when I first bought my machine, the dealer told me that she never hooped fabric anymore--just the stabilizer. Then, she marks the center lines like crosshairs on both the stabilizer and fabric, and uses pins or spray adhesive to match them and keep them lined up. It works great for me, but is this really the best way to do it? All the directions that I see never use this method. Also, how hard is it to begin to learn to digitize? I want to learn how to autopunch, can't afford classes.

I don't either. One reason is it is so hard on my hands. I bought a "Master -Hooper " from my dealer which has been a God send. probably could have bought it on line cheaper, but i love it. Keep it next to my machine and use it all the time. My outer hoop connects to it as if I were connecting to the machine and then I hoop the stabilizer using inner hoop, mark middle and spray a little and lay fabric to be embroidered on top, place plastic grid on top to check for alignment and use straight pins to secure all around and making sure they will not interfere with the design and happy stitching!!

I hoop whenever I can. If the material is really thick then I'll just hoop the stabilizer and pin down the material. I always use a template and mark the material with an air erasable pen. Works for me. Hugs..Carol

I prefer to hoop where possible I Like Alice Sell lots of embroidered items daily so I have 3 of each hoop size so I can hoop the next one ready to go, I hate adhesive spray If I have to then I hoop stablizer then pin material to it..
as for digitizing auto punch will so disapoint you.. I believe learning to digitize is like colouring in only you can put your own shade and dimensions to it lol.. why not try the OPW/Rose cottage monthly challenge its free, each month has a different challenge, you get a clipart, and a pdf instructions on how Vivien has digitised the design.. then you complete your own.. send your design to Vivien and then you can download everybody elses designs who have partaken that month.. its really interesting just to see how different one picture can be interpretated I began this way and learnt so much

Big hugs from London
Maria xx

I use this method. Haven't had any trouble placing designs exactly where I want them. Sometimes I use a light spray, sometimes a dab of glue-stick, sometimes just pinning until the fabric is basted onto the stabiliser - it all depends on the fabric I'm embroidering.
AlmaG.

I usually hoop when I can and for thicker fabrics, spray and position and pin...if you are lookinf for help with your software, there is a Yahoo group for PE Design and Next...It's fairly new, but good. You can ask questions and also there is a tutorial by Carol Price available if you choose...Link:

I used to hoop my fabric when I first started out. But now I do how you describe. I use a good spray adhesive, because I have found that the tacky stabilizer gums up on my needle. I actually have had less problems this way. But you definitely can't leave the machine alone. Those embroidery fairies will reek havoc. LOL...

WELCOME to Cute!!!!!!!

As the word implies auto punching is automatic, so simplicity itself. But it is not a method that gives satisfactory results. It works on the principle big is fill stitch, small is satin or column stitch, which leads to strange results unless you use very simple and clear artwork. And it often gives lots and lots of jump stitches, frequent color changes and other unwanted sequences.
Digitizing is not that difficult to teach yourself: just read the manuall and start trying. You'll be amazed at how fast you learn. There are numerous free tutorials available to help you on the way if you prefer seeing it done to reading a manual. And you can ask questions here as well.
Last year I bought a couple of lessons that promised advanced methods and tips and tricks - learned nothing that I had not figured out myself - really a waste of money. So read your PE manual and get going!

1 comment

by lique 02 Jan 2012

Thank you I was wondering if I should buy some advanced lessons.!

I never hoop my fabric only backing and then baste my fabric in the hoop.I mar the exact spot for the centre and place that under my needle.

Hi parkermom,
Firstly, I always hoop if I can, I know a lot of people prefer to use the method that you have described, but my personal preference is to get it in the hoop if I can. I believe that I get more accurate positioning this way. I have been embroidering for about 12 years and I have been operating a business for nearly 3 years so it is not unusual for me to hoop 20 or 30 items in a day. You just need to play around with different methods and find the one that suits you, if this way works for you then it is the best way, for you.
As for digitizing. Auto-punching is not a good option, very few images lend themselves to making a good design with auto-punch. There are lots of great digitisers here and I would suggest you look for the free tutorials and then ask questions here if you get stuck. Which software were you intending to use for digitizing?
Alice.

Hello... its me again. LOL!

I would have answered below your comments to my first posting, but if I should go over the field limit, part of it would get chopped off... like your comments did.

There are some very talented digitizers here on the Cute site and you'd probably get a variety of answers about where to start learning. I've been dabbling at it for nearly 4 years... and I'm still learning. The self-taught road isn't so bad... you learn by making mistakes. I started out by digitizing geometrical shapes and outlines that I created in the computer graphics programs I have on my computer. You'd be surprised at how much you can learn from digitizing a square within a square... or overlapping circles.

Here's my formula for digitizing:
Digitizing = artistic inspiration + logical reasoning + a dab of critical analysis + the ability to sit for hours and hours staring at a computer monitor.

For me, there's one more element... a smidgeon of insanity. Its what greases the wheels inside my head.

Liz

1 comment

by parkermom 02 Jan 2012

thanks for the advice--got plenty of the insanity going on, so I'm really greased up!

Hi Parkermom! - The first thing you must understand is that every machine is different. Even the same brand make and model machines can be different. Most of what you asked, however, is really personal preference. There are some things you just can't hoop... terry cloth and velvet are at the top of that list. Tapestry fabrics are probably right up there, too. As for autopunch... its not exactly the same thing as digitizing. My Futura 350 came with an autopunch program, and its great for a stepping stone... BUT... I had to learn through trial and horrible error what the autopunch does and does not do. There's a reason for everything. I came to this board this evening to ask other Cuties what their digitizing program preferences are... instead, I found your question. How long have you had your machine? What kind is it? Did it come with an autopunch program? These are the things that need to answered before anyone can give you the right responses you need.

1 comment

by parkermom 01 Jan 2012

Thanks! I have a Brother Innovis 4000D and the Pe Design next software. There isn't a whole lot of "original designs" that I even want to do, but when someone aks me if I can do a certain thing, then I'd like to be able to do more than lettering and stock designs. I don't even really know how to begin, but when I go from a line design to try to fill it, I don't know how to customize it so that it looks and sews better. I understand the principles behind density and slant, etc. (I am a math specialist, so the "nerdy" stuff makes sense) but I have a hard time with the actual nuts and bolts of doing it. Do I need to have more of a computer tool than just a mouse for my laptop? Thanks for answering me.

Most of the time I just pin the fabric down. I hate the glue stuff. I dont do crosshairs unless I need to rehoop a larger project. Saves fabric waste.

Welcome to Cute!! I have started using doublesided tape on stabilizer. Works really well for me. Hugs Christine, South Africa

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I agree. I hardly ever hoop the fabric. Just the stabilizer as explained by several Cuties here.

I almost forgot:

WELCOME to Cute!!!!!!!

Hugs, Lidia

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1 comment

by katydid 02 Jan 2012

I may need to borrow this. thanks in advance!!

I do the same: hoop the wash-away Vilene only, embroider the running stitch for placement, then place the fabric on top. I put pins outside the embroidery area and sometimes a bit of glue from a stick like UHU also outside the embroidery area. Also I use a basting stitch around the embroidery area if I can't use the glue, like on bath towels. Hugs, Lidia

Never have done it this way before but it sounds easy enough. And like greysewist say easy to move around. bet it would be easyer to hoop also since I broke my wrist this summer it has been really hard to get everything lined up and hopped up correctly. thanks !!! hugs and flowers

Maybe you can find someone on here who lives near you who could help lead you into digitizing. Or there may be some lessons or tutorials on the site for the software you want to use. Best way to learn is usually to just go for it.

I mostly just hoop stabiliser as well and pin or baste onto that, whatever fabric or item I'm sewing, depending what it is. So much easier to move it if you're not happy with initial placement and no hoop burn either, especially on towels etc.

I do the same thing - hoop only the stabilizer (usually a wash-away sticky for shirts, towels, etc.). I learned this in a class right after I got my machine and I find it works super for me.

2 comments

by parkermom 01 Jan 2012

thanks. I've never used the sticky kind--do you like how it works?

by pcteddyb 02 Jan 2012

I love it. I have the WorldWeidner.com kind and the Floriani kind and prefer the Floriani (but it is more expensive).