Well I figured since it became the hot topic and got my wheels spinning in the other thread that I would start a separate thread.
I've never thought about owning an embroidery machine- always figured "what am I gonna use that for??""
but now thanks to Cilean- don't know if thats a sincere or sarcastic thanks ;), I've been thinking about it since last week.
I definitely would want one of the models that you plug into your computer and upload whatever design you want. The whole concept of having to buy cheesy dorky (not in a good way) designs on discs from the manufacturer is whats always left a bad taste in my mouth before.
Since there was mention made of models that fit that criteria under $1000, what are these models that would be recommended by those of you that have them??
Could you make personalized trim with the embroidery machine??
I do custom laser cutting and engraving so I am trying to justify to myself adding embroidery to the mix and make it a business expense. Since I will be adding a router soon this would be a good way to round out the business.
So lets have some embroidery talk.
Well it depends on what you want to do with the embroidery machine. If you want to do blackwork with it, I hate to say it but you need a Bernina or Viking or one of those and they are over $1,000. If however you want to do standard embroidery (pictures and such) then the Singer Futura line is not bad. You can get one around $500-$700 depending on how much software you want with it and they work pretty darn well. I have a Furtura CE-100 (older model) and it does regular embroidery pretty well and the Auto-Punch software does a decent job on digitizing pictures into embroidery designs for you. Now this software is a pain to use but once you figure it out it works OK. This is certainly not a high end machine but it will get the job done for you and it has a small (4"x6") hoop and a large (6"x9") hoop that comes with it.
Gramercy, Auryn! Let's keep this conversation going!
Adding to the OP, can we have some discussion of what to look for when getting started with machine embroidery--not just recommendations for particular machines (because we all know those can be really personal), but also how to choose one that might be right for you? I've heard that the hoop size is important, and the stabilizers and thread can be really expensive.
And on a side note, the Brother SE270D (http://www.amazon.com/Brother-SE270D-Computerized-Embroidery-Machine/dp/B000BS01KK/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I35QJWQ75VVG2O&colid=38QQ6WQEGJTHW) has been on my Amazon wishlist (where I store all my ideas for things I might be interested in) since last April, which means somebody here on RF.com must have recommended it. Can anyone tell me why? (I know I didn't put it there as a machine recommendation, b/c I had a brand-new Viking when I added it!) It's certainly not because I have a deep longing to embroider Disney images on things (blech)!
I'm looking at getting a similar Brother embroidery machine. It looks just like that one Gem but it doesnt have the Disney things. I heard that it is great for starters and is easy to use.
I'll be testing various Brother machines for a shop over the next few months. This will include some embroidery machines. I'll let you know how they go for garb, how they cope with blackwork or gold thread, and so on. Should be fun!
When at Bristol, I see the chemises and shirts worn by the Queen and Nobles. The Attic Shoppe is where they get them. I met this vendor a few years ago in Janesville, Wisconsin as I bought a few things from him. He uses several machines that use up to 6 spools of thread at a time. He said his Embroidery machines cost anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000.
It will depend on what kind of embroidery one will be doing to determine the kind of machine being sought. I want the Janome Memory Craft 11000 that is a computer that sews. Hook it up to the computer via a USB hookup and download and embroider beautiful Blackwork designs like magic. THat machine runs over $5,000 ON SALE!!!
I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up if someone offered me a $5,000 embroidery machine, but I think $1,000 or less, as stated in the original post, is probably a lot more realistic for me. I too have been interested in the Singer Futuras, and I've looked at the Brother machines as well. I may be just looking for a long time, but I'd be really interested in the experience folks have with these less expensive machines.
I have a Viking Platinum 950e (same as current model 955e) which is a sewing/embroidery combo machine. Got mine for $900 on ebay.
These are my thoughts and recommendations on Viking and embroidery machines in general based on this machine and my research into other sub-$1500 embroidery options out there:
1) Viking might be great at embroidery, but their machine documentation can be really sucky. You will want someone who knows, or the shop you buy it from, to show you how to use it - if you don't already know. Look for classes if none of those options are available to you.
2) The Viking software is stupid-expensive and their software documentation I also found to be pretty bad. There are other software packages which are not produced by Viking out there (Embird, Masterworks) that will work with Viking machines, though. All the software is expensive, but some look more user friendly with additional features.
3) Having to switch back and forth between sewing and embroidery is kind of a pain in the butt. Personally, I'd rather have a separate machine to do specialty things like embroidery or coverlocking. I couldn't see myself paying $6k for a machine, though.
4) If I ever get a new machine for embroidery, I would want it to have a USB connection or built-in networking (or some kind of cross-platform generic media like a CD or something) rather than using the D-Cards, floppy disks, or other proprietary media. You have to buy the cards and they don't last forever, and floppies break and are antiquated.
I want a Janome MemoryCraft, too! But they are *so* expensive. And as I'm unemployed right now, I don't see that happening anytime soon :P
The inexpensive option I found that happens to have everything I would want (with software included, USB, multi-format file reading, etc) is that Singer Futura series -- Has anyone actually used one of these? I'd consider getting one just for embroidery, not sewing. But I'm afraid it's just going to be a "you get what you pay for .... so it's cheap and bad" kind of thing. Would love to find someone with a first-hand experience with them.
I too would love to hear the opinion of owners of the Futura series of machines. I have found a couple locally on craigslist for under $800 but want to know the real deal.
Here are the questions I have as someone who knows bubkuss about embroidery.
What are the hidden costs of an embroidery machine?
Do you have to use special thread??
Quote from: Auryn on December 09, 2009, 01:36:50 PM
I too would love to hear the opinion of owners of the Futura series of machines. I have found a couple locally on craigslist for under $800 but want to know the real deal.
Here are the questions I have as someone who knows bubkuss about embroidery.
What are the hidden costs of an embroidery machine?
Do you have to use special thread??
Take a look at my first post and you'll see what I think about the Furtura machine. Now granted mine is the bottom of the line but the software is the same across and that is the biggest problem with them and they absolutely will not do blackwork properly. I've tried time and again to no luck. The Futura will use just about any other machine's designs though so that is nice.
Yes there is some "hidden costs" associated with embroidery. You do need special thread for both the spool and a different one for the bobbin. You need to use embroidery thread for the spool and what's called bottom thread for the bobbin. Bottom thread is a lighter thread and allows the embroidery to lay properly. If you use embroidery thread top and bottom it comes out messy and way too thick. You also should always use a stabilizer even if its a wash away one otherwise the fabric has a tendancy to move and the embroidery looks messy again. Also you need embroidery pins (they are pretty long thin pins and usually have flower heads on them) to help hold the fabric tight in the hoop otherwise, again the fabric might move and it will look messy. Hope this helps.
Me personally, I probably won't do much blackwork if at all.
My idea is to use it for the following
- to do embroidered shirts for work- company name and logo on the breast pocket and on the sleeve- for us to wear and to sell to customers with their boat/airplane name
- to embroider designs (of my choosing) on garb and mundane clothing.
As far as software, I'm pretty good at picking it up. All software and platform takes some time to learn and get used to.
What about the software don't you like??
Well the Futura Software just doesn't have a lot of features to it. Its pretty basic so if you have a picture that is EXACTLY what you want with ONLY the colors you need and NO fill, like a background, it works great. If however you want to take some pieces out of the digitized picture like a background, its hard to do because it only shows you the pieces of the background not the whole thing and not in any easy to understand picture either. It just presents you with a bunch of shapes and you have to decide to keep them or not. Other than that, it works fine.
if I'm reading this correctly, the Futura has problems connecting designs that repeat and are larger than the hoop? Is that a problem with the software or the device itself? Or did I interpret that wrong and it is another deficiency?
Quote from: Auryn on December 09, 2009, 01:36:50 PM
What are the hidden costs of an embroidery machine?
1) IMHO the biggest hidden cost of an embroidery machine can be the darn DESIGNS. You buy them either individually or with others in a "collection". There are subscription services on the web as well as single-download shopping cart stores. You can sometimes find free ones on the web, but most cost $$$. If you know someone who has a machine, you may be able to "borrow" some from them.
If you have the software to do it, you can make designs yourself or digitize them from clipart. The thing is - you can't just take an image and transfer it to your machine and embroider it - you have to convert it into a 'design' first, which is program that instructs the machine how to actually sew a picture. It tells the machine how many stitches to use to fill a design, how to move from one part of the design to another, when thread needs to be cut, when to switch colors, etc. It needs to know the thickness of the thread and colors and stuff too, so there are a lot of things included in a design that go beyond a 'picture'.
2) the special threads and stabilizer, as mentioned
3) software - there are different types - organizer software, digitizing software, and design software - often has to be purchased separately and can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.
4) memory cards or transfer cards (may or may not be included with machine)
5) some systems require you to have an external card reader for your computer. Such a device allows you to connect a port to your PC so that you can insert a proprietary memory card into a slot and read/write to it. Like this one:
(http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-13787208804715_2082_29771296) (http://www.acesewvac.com/vik-reader-writer-dcard.html)
6) regular cleaning, just like with a sewing machine
and then there's the 'optional' stuff:
- additional feet / accessories (optional)
- varying sizes of hoops to make for example very large or very small designs (optional)
Check out pages 62-70 of the Viking catalog to get an idea of what they offer:
http://www.e-magin.se/v5/viewer/files/default.aspx?paper=1060132949040,04490&startpage=1 (http://www.e-magin.se/v5/viewer/files/default.aspx?paper=1060132949040,04490&startpage=1)
Okay, so I own a Designer SE, I have never had an issue not understanding the wording of the instructions for either the machine nor my 4D Embroidery System. I have worked with several systems in the past and I can say they were the same for me. As for "Stupid" expensive? The 4D is $2,500, which is pretty typical, Drawings is $3,700, Melco Amaya Bravo 32676-02 Design Shop Lite would be around $2,500, and Embroidery Office Design Maxx is GULP $9,800! There are less expensive options, with Embird and many others including the Amazing Box. I am just naming a few, but after doing extensive research, I did not find the 4D system more than others for what you get.
I have owned several embroidery machines, I began on a Pfaff 7570, Bernina Arista, now I have a Husqvarna/Viking Designer SE, and I will be in the next few months upgrading to the Diamond (You can hoop an entire side of a doublet!!! Joy!). Remember, you don't upgrade every year so you need to think of your future and where you would be and what you want to do. Machines begin at $800.00 and Yes Bernina has a 6 needle awesomeness that you can thread up and it only does embroidery, Janome has a 4 Needle lovely as well and they are pricey, it is the middle between home and professional and it is $12,000. Again it depends on what you need and what you want to happen in the next 5 years.
I have made my own trim, just from the designs on my Designer SE on biased tape! For the kids and myself when I could not find what I wanted on the market. (Sad now, no more Europa trims). I want to make a gown with my own version of Fleur de Lys all over the purple velvety goodness. But that is in the plans and far away at this time.
There are a lot of designs on the market. If you want some? Save up, this is Big Girl Pill time. It can be expensive but if you only need 1 design there are some great sites out there that you can get 1 design from a pack. Or you can get to be part of a group with purchases design packs to share. Or you can learn how to craft your own designs, and then sell them!! Making money to keep your habit in check (Ha!).
Where I live, all of the dealerships have classes to learn how to use your machine, even if you have a basic machine there are classes in which you can take for free so that you can ask your questions. If you don't have anyone who can do this????? Don't buy from them!!! If I have a question I can call or go over to my dealer and they will step me through step by step. Of course this will ensure repeat business, so it is in their best interest for them to help you continue to work with your machine. Many of the dealerships will have an embroidery night in which people get together and work with notions and designs, and of course there are groups online about Embroidery via machines with a ton of information!
It depends on your needs and what you want to do with the machine, the sky is the limit!
Just to whet your appetite? Check out these lovely pieces made with machines!
This was made on a brother machine
(http://www.naergilien.info/research/london1/Phoenix/phoenixembroideryfake.jpg)
Here is the dress diary for the entire gown if you are interested:
http://www.naergilien.info/research/london1/Phoenix/index.htm (http://www.naergilien.info/research/london1/Phoenix/index.htm)
Also if you want to I have been chatting for 4 years or so now with the Ladies of Tudor Tailor stated this stomacher was in part Machine Embroider and hand sewn
(http://www.ninyamikhaila.com/pix/c16thjess1590s/c16thjess1590s3.jpg)
Cilean
Quote from: Cilean on December 09, 2009, 09:49:32 PM
As for "Stupid" expensive? The 4D is $2,500, which is pretty typical, Drawings is $3,700, Melco Amaya Bravo 32676-02 Design Shop Lite would be around $2,500, and Embroidery Office Design Maxx is GULP $9,800!
ROFL Yes I consider that "stupid expensive" =P
To some people (myself included) that is a LOT of money! That's as much as some used cars! lol
Especially when we're talking about software that costs like, three times as much as the sub-$1000 machine mentioned in the original post.
For professionals or experienced embroiderers it may seem reasonable, but for someone just starting out learning embroidery or trying to figure out if it's something they want to even do at all, upfront costs like that are a bit ridiculous IMHO.
---
Ultimately, for someone just starting out in sewing or embroidery, I would probably recommend (and this is what I did):
Get a cheaper machine with software and "everything you need" included. Maybe try to find a brand you like and get the bottom of the line one. Play with it - learn it's limitations. Learn the software. Experiment. Break it. Whatever. Then decide what you want it to *really* do. What doesn't it do, what features do you find you need. Every machine and software package is different. Decide if it's even a hobby you want to really "get into". Then sell the machine on ebay or craigslist and upgrade. Do that as many times as you want. Some shops even allow you to "trade in" your machine for a more expensive model (like a car dealership).
Quote from: Tixi on December 09, 2009, 03:17:58 PM
if I'm reading this correctly, the Futura has problems connecting designs that repeat and are larger than the hoop? Is that a problem with the software or the device itself? Or did I interpret that wrong and it is another deficiency?
I've never done a design that goes beyond the hoop size although according to the directions, the software is supposed to be able to handle it. What I was talking about is that the software is really basic and doesn't have a lot of options and if you are digitizing your own design it can be a bit of a pain to do because the software is so limited.
Hi, all!
I've been away for a bit & VERY behind on my reading...couldn't find the "other thread" Auryn mentioned, so forgive if I'm repeating stuff here...SO, without further ado, here's my 2-cents' worth:
I saved up for a while and about 3 years back got a VERY nice, used "Designer I" on ebay. I don't remember how much I paid but it was around $1K. I got lucky because the person who listed it called it a "Designer 1" which is *NOT* the same thing, but the picture that was posted was the right machine, so after contacting the seller and assuring myself of what I was bidding on, I was able to win the auction without a lot of competition. I took a chance, certainly, but am very happy with my purchase. The only drawback is that it has the older, floppy disk drive vs. the USB port, but I'm not too bothered by that.
That being said, the software is another issue. I originally purchased the "3-D Professional" from Husqvarna-Viking and was able to get the free upgrade to 4-D Professional, which is what I use now. I originally bought the 3-D software on a Black Friday sale for about $2K total, which included an extra hoop, threads, stabilizers and other basics to get me started.
The software (as others have already explained) is what allows you to take a picture and turn it into embroidery, but it's not that simple. There is a bit of a learning curve involved, and if you live in the boonies, like me, and can't take a class, you have to teach yourself by trial and error.
It's an interesting coincidence that I spent the better part of this past weekend working on digitizing the embroidery pattern for a reproduction doublet I'm working on, and I'm still not happy with it. There are *so* many variables that go into getting the right look that unless one has the time or energy (or funds) to put into it, spending beaucoup-bucks on the software may not be the best investment in the long run...but it *is* a lot of fun. It's just as much fun, though, to just plop a diskette into your machine and have the design done for you, and there are TONS of patterns out there available for us historically-minded folks to keep busy for a long time.
SO, again, for what it's worth, for a "beginner", I'd suggest looking into a good, used machine and going to the store to check out the software options out there, both for digitizing your own designs and the ones that are all ready digitized and ready to go. After spending the time I've spent on learning the software and tweaking the design, I can totally see WHY the commercially available patterns cost so much money.
And as to machines, personally, I *DROOL* over what the fancy H-V's can do, but I don't need *all* those bells & whistles to get the job done. When I win the lottery, I might change my tune, but for now, I'm pleased as punch with my little ole used Designer I.
Anybody have a Singer Futura CE-250 with Auto-Punch they want to get rid of?! :D
Quote from: Dinobabe on December 21, 2009, 08:50:03 PM
Anybody have a Singer Futura CE-250 with Auto-Punch they want to get rid of?! :D
I don't have a CE-250 but I do have a CE-100 (exactly the same as the CE-150 but older model) with Auto-Punch and Auto-Crosstitch that I purchased to do blackwork and it won't do it. I don't do much other embroidery so I doubt I'll keep it. I have a serger and two other machines so its just sitting there. Its brand new with only a few hours of sewing on it. PM me if you're interested.
So, for X-mas, my wife got a Baby Lock Ellure model ESL from her mother. Is anyone familiar with this machine? Any idiosyncrasies we need to be aware of?
Why is it that I have the uncanny knack of killing a thread?
SO it has been a while since we chatted on this topic.
Personally I am still reading and saving my pennies.
I was wondering how Kate was coming along on the testing of those machines for the sewing shop- I would love to know.
Has anyone gotten anything new or learned anything new they would like to share??
Dinobabe recently bought a Singer embroidery machine. Her thread about it (with pix of her first projects!) is here:
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=10983.0
Yep! And I love it!
It is by no means for commercial use but I have had a LOT of success with the Autopunch software. I also monogrammed some towels and they turned out BEAUTIFULLY. You just have to love on it a bunch and say lots of cuss words and then it works great! Can we say learning curve! ;D
I just finished a shirt logo for my Civil War artillery group. It is based on the picture on our front page.
www.bankheadsbattery.org
i dont know why i totally blanked on dinobabes new machine.
dinobabe- how does the machine do with text??
all the designs you did on your handkerchiefs, are they part of the graphics that come with it or are they your personal graphics??
Quote from: Auryn on May 26, 2010, 08:15:55 PM
i dont know why i totally blanked on dinobabes new machine.
dinobabe- how does the machine do with text??
all the designs you did on your handkerchiefs, are they part of the graphics that come with it or are they your personal graphics??
Pretty much everything I have done so far is thru autopunch, my own designs. Text can be a bit tricky. Larger is much better, like the monogrammed towels I did. The smaller it gets the less smooth it is (hard to describe). Different fonts turn out differently at different sizes. (did I give you enough differents?!) You have to finagle with the density settings, I did some test lines on scrap fabric to practice. I think I'm getting the hang of it. The Civil War shirt logo I did has the name of our battery and it looks pretty good.
dinobabe,
is your machine the same as the se350??
you can use the singer software on the brother machine?? cool.
See I'm thinking since I have 3 years of experience in corel with my laser, the learning curve for the embroidery might be less serious, knowing vector and all.
Would you mind explaining a little bit the process for converting your own images??
See I am trying to convince the higher ups in our family business that we should get an embroidery machine to do all of our work shirts instead of paying $15-25 each to get them done. Plus we could offer it as a service to our customers.
I have a Singer Futura CE 150 I found off craigslist, brand new and still in the box for $300. It's been great for embroidery so far, just finished up some new projects last week. I just bought a blackwork design off my favorite design store for a buck yesterday, will have to try it out later and see how it does. I haven't tried much with the software that came with it, other than resizing or moving designs and mirroring things. The alphabets it comes with are pretty nice, and given that they charge about $30 per alphabet font on design sites I was rather grateful it came with it. It does take some playing around with stabilizer, needle size, and thread tension before you get the design to come out perfectly, so I always buy a bit of extra fabric so I can do a little test run of the design before ruining whatever it is I'm working on. Here's the projects I did last week with it, nothing ren related, the ones on denim came out perfectly, but the silk one came out a bit puckered so I need to work on that in the future.
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/bonnielorraine22/Projects/GuitarCover.jpg)
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/bonnielorraine22/Projects/DragonCover.jpg)
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/bonnielorraine22/Projects/pillowfront.jpg)
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/bonnielorraine22/Projects/scrapbookcover.jpg)
oh, and this was ren related, cuffs and a collar for a shirt from last year
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z257/bonnielorraine22/Projects/robertscuffs003.jpg)
I have the Singer Futura SES2000, embroidery and sewing machine. The software is Futura specific. This is a more commercial version of the Futura series.
I know Photoshop, Illustrator, Mapviewer, Grapher, you name it and I still had to learn the program, still learning.
A tip, the bobbin winder will not work with the embroidery unit attached. ??? So unless you want to take the thing apart to wind bobbins I suggest having a second sewing machine nearby.
The software runs off of a computer not the machine. That is part of keeping the price low. It must be connected to a computer the entire time you are sewing or using the software. I have an old laptop that is dedicated. If you don't have an extra computer that is an extra cost for you or you will constantly have to hook-up/unhook the machine.
The conversion process is fairly simple as long as you have a high res image with very clean edges and fill. The software makes assumptions about the image and the final embroidery. You can change the order in which the "blocks" are stitched as well as the density and stitch style (column or fill). Blocks are the pieces in to which the software breaks down the image. Some images are one block others are many. It will also make assumptions about color. If you have a black image that is not clean the software will actually see various shades of gray. I recommend cleaning ALL images in Photoshop before attempting the conversion. It has its own Photoshop style program with limited features. If you have Photoshop it's much better. Some images I have done converted like a breeze, others have been a pain in the weed puller! Keep in mind the time you may have to put into converting some images.
Keep in mind that this machine is $2000 on its own. I managed to find a limited time Costco deal with $150 coupon for $600 including the software ($800 worth) and two hoops. There are several other Futura machines for less. Read the fact sheets on the Singer site. I recommend getting one with a steel frame, as apposed to aluminum. Mine is steel. You may also be able to find them used for a good price. Lots of people buy this kind of stuff and give up when it refuses to do the dishes and clean the bathroom! They throw them on eBay for a lot less.
Here is one for $900 including software. I try to be careful with eBay, though.
http://global.ebay.com/Singer_Futura_2000_All-in-One_Embroid_Sewing_Machine/280480111920/item
My package came with all of the software; AutoPunch, HyperFont, PhotoStitch, and Cross Stitch (4 CD's at $200 each purchased separately) and two CD's full of designs plus the built in stuff (~6500 designs/stitches). You can purchase additional designs online.
Think about how many shirts you actually buy each year and compare the cost to the cost of the machine you want plus software. This was a major splurge for me and I do plan on making back at least some of the cost. You will also need to buy thread, stabilizer, extra needles (you WILL break some right off the bat!), spray glue, and the shirts.
I hope I am not making this sound like I am against you purchasing one, I just want you to know what you are getting into. Especially for a business. I THOROUGHLY enjoy mine, but it takes time, patience, and lots of cuss words before you get it just right! ;)
Lorraine, where did you buy those great designs!?
Most of the designs I use come from me just doing a search for "embroidery design" on google, plus whatever it is I'm looking for. The guitar and such were from emblibrary I believe, took me awhile to find a guitar that could kind of pass for a bass guitar (my bf plays bass). My friend also may have just <cough cough> "found" me a version of embird online, but I haven't tried using that yet, can't wait to make my own.
Hello,
So I am working on some kids Smocks and Shirts and I wanted to post in here the neck and cuff blackwork.
This is for my youngest son who adores red:
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DmjLsKiy9Ww/S_2SdzwKxdI/AAAAAAAADGg/VdwbT7yzMZQ/s640/DSCI0051.JPG)
For my Eldest son and hubby:
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DmjLsKiy9Ww/S_2QB27qvfI/AAAAAAAADF0/bk0Sw6sHKCc/s640/DSCI0002.JPG)
I had a ton more but I sent them down to LA so I have to make more to show you all!!!
As soon as the smocks/shirts are done I will post them!
Cilean
As I briefly mentioned in another post, I've finally gotten my feet wet with the emboidery module of my Bernina Artista 180 and I'm getting miffed an awful lot now. I don't know if it's just the nature of the machine embroidery beast, if it's Bernina, or if it's just (new) user error. Actually I suspect it's a combination of each. My current issues:
1. It's expensive. Stablizer, special thread, special foot, special bobbin case, embroidery designs, design software, reader/writer boxes, digitizing = I need a part time job?
2. Where are all the good potentially historic embroidery designs hiding? I don't need to embroider multi-colored images of a horse heads, tea pots, or barns... I need basic geometric, abstract borders or even just single images that I can repeat as borders. I've used the following terms in design site searches: redwork, blackwork, outline, abstract, geometric, whitework, line, border, vine, scroll, historic, heirloom, renaissance, Tudor, and more that I can't think of right now. And I end up sitting for hours and going cross eyed scrolling through hundreds of designs of bonnets, crosses, and leaves. In the same vein...
3. Could Bernina make it any harder to acquire and use designs that they haven't created and sell on a card? .ART format seems to be the most elusive of all. Of the few designs I stumble upon that I like, rarely are they in .ART format. How does one covert? Buy buying a writer/reader/converter box for $200 of course. I'm currently trying to find design software that works with their format (yet isn't THEIR thousand dollar software). Everything I find that is embroidery machine related is compatible with twenty-something formats but NEVER .ART. I feel like there is this super exclusive Bernina snobbery society out there hell bent on keeping everything having to do with using their products a big fat expensive restricted secret.
When I was looking at machine embroidery from a distance it seemed like the sky was the limit, and maybe it is if you've got the $$$$, but I really feel like the wind has been taken out of my sails.
Nicole I feel your pain!
I began with embroidery machines with the Pfaff 7570, because I have Carpal Tonal and doing a lot of embroidery well it is not in the cards. So and we are speaking way back in the day I purchased it and digitizing was a pain in the butt! Now with the better software and machines it is a lot easier to create your own.
So yep there are some blackwork stuff and there are some designs that lend to Renaissance motifs. The thing is to know what motifs are Renaissance and the like
if you do search there was a thread pertaining to places in which to get historic designs.
I wish I could find this lady I met in the SCA she had tons she had done herself and of course I lost her email addy ::)
Also I was just at the Southern Cali RenFaire and went through sticker shock. I saw some basic cotton Shirts and Smocks that had blackworking done like I have above and they were selling for $95.00 a piece!!! I could get you one done in 100% Handkerchief Linen embroidered and fitting your body for 1/2 that cost!!!
I mean if you think about it, I have a family of 4, 2 very growing boys, I make 4 shirts for them a year, and I have blackwork on each of them and I make 2 square necked and 2 High Necked Smocks for myself on occasion. So looking at my boys? 8 shirts and the hubby 2 shirts, myself 2 Smocks. 12 in all at $95.00 would be $1,140.00!!!!
So 3 years of making our shirts and smocks pays for 1/2 of my machine and my software!!! That is before I begin talking about making our actual garb!
Cilean