November Blog
Hello Sewing Friends,
The cool air has blown in and we’re off to the races of finishing projects in time for the Holidays. Felting is once again the star referee uniting crafters and sewers from all walks of life. We will continue to carry the felting machine on HSN.com Singer® Felting and Embellishing Machine with Value Pack Item: 375-473 . You can punch yarns, silk ribbons, feathers and lightweight silks into almost any apparel to add surface interest and a unique design element.
This month I received many e-mails asking about free-standing lace designs and you’ll see how easy it is to whip up a personalized, embroidered Lingerie Laundry Bag as a last minute gift. Be sure to also check our projects section.
Many of you brought it to my attention that the 4700 Font link is no longer active. I can suggest that you use your search engine to look for “Font Bonanza” to find a new downloadable site. While we’re on the search engine topic, you can also type in “Free Clip Art” or “Free Embroidery Designs”, or “Free Standing Lace Designs” etc. to access a menu helping you locate whatever it is you are looking for.
Be sure to take stretching breaks from sewing. It is never a good idea to stand or sit in the same position for too long…..no matter how much fun you’re having! So get up, bend backwards, sideways, forward and S-T-R-E-T-C-H! Remember to stretch your face too
EMBROIDERY TIPS:
When you are using the Auto-Cross Stitch or the Auto-Punch, don’t neglect to rearrange the order that the colors stitch out. You can click and drag a color block on the bottom bar to reposition the
color order. The order of the colors
stitched will affect the look of the results. You’ll notice in the first Auto-Cross-Stitch design that the dark green was stitched last leaving a cross-stitch trail on the topside. In the second stitch out, you’ll notice that the green was stitched before the white back ground so most of the jumps were stitched over and hidden. The angel is bronze in the first example and gold in the second.
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Click and drag the color panes on the bottom of your screen to change places in the stitching order. Notice windows 1 and 6 in the above photos and you can see how first stitching the green foundation with all its linking jumps will be covered up by the back ground stitching overlapping it in the second example on the right.
Free Standing Lace Designs
Free Standing Lace Designs make beautiful ornaments for Tree Decorations, flourishes for gift packages, home accent bowls or unique additions for floral arrangements, appliques and even hair accessories. The designs have been specifically digitized to stay together on their own after all the stabilizer has been washed away. The threads overlap each other and are stitched in a way that keeps all the threads attached to one another filling the spaces with what looks like a cross mesh of lace making them “stand-alone”. There are a few tricks to ensure good results.
1) Use two layers of light or one layer of heavy water soluble stabilizer, 2) Match the bobbin thread color to the upper thread,
3) Use specifically digitized ‘free standing lace designs’ in your embroidery machine’s format
4) Use only designs that fit your hoop size— not too small or it could stretch the stabilizer and ruin the design.
5) When the sewing is complete, simply unhoop, wash away all of the stabilizer and dry flat.
In the downloaded examples below, I used a heavy water soluble on the bottom, a very light fine weave tule in the middle and a lightweight soluble on top. That sandwich gave me great results! By using a fine tule or organza sandwiched between the two layers of wash away stabilizer, you do eliminate actual cut-out work but you’ll gain a more stable free standing lace. The air-light tule will help to hold the design together by eliminating any holes between stitching lines after all the stabilizer has been washed away. Simply trim away the excess tule from around the edges and display!
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NEW ITEMS
This month we are offering six new Embroidery CD’s presented by DarStar/Bertina Studios. The Design CDs come in 9 popular formats and will work with all the embroidery machines available on HSN. Also included is a printable placement template and a thread color conversion chart that includes Melrose. Look for Elegant Christmas , Elizabethan Black Borders, Victorian Quilt in the Hoop, Snow Cute Christmas Snowmen, Merry Christmas Train and Deco Ornaments on dot com today!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Q: How do I simplify having to remove the hoop for each color change?
A: Embroidery machines are set to pull the top thread down under the fabric so there is no need to match the bobbin thread to the top thread every time you have a color change as you would in regular sewing. Most of the time you can use a bobbin of white for lights or black for darks unless the backside of the embroidery will be seen (as in a napkin or scarf) for which you would match the threads.
Q: What size needles do I use when I’m embroidering?
A: Your FUTURA comes with an assortment of needles for both wovens and stretch. I have the best success with the 14/90 for most embroidery, including those done with my Melrose thread. When you are embroidering a knit, use the ballpoint needles to avoidd piercing the fine elastic threads. Remember to change them when you change projects or fabric types.
Q: My thread is shredding. What am I doing wrong?
A: If you’re using a 40 weight tri-lobal polyester and are experiencing shredding, loosen the tension a bit. I often embroider with my tension all the way to ‘O’. It doesn’t HAVE to be on “E”. I have to admit that when I use rayon thread on the FUTURA, I am also frustrated with shredding and disappointed with the results. Rayon is not as strong for high speed embroidery and the FUTURA really hauls butt when embroidering. If you’re using the size 11/80 needle, move up to a larger size such as the 14/90 or even the 16/100 if your fabric is extra heavy or the stitches are very dense. You may want to try my Melrose Polyester thread. It is a commercial grade thread available for home use in value packs.
Q: I have Windows Vista. How do I load the 3900 design anthology disc?
A: We have not encountered any issues using the 3900 disc on Vista. This disc cannot be loaded into your computer as it would use up too much memory. The pop-up screen that comes up when you place the CD in the tray may be a little confusing. The following are step-by-step instructions for you to view and use this CD.
- Open the Futura software
- Place the CD in the drive tray.
- A pop-up screen will appear that prompts you to install or run this program. Close this pop-up screen by clicking on the red X in the top right hand corner.
- Click on File from the top tool bar.
- Click on Design browser.
Sew Your Holiday Dreams,
Hi, I just purchased the SES2000 and I downloaded the software that has the hyperfont, photstitch, editing, autocross adn favorite fonts. Each of these has an icon on my tool bar except for favorite fonts and frames. Can anyone tell me how to find it, where it is located. Also I cannot find answers to some of my questions and a reader mentions futura groups, can you tell me how to find one. Thanks, Pattie
Hello everyone! Received my SES2000 last night at 8:30pm (those poor UPS guys). Due to work I haven’t had a chance to unpack it all and set it up. I will do so come Saturday morning. Lisa and Tensi, let me know what you think! I’m eagerly waiting for Saturday morning!
I have a CE 150, love the machine. But I am having trouble download from the internet for the embrodery. Any ideas what I may be doing wrong.
I received my SES-2000 my problem is the Windows 7 issue and my video card on my netbook will not let me change the resolution on it to run the software so I did get all the things with my machine and it is a nice machine I am putting it through its sewing paces today so I will let you know how it goes.
Lisa
Hello all. I just received my new Futura SES-2000. Although I have not yet used it, I am reading the manual and watching the DVDs that came with it. I am going to intall the software now. I will let you all know how I like it.
Please note that on one of the Futura Groups I belong to, one lady returned her SES-2000 because there were missing items. I thought mine had missing parts too, but they are inside the machine’s accessory box.
TENSI
BG- Brother does not offer software/embroidery design packages with their machines on HSN so for me the Futura is a better value. I like the Futura 250/350 models because of the digital error messages. I’d like to see HSN offer a Futua package for those who already own sewing machines and sergers but want to venture into embroidery. We’d like all of the Futura software and design cd’s but really don’t need or want to pay for specialized sewing feet and learn to sew dvds.
HI Kathryn,
I also have the Singer 7470 and I love it!! I am not a seemstress but do a lot of crafts. I used to have a regular machine that my Mom gave me on Mothers day, and that started all. Now I sell personalized gifts. The great side of HSN are the flex pay without interest. By the way I checked the embroidery arm but it cost more that half of the whole machine, so I am looking for a used one.
Let me know if you buy another machine!
Hi BF,AL – I noticed the sewing special will be on from 12/07/09 thru 12/11/09.I can’t wait. I wonder what specials that they may run during that time. I am going to order the Singer 7470 next week from same place I bought my Futura CE150 from. MY Daughter wants a machine with plenty of different stitches. What does Mom need to do? Order one for my daughter and one for myself. However one sewing machine will need to be a Brother. I am happy that she wants to get into sewing.
HI Pat IL,
The SES-2000 is the CE-350 Plus more! Just in case check the Singer website and you can see the differences
Hi Darlene,
What are the differences between the CE-350 and the SES-2000 machines. Also will HSN soon carry the CE-350. I do not know which one to purchase. This is a huge purchase for me.
HI DARLENE MY NAME IS SHARON WILSON I HAVE THE SINGER FUTURA 1000 I GOT IT FROM HSN. I HAD TO GET A NEW COMPUTER AND IT IS A 64 BIT PROCESSOR. THE SOFT WARE AND THE MACHINE NEED A 32 BIT PROCESSOR. DO YOU HAVE UPDATED SOFTWARE THAT WILL LET YOU USE A 64 BIT PROSESSOR THE SOFTWARE STATES THAT IT CAN NOT FIND A CLEM DRIVER FOR THE MACHINE. PLEASE HELP ME FIND A WAY TO USE MY MACHINE. I HAVE GONE TO THE SINGER WEBSITE AND IT WAS NO HELP OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM
THANKS SHARON
Hi Mary Alice,
I love it that it is what I call Christmas Red and to me it is the gift that will always remind me of when I got this machine!!! I already have things plan projects that I would like to do when this machine gets here Thursday!!! I will say what a value this was when I got it the other day!!! When I saw this in my email I could not believe it. Well ladies we will have to meet here Thursday and see how everyone likes there SES-2000.
During the summer 2009, I bought the Singer Professional, 2010. I love this machine because it comes with any feet that I could ever want to use. My main purpose though was to use the serger foot, and at the same time have a regular sewing machine. However, I am such a novice that I need a beginner cd that tutor how all of the feet are to be inserted. The cd that I received are for the more advanced sewers, in my opinion.Someone please tell me how I can get all the instructions for this machine.
Lisa and Tensi, so happy you also ordered the SES2000. This was an awesome deal!! This will be my first Futura, and I’m hoping all the bugs have been worked out of this machine by now. I’m so excited to receive this machine as well! Mine also arrives on Thursday. I’ve been so busy this Thanksgiving holiday getting all my graduate homework done, so that when it arrives I’ll have the time to enjoy it! I love that it’s red too! This is also a Christmas gift to myself.
I just wanted to say I ordered my Singer Futura SES 2000 on the 23rd of this month. Let me tell you I am so excited to get this machine in which it is to arrive here Thursday and this is my Christmas present!!!
I had a CE-200 Futura before but the SES-2000 has so much more to offer!!!
Debbie,IN – You will need to install the CD that have the Futura Drivers on it first. The other two CD’s are the tutorial and the Embroidry designs. I hope that this info works. To answer your first question – why the software is so expensive? I can only guess. The software drivers for your computer can be expensive as $980.00 mainly due to the programming language that is written into the software telling it what to do, how to do it, what colors to use with what part of the design, etc.
Hello everyone. I hope you all had a Blessed Thanksgiving.
My 41st wedding anniversary conveniently was November 23rd, so my gift was the new
SES-2000. I can’t wait to receive it!
I was told that the machine uses type Singer 15-J bobbins.
There are two great Yahoo Futura groups. I joined about two months ago and have learned a lot! I recommend them highly.
TENSI
I have CE150 have not had a chance to use it yet, my health has not been good. Frist why is the added software so expensive? They are about one half of what I paid for the machine. I got a great price for the michine. The second thing is I have 3 disc of software does it matter whitch on loads first?
Thank You,
Has anyone used the Arrow Airlift sewing cabinets with the Futuras? I know they have to be on a steady surface for embroidery.
Now that some of us have bought the SES2000, what kinds of bobbins does this machine take?? I assume 15J bobbins, but not sure. Does anyone know??
Pino, CA; I thought that way too over 10 years ago. All I did were garments, then a friend introduced me to quilting and that took over everything else! Now that quilting is getting into embroidery blocks I’m heading that way. So I now sew clothing,home dec projects, create quilts, and add embroidery bling to both clothing/quilts. You just never know where the path of sewing hobbies will take you to in the future. Just get a machine that allows you to expand those horizons someday.
thanks Mary Alice for your reply.i am still considering buying it.i’ve always dreamed of having a sewing machine ( all in one sewing, embroidery, serger ) with all the features that will last for years( many).i am more interested in sewing than embroidery though.does anyone knows some websites that provide tutoring. i would really like to make my own clothes.thnks
Hi – On the sewing machine, you may want to look at the Singer 7470 or the Brother Project Runway machine on HSN. Both are easy to operate and offer a lot of stitches and feet. They both stitch nicely.
Diane, You may want to look at the Futura CE-150. That machine is a very basic sewing machine or look at the Brother Embroidery only machine, I think the newest one is the 770 or something like that. I have one of each and they both do a good job. And that leaves the sewing machine free to sew away while they do the embroidery.
Pino, seriously doubt this machine will be the same price as now. It may have free shipping at some other show Darlene has, but then who really knows?? This is a great deal! Even if you are beginning, this machine has the ability to expand to fit your needs down the road when you want to do embroidery, and other things.