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Many of you brought it to my attention that the 4700 Font link is no longer active.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,
I have 2 computerized sewing machines and 2 sergers and a drawer full of feet that go with them. What I don’t have is an embroidery machine. I want a Futura to dedicate to embroidery. I have no intention of sewing or serging on it. I’d like to see a model offered with all of the software and designs of this TS without the extra costly sewing and serging feet. I don’t want to pay for/store feet that I don’t need and won’t use. Did’nt Darlene say that she uses her Futura for embroidery only also?
Hi everyone, this is my first post and I am in need of some experienced seamstress and crafters as to a beginner sewing machine, not too expensive. Give me some hints please. The special for today looks wonderful, but budget will not allow at the present time. You have lots of input I see. Happy Holidays, Mimi
hi.everybody.i have 2, 20%off coupons and wanted to buy the today’s special, they did not let me use one of them.does anyone think the price and the free shipping will still be available after today?i really like this machine.
Will the circular foot work with this machine?? I just thought I’d love to order that foot and then this machine will have no limits! Yea! Can’t wait to start working on this machine. I’m finally getting to see Darlene on demonstrating the machine (I was at work earlier). Thank God I ordered it early this morning! I’m doing the happy dance now!
Hi Everybody-I just came home from work and seen the new machine. WOW!!! This does all three. I have CE150 for Embroidry,my Mother’s Serger,and soon will have Singer 7470 just to get all that I need from my machines. I hope that they will have this available next year in September for Sewing month. Just Think how much more space we will have on our sewing tables for all the extra items that we will need. Happy Shopping!!
Is the Embroidery Design Collection CD (2,600 premier images) software going to be available for the CE150 in the near future? If yes, what will the cost be?
I have the Futura CE150, will I be able to purchase the Favorite Fonts and Frames software in the near future?
BF, I have wanted a Futura for years now. I have a Singer XL6000 and love it, but since it will no longer be made, I feel it’s time to upgrade. The software is difficult to learn as well. Darlene makes this one look so easy! I agree on the deal! I’ve checked other prices and it’s close to $2000, and even their financing price is higher than flexpay. Even a FS 250 with Autopunch runs $729 at one shop.
Mary Alice, NM, dont regret your purchase. But start doing your research while the machine arrives. Start with some blogs (wahoo) well spelled has a lot for the Futura. Besides, if you plan to use it for embroidery check all the material you will need to use it.
I have two if not, I will buy it without thinking. With the flex pay and some discount of the Christmas game at HSN NOBODY out there can beat this price!!
Still wondering about this SES2000. I love the red color! Yep, I ordered it, but having buying regret here. Trying to justify spending this money. Keep thinking I should cancel it, but it is a great deal!
I have a PED basic with the cards. How do I use that with the Singer? I know that I have to convert but what else…. Thank you Machelle….
I love the read on the SES2000. I have the CE150 – but that red makes that machine look so nice. I was impressed – good job Singer!
WOW! I take my pior comments back about the sewing Singer Special! The SES-2000 is the dream machine! If anyone out there is waiting to buy an exceptional embroidery machine this is your chance. I wished I haven’t had any because the bundle that they are presenting today is worth it all THE WAY!! Do your reseach and you will realized that the bundle worth every penny!
I’m still looking for all the fonts and great extras that were supposed to be a part of my order.
Joyce OH.
I just asked Kathryn, it was not a question to Darlene at all. I have my machine for a year now and enter this blog totry to answer other peoople’s questions. I just wanted to make this clear.
By the way I contacte Singer two weeks ago and haven’t received any answer. I found the part online doing the research myself.
Thanks.
Hi Joyce OH.
I undertand, but I never asked Darlene to answer any quetions. My conversation was with Kathryn. Regarding Singer, I contacted them 2 weeks ago and haven’t got any answers. I found the part online through a seller but it cost $299 so I still looking at other options and keep doing my research online. I use this blog to help other regarding the Singer Futura which I got a year ago at HSN (best prices) and to share info regarding the sales.
Thanks!
In answer to BF in AL call Singer directly about the embroidery arm and they can tell you the part number for the unit and they will put you in contact with a Singer dealer where you can buy one. Always call the dealer in your are or the Singer Co directly when you have a problem with your machines. Darlene is great but she can’t answer each question individually and that is what Singer does, wonderful ladies with all the answers and only a phone call away.
HI,
I was kind of dissaponted of tomorrow special. I have been waiting for the CE-350 or CE-250 with some extras but is not going to be shown. I have all the feet, the SES-1000 and CE-150 all the software and tutorials, so the waiting was not worth it. What everyone thinks about the special?
Hi Kathryn, SC
I have been trying to buy the embroidery arm but I don’t have any reference number for the part which make the purchase very hard. For the Singer website I haven’t been able to find it. Regarding the desings online is very difficult to give that information here because any outside website’s message gets blocked. I use WAHOO groups, well spelled.
Looking forward to the TS embroidery machine on the 23rd. In the Sept. blog Darlene mentioned the Futura Vista 64 bit Update being compatible for all configurations of the Futura: CE-150, CE-250, CE-350, SES-1000, and SES-2000. Soon after, the SES-2000 was removed from that blog entry (except for a few copies of the blog available on line). I hope the mention of the SES-2000 was a slip as to what we can expect for the upcoming Today’s Special (aka – a CE 250 with all the extras). Exciting!
check out the new today special for the november 23, lady save your money. If you brought any of the futura embrodery line , you don’t need the the new one. I did not see any new features just buy the upgrade software and save $1000
BF – AL, Hi there…Have you tried to order your missing part from Singer? I have a simple request – Can you help Mary from NC? She seems to be having problems with downloading fonts from the internet. I only download just a couple at a time when I need them in which case I do not experience any problems. I appreciate any help that you can send to Mary-NC. Thank-you – Kathryn SC.
Mary, NC – You need to check out the September Blog. Darlene Cahill wrote information on downloads for the Singer Futura embroidry machines. The Blogs listed on the upper left corner are loaded with information that is extremely helpful. You can try Font Garden for downloads as well as Singer’s web site. Most web sites do not require you to use the unzip program unless you are downloading more than 2 or 3 at a time.
I HAVE THE SES1000, I REALLY LOVE THE MACHINE, RUNS SMOOTHLY. HOWEVER I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS DOWNLOADING DESIGNS FROM THE WEB. I CANNOT OPEN THEM WITHOUT A ‘ZIP’ FILE, (NOT MENTIONED, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN) PLEASE RECOMMEND A SAFE FILE FOR US OR IS IT BEST TO BUY EMBROIDERY PROGRAMS?
KATHRYN From SC — I appreciate your input and you’ve helped me with my decision. I’m leaning toward the CE 350. What a great buy on your machine. I want to get mine thru H.S.N. The return policy can’t be beat and they’re the nicest people to business with. I’ve noticed how helpful you are to everyone and your comments are very professional and informative. Thank you so much.