by mpo14011 11 Feb 2009

Cuties, could you please test stitch them first and put a photo of the stitch out, not the computer generated image, on this page. I, for one, refuse to download anything that I have not seen stitched out. If the design does not come out good, then I do not know whether it is the way it was digitized or whether I did something wrong. If we see the stitch out then we have something to compare it too. Some of those designs on there are, quite frankly, atrocious, and a waste of time to download.If the digitizer had spend a little extra time to stitch them out, she/he would have realized this, and could have worked on them a bit more.

Those that want to digitize designs need to take a little more pride in their work.
And, please, avoid auto digitizing. It might be quicker, but is certainly not as good. Too many jump stitches that could have been avoided, even on redwork designs, and gaps, and outlines that are way out.
I am sorry if I have offended anyone, but the truth often hurts. And there are a lot of really good designs up there. But, please, refrain from computer generated images. They do not tell the truth about a design.

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by anna25775 28 Feb 2009

I would like to thank all of you who put designs on the designs by cuties sections. I understand that noone is born expert and everyone makes mistakes but thats the only way to learn. I appreciate the designs you put up cos not everybody is brave enough to expose himself to the critism of others(no hard feelings to anyone intended). Its one's choice whether to download a design or not, if one doesn't like a design one can simply not downloaded, that's what I do. I have downloaded many and stitched unfortunately only a few so far. I can't say I had problems. Neither have I had problems with emblibrary, in fact they are my favourites cos their designs have always turned out fantastically which is not the case for another much more expensive site where I bought a pack of lace designs which all broke apart much to my disgust.
Anyway to cut it short I just want to say a word of encouragement to all of you who are trying to learn to digitise and post your designs here. Don't let anyone discourage you please, there are many of us here who DO appreciate your work. Thank you.

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by auntie 28 Feb 2009

Okay, I'll ask. How do you "know" the designs are atrocious and a waste of time? You said you refuse to download anything you haven't see the stitch out for. So, How do you know?

2 comments
mpo14011 by mpo14011 28 Feb 2009

Because I have downloaded quite a few designs that did not have a picture of a stitch out, just the image, that now, I refuse to download them. When I download them they open in my software and I can see how they will look.
It really does not matter if they are free or not. It is always a good idea to test stitch them first.That way, even the novices, can see how they look and fix any mistsakes, like gaps. If anyone does not know how to fix them, they can always ask. There are plenty of Cutes here who can offer advice.

auntie by auntie 01 Mar 2009

Okay, I see. You just open them and look before d/l'ing. I agree, about test stitching. I always test before using, sometimes you do get a bad download, which is not the fault of the digitizer. Thanks for answering.

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by sherylac 28 Feb 2009

Hi, and thank you to all of the people who digitize. Well done, you are having ago at something I want to learn someone day. The designs that I have downloaded from the area "designs by cuties" I have not had any problems with them, keep up the good work and yes criticisim of any sort is always constructive if done in the right way.

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by lenamae 28 Feb 2009

I test the designs on a square if it is no good I trash it if it is good I put it away when I have enough I make a lap quilt these are nice to send to a nursing home I have a bunch of squairs I have tested of some designs I did I will make something out of them. it is not really a great wast to try them out first . If I get a free design and it does not stich out I just trash it I did not pay for it any way.

I got some angels fron sonia showalters and when I stiched them out they would get half way through the design and mess up.I thought this was a wast of money .but before I said any thing I had my machine checked and my whole tention works had to be replaced it was wore out from so much use now the little angels stich out so pretty .It is not always the design sometimes it is what you use or your machine.

Ricky I am happy to say I stiched your dalphins out and they are wonderful.

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by cuddlebear 27 Feb 2009

I have only uploaded a few designs, all of which I have test stitched and posted a photo of the end result. So I hope I am not one of the people who are the main target of this criticism.
I can't support this type of mass approach to criticism rather than telling the individual designer that in your opinion there is a problem with their design.
I am more than happy to receive constructive criticism, it is how I will learn to do it better, but I do think you need to consider how you give the criticism too as the people who post their designs are only trying to give you something. We should all ask ourselves before we hit the submit button if I received the message I am about to send how would I feel?
I am fairly new to this site and to date have enjoyed the good commaradarie I hope this continues as it is good to connect with others who have similar interests/passions.

Cheers,
Claire

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by adelmarie 27 Feb 2009

I am sorry if you have a bad experience with some of the designs but after all they are free designs. It would be nice if you can send some feedback to those whom you are refering about. I myself am open for constructive critique and I am sure that many of the cuties that have posted their designs will like to know if there is any bugs on their design so that one can learn from those mistakes and improve. I really apeciate all the efford that each cutie has put on their design even if they came up all screwed up, after all many of them are new to the digitizing and so excited of accomplishing something that want to share it with us. I have a couple of times pay for designs that turned out to be not good to me either, that is why we should always test stich regardless of freebie or payed. The only difference is that if you payed for it then you 100% have a reason to complaint about it.

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by meganne 27 Feb 2009

Gee, I hope mine were ok, from July to December, I couldn't test stitch any of the designs i digitised because my machine seized up and was sent away for repairing under warranty .... I still don't have my machine back they've had it longer than I got to use it!!!
At least now I have machines, but alas am not feeling well enough just now to be digitising.

As for jump stitches, I find them preferable to multiple, avoidable, colour changes, which irk me no end, but that's just me, i'm easily irked! LOL!!!
hugs n roses, Meganne

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by castelyn 27 Feb 2009

Dear Mpo

I posted a comment 16 days ago and you have not as yet commented on it . Would you and other cuties please send PM to those that you are referring to
'This will help us new digitizes for the future"

Thanks Yvonne Castelyn

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by debleerl 13 Feb 2009

Ricky, I understand your concern as well as sympathize with those looking for input to improve their work. After reading the posts, I think the best thing would be for the digitizer to state "not tested, please provide feedback" or tested on [machine](in my case, Janome 10001) and include the stabilizer used. Then we will know what to expect when we test stitch. I also haven't posted many designs because I don't want to give away a design I'm not satisfied with. Usually, I test several times before I get them satisfactory; often trashing them and starting over. I've yet to get any of them perfect. To all the digitizers; you are your own best critic, just ask yourself if you would pay for the design you created.

2 comments
asterixsew by asterixsew 13 Feb 2009

I like this idea, especially comments on stabiliser used.

emily16838 by emily16838 27 Feb 2009

I love your designs....

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by misscharlie 12 Feb 2009

Designs By Cuties is a sharing area for digitizers, beginner and seasoned alike. Most are honest and say please test this first. Unlike trusted sites such as www.buzztools.com which Raels can share her horror story of a bad font (wood) she trusted from there. I believe their reply to her complaint of atrocious digitizing was basically "at your own risk". The design I had trouble with came from a reputable site like brother, even though at the moment I do not recall exactly where it was from. I have had designs from very expensive collections with a ton of jump stitches. So my opinion on this subject is I greatly appreciate all designs that are uploaded into Designs By Cuties (auto digitized and manual digitized) and know it goes with the territory to always test your design no matter where it comes from. I hope this critique doesn't deter any of the cuties that work so hard to share their art and creations with us. We have all, I am sure, been burned by a bad design. Sometimes it is the design that is bad sometimes our own mistakes with stabilizers, hooping, fabric choice, or even altering the designs size or format.

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by cordura5 12 Feb 2009

I am a beginning digitizer and I haven't always had time to stitch things out, but I HAVE asked others on this site to stitch them for me. I guess I just don't want to look bad in front of my friends, so I don't post them unless they work.

However, others may not have people to test stitch for them and may be like me where it takes too much time to find room to set up my machine, etc. This is their opportunity to get the constructive criticism they need to get better. The problem is that, unfortunately, no one offers it.

I posted a few of my original designs that worked when I test stitched them, and asked for someone to let me know how it worked for them and if anything needed to be changed. I didn't get any response beyond, "nice design", "I'll certainly use this", "looks good", etc. So the help and support for these new digitizers isn't there. Yes, it would be nice to know that a design works before downloading it, but we also need to hold up our end of the 'bargain' and give these people the help they need to get better.

As you say, it may be the same people making the same mistakes over and over again, but to be fair, have you let them know there is a problem and offered your help? If someone flat out refuses to take advice, then they are just a bad seed and make a note of it and steer clear of their designs. Don't condemn us all for getting our feet wet at a new endeavor...

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by marymoore 11 Feb 2009

lol ricky ricky ricky i must say i have learned a loy from u about digitizing and i thank you very much for all that but my goodness you want me to test the design that i put time into making as well if i was selling them for money yes i would but i do it for free i am working on the one mickey needs right now been working on it for 7 hours now when i first started it i had 20 colors now i am down to 12 i am almost done with it but i hope she tests it not me i know the sew simulator is not a stitch out but it is what i do to look at my design if they dont like it fine if they do that is great

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by mariahail 11 Feb 2009

This comments had been on my head all day, I am not a digitizer as you all know, I wish I was, even if I was going to receive negative feedback. I understand than when someone say "Needs to be tested" you really need to test the design and maybe contact the digitizer and let her know what is going on, I consider you a very good degitizer, nevertheless I remember when testin one of your designs the amount of jump stitches was tremendous, but the end result was real pretty even when the outline was a little off.We are here to be friends, to help each other, doing a post like this will hurt some cuties feelings...My idea is that is you or any of us have problems with a design jus PM the degitizer, we are bless with so many great degitizers here, for instance look the great work of simplyrosie,tubby marymoore, manami...just to name a few, the list will be too long if I add all of their names, but I want to take this oportunity to say THANK YOU to all of them for trying to share their talent and love.

1 comment
mariahail by mariahail 11 Feb 2009

oooooooooops digitizers LOL LOL LOL

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by clawton 11 Feb 2009

I tend to agree with you. If you place an item on the site I believe it should have been test stitched. If I made a design I would want to see how it stitched out before giving it to anyone. As I just recently tried to use that aspect of 4D Extra, I discovered that they don't turn out as expected when stitched out. That is why I shared my projects in the project section and NOT added to the Designs by Cuties. Yes, we do appreciate all of the designs offered by our "Cuties" but at the same time we don't like to make negative comments as they tend to insight too much friction on the sight (as we have already experienced). We do not want that to happen as most of us truely enjoy the sight as to what it has evolved into through the past year or so, Thanks to Veronika!

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by mariahail 11 Feb 2009

Times are real difficult. I really appreciated the work that the digitizers are doing, since they are free all I have to do is stitch test the designs and I like them fine and if not fine to because they did not cost me any money...,*****

1 comment
ssarner by ssarner 11 Feb 2009

I am with u Maria. Free in this ecomony means a lot not just to me, probably to lots of people here. May be digitizer like me should put a paypal button next to the design. We have to respect other people's time. I am not professional digitizer. I did not get a penny out of putting free designs out there. Thank God putting the free designs have not federal regulation on this matter.

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by castelyn 11 Feb 2009

Well I am still learning digitizing and would like to hear direct if and where I can improve. I do put designs on designs for cuties to test stitch and that they will at least send me a PM and let me know if they had any problems with the stitch out

Thanks Yvonne Castelyn

1 comment
mops by mops 11 Feb 2009

Positive criticism is always welcome and to avoid embarrassment it could be done by sending a PM explaining exactly what could be done better. Unfortunately there is as yet no way to edit the designs. A way to do that, similar to the projects, would be most welcome. Although not everyone seems to know that projects can be edited.

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by ssarner 11 Feb 2009

I put some designs on there with my INDUSTRIAL strength machine testing. They were good. Like Lillian said " the only one who never made it good was emblibrary". And Lillian was not the first one said that. My best friend told me the same thing. So one day, I tested Emblibrary desings on my home embroidery machine and it was nightmare. So, where is the guide line. If Emblibray was that bad, the web site was shut long time ago due to lacking business. For me, the rule of thumb is test every desing first before you put on the final product. BTW, in this bad ecomony, as long as I can get some free designs to keep up my hobby, I don't mind to trim several jump stitches.

3 comments
clawton by clawton 11 Feb 2009

I have only had one item that I had trouble with from Embroidery Library. I really like their designs.

dianned by dianned 12 Feb 2009

I've not bought many designs but the ones I have bought I got from EmbLibrary and I've found they've all stitched out beautifully!

jillsmith by jillsmith 13 Feb 2009

I have also had nothing but good designs from embroidery library. I have used quite a few of them on my domestic Brother single needle machine and they have all turned out just as I had hoped.

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by lbrow 11 Feb 2009

I always post what I do so everyone can see, just don't get a lot done these days. These r all beginners Ricky & some probably do more digitizing than stitching. I hear where u r coming from It is a waste of time & thread b-u-t I have received some atrocious designs that I have paid for. I simply tell them about it, the only one who never made it good was emblibrary & I've spent a fortune with them. Soooo it is always a good idea to test stitch a design before doing it. I've found I can just skip around do a little of it, go to another color, do a little of it etc. without doing a complete design, Embird allows me to do this. I'm thankful 4 all they r trying to do & we I guess r the guinea pigs, trying them out on us to see what we say, so I guess they're waiting to hear what u have just told them. If they want to perfect what they r learning then there must b constructive, nice criticism to help them.

1 comment
katydid by katydid 27 Feb 2009

I bought a bad alphabet from enblibrary, but I love many of their designs and I still buy from them.

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by dianned 11 Feb 2009

This is one of the reasons I don't put my designs on the Cuties site! I'm still learning, and although I always use scans of the actual stitchouts they are after I've trimmed the jumps so don't give an actual indication of how they are during stitching, only the finished result. It's also the reason I give away my designs for free - in my book, if you're not paying anyway, you can hardly complain!! I also do my own artwork - I've come across quite a few designs on different sites digitised by different people but using the same artwork (presumably clipart) - so although mine aren't perfect, at least they are original! Love and flowers from Dianne x x x

8 comments
blhamblen by blhamblen 11 Feb 2009

Dianne, THANX so much for sharing your sites...I loved to watch teabag folding BUT never thought I could do it...thanx to you I'm going to try from your page to make a card with one for my mom's b-day Feb. 14th.Barb

silverhair672003 by silverhair672003 11 Feb 2009

Thanks so much for the info about your sites. I love the book covers, can't wait to try them.

clawton by clawton 11 Feb 2009

You have a very nice site.

asterixsew by asterixsew 11 Feb 2009

Dianne you have a lovely site and have produced some lovely designs - thank you very much

marymoore by marymoore 11 Feb 2009

i love your site dianne thank you i just got me a new toy and can do lots of things now yea

jackiedesiraye by jackiedesiraye 14 Feb 2009

Your designs are stunning... I will try the parchmet ones.......
Thank you sooo much for the ideas!

becky45 by becky45 28 Feb 2009

Thank you so very much for your free patterns!!!

auntbaba by auntbaba 01 Mar 2009

Dianne,
Your patterns and projects are extraordinary. Thank-you for sharing!

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by eggyannie 11 Feb 2009

I agree with you about standard of workmanship if we were haveing to pay for the design but as the designs are given free then perhaps we really cannot complain about them, We all have to learn somewhere and test out what we do and this forum is a good starting point for many newcomers. perhaps if a design was downloaded and used then comments from the person sewing out could be a good thing, as the designer could then know where they could improve their work. We all know the joy of getting into a new hobby and wanting to share with others. constructive critisism is a good way forward
Remember, even the best designer may make a mistake in their work, I for one am very thankfull for all the designs created by the cuties. be they good bad or indiferent. we can allways bin the
ones we don't want and its cost nothing to do that. Just open them and take a look at them if they don't look right then don't use them.
After all we are told not tolook a gift horse in the mouth. and the good really do outnumber the bad. Perhaps a designer could actually ask for comments on their work so that they could improve themselves.
Not ment to offend Eggyannie in the UK

3 comments
mpo14011 by mpo14011 11 Feb 2009

No, Annie. No offense taken. But how many of these designs are actually being used? And not one word of constructive criticism.May be there needs to be a separate section for this.

mpo14011 by mpo14011 11 Feb 2009

Just to add. I wasn't complaining about the designs, but if these people would just stitch them out first, they would see their mistakes. But I see designs put on there by the same people making the same mistakes.And always,"I haven't tested it yet".Are they in such a hurry to show their designs that they don't want to test them?(there are a few exceptions to this. But they have proven good work)Or do they think the designs look better using the computer generated image and are apprehensive to show their stitch out?

eggyannie by eggyannie 11 Feb 2009

guess its just plain enthusiasm. Like wow look what i have managed to do. remember the little child who went to the toilet on its own for the first time. Paper everywhere, water all over the place and the towel fit only for washing. they learnt in time to do things right and had lots of encouragement along the way. These are the digitisers of the future and they will soon learn that if the work is not up to standard then it will not sell and the word will go out. I for one love to try out the designs. perhaps we are afraid to tell them something is not quite right in case it upsets them and who am i to say anything about something i know nothing about, now if it was egg art or looking after ferrets that is an entirely different thing.
I have created 20 pockets for the pillow case dresses today and will be putting on those mock buttons and buttonhole designs tomorrow. will show the results. eggyannie in the UK

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