January 2010 - Posts

• Keeping It Simple – Getting the Right Design to the Machine

  Getting the right design into your machine is a most important part of enjoying your embroidery experience.  I have been using an embroidery machine for so long that lots of things have become second nature and I just do them without thinking.  Like viewing designs using the Brother PED-Basic and transferring them to some of my machines via the included memory card.  If you have a Brother or Baby Lock machine with a card reader slot then this is the perfect way to go.   It is so easy, even for a beginning embroiderer or someone who doesn't care for computers.  It's easy to install and simple to use.    Here are the steps for using PED-Basic once it is installed. Plug the box into your PC USB port and click on the PED-basic icon on your desktop.   A screen like this will open. Choose your hoop size by clicking here. Open a browse window by clicking on this button. You can look at designs on the included card or your PC. Find your design folder and click on it. You can now see all the designs in the folder. Select the designs that you want to save to the card and click the arrow.  The bar at the top right tells you how full your card will be. Click on the write to card button to copy the designs to your card.  Go to your machine and embroider.  Being able to see your designs and get them to you machine is the most important thing but PED-Basic does some other nice things as well.    Use this bar to resize your design before you save it      Preview in hoop or in zoom   View the design thumbnails in a larger size   View your design with color list, number of colors, height and width and stitch count.  Then print a full size image and color list.   The PED-Basic will even tell you if the design is too big for the hoop. Remember PED-Basic is for the PES format only - so perfect for use with any Brother or Baby Lock machines. With PED-basic you can browse the designs you download and store on your PC with ease.  Just pick the ones you want for the project you have in mind and you are ready to embroider.  I know this is not my normal type of blog topic but I thought it might be helpful since on of the biggest complaints I hear from new embroiderers (as well as some very seasoned ones) is that they have difficulty making sure they get the right design from their PC to their machine.  However you browse and save your designs have fun embroidering this year. Take care, DB PS:  The puppy goes home today.  Yeah! Posted Jan 29 2010, 04:15 PM by db1921 with 4 comment(s) Filed under: the memory book, software tutorial, embroidery, PED Basic, memory card, transfer box

• Keeping It Simple - Crayon Chalk Tote

  I have been dog sitting a five month old puppy for the last 2 weeks.  Sage is pretty good, but she is definitely all puppy.  And Big! Ok, I admit I am used to small dogs - Papillons, which are usually 7-10 pounds.  So, when this pretty Brittany Spaniel jumped in my lap right behind the little Cosmo early one morning and sent my coffee flying I was quite shocked.  She loves my sewing room but there is one problem - she can reach anything she wants very easily.  So, everything has been moved to a higher level.  Now she just sits and watches as the machine hums away, mesmerized.    Here is an easy Art -To-Go tote that provides a great solution to entertaining small children when out on the road. It is sure keep them busy for at least for a little while. Perfect when in restaurants and other places where they need occupied for a time.   This one is made from an old valance that we no longer needed.  There are spots for crayons, chalk and paper and a built-in chalk mat.  The small size makes it easy to throw in the diaper bag or purse. This would be a great birthday present or Christmas gift for any child in your life...niece, nephew, cousin, grandson, or granddaughter. Their parents will be sure to thank you! Here are the basic instructions:  What you need:  11"X19" rectangle  fabric for outside 11"X19" rectangle fabric for inside 11"X19" fusible interfacing 8"X19" fabric for pockets 5"X8.5" chalkboard fabric rectangle Ribbon to make tie Embroidery design of your choice Tear-away stabilizer  What to do: Step 1:  Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of one of the fabric rectangles. Step 2:  Fold the front short ends in 1/2" on each end of front and back fabrics.  Press.  Fold in thirds to make book and press to create 3 sections. Step 3: Place the pressed front right side up.  Hoop and embroider the design of your choice on the top half of the right third of the front.  Tear away the stabilizer. Step 4:  Place the pressed back right side up.  Sew the chalkboard, centered, on the right third. Step 5:  With wrong sides together fold the pocket in half lengthwise.  It should now measure 4"X19". Matching the raw edges pin to the bottom of the right side of the inside fabric covering part of the chalkboard.  Sew 1/4" from edge around the sides and bottom. Step 6:  Mark crayon pockets 1" apart down center third.  Mark pocket for chalk on right third 1" apart.  Sew down these marked lines to create pockets.   Step 7:  With right sides together and tops aligned pin and sew the front to the back. Sew 1/2" seam all around leaving an opening at the bottom to turn right side out.  Turn right side out. (Be careful it is easy to do this backwards or upside down) Step 8:  Press the opening closed and topsitch all around your tote 1/8" from edge. Step 9.  Attach ribbon to the fold as shown. I made more of these and I know I took pictures but this is the only other I can find..  Chalk it up the Christmas rush and if I find them I will post them in the gallery.    To download the little dragonfly click here.  Take care, DB PS.  Sage may go home this weekend.  Although Cosmo will be glad we will always remember the laughter she brought to our home while she was here. Posted Jan 22 2010, 04:30 PM by db1921 with 2 comment(s) Filed under: lettering, Alphabet Xpress, the memory book, alphabets, lettering software, Crafts, embroidery, totes, projects, gift ideas, Designs, Quick Projects, Gifts, kids, Christmas, Art Tote, Crayon Chalk Tote

• Keeping It Simple with a Lovey Blankie Blank

  We are looking forward to another grandchild and I have vowed not to be scrambling when it arrives to be finishing things up.  Only time will tell but our grandaughter and I have been working on a soft book for her new brother or sister.  We will show it to you when we finish.  Of course the other granddaughter, who is only two, wants to make something too.  Really, she just likes to sit on my "aps" (lap) and push the buttons to make the machine go and watch it embroider.  So when she was over this week she helped embroider the heart on this little blank bear.  I added some ribbon and one gift is done.   I love to add a handmade gift when I purchase gift cards for new mommas-to-be.  These little blanks are so quick and easy to do that I might have to make several to have on hand for this year. Here's ours: Embellishing a Blankie Blank What you need: One blankie blank, we used the bear but there are several to choose from (click here to see them). Embroidery design - see below for a couple of free ones. A 3" square of red fabric. Ribbon scraps. 24" of velvet ric rac trim. Embroidery and sewing threads. Medium weight tear away stabilizer. Temporary adhesive spray. Ribbon for a bow around the neck (optional). What to do: 1. Mark the spot where the center of the heart should be on the bear with a white pencil. 2. Hoop the stabilizer in a 4"x4" hoop.  Place the hoop in an old paper box lid or disposable container and spray the stabilizer around the inside of the hoop edges. 3. Pull the opening back and adhere just the inside front of the blank to the hoop using your mark and the center seam as a guide for placement.  Place a pin at the very top and bottom to ensure it doesn't move while sliding the hoop on and off the machine. 4. Carefully slide the hoop onto your machine and secure.  Embroider the first color as a placement guide for the heart.  Place the red square over the placement stitches covering completely.  Sew the second color to secure the fabric.  Very carefully remove the hoop from the machine making sure you do not shift the blank.  Carefully cut around the outside of the heart stitches. 5. Carefully slide the hoop back into place and embroider the third color to complete the appliqué heart. 6. Embroider the final color.  Remove the hoop and tear away the stabilizer. 7. Fold the edges of the open side in about 1/2".  Cut scraps of ribbon in various lengths with pinking shears or fold them and sew them along the open back inside.  8. Pin the velvet ric rac trim around the bottom of the blank.  Sew making sure you catch all the raw edges of the open side.  If desired tie a red velvet bow around his neck and tack it so it cannot come off. Here are my heart designs:  Click here to download the My Bear Heart Click here to download the My Blankie Heart Another idea might be to encase the bottom two sides with satin blanket trim and do the heart appliqué in satin as well.  The heart can go on the bottom of the blankie blank if that is easier with your machine.  Or just do the heart appliqué and then add the Baby's first initial inside.  Get creative and each will be a unique gift. Take care, DB P.S.  I just got my registration brochure for the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington.   I may not get to go this year (I shot my wad at the Houston Quilt Festival)  but it is packed (and I mean packed) with seminars and workshops that I would love to attend.    The Ya Ya Sisters, Linda McGhee and Eleanor Burns, all wonderful presenters, will be there.  It is just a really fun show - so if you are set for a trip you can go here and learn more about it. Posted Jan 08 2010, 03:00 PM by db1921 with 1 comment(s) Filed under: lettering, Alphabet Xpress, the memory book, lettering software, Crafts, embroidery, projects, gift ideas, Quick Projects, Gifts, kids, lovey, babies, blanks, snuggles, baby gifts, nursery, blankets, stuffed animals