I am going to have to buy a new computer as my oldest one crashed.  I have read on some of the embroidery digests of problems with embroidering software with the Vista windows.  Is that still true or have they fixed the problems?  I have XP on my other computer and haven’t had any problems at all.  I have PE-Design Ver. 7.  Of course, all you can get now is Vista unless you get a made-to-order computer.  I was told that it wouldn’t be wise to get XP as the support for it will probably cease within two years when Microsoft comes out with a new operating system, probably an updated Vista.  I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this.  Thanks.  Ellen

Hi Ellen

Yes, you can use Vista with PE Design Version 7. However you may need to go to the Brother web-site and get the latest software update for PE Design 7. Click here  for the link. Click on the Search for Software updates link and you will be taken to a page where you need to follow Steps 1 through to Step 3. Choose “All” in Step 1 and then in Step 2 choose your Vista operating system. From there you’ll just need to download the updates and install them. Your PEDS v7 will then be updated for you.

I am still using XP as well and hopefully won’t need to upgrade to Vista for while as such a lot of the older embroidery programs are not compatible with it.

Good Luck with yours.

Kind regards
Carolyn Keber
Tutorials for Embird and PE Design

I have an embroidery font that I love to use on towels and other items but recently I purchased several beach bags made of nylon-type fabric.  I’ve embroidered several using my favorite font with varying results…some turn out fine but a majority get real messy looking!  The design will stitch the line(s) of the letter and then when it does the stain stitch to cover the initial stitch line, it is “way off”.  (I hope this makes sense!!).  The design ends up looking like it has one or two single rows or stitching above or below the satin stitching.  I’ve tried different types of stabilizers and needles but can not determine why some look great and others look so bad. I am reluctant to give them as gifts!  Any help or suggestions you can give me would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks, Sara Dennis (Alabama)Hi Sara;Sounds to me like your slippery nylon fabric is shifting in the hoop during stitching. Have you tried using an iron-on stabilizer or a stick-on stabilizer? Even using temporary spray adhesive to adhere the stabilizer to the back of the fabric should help. Just be sure the stabilized portion of the fabric is totally in the hoop. I think I’d try a light-weight cut-away if the fabric is very thin or a regular weight tear-away if the fabric is sturdy, either adhered with temporary spray adhesive. It might be a good idea to use one of the “rejects” to practice a bit on.

All the work has been done for you.

1.      Embroider the pattern of your choice following the provided colour sequence.  Use the suggested colours or an alternative selection.

2.      Start with the light embroidery colour.

3.      Change to the dark colour and continue with the embroidery.  Finish off the rest of the design.

4.      After all the embroidery is completed, carefully take a cutting blade and slash the inside of the petals.  Do not exert too much pressure while you are cutting.  It is better to cut one layer at a time.  There are three layers of satin stitches. Stop cutting when the light colour shows.

5.      The cut threads will open allowing the light colour to show creating the ‘Velvet effect’.

SewAZ Embroidery has many creative projects for the kitchen that include clear instructions with color photos. Two of the latest are the Jacobean Fruit Kitchen Sign, which comes with a full alphabet, and the Jacobean Fruits Coaster set with 10 coaster designs plus a coaster holder. There are freebies for you to download and try out as well. Brighten up your kitchen with these charming projects.

How to stitch and cut tassels, fringing or tufts successfully as a second layer of the embroidery:

Butterfly design from ‘Something Pretty” embellished with tufts.

Embroidered tufts are just a smaller and shorter version of long satin fringed tassels. These short, fluffy, decorative tufts are stitched on top of the embroidered wings and might be tricky to stitch and to cut if it is not prepared as described below.

Adding extra stabilizer.

To start, hoop the project with the stabilizer and embroider. Stitch a sample first as this helps planning ahead, especially using a new technique for the first time such as tassels and tufts and to see when to add extra stabilizer for easier cutting of the fringe once embroidered. Whenever you have a second layer of embroidery as in this case the tufts which needs to be cut always float another piece of stitch and tear underneath the hoop. Stop the machine just before stitching this stage, slide another piece of stitch and tear underneath the hoop. This piece should be large enough to cover the entire area which will be stitched with the tufts.

Additional: place one thin layer of clear water soluble stabilizer on top of the embroidery as well.  This layer protects the embroidery on top when lifting the fringes on top as well.

Take in consideration when stitching layer upon layer and adding more stabilizer that the embroidery will be much thicker. Prevent needle and thread breakages by:

• lowering the machine speed slightly,
• loosen tension slightly,
• do not stitch this step with metallic embroidery threads,
• embroider with a thicker needle. 

Continue and complete the embroidery.

Cutting the tufts.

On the wrong side:  Do not remove the stabilizer until the all the fringes have been cut. It is now much easier to cut only the short satin fringe as this was stitched on the second layer stabilizer. Without this extra layer cutting the tufts may damage the embroidery stitches underneath. With small sharp scissors cut the embroidery thread of the fringe or the bobbin threads, depending on the look you want.  Neatly trim the bobbin threads if these were cut. Lift the satin stitches on the front, taking care not to damage any of the threads.  Trim evenly if necessary.

Carefully remove all the stabilizer now, layer by layer and trim all threads.
 
Have fun!
Kind regards
Louisa Meyer
Louisa Meyer Originals

You’ll be amazed with the results when you make the latest Flower Pot Placemat projects from Birdhouse Cottage Crafts. The charming applique flower pots form a pocket for holding your flatware and serviette. If you are going on a picnic, put your knives, forks and serviettes into the pockets, roll the placemats up and tie with a ribbon. Follow the detailed in-the-hoop embroidery instructions to make this clever project, and there’s also a lesson on multi layer applique for the embroidery machine.

Hi Carolyn,

Just noticed that you have a new tutorial for PE and stippling around a design. Are you going to do one for Embird Studio? This would have to be one of the most useful things to learn to do. Thanks in anticipation. By the way, love the Select and Scan tutorial. - Vicki

Hi Vicki

I am glad that you like the Select Scan and Sew lesson. It was fun and it shows what great things can be done with Studio and Embird.

Now I have some even better news for you. I have had lots of emails from people like you asking me if I am going to do a similar tutorial for stippling in Studio and I would really like to do so. In the next release of Embird that we are currently beta testing there is a new motif stitch which represents a stippling stitch. I have played with this new motif stitch and am not convinced that it is as good as it could be. It certainly isn’t as good as the stippling stitch for PE Design/Palette V7.

So I wrote to Dusan and explained to him how good the PE Design stitch was and sent him screen shots and examples of how the stitch looked and asked him if it was possible for him to create a stipple stitch in Embird Studio that would work in a similar manner to the PE Design stipple stitch.  I also offered to work with him in testing the stitch if he could make one the same. I also told him that this stitch was something that a lot of Studio users would really appreciate.  He wrote back to me and said that “Yes” he could and would create the stipple stitch for Studio. However he said that it will take quite a lot of time to program it as it is a completely new type of fill. So obviously it won’t be in the next release of Studio but I feel that it is wonderful news that he listened and will create it for us for a future version. How good is that???

Then, yes, I will do a similar tutorial to the one I have just created for PE Design V7.

I hope that news makes you cheer up. It certainly made me do so.

Kind regards
Carolyn Keber
Tutorials for Embird and PE Design

Anyone else having a problem with secrets of em????  I can not get my designs that I have paid for them. I have emailed sales numerous times. I can not get a download number from anyone. I am new, but have ordered quite a bit and my wish list is extensive. What has happen. I spoke with a lady in Texas and she also has a problem of no answers from the sales division. SOMEONE MUST BE IN CHARGE???????????????? - Pat Riddle

Dear Pat,We are sorry to hear of your problems. We do answer all our queries within 24 hours of receiving them. If you haven’t heard from us it could be due to an email communication error.

Would you please check the following:

• Your mail box is not full and can receive emails okay.
• Your email address was written correctly on our email form. We reply to the email address that was submitted on the form.
• Your Antivirus, Antispam, or other security programs are not interfering with your email being received.
• If you have a safe list, that our email address (office@secretsof.com) has been added to your list.
• That you can receive emails with attachments and these are not being filtered as suspected viruses.
• That your ISP enables you to receive emails from foreign countries and doesn’t automatically filter them as spam. Many ISPs do have filters in place for emails from overseas.

We appreciate how frustrating this can be, but if we suspect our office email is not being received, we do try sending from alternative email addresses, which sometimes helps. Perhaps you could try sending your query from a different email address, or try again after checking the above suggestions.

We hope to be hearing from you soon so we can ensure your orders are processed as soon as possible.

Kind Regards,

The Secrets Team

Carolyn Keber’s latest tutorial for PE Design/Palette V7 is a 25 page lesson in Creating Hole Sewing & Stippling. Learn to create a quilt square with the stippling surrounding an embroidery design rather than covering it. Using Carolyn’s methods, there will be no jump stitches in the stippling where the hole is created, and the finished design will look as if you carefully created the stippling so that it molds itself around the design. Also included with this lesson is a link to view a free 8 minute on-line video. Look here for Stipple Embroidery Designs.

Dear Carolyn,

I have been following your new Changing Designs to Images Embird mini-lesson which seems fine until I get to the stage on page 7 where the solid jump stitch is replaced by a dashed line. Which it does.  However when I go to 3D image it is still showing up just the same. Where have I gone astray?

I would add that when I check the colour stitch boxes up the top right the new colour shows up second to last, whereas your demonstration shows it as the last colour. Also when I firstly insert the design into Editor the colours are totally different to yours. My machine uses JEF format, would this make a difference even though I haven’t converted it.

I have followed nearly all your splendid tutorials over the years. Thank you so much for your generosity in providing these.

Kind regards

Catherine

Hi Catherine

You may have an option checked in Embird Manager that is causing this problem for you. Open Embird Manager and go to options and make sure that you don’t have “Show Floating Stitches” checked. If it is checked then you will see all jump stitches in a design in both Embird Manager and Embird Editor.

I hope that works for you. Best of luck.

Kind regards
Carolyn Keber
Tutorials for Embird and PE Design