Dear Lodia and others

I am contacting you from South Africa.  I have a Bernina Deco 340 and have recently upgraded my software to V6 Editor.

I am wanting to know please WHEN and WHEN NOT can a design be ‘resized’.  Given that this facility is part and parcel of the embroidery software and built into the machine, I would have thought that it is there to be used within reason of course.

I know that one would not resize FSLace or photostitch designs.  I recently resized by 5% a purchased design from a reputable supplier.  Shortly before the design was fully completed, the machine stopped, showed the ‘end of design, raise pressure foot’ command.  But the design had in fact not been completed in the embroidery mode.

I contacted the supplier and they are of the opinion that it is because I ‘modified the design by resizing it and that it has become corrupt’.  They say ‘resizing’ is ‘modifying’.  My interpretation of modifying was to make other changes other than resizing but by effecting changes as are available in ‘object properties’ etc.

If it is indeed a case of corruption having occurred, why did this not manifest itself earlier in the design?  That stitched out well and it was a design that took around an hour to embroider.  If I correctly recall it was a Grade D design.

I would sincerely like to know from you, the experts, what the position with resizing is.

Yours sincerely
Patricia

Hi Patricia,

Thanks for your enquiry about resizing a design. The resizing is also classified under modifying, editing or customizing. There are several reasons why a design my not resize correctly and can indeed become corrupted. I usually specify in my copyright and info letter that accompanies my sets that I cannot take responsibility for the quality if any of my designs are resized, mirrored or changed in any way with any software.
 
Digitisers use different techniques to digitise a design. Sometimes it is a standard technique that we all use, but most of the time it will be a technique that is specific to that digitiser. A good example of a specific technique is the free standing lace that you mention. The moment a design that was digitised with a specific technique is changed in any way the software ‘re-digitises’ it, so to speak.
 
Using the Bernina software you will be able to modify a design reasonably successfully if the design is a true ART design, that is a grade A. You will see a little red heart as well. But even with the grade A designs, you will have problems modifying a design if it was digitised with special techniques. The design will then also stitch out with jumps that should not be there and so forth.

When I do my digitising sessions at dealers, it is one of the first things I tell my students, do not change a design in any way unless you know it was not digitised with special techniques. Any other grade design, such as grade D, WILL NOT modify successfully at all. It may not manifest itself earlier in the design when stitching the design. It depends on where the corruption has taken place in the actual design.
 
If you want to change a design, my suggestion would be to contact the digitiser first, ask her if it would be possible to resize a design yourself or if she could do it for you. I am sure that most digitisers will do this for you. I certainly would do it for my customers rather than them being dissatisfied with my designs.
 
I hope this answered you query.
 
Just as a matter of interest, I do have a series of tutorials on the Secrets of Embroidery website that deals with all aspects of customizing (or modifying as you mentioned). They are called Start at Basics. 

Kind regards
Lodia Da Silva
Digitizer & Author of Bernina Artista Tutorials

I am attempting to install Husqvarna 4D sketch. I have a new computer with Windows 7 and am trying to install it using the 5D Embroidery system dongle. I have read that you can’t install 4D sketch using windows 7 without segmenting the hard drive. Unfortunately this is not possible. Is there talk of a 5D sketch or some other way it is possible to install the 4D option? Thank you so much for your informative blog.

Hi,

It is not the platform that is the issue.

I have converted to windows 7 and can run both my 4D and 5D off the 5D dongle. My 4D Sketch was initially the stand alone module as it was not available when I first purchased my 4D Pro package.  I installed the 4D embroidery on Windows 7 and then the 5D embroidery software the 5D dongle runs both. It may be ok because I have the full Professional package of both 4D and 5D.

There are updates for the 4D system available on the viking site for windows 7. You need to have 4D embroidery updated to the 8.3 version to install the 8.31 Update

If you have 4D Embroidery installed you will be able to access this from the registration page. If you download this you may be able to run the 4D Sketch from the 5D dongle.

…………………….

4D Embroidery System 8.31 Update

Installs a new dongle driver and minor fixes for Windows 7

Requires your system to have already been updated to version 8.3 before installation.

…………………….

The  various packages available are on the Husqvarna Viking website. 

Hope this helps,

Carolyn Duncan
Author of Pfaff, Husqvarna & Sewing Tutorials

Hi Ananda,

My name is Morag Lewer and I live in Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa.

I was so taken with your ‘Royal Elephant’  which I am delighted to say I have completed and LOVED the project!  That’s with thanks to you!

My interpretation is somewhat different:

I used metallic satin fabric to create  the Elephants – in some instances, I edited some of the pieces to combine them into one hooping.   They were then stitched onto black velvet as my backing. I took a photograph of one of my lamps from which I digitised the columns in my 5D Software and stitched them on red velvet in 3D as well.

I used Sue Box Metallic Thread Jewels for the arches which were embellished with Swarovski Crystals. For the border, I used Embroidery Library’s ‘Mehndi Peacock Accents, which I edited to create an ‘endless’ embroidered border.  That was a real task and comprised 32 hoopings and about 700,000 stitches on black upholstery suede.

Besides the fact that I stitched one of my fingers to the project and was ’stabbed’ and ripped by the pins due to the weight of the project, I am pleased to say that I finally reached my goal!

I thank you for your ceaseless creativity and now wish to embark on several of your other projects which I have bought over time from Secrets of Embroidery.

This was without doubt an exciting project!

I wish you well and with sincere gratitude!
Heaps of love and cyber hugs
Morag Lewer

I have font engine with my Embird 2010 program.  When I select “plain fill” instead of just a plain stitch I get a program fill with zig zags in the lettering.  Can you tell me what to do to correct it? 

Hi there

To change from the default fill for Plain Fill you need to click on Parameters and the in the Plain Fill drop down box change the fill pattern to Fill 1. Click OK. That will change the fill back to the plain fill option.

It’s just a little quirk with the program and will possibly be changed in the next update. If you need to learn more about Font Engine then I have an extensive “step by step” guide that is available at Secrets of Embroidery that has just been released for Font Engine. It will teach you everything that you need to know about the program. There is a lot more to Font Engine than most people realise.

I hope that helps.

Kind regards

Carolyn Keber
Tutorials for all Embird programs and for PE Design/Palette

This solved my Pfaff 2140 communication problems – all I had to do was change the baud rate – maybe some of this will help you …. Tech Info from Pfaff – YEA it works.

If you are experiencing a No Communications with machine error when attempting to transfer designs to a 2140, 2144, or 2170 connected with a serial cable, please do the following.

NOTE: After completing steps 1-4 below, attempt to send a design to your machine. If the transfer is successful, do not continue through the remaining steps. If you are still experiencing non-communication between your computer and machine after completing these steps, continue with the remaining steps.
NOTE: If your computer does not have a serial port we recommend using a USB to Serial adapter (such as the Belkin F5U 109) or the 2140/2144 USB Connection cable available as an accessory from your local Pfaff Dealer.

Make sure all connections are secure:
1. For the 2140/2144/2170, try both card drives.
a. From the Embroidery System folder open 4D Configure.b. Make sure the 2140/2144/2170 Direct connection is selected.c. Try each ComPort setting. Attempt to transfer a design to your machine after each setting change.
Change the Port Settings in the Device Manager:

2. Change the baud rate of the port:
a. Right click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES from the menu.b. Select the DEVICE MANAGER tab (for Windows XP select the HARDWARE tab first).c. Click the + in front of the ComPorts (LPT).d. Right click the ComPort used by your sewing machine, and select Properties from the menu.e. Select the Port Settings tab.f. Change the Bits per second to 1200. Do not change any other settings.g. Click the OK button to close all windows.h. Attempt to transfer a design.i. If this does not work, try a variety of low and high settings. If no settings work, change the Bits Per Second back to 9600.

3. Change the buffer settings of the port:
a. Right click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES from the menu.b. Select the DEVICE MANAGER tab (for Windows XP select the HARDWARE tab first).c. Click the + in front of the ComPorts (LPT).d. Right click on the ComPort used by your sewing machine and select properties from the menu.e. Select the Port Settings tab.f. Click the Advanced button.g. Click and drag both slider bars (receive and transmit buffers) all the way to the left.h. Click the OK button to close all windows.i. Attempt to transfer a design.j. If this resolves your conflict you can move the sliders over one notch at a time and try out the connection to get the optimum position and still use your program successfully.

4. Change the flow control of the port:
a. Right click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES from the menu.b. Select the DEVICE MANAGER tab (for Windows XP select the HARDWARE tab first).c. Click the + in front of the ComPorts (LPT).d. Right click on the ComPort used by your sewing machine and select properties from the menu.e. Select the Port Settings tab.f. Check the Flow Control. Try all three settings (Xon / Xoff, Hardware, None) from the drop down menu. The default setting is generally Xon / Xoff.g. Set the Flow Control to Xon / Xoff and try to connect.h. Set the Flow Controlet to Hardware and try to connect. If you are successful you may want to play with the Bits per second to get the fastest connection.

NOTE: If you are still experiencing non-communication between your computer and Pfaff creative machine, and have completed the above steps, continue with each successive step below until you are able to transfer a design to your machine.
A ComPort sends information to your Serial Port. Your computer can have several virtual ComPorts for each physical Serial Port. We have found that removing the existing virtual ComPorts and restarting the computer, can force the computer to find the ComPort the machine is connected to.  - Caryn

Does Embird do everything that PE Design Next does? Would appreciate Comparison of the two products, if possible. Thanks!

Dear Carolyn, In Embird Editor we have “reverse stitches” and “smart reverse stitches”.  Is there anything similar in Embird Studio?  I can not find any such tools in Studio. Thanks! – Charles Wilson

Hi Charles

In Studio there is a command called Reverse Nodes Order which is similar to the Reverse Stitches command in Editor. To use the Reverse Nodes Order you need to select the object in question and go to Edit/Edit Nodes (or various shortcutsJ ) and then go to Edit/Reverse Nodes Order and this will reverse the stitching of the selected object.

I hope that helps…Best of luck.

Kind regards

Carolyn Keber
Step by Step Tutorials for all Embird programs and for PE Design

Do you or anyone out there know if there is an anti virus program to check per embroidery designs for a virus. I have just had a design or designs corrupt my brother 6000d and I am now up for a new mother board at the cost of $1300. I have anti virus on my computer but guessing it doesn’t have the capability to check embroidery designs.

I have a question. I have 2 Viking machines, and right now my most up to date software is Viking 4D Extra with the Portrait Stitch. I wanted to go to the 5D, but it is to expensive. I have a friend that has a Brother machine and has the Brother PE Design Plus Embroidery Software and she told me that it has a wonderful Portrait embroidery software to it. Can anyone tell me any thing about it. Are giving any tutorials on it. 

There is a dealer that quoted me one price, and it is a ride and I would get lessons, but, another dealer quoted me one hunderd dollars cheaper but the locaion was on the west coast and I am on the east coast and I would not get lessons on it. I was told that Version 7,8,9, and 10 are all obsolete. This is a step down from Brother PE Design Lite Embroidery Software. The Lite is expensive, and around $1000.00 and the Plus is maybe around 1/2 the cost. Will there be tutorials on this or are there tutorials on this. Plesse Help as I do not want to buy this unless there is some type of tutoral or help on this.

Thanks
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Have you considered Embird for your embroidery software? Embird is a very popular program that can be used with any machine. Once you have the basic program, you can purchase “plug-in” programs that add extra features. Sfumato Stitch is one that allows you to digitize from a photo. Have a look through our Embird information here.

Embird can be downloaded and used in trial version for up to 30 days, so you can test the features prior to purchasing registration. We also have wonderful tutorials from our Embird expert Carolyn Keber, so you can learn your program thoroughly in a step by step manner.

Kind regards,

Margaret Hardwick-Smith
Customer Support
at Secrets of Embroidery

I have a brothers Innovis 900 and would like to try Molly Mine crazy patches on machine but have only a mac book OSX and wish to know if I could trial this product with a macintosh – Nicola

Hi Nicola,

Molly Mine have a free “try before you buy” quilt block that you can download and test out with your machine. Download it free from here.

Good Luck!

the Team @ Secrets of Embroidery