I love the designs you guys create! I wonder - do you guys stitch most of the designs you own? Or just download them in case you will need them, someday? What do you do with the test stitch outs (is that a word?)? Save them for quilts or ereader covers? Frame them? Throw them away?

Collect, collect, collect. It's surprising the freebies I've used and the purchased ones I have never used. Test stichouts get used as applique patches, hankie corners, some are taken by my daughter to be used in "paper" crafting, the rest go in a bin for use in future ideas.

I'd have to stop working and stay up 24 hours a day and still couldn't stitch everything I have...LOL.

I've been collecting designs for 15 years, I have thousands. But you never know one of the ones I purchase may just be the "one" I need or maybe not, then I will have to buy the one I do need. :)

Muffy :)

Like most other cuties when I first began about 6 years ago I collected everything.. and joined many yahoo groups.. I have over 500 GB of designs free, purchased and my own digitized.. I learnt which designers I like and dislike and I stick with the ones I like.
I would rather pay for a good design by a digitzer that I like.. I dont do any hunts either again unless its a digitizer I like..
I do also digitize myself.. which has taught me to respect others work...
I only keep the good stitc outs in my ufo pile..
for maybe a rainy day lol..
Big hugs from London
maria xx

for the moment - as a newbee too- most of the time I download the designs; with the thought you never know if I need them- For the moment I always perform a test 'cos I'm still quite uncertain about the colors; fabric,.. what I'm going to do with the tests? don't know yet. I'm reading now what other do with it and who knows maybe I can pickup a good idea

Test stitch outs make nice book marks, but I seldom do. I am, i declare, a compulsive collector of designs, I love having them. My indexing system is in sad need of an overall or update.

I think as Sue D said that when you start machine embroidery you download every freebie you can find. Then as time goes on you are more selective. I hardly download any freebies anymore and I am sitting on enough designs to keep me happy for yearbox My friend puts her stitch outs in a box which when she goes to a craft fair get sold for 50p each

Good question :o)
Most of my designs I didn't stitch until now. Like some of the others said: Download them just in case...
When I get my first machine 4 years ago I never thought that I will habe a small business with them now and earn some money. Now I'm happy that I collected so many designs and even some that are not my own taste :o) If I make a teststitch I made small heatpads out of them as extra give-away for a good customer and they are all very delighted about them.
Greetings, Bettina

1 images:[1]

5 comments

by debswebster 29 Oct 2011

Bettina, I admire your creativity. Lucky customers!!

by smburt 29 Oct 2011

Heat pads? Sounds interesting, what do you use to make them heat?

by debleerl 29 Oct 2011

Great idea!

by debleerl 29 Oct 2011

Great idea!

by ansalu 29 Oct 2011

I use wheat to fill them. For bigger ones also cherry stones. You can heat them in the micro / oven or put them in a plastic bag in the fridge (> sunburn, headache, blister).
Greetings, Bettina

I have decided that have to live till im about 300 to do all the embroidery I want to , I hope my eyesight hagns out lol

When I first bought my embroidery machine (nearly 2 years ago) I downloaded everything in sight! I am now much more picky and only bother with things I might use. I've been back through my fileas and deleted a lot as well.
I don't always test stitch designs but when I do, I make sure that I use the same fabric as the project I'm planning. Most designs will stitch out well on calico but may not on other fabrics. I have converted lots of test stitch squares into pincushions to sell for our village Church funds.

Different people do different things with test stitching. I only test stitch when I embroider and get paid. For myself and family I never test stitch!!!
I have a box of all my test stitching. My poor children will have to sort it all out one day when I am gone.....

I only stitch for family or myself soooooooo I do not test stitch at all. I have enough designs for 3 lifetimes. You could say I am a designaholic. Lately I have become more picky at which free designs that I download. But I am having fun and that is all that counts. Marg

I just collect and keep most for a Rainy Day. When I go to Heaven, I will have to take my Machine with me so I can finish all I have bought/collected.

Hi there, I often test stitch onto something that I can give to my customer. (eg. bag,tea towel,hand towel) No I don't throw the test stitch designs away. I file them if they are logo's so I can show my new customers what I have done. That is if I have just done it on a scrap piece of fabric.
The designs that I buy, I very seldom test stitch them. I put them into my digitising program and check them out before I stitch them out.

Hugs Yvonne

2 comments

by castelyn 28 Oct 2011

Well my son, always tells me "Mom what are you going to do with all those designs. You will never be able to use them all in your life time". My reply is I never know when I might need it. haha Hugs Yvonne

by kryztyna 28 Oct 2011

Do our sons know each other?? Sounds just like mine..

I stitch a lot of the designs I own because when I get it, I cannot just let it sit there in digital format, due to fear that I might forget about it. But there are lots that I put away for later, or an event that I haven't yet encountered. I stitch on denim, and then cut out the patches and make quilts for Project Linus. I have a bin of them ready to go as soon as the local contact answers me.

maobfh, WELCOME to the CUTE family - I have seen you post much - but glad that you did now. I love my test stitch outs for quilts squares (I have a lday that I send them to - that I have never met) - but also like your idea of using them on eReader covers or framing them.

1 images:[1]

I have more designs than I will ever stitch but you never know what you may need in the future. I can never remember where I saw something so I keep a very organized folder system to help me find them.
However, I'm getting picky about what I choose-not everything is worth it to me.
Hugs
Linda aka Bumblebee

Best get started on your bank of designs now, free or
purchased. I always say you never have enough and there is always someone wanting something that you do not have.
I started embroiderying about 18 months ago and have a bank of approximately 80,000 designs. Believe it or not I purchased some yesterday and just did again 15 minutes ago. So when you see something you like free or on sale (like the beautiful poinsettias I just purchased at Attic treasure at 75% off, go for it, you never have too many. Tip start off with a good filing system so you know where they come from.
Good Luck and welcome to cuties.
Hugs
Michelle

1 comment

by justonlyme 28 Oct 2011

If you find a really good method, please share. Mine is detailed and organized, but I can either find the designs or the designers. Not both.

I save them in case I need them. You never know what you'll need, or at least that is what I tell myself! If I test stitch something, I try to do it on a piece of fabric I could use for something in case it turns out real nice. Like a potholder or cut in a square and put on a towel or pillow etc. I don't quilt but that would be a great way to use them. Test stitch on the same fabric all the time and make a quilt when you have enough.