grammajo
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Date: 12/31/12 11:38 PM I am interested in starting to embroidery. so I think that I want the Janome 350 E then what else am I going to need. what price is a digitizer if I need it to get started and can get designs off internet. . Are there online classes for Beginning Embroidery? Thanks, Grammajo |
PattiAnnJ
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Date: 1/1/13 0:35 AM If Janome is what you want, go for it.
You will (1) need to know the format of the machine before downloading design files (2) purchase or make a deal with your dealer for editing and catalog software (3) purchase a small supply of tear away, cut away and water soluble stabilizers, basic colors of rayon or polyester embroidery machine thread and machine embroidery bobbin thread.
Add sticky back stabilizer for items than cannot be hooped and titanium coated embroidery machine needles for when you use this type of stabilizer.
Forget digitizing software for now. (1) You may never need it, (2) it is not that easy to learn and you need to first be comfortable with using the machine & downloading files
There are thousands of designs available for downloading most you will purchase. Free or purchased you need to keep in mind, the format for your embroidery machine and the hoop size. Too large a design or the wrong format will not be recognized by the embroidery machine.
Before downloading design files, create a folder and name it for easy identification as this is where you will save/send the files being downloaded.
Downloaded designs are zipped. You will need to unzip, open or extract (depending on the term used by your computer's operating system) and then saved. The saved file is what you will be sending to the embroidery machine. Once you are sure the file unzipped correctly you can delete the original zipped file.
Have fun and always test on a like fabric before applying to the project.
You can find many tips and guides/tutorials at Embroidery Library.
Here is the link for Embroidery Library. And, here is another link to Anna Bove Embroidery Tips.
Take your time learning the steps to using the embroidery machine with any built-in designs it may contain.
This a fun craft. ------
“I don’t give them Hell, I just tell the truth about them and they think it’s Hell.” — Harry Truman |
Sandygirl
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Date: 1/1/13 7:28 AM Be careful about downloading every free embroidery design that people digitize and want to share. Honestly, I ONLY use embroidery designs tht I obtain from professional sites and CDs. I dont want to take a chance of gtting a virus on my PC. Embilibrary is my fav place to buy designs. They alwys stitch out nicely.
I have the Janome 9700. After 7 years owning ths machine, i have never wanted to earn digitizing. It s not something you just jump into a honestly, I dont see a need for me to "design" when there are so many professionals already doing it.
Sandy ------
My first quilt! Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth. |
SandiMacD
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Date: 1/1/13 7:35 AM I had a 350e. All you need is a USB- plain jane, less than 4gb and no built in flash programs- delete them. Better yet a very old 1-2 gb USB is perfect.
I used Metro threads. Value. I ordered a pkg of cut away and tear away squares. You can get other types later. I also ordered a collection of their basic colors of thread. I downloaded a few 4x4 and 5x7 designs.
That's all you need. Designs you want to sew, thread colors you like and stabilizer to stitch it on.
Having a stash of muslin is a bonus but you don't need it. Stock up on worn clothing cotton and knit items that can't be used. Underwear and stained garments make great testing fabric for getting the hang of embroidering designs
Be prepared to tweak the tension. I used the same color of thread in my bobbin to avoid white or black from showing through top.
There is a great forum at Janome.com that I joined. They were so helpful.
Oh- when you use the USB follow the directions exactly to format it. It wasnt all in my manual so go to the Janome forum or get it from my review. Your 4x4 are on the first screen/page of the Janome and your 5x7 designs are on the second. Even if you have only 2 designs they will not both be on the first screen/page.
You don't need any editing software to start with but you will need viewer/organizer software that allows you to see and organize your designs on your computer. Otherwise you won't see them until you put your USB into the Janome. The screen is helpful but it is a small so without looking at it on the computer you won't get a very helpful idea of what it will look like.
-- Edited on 1/2/13 3:15 AM -- ------
re-living my youth through sewing... |
SandiMacD
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Date: 1/1/13 7:40 AM The 350 comes with needles, scissors, screwdriver, etc. The manual is great. Of course you can add more. It comes with built in designs so you only need the USB to download from Internet. It uses JEF format. It is a nice machine - I gave it my daughter when I downsized.
Here's the Metro link:
http://www.metroemb.com/store/ ------
re-living my youth through sewing... |
SandiMacD
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Date: 1/1/13 7:56 AM Software- what type of computer Mac or Win??
I like Stitch Buddy for Mac- it has everything. A viewer to see and find files on your computer, an editor to tweak designs and resize them and a template to print out.
I also have Embrilliance which works on Mac and Windows. It is more complicated. It requires an add on program called Thumbnailer to see your computer files. But it has a nice video that shows you how it stitches out each design.
Embrid is another nice one but I don't have Windows so I don't know much about it or the others.
Software was confusing. So ask. To begin with you just need to see the files on your computer and save them to folders. That is usually referred to as embroidery organizer or file management software. It is kind of like your Window Viewer or Mac Preview. Very simple to use- it just displays a picture of each design- an icon or image.
Next you will want to learn and change the size of the design or combine two or more designs or perhaps delete parts of a design. That is called a software editing program. They have an easier learning curve. Some have a built in viewer and others dont- they just show you the name of the file. But they are as easy to learn, just a few hours.
The software Digiting programs are very extensive. They have a deep learning curve and require lots of embroidery knowledge and experience to create your own design from scratch.
HTH a bit. I know you will have lots of fun whatever you choose. ------
re-living my youth through sewing... |
PattiAnnJ
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Date: 1/1/13 12:28 PM Catalog programs such as Thumbnailer is needed for in addition to the editing software for just about all ME programs.
Those that include a catalog are more expensive than Embrilliance. ------
“I don’t give them Hell, I just tell the truth about them and they think it’s Hell.” — Harry Truman |
SandiMacD
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FL USA
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Date: 1/2/13 3:37 AM I think the software terms were probably the most difficult part. A catalogue software program is what I meant when I said you will want to begin with a Veiwer or Organizer program. People and companies use a variety of terms.
When you put an embroidery file on your computer, all you will see is the name of a file and a message that your computer can't open it.
So one of the first things you need is a program that does that. All kinds of price ranges from free to $80. It will display the file as an image and often let's you organize them into folders or subfolders and between your computer and USB. Some let you open and save them into folders, for others you just drop and drag them in the viewer.
The editors run from $50 to $200. There are more expensive ones. Some let you convert files. So if you have like a .pes file it will convert it into a .jef file which the 350e requires.
I watched a lot of PBS shows to learn. Sue Hausmen's America Sews and Nancy Zieman's Sewing with Nancy have some good re-runs and new shows covering Embroidery. Both have CDs. My 350e came with a CD that explained a lot. You Tube has videos. Lots of good tips and tutorials on embroidery download sites. And Craftsy.com has classes for a $15 special right now. Keep us updated on what you decide. ------
re-living my youth through sewing... |
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