may not be for another - you first need something that works with your machine - then you need to run it - if it has the tools you want - then you will be happy - if not - ask the dealer what they recommend - I have a Babylock Ellegante2 - I use a Palette v6 program - it is now a newer version - I think either v7 or v8 - but I can make my letters in a circle, if I choose to. The hardest part of all of this - is to learn the program that you have - but once you do - you will love to work magic with it. *4U

There are lots of better machines than what we have, I also have a PE700, and i am reaaly happy with, I dream of owining one with a bigger hoop, but will have to wait until after the Holidays.But also a machine needs a good operator, you could hava a 15,000.00 machine and if you are only going to be doing little things, whats the use of spending all that money?Welcome to cute....***********************

The only way to learn is to ask questions - so ask! It sounds like you need a good customizing programe and one worth checking out is 3d studio or 4d studio by husqvarna, it does the things you want to do and more. For more info go to their site. Happy embroidering!

You have good advice already. Welcome. Please do not make this your last question, No one should get angery with your inexperience, we all started inexperienced. We too are still learning, and others questions help the rest of us learn more. H&*.

All I can say is that I have the 3D pro from Husqvarne and you do the lettering and circles etc in the software. 3D pro is the older program and is for XP computer, so might be able to pick it up a bit cheaper from someone.Newest is 4D for Vista. Lots use Embird as it is cheaper and seems to do lots too,Hope that someone who uses this software can also tell you a bit about it.

Embird is a very popular editing/digitizingprogram - to be honest I haven't got it yet but am hoping to get it soon. You can download it and it has a 30day trial period to see if you like it and can get the hang of it. If you get it through Secrets of Embroidery site it is a bit cheaper too :)

A BIG WELCOME TO CUTE.Heather

Welcome esadsh, I have the brother 1500D and LOVE that it has the 6x10 hoop. BUT unless you plan on doing large designs most of the time it won't be worth it.
You do need a program if you want to be a serious embroider but it takes 'learning' to use that program to get the max results.
ANY machine you have will do wonderful work once you get use to the tricks of the trade.
I fell in love with fsl and it's the reason I got a machine and once I stitched out my first fsl bowl I was hooked, I got my present machine, leaving the first one with my sister.
I have the Embird program and got the Font Engine for it, any font on my computer can be used for stitching out, in many shaped styles.

Welcome and have fun with embroidery!!

there is and will always be another good machine.Question is: how often do you need a very expensive machine, is it neccesary or does the one you have now do the job good as well? But even with the machine a digitize program is nice to have. so you can arrange designs or design them yourself. I have a brother machine and the PE-design as digitizing program. * 4u

I see you got wonderful answers! I too use Embird, now 2010 version, and I love it. I also didnt do my homework when I bought my embroidery machine, now I want one with bigger hoops :)
Welcome to Cute, you will love it here!

1) The text is made into a circle using a softare program, not necessarily by the machine.
So, no, if you are happy with the hoop sizes of your machine and its embroidery stitch out, I would suggest you wait until you have gained much more embroidery experience before buying another machine.

2 & 3) Still the cheapest and best digitising software to buy, the most user friendly and by far the very best supported and with the most tutorials available either for free or purchase..............
Embird, Embird, Embird.

You need only buy the modules that you need to start with and as yours skills advance you buy Font Engine, Cross Stitch, Sfumato & Studio (for digitising). You can buy complete, scalable alphabets for as little as $15. US. These are alphabets that you can resize, from very small to extra large sizes. And with the main modules you can edit and arrange the text into just about anything you could ever need.

With Font Engine you create whatever letters you need, into individual designs, which you can arrange as you wish, add text into designs.

The limitations of Embird are only those of your intelligence and ability to learn and your willingness to learn, or how far you wish to go.

Check out some of the Designs by Cuties, Manami, SimplyRosie and I all use Embird, not sure how man others.

You can download a free 30 day trial, but before you do that I suggest you read up on Embird and check out some tutorials on basic digitising, assuming you know nothing about digitising, editing, re-sizing designs, etc.

Before you download the trial make sure you will have plenty of time to spend trying it out, it's no good downloading it then not using it for the month as your trial will expire.

I downloaded the free trial and it only took me two days to decide it was the software for me.
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I also have Xpressive by Pulse ($3,500); 4D by Huskvarna Viking ($???); PE Design Light ($??); Creative Drawings by Corel ($1,500): and don't use any of them.
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Don't take my word for it, check it out, before you spend thousands of dollars on (Machine) brand name software that you don't need.

Hope this helps and if you need any help with links to tutorials etc, just email me.
Melide_menschen@yahoo.com.au
And I will send you links to all the ones I know of, free or for purchase, plus you can check out the text turoials at Embird, (3rd link below)

Hugs n roses, Meganne - Melide Menschen Designs

PS, no I don't work for Embird, I just love the program and the latest upgrade (this week) was totall FREE!!!

Oh please keep asking! We all love to talk about our hobby and even if it sounds silly at the first glance there is something new to learn with every! posting even for the experienced "old hares" (which means in german: old hand).
So I think you should not hurt and disappoint your hubby with refusing his offer to buy a new machine ;-)
But to do the circle thing a software will do fine.
Have in mind that you doesn't have to choose a brand matching your machine, you are free with that decision, all programms are able to create embroidery files of different machine formats.
Just for treating fonts there are a lot of solutions availabe which will not ruin the budgetary fund and you will just have to click 3 - 4 buttons, for this personally I use the Futura Hyperfont software, which is no real digitizing programm but an autopunch addition and it works fine at not so ambitious projects.
But take a look around, many brands offer a trial version.

I can recommend the Brother PE Designer Software too, this is a very powerful digitizing program and you can do a lot of creative things with it. More expensive, of course.

But if you want to become a REAL digitizer and there are no budget limits (you surely are a lucky wife!) have a look at Wilcom.
The handbook has 860 pages, and a lot of them are about lettering and creating your own fonts.
Hard work, big fun.
See you!

I have to say, that I have the digitizing program, Embroidery Magic Pro (or is it Embroidery Magic II) Either way...I can't figure it out! I have managed to get some stuff done, then it seems like one goof and I've wiped out everything I have accomplished. I would suggest going with Embird...which is what I plan to do when I can afford it. I just know that many of the folks here use it, and love it!

Meganne's answer is excellent, so I don't have anything to add to that, except my own preference.
I love Embird, which I've had since November last year. I also have 3D - have had Husqvarna software for over 10 years, but I definitely prefer Embird.
And the latest update makes it even more consumer friendly.

First welcome to cutey and never never stop asking questions, I have been embroidering for about a 1 1/2 now and the only way I learned as much as I know is from asking the question. I was always taught that you had no before you asked so the worst that can happen is you will get no. And here that is hardly the answer LOL Cutey's love helping

Meagann gave you the best answer, I have 4D by viking which does what you are looking for but if I had done my homework and not listened to my dealer I never would have paid all the money I did for it. for the price I paid I could have had Embrid and all the modules that go with it. Now I wait to buy Embrid, can't pay so much for a program and then dish out more for the one I should have bought. My 4D has so many hiccup's in it I hate it. I did the trial of Embrid for the 30 days and saw all that it does now I want it. Really wish I had know more before I purchased, but the dealer took advantage that I was new to embroidery and told me I needed to have the 4D to use my machine, made it seem like it was the only software for my machine (since I was purchasing it from them) Now I know better.
I have also changed dealers learned that lesson too LOL

Welcome to you, esadsh, I learn much with all the questions which are asked here, you must go on with many questions.*4U

If you don't ask you want know, sometimes salesman will conn you as you have found out from other cute members. I have asked many questions and always been able to get very good answers, Cuties are here to help you. and no they don't mind. Good luck with your embroidery. I only wish I had found Cute site a long time ago, and I would not have made some mistakes. Sara

Although I can not so good English, but everyone will helped you on this side. Me was already helped so much. I embroider only been 3 1 / 2 months, but I have already learned so much. For digitizing, I tried the freeware Sophiesew. I think it's great. You only have to save often, because this program is not yet mature, and occasionally goes out. Good luck with your embroidery.