Machine Embroidery Valentine Card

I belong to a group in which there are new digitizers {like myself}.  Sometimes people in the group will offer their designs for free.  It is a great way for digitizers to learn and test and get feedback.  You can see in this design that the filled part of the red heart does not match up with the outline around the heart.  It is a learning process and this girl or guy who designed it is off to a great start but it just needs a bit of tweaking.  I'm learning there are a lot of things to consider when creating a design and it all takes practice.  Even though this isn't a perfect design, I'm still in awe because I'm not at that level yet.  I'm learning though and I'm thankful to all who share because each time I learn something new.

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm doing the digitizing challenges over at You Can Digitize and this month the challenge is on doing redwork.  Here are a couple of practice teapots that I digitized!  Yes, I'm doing the happy dance because I did these teapots from scratch.  I'm going to work on them some more today.  The above were stitched on some junk scraps of stabilizer. 

Here is my finished teapot stitched out on white cotton.  I'm ready to submit it for the challenge.  I added a bit of steam and I changed the flowers just a bit in the center to me more to my liking.   BTW...everyone in the challenge did this teapot.

 

Every day I learn more and more about my Generations software and practice makes perfect or at least close to perfect.

Happy Embroidering,

Nancy

Generations Digitizing Challenges

Hi Friends,
Just a note to let you know that Holly and Larry over at You Can Digitize are hosting  a challenge a month starting now in Feb. and continuing through the end of the year to help us improve our digitizing skills.  The contests are open to anyone with Generations software.  I also belong to their digitizing membership group to have access to their webinars, videos and forum.  Generations software certainly has a learning curve to it, but it is one of my goals to master, well at least work on, this year.

I've been working diligently on my digitizing skills and am excited to be participating in the challenges.  It's getting me using my software and learning all the nuances about it.

Let me know if you are joining in on the challenge so I can say "Hi" and we can help support one another.  Barb at Stitch n Mouse has joined me.  She is a sweet lady and already knows and uses other digitizing software and is now learning Generations.  Golly, I'll be happy to learn just one software well.

Embroidery Blessings,
Nancy

Machine Embroidery Digitizing on an Existing Image

Dear Friends,
I did this towel as a special gift.  The heart with dog tags is from Lynnie Pinnie.  I purchased the blank heart with dog tags design and then I digitized the lettering and added it.  It reads, "Some Heroes Wear Capes, My Hero Wears Combat Boots."  Then I added the name to the dog tag. The inspiration for this design comes from Stitched By Janay.

With the move to Michigan and all the activity around here, I had set my Generations software aside.  It was so much fun to get it out and create.  You will probably soon be seeing more of my work having digitizing added to it.  :-)

Embroidery Blessings,
Nancy

Machine Embriodery - Pull Compensation

Dear Friends,

 

I have finished Lesson One of Generations Digitizing Machine Embroidery Workshop.  Let me tell you, Wow do I ever have a lot to learn!  I went through the workshop 3 times!  From time to time, I'd like to share bits and pieces with you of what I learned.  I hope you find this as interesting as I do.

The star sugar cookie you see here is the homework project for this lesson.  It was a less than perfect design to begin with.  Is there such a thing as a perfect design?  Anyway, we were given specific instructions on how to make improvement to the design and it covered quite a number of topics but what I want to speak specifically about is pull compensation.

 

As a design is stitched, and as the needle pierces the fabric thousands of times, that piercing of fabric causes a stretching or pulling of the fabric.  This is particularly the case with filled designs such as this one.  Take note in the above two pictures.  On the computer screen, the design looked perfect.  It looked as though the dark tan and light tan in the cookie would perfectly meet up with one another.  Not so when the design is stitched out.  I have paid good money for designs in which the pull compensation was not adjusted for and it had gaps such as this. Those were frustrating experiences.

 

Now, I don't have experience with other brands of digitizing software and my experience with Generations software is minimal at best, but I am guessing that all forms of software have an ability to adjust for the pull compensation.

 

 

Take a look at the picture above where I have made the adjustment and restitched out the design.  It meets up perfectly.  Thankfully I had instructions to help me with this.  I think though that adjusting for the pull compensation is something that comes with good ol' practice.

See here in this photo just how nicely the dark and light tans meet up.  That is the way it is supposed to look.

Did you understand pull compensation before you learned to digitize?  It was certainly new to me.

Happy stitching,
Blessings~Nancy

Generations Software has Arrived

Dear Friends,
I've been like a child waiting for Christmas for my software to arrive.  I was fortunate to get the end of the year bundle from Generations.  So in addition to my software, I received a thread spool stand, thread rack, 30 spools of Robinson Anton thread, additional cd's with classes, a ton of stabilizer and some stabilizer wraps which are the yellow things you see in the picture.  The wraps are like those snap bracelets and they say things like "Tear Away" to go around the tear away stabilizer.  The instruction manual is the three ring binder you see and it is huge.  I've been diving right into it.

One thing I discovered before purchasing is that Generations software is sold through a number of distributors.  Each of those distributors had added to the software package with their own special bundle.  Be sure to shop around to get the best deal from the distributor you are most comfortable with.

Tomorrow I am getting a one-on-one orientation class about the software.  I can't tell you how excited I am to be jumping in with both feet and learning how to do this.

Happy Embroidering,
Nancy

Generations Machine Embroidery Software

Dear Friends,

I have been doing a lot of research on embroidery software.  When I say a lot, I mean I've been looking at the different brands and attending an occasional class for just over a year as I decided which was the best brand for me.  I've made the plunge!  I decided on the Generations Embroidery Software.

 

Let me back up a bit here.  I've fallen in love with machine embroidery.  It is the best thing since sliced bread I tell ya.  As I have continued with it, more and more I have toyed around with the idea of creating my own designs.  I hesitated though for so long.  One reason I hesitated was the cost.  Another was the learning curve and besides there are so many great designs out there already.  Yet, I strongly desire to create my own designs.  I have ideas floating around in my head I just want to stitch out.

 

I found a very limited free program that at least gave me the ability to add lettering to my projects and it gave me a taste of designing.  All that did was whet my appetite for learning more.

 

I knew though, that whatever software I decided on I would need to have support.  The classes I took at my local sewing shop had brought in an outside instructor from their software company.  I wouldn't find support at my local shop.  I needed to look online.  I asked in my various sewing/embroidery groups that I belong.  Everyone had an opinion and everyone seemed to be happy with what they had chosen.  How was I to ever decide?

 

A number of software manufactures have tutorials up on YouTube.  I started watching those to see if I would find one that would speak to me as being relatively easy to learn and something that I could produce high quality designs with.  I'm sorry to say, but some embroidery designs leave a lot to be desired and I would have hated having wasted good money on them.  (that is another blog post)  If I'm going to design something, I want to be proud of it.

 

I discovered Generations software and people were raving that it was very user-friendly.  Intuitive is another word often used.  There is plenty of support out there for Generations software both from the company and from other online classes. 

 

After much decision making, I have decided to take the plunge.  Are you ready to jump in with me and follow my journey here?  My software is being shipped and I'm excited to receive it.  I'll give you an update about it as soon as I can.

Oh and one more reason I'm doing this...I'm facing the empty nest syndrome.  I know I will be needing something for "ME" soon.  Actually I need it now!  Our oldest, Katie, left last May and entered into the Air Force.  Emily leaves next year for college.  Finally our youngest, Timothy, is currently a sophomore in high school.  They are not my "little" babies any longer.  I know I need something to really keep my mind focused on and learning something new and challenging myself is it.  Even with still having two at home, being that they are teenagers, they honestly aren't at home very much with work and school.  I've got to tell you, I LOVE it when their friends are all here and the house is full of kids who I can cook for and love on. 

 

Blessings and happy embroidering!

Nancy

Machine Embroidery Designs - Free Snowflake Pattern for Sandy Hook Elementary

The tragedy in Newtown, CT has been on my heart as I'm sure it has been on yours. One of the children who passed away used to live in my town here in New Mexico.  I'm joining in on the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary movement to help welcome the children back to school.  Below is a quote from the North Canton Patch.

“Snowflakes for Sandy Hook” is one of several nationwide assistance movements spearheaded by the Connecticut PTSA on behalf of the Sandy Hook Elementary PTA. The National PTA joined in, sending out emails inviting PTA members across the U.S. to start crafting.
“When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible,” the National PTA posted on its website.
 

Many crafters are making snowflakes from various media.  A number of machine embroidery designers have offered free snowflake patterns for enthusiasts like myself to stitch out.  I personally chose this free design offered by Lindee G. Embroidery.   I thought the design with the hearts in it truly spoke to me.


I love the music by Donna Cori Gibson.  Here she sings the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or the 3:00pm prayer.  Jesus is our rock even in times of sorrow such as this.  Jesus I trust in you.

If you would like to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary, you are asked to get them in the mail by Jan. 12th.  The address is below.

Want to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary students? If so, have them in the mail by Jan. 12 addressed to: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514
 

In a near future post I will talk more about the snowflakes and how I made them.
Warm winter blessings from my house to yours,
~Nancy

 

Offering My Services to Test Your Machine Embroidery Designs

Dear Friends,

If any of you are machine embroidery designers and are in need of someone to test stitch your designs, I'd be happy to do so for you.  Along with that I'd put up a blog post showing my stitch-out and a link back to your website.

To be completely honest, my New Year's resolution is to learn how to digitize and I am wanting to study how different designers put their designs together, underlays, fill stitches etc.  I would NEVER copy your work in any way.  I have some creative designs floating around in my head that are just begging to be stitched out but I have to learn the ropes first.  Any blog posts written about the designs I test would only be posted if the design stitched out flawlessly and would include what material I stitched it on as well as what stabilizer or any specific techniques I used and again would be linked back to your website.  This would be a win-win for both of us!

My only limitation is that my machine is a Brother Innovis 1250D.  It is a combination sewing/embroidery machine.  This means that my maximum hoop size is 5 x 7 and the format my machine reads is PES.

Please feel free to e-mail me at basketmaster_nancy(at)yahoo(dot)com. I would enjoy working with you and getting to know you!  Thank you.

Blessings,
~Nancy