Hi everyone!  especially Carolyn Keber -   I don’t have a question, just want to say how excited I am since receiving the news that the Embird update is released and can’t wait to try out all the new features/additions.

Two of the new features I am particularly pleased about are 1) the ability to adjust length of underlay stitches (for which I submitted a question to Carolyn earlier on this year), and 2) the single line stitching in Font Engine - I have been doing this manually up to now!

Thanks and best regards to all concerned.

Wendy

I have downloaded and installed the Embird 2010, ver 8.5. I am trying to discover how to work it. My biggest problems so far are: On the Manager page, center panel half of the area is taken up by a blank detail panel.

Only half of the page shows the design and that is not large enough to show the whole design. The second major problem is I cannot rotate my 3.83 x 4.56 design to the vertical position on the 5×7 hoop. I can rotate it in the Editor, but when I save it, it automatically rotates back to the horizontal. I am in the middle of the project and need to figure this out so I can get it done. Help. - Vicki

Hi there,

It sounds like both of your problems could be solved by deselecting or selecting two options in the options Menu in Manager.

Deselect Hide Summary Info Panel to close that extra view on the Middle Panel, and;

Place a check mark beside Exchange X and Y Axis. This will rotate your design for you. You could also go to Hoops/Custom in Editor and place a check mark in “Keep Hoop settings…….”

That might also help.

I hope that works for you

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

Can you tell me of a good drawing tablet that is compatable with palette 8?  I would like to use the new drawing tool, the one with the pencil, like a pencil on the drawing tablet…is that possible?

Thanks Mg

Hi Mg

I have PEDS V8 as well as a Wacom Tablet and the pencil feature works with my tablet. This same tablet works for any program I have tried it with so far. However I also own a generic tablet purchased from an Office Supplies store and that tablet also works with my digitising program. I haven’t been able to test the generic one with PEDS V8 as I have lent the tablet to my daughter - however both the Wacom and the generic tablet (which was much cheaper) do work with my digitising programs.

I hope that helps.

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

A Quick Look at Embird 2010 by Carolyn Keber

Embird 2010 has just been released. It is a free upgrade to those who already own Embird 2008. I have been fortunate enough to have been beta testing this latest version for some months. The Embird authors delayed releasing this version to ensure that everything worked okay with Microsoft’s new Windows 7. Now that they are happy with the result you can download it free of charge if you own Embird 2008.There are a number of new features - many of which I will write about in more detail about in the weeks to come. However, here are a few ideas on what to look for!

Embird Manager

• When converting files you now have the ability to “batch convert” to your chosen formats at one time - thus saving a lot of time. Embird will also remember your selected formats for the next time that you wish to convert files.
• When sending designs as an attachment you can now choose up to 10 recipients of the files rather than one at a time as in previous versions.
• In the Right Panel in Manager you can choose to sort the designs in selected folders by Name, File Ext, Date or Size.
• You can also now create a shortcut to embroidery files in other folders using a .lnk extension. You can copy and paste this shortcut file to as many folders as you wish so that when the shortcut is clicked on you will be re-directed to the folder where the original design is stored. This saves having to have multiple files of the same design in various folders and will save space on your computer drive. 
• The stitch-out of any designs seen in Sewing Simulator can now be saved as an EXE file and sent to anyone that wished to “see” a stitch-out of a selected design. 
• Designer One owners can now specify folder names for their Designer 1 floppy disks.

Embird Editor

• In Editor you can also save to a number of formats at one time - as in Manager. 
• Under the View menu if Commands is selected you can see all the trims and stops in a design. Turn this command off if you find it distracting.

Embird Studio

Embird Studio has a number of changes, some of which are as follows -

• You can now set the length of the underlay stitches in any new objects created in Studio. 
• Single outline lettering can now be created in Studio/Font Engine. Studio now reads from the center of a font and will create lettering in a single line (rather than the previous double outline) which can have any Sample style applied to it, including Redwork. This feature would also be great in Font Engine/Editor but for now is only available in Studio. This is so cool. 
• Adjustable stitch direction for Auto Columns allows you to change the direction of automatically created satin stitching. 
• Auto outlining of selected objects. This makes outlining so quick and easy. The shortcut for this is on the Menu Bar. 
• New Baseline options for lettering.

There are a great many more new features as well - way too many to cover at the moment. Needless to say the new version is wonderful.

I hope you enjoy it.

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

I have been trying to put alignment lines in a pattern, and think I am doing it like the booklet I ordered says, but they won’t hold and they won’t start at the beginning.  I have the booklet on splitting designs but the alignment lines do not stitch out completely - just partly.  What am I doing wrong? - Millie Heisler

Hi Millie

On some machines the alignment lines don’t read as well as on other machines. Some embroidery machines need extra stitches to hold those alignment lines better. If your machine isn’t stitching the alignment lines correctly then you will need to add a couple more stitches to the beginning of the alignment line. To do this open your design in Editor and then using the Points Editing Tool lasso the design. The stitch points will now be showing. You will also see that your alignment lines are actually joined to the original design. The easiest way to add extra stitches is to separate the alignment lines from the design where it joins the main object.

Right mouse click on the center alignment stitch in the alignment line and choose Split. The alignment line will split apart and be shown separately in the objects order screen. Select the alignment line and then go to Insert/Tie on Tie off stitches. This should add enough extra stitches for your machine. Join both objects back together and save as a new file name.

I hope this works for you.

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

Carolyn Keber’s latest tutorial, Creating Stipple Designs with Embird Studio v5, takes you through creating your own stippling using the Freehand Tool. By the end of the lesson you will be confidently creating your own stipple designs to use for quilting, home decoration and on garments. You will be thrilled at how simple it is to create a stippling pattern which can be used over and over again, re-sized and changed to suit any project.

Included with this lesson is a beautiful posy design, an image file to use for your stippling practice, plus 3 free bonus stippling files.

Hi Carolyn

Is there anyway using Embird that you can download to a CD or DVD drive. Thanks -  Leanne Gitell

Hi Leanne,

Usually when saving designs to other media I use a USB pen and not a CD, however, I tried it for you and it does work.

Pop your CD in the CDROM drive and if a screen appears saying that the CD needs formatting then allow this to happen. Once the CD is formatted you can write designs to your CD by using the Explorer command in Manager and Editor or you can even use the “Save As” command in Editor. Alternatively you can select all the designs in Manager that you wish to write to the CD and then using the “Long Right Mouse Click” option you can send then all straight to the CD using the “Send To” option.

I have a free Embird Club lesson for the Long Right Mouse Click function if you are a member of my Embird Club which will take you through this function.

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

I have Palette V7, which I have only used the design database to transfer my designs to my card.  I am considering purchasing Embird and want to know if I will have to purchase another card writer.  I have put so much money into all this software and it seems so complicated to use. Hoping Embird is easier.

If you have a PE Design reader/writer box, you will still be able to use this, but you won’t be able to transfer your designs directly from Embird. You could use Embird for all of your designs editing, then  you would need to save the design to your hard drive, so you can use your Palette software to transfer the design file to your card writer.

Good Luck
The Team @ Secrets

I’m just getting started with applique in Embird and I have been looking to have a zig-zag stitch after my tac-down stitch, before the satin stitch, but so far, all I’m able to get is a straight stitch. Is it possible to get a zig-zag stitch? I’m just finding that the straight stitch doesn’t always catch in my material. Any help would be appreciated!
Thank You!! - Karen

Hi Karen

If you are using Embird Studio to create your Appliqué design then I find that the best tool to use to create appliqué is actually the Outline Tool rather than the Appliqué Tool.  Using the Outline Tool select Appliqué in the Parameters screen and then create your shape.  You can choose your own underlay settings by turning off Auto Underlay and choosing your own.

You can also choose not to have any underlay as Embird Studio, by default, adds an outline (marking stitch) and a zigzag stitch (tack-down) before adding the final layer of satin stitch. I generally find that this is enough without adding underlay as well - however it will depend on your fabric and the design you’re creating.

If you cannot find where to alter the underlay settings then when in the Parameters screen click on the Parameters button at the top of this screen and place a check mark beside “Show More Parameters”.

I hope this helps but if you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

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

I have a Husqvarna Viking Scandinavia 400 and the reader/writer unit. I want to be able to design my own embroidered quilt labels using downloaded embroidery designs and adding wording, etc. What kind of software do you recommend? The 4D Software Packages sound confusing to me. Which do I choose? I don’t think I need them all, as I don’t believe I will be going into digitizing, etc. Just want to be able to resize a design, change colors, and add wording.

Any assistance would be helpful. I don’t want to walk into the dealer and come home with stuff I don’t need at this time. - Barb

Hi Barb,

Are you familiar with Embird? The basic Embird program will do all you need.  Embird splits designs, re-joins them, resizes, changes density, unzips files, and converts them. The list goes on and on.  It can be used with any type of machine and will convert to most design types.

Embird offer a free one month trial of the program.  This program is fully functional and will work for 30 days or 100 uses (which ever comes first).  The trial Embird program will then expire and you will need to register it if you wish to continue to use the program.  If you are not confident at downloading or would like a hard copy of the Embird demo program, we can send it to you on CD.

The cost to register the latest Embird Program is $131.00 and your password will be sent by email from the Embird company within 24 hours.  This registration number comes with all instructions on how to enter the number into your Embird program on your computer.

We have several great tutorials by Carolyn Keber available for Embird as well. 

Kind regards,

Margaret Hardwick-Smith
Customer Support
at Secrets of Embroidery