Date: 3/10/10 12:23 PM

I am thinking about purchasing Embird software. While surfing the net, I found this reference to a tutorial for Embird by Carolyn Keber:
Step by Step Guide to Embird Tutorial

I was impressed because its nearly 500 pages long. But it made me wonder if Embird is so complicated, that I would need a manual to use it?

Is anyone familiar with this manual? Does it cover many features one might not stumble upon without a manual? Is it a must have? Nice if you can afford? Not necessary to have?

Any feedback appreciated.

thanks, Lucy

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Total Stash at end of 2010 -- 667.75 yards
2011 Total Items Sewn -- 12.125 (yay!)
Remaining current stash, including new purchases -- 662.13

Lucy is now having trouble fitting her stash in her sewing room. She is on a self-inflicted stash diet for all of 2011, with a goal of ending 2011 with less stash than she began with!

Machines: Babylock Ellisimo; Viking Platinum 770; Brother 900D
Serger: Baby Lock Evolve

Date: 3/10/10 12:57 PM

I bought Carolyn Keber's Embird tutorial when I bought Embird. I would rate it's value to me as somewhere between "must have" and "nice if you can afford" - but, I am pretty computer savvy. I think if you are not very good with computers, you might find it to be a "must have." I feel very 'safe' having the manual. As tech savvy as I am, I like having it printed out in a binder, sitting next to me to refer to when I'm using Embird. The guide is a mix of practical info that you might be able to find in the Help section of the program (but might be easier to understand in the guide), and info on how to use Embird to the maximum of its potential. There's a lot you can do with just the basic program, which becomes clear to you when you get the guide. I'm not sure one could easily figure out all those things on your own. I have actually used very little of the tutorial, but mostly because I haven't used Embird very much. (Lucy, I know you are in Jen's embroidery class with me, and I haven't embroidered anything until this class, and only played around with Embird a bit before starting the class.) All I've really referred to the manual for has been converting designs to my machine's format and putting them on a disk. I am just starting to learn enough about embroidery to be able to understand how or why I'd want to use the options Embird provides. I think as I embroider more and want to be able to do more - combine designs, resize designs, etc - I will find the guide more useful, and possibly invaluable.
-- Edited on 3/10/10 1:01 PM --

Date: 3/12/10 6:37 PM

I have this, and really like it. One of the most valuable sections for me has been where she explains in some detail how to determine and adjust the density of a design, particularly when resizing. Now I play with density and resize designs all the time, and they come out great. For me, learning how to do that was almost worth the price of the book.

Reply to EasyPeas
Date: 3/15/10 3:11 PM

This is something I've always wondered about. How do you know if the density of a design needs adjusted? I understand why if you are changing the size very much.